Allowing one player to die was not enough for DJ Durkin to lose his job. Maybe the rest of the team turning on him can have an effect that sticks.
In the hours after the University of Maryland reinstated a football head coach who was at the center of an investigation over the program’s environment because offensive lineman Jordan McNair died from heatstroke, several players spoke out against the coach who had built this team.
“At the end of the day, a YOUNG life was lost,” Terrapins offensive tackle Tyran Hunt wrote on Twitter. “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.”
An independent report into McNair’s May 29 death, which happened during a team workout, found 33 minutes passed between his exhibiting heatstroke symptoms and his arriving in the trainer’s room. More than an hour passed before school officials called 911. ESPN reported McNair’s death, and the lax way his condition was handled, stemmed from a “toxic” culture around the program Durkin led. A Maryland commission recently found it was not “toxic,” but still was a culture that used fear to keep players from speaking out.
They now are.
“Every Saturday my teammates and I have to kneel before the memorial of our fallen teammate,” Maryland offensive guard Ellis McKennie wrote. “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.”
Tuesday, Durkin was reinstated and athletic director Damon Evans was retained. Lost will be school president Wallace Loh, who, according to the Washington Post, wanted Durkin gone and was told if he ousted Durkin, he would himself be overthrown. Instead, Loh will retire at the school year’s end.
When Durkin addressed his team Tuesday, several players reportedly walked out.
“My brother Jordan can no longer speak his mind he must live and speak through us💯🤞🏾” Maryland defensive tackle Adam McLean wrote.