I am stunned Maryland decided to retain D.J. Durkin after a player of his passed away in June after suffering heatstroke during a workout.
The news came down Tuesday afternoon that the Maryland board of regents recommended the reinstatement of head football coach D.J. Durkin who was on administrative leave after the death of Jordan McNair. One day later, I am still at a loss how this decision came to be. The most important thing a coach needs to do is take care of his players. Durkin failed at that when Jordan McNair died as a result of his negligence. McNair’s family will mourn his loss for the rest of their lives while Durkin is allowed to return and coach this weekend.
It’s ridiculous. It’s absurd. It’s sad. It’s a decision that never should have happened.
“I feel like I’ve been punched in the stomach, and somebody spit in my face,” said Marty McNair, Jordan’s father, after Durkin was reinstated as Maryland coach Tuesday.
An investigation into the football program revealed a culture that was predicated on fear and intimidation-based motivation where former strength and conditioning coach Rick Court was humiliating and berating players. The athletic department was classified as dysfunctional, and yet, the investigation determined there wasn’t a toxic culture at Maryland.
How? A player died as a result of a Maryland strength coach who Durkin said was his most important hire, and yet, he isn’t responsible for his actions. Court was fired for his negligence, but the head coach who is responsible for the entire program didn’t face any discipline outside of being placed on administrative leave for two months.
Not only did Durkin escape any sort of accountability, but so did athletic director Damon Evans and university president Wallace Loh. A train wreck of a press conference on Tuesday made excuse after excuse for Durkin as if they were doing anything possible to keep the second coming of Bear Bryant on staff. Durkin is 10-15 and 5-13 in the Big Ten and they’re bending over backward to keep that guy? After his negligence led to the death of his player?
Meanwhile, this guy gets to keep his job, but elsewhere in major college football, boosters are scrambling to put together 10-figure buyouts to get rid of a coach who has nothing close to this type of off-field scandal surrounding him.
This is one thing that I just don’t understand about college football. It’s something I really can’t stomach and I can only imagine the feelings and emotions the McNair family is going through upon hearing this news.
Jordan McNair’s father, Marty, told ESPN in August that he didn’t think Durkin should ever coach again.
“I don’t think that he should be allowed to coach anyone else’s child, in an environment like this,” Marty McNair told ESPN back in August. “My child died there. That’s something we’ll never get back. That’s a wound that will never heal.”
How is Durkin going to walk into a recruit’s living room and tell his parents that he’s going to take care of their son and he’s got his best interest at heart? There’s no way that is going to go over well. This is going to have negative ramifications for the on-field football product. It’s a disgrace.
It’s unconscionable that Maryland brought Durkin back, and it’s a decision that didn’t sit well with his players, who walked out of his first meeting back. Players took to social media to express their displeasure with the return of Durkin.
Every Saturday my teammates and I have to kneel before the memorial of our fallen teammate. Yet a group of people do not have the courage to hold anyone accountable for his death. If only they could have the courage that Jordan had. It’s never the wrong time to do what’s right. pic.twitter.com/AaZVmLGTtS
— Ellis McKennie (@ellismckennie) October 30, 2018
At the end of the day, a YOUNG life was lost. My brother, teammate. And to boil it down to even horrific matters, a paycheck was chosen over that life. Through whatever and forever, I live for Jordan Martin McNair. https://t.co/YX18QH6Pl5
— Ty (@tyranjhunt) October 31, 2018
The Maryland student government is planning a rally on Thursday afternoon as they seek justice for Jordan.
“We, the Executive Board of the University of Maryland Student Government Association, are outraged with the decisions made by the Board of Regents regarding the Maryland Football Program,” the association said in the Facebook post, via ESPN. “In order to voice the opinions of the student body, we are organizing a rally, this Thursday, November 1st, 2018 at 3:30 pm. We will be gathering in front of McKeldin Library marching down to the steps of the Main Administration building. We demand justice for Jordan McNair.”
Many are questioning the decisions made by the leaders of Maryland so I commend the students for organizing and speaking out for Jordan McNair who no longer has a voice, due to the negligence of Durkin.
What happened at Maryland this summer was a tragedy. What happened at Maryland on Tuesday was adults once again showing that football is more important than the people wearing the helmets and shoulder pads, and that’s a travesty.