Player death and culture controversy
On May 29, Jordan McNair, a 19-year-old offensive lineman for Maryland, collapsed during a strenuous practice. He was hospitalized after visibly showing signs of extreme exhaustion with a body temperature of 106 °F (41 °C) recorded upon arrival at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, dying there 15 days later. Though no death cause has yet been officially listed for McNair, findings published by ESPN in August show that he likely died of a heat stroke, with teammates and medical staff noticing an apparent seizure one hour before a 911 call was placed. This corroborated a statement by his parents a month earlier.[1]
McNair's death led to ESPN questioning current and former players for Maryland football as well as people close to the program, which found evidence of a toxic culture instilled by the coaching staff led by head coach D.J. Durkin and strength and conditioning coach Rick Court.[2] Many of the individuals interviewed described the coaches carrying out questionable behaviors such as:
- Belittling and humiliating certain players, including forcing an overweight player to eat candy bars and watch his teammates work out
- Fear and intimidation tactics such as tossing weights at players and excessive verbal abuse for players who fail to complete workouts, including one who passed out
- Endorsing unhealthy eating habits such as forcing underweight players to binge eat to gain weight
Additionally, a witness recalled a coach forcing McNair to finish his 110-yard sprints despite struggling mightily, telling his teammates to "drag his ass across the field".[2] In the wake of these allegations, the University placed several athletic staffers, including Court, on administrative leave as it commissions an external investigation by Walters Inc., a South Carolina-based sports medicine consulting firm. In a letter sent to parents of Maryland players before the ESPN report's publication, Durkin stated that he was aware of it and that he is fully cooperating with the investigation efforts.[3][4] Court and the University have since parted ways.[5]
Beginning on August 11, 2018, Durkin was also placed on administrative leave while Matt Canada serves as interim head coach until the investigation is completed. Punishments of individuals associated with this scandal and coaching positions will be determined upon the investigation's conclusion.[6]
Schedule
Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
---|
September 1 | 12:00 p.m. | vs. No. 23 Texas* | | FS1 | W 34–29 | 47,641
|
September 8 | 6:00 p.m. | at Bowling Green* | | ESPN+ | W 45–14 | 16,142
|
September 15 | 12:00 p.m. | Temple* | | BTN | L 14–35 | 32,057
|
September 22 | 12:00 p.m. | Minnesota | - Maryland Stadium
- College Park, MD
| BTN | W 42–13 | 36,211
|
October 6 | 12:00 p.m. | at No. 15 Michigan | | ABC | L 21–42 | 110,452
|
October 13 | 12:00 p.m. | Rutgers | - Maryland Stadium
- College Park, MD
| BTN | W 34–7 | 32,995
|
October 20 | 12:00 p.m. | at Iowa | | ESPN2 | |
|
October 27 | | Illinois | - Maryland Stadium
- College Park, MD
| | |
|
November 3 | | Michigan State | - Maryland Stadium
- College Park, MD
| | |
|
November 10 | | at Indiana | | | |
|
November 17 | | Ohio State | - Maryland Stadium
- College Park, MD
| | |
|
November 24 | | at Penn State | | | |
|
- *Non-conference game
- Homecoming
- Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
- All times are in Eastern time
|
Source[13]
Game summaries
vs Texas
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
No. 23 Longhorns |
7 |
15 |
7 |
0 |
29 |
Terrapins |
14 |
10 |
0 |
10 |
34 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result |
1–3 |
2017 |
W, 51–41 |
After a tumultuous offseason, Maryland emerged victorious against Texas 34-29 after shaking off a 30+ minute thunder delay. In Matt Canada's debut as interim head coach, Maryland forced three turnovers in the final 6:09 of the game after losing a 24-7 lead. Freshman Jeshaun Jones, in his first career game, completed the trifecta by passing for a touchdown, receiving a touchdown, and rushing for a touchdown. Most notably, the Terrapins paid tribute to the late Jordan McNair by lining up with 10 players on their first offensive play. Maryland waited for a delay of game penalty and Texas declined the penalty in a show of good sportsmanship. [14]
at Bowling Green
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Terrapins |
0 |
10 |
7 |
28 |
45 |
Falcons |
7 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result |
0–1 |
2015 |
L, 27–48 |
Temple
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Owls |
7 |
14 |
7 |
7 |
35 |
Terrapins |
0 |
7 |
0 |
7 |
14 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result |
7–1 |
2012 |
W, 36–27 |
Minnesota
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Golden Gophers |
0 |
10 |
3 |
0 |
13 |
Terrapins |
14 |
7 |
14 |
7 |
42 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result |
2–1 |
2017 |
W, 31–24 |
at Michigan
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Terrapins |
7 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
21 |
No. 15 Wolverines |
3 |
14 |
10 |
15 |
42 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result |
1-6 |
2017 |
L, 10–35 |
Rutgers
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Scarlet Knights |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
7 |
Terrapins |
10 |
14 |
10 |
0 |
34 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result |
7–6 |
2017 |
L, 24–31 |
at Iowa
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Terrapins |
|
|
|
|
0 |
Hawkeyes |
|
|
|
|
0 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result |
1–1 |
2015 |
L, 15–31 |
Illinois
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Fighting Illini |
|
|
|
|
0 |
Terrapins |
|
|
|
|
0 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result |
First meeting |
Michigan State
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Spartans |
|
|
|
|
0 |
Terrapins |
|
|
|
|
0 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result |
2–7 |
2017 |
L, 7–17 |
at Indiana
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Terrapins |
|
|
|
|
0 |
Hawkeyes |
|
|
|
|
0 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result |
2–4 |
2017 |
W, 42–39 |
Ohio State
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Buckeyes |
|
|
|
|
0 |
Terrapins |
|
|
|
|
0 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result |
0–4 |
2017 |
L, 14–62 |
at Penn State
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Terrapins |
|
|
|
|
0 |
Nittany Lions |
|
|
|
|
0 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result |
2–38–1 |
2017 |
L, 3–66 |
References
- ↑ Dinich, Heather (August 10, 2018). "Sources: Maryland OL Jordan McNair showed signs of extreme exhaustion". ESPN.
- 1 2 Heather Dinich; Adam Rittenberg; Tom VanHaaren (August 10, 2018). "The inside story of a toxic culture at Maryland football". ESPN.
- ↑ Don Markus; Jonas Shaffer (August 10, 2018). "Amid review of Jordan McNair's death, Maryland places football staffers on leave as DJ Durkin remains in charge". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
- ↑ Dougherty, Jesse (August 10, 2018). "Maryland places athletic staffers on leave in wake of football player's death". The Washington Post.
- ↑ Kendziora, Thomas (August 14, 2018). "Why Maryland 'parted ways' with football strength & conditioning coach Rick Court". Testudo Times. SB Nation. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
- ↑ "Maryland places DJ Durkin on administrative leave amid reports of football program's toxic culture". The Washington Post. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
- ↑ "Rimington Trophy Press Release". May 30, 2018. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
- ↑ "2018 Maxwell Award Watch List". July 16, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
- ↑ "Ray Guy Award preseason watch list unveiled". July 25, 2018. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
- ↑ "43 PLAYERS NAMED TO 2018 PAUL HORNUNG AWARD WATCH LIST". July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
- ↑ "Wuerffel Trophy Unveils 2018 Watch List". July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
- ↑ "2018 Nominations The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award" (PDF). August 16, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
- ↑ "2018 Maryland Football Schedule".
- ↑ "Maryland stuns No. 23 Texas 34-29 for interim coach Canada". September 3, 2018.
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