The following story makes it much more likely that in the future, parents will be nixing their sons participating in the game of football.
My son loved playing football but if I knew what I know now, I would have forbidden him from being on a team.
This is a horror story. One of Maryland’s football players Jordan McNair recently passed away from heatstroke while at a workout. There’s been reporting that his body temperature had reached 106 degrees. What’s been happening sounds like a Fraternity House’s hazing gone amok.
ESPN published an expose` on the 10th of July 2018 about how the coach and his staff have created a very toxic culture to where the death of a player was inevitable, foreseeable and preventable.
Here is the rest of the story…
On August 11, 2018, Mike Brehm of USA Today penned the following report, “Maryland coach DJ Durkin placed on leave as school investigates football team’s culture”
“Maryland announced Saturday (8/11/18) it is placing football coach DJ Durkin on leave as it investigates “allegations of inappropriate behavior” raised in a recent ESPN report.”
“Friday’s article alleges there is a toxic culture of intimidation and humiliation created by Durkin and members of his staff.”
“Maryland’s football team was already under scrutiny after the death of offensive lineman Jordan McNair in June, two weeks after he collapsed at a workout. A foundation named after McNair said the cause of death was heatstroke.”
“Athletics director Damon Evans said Durkin will immediately go on leave, and assistant Matt Canada will run the team while the investigation is under way.”
“He also said the school would release the results of the external review of McNair’s death when it is completed.”
“Friday (8/10/18), Maryland had placed other athletic staffers on administrative leave.”
“I am extremely concerned by the allegations of unacceptable behaviors by members of our football staff detailed in recent media reports. We are committed to fully investigating the program,” Evans said in a statement.”
“The safety and well-being of our student-athletes is our highest priority. These alleged behaviors are not consistent with the values I expect all of our staff to adhere to and we must do better.”
“If the investigation confirms these reports, then strong and permanent corrective actions should be taken immediately,” he said in a statement.”
“University of Maryland President Wallace Loh also issued a statement Saturday, writing: “I am profoundly disturbed by the media reports (Friday) about verbally abusive and intimidating conduct by Maryland football coaches and staff towards our student athletes on the team. “
“Loh also added that “The University of Maryland is committed to a football program that is safe and humane, and where our student-athletes are successful in their academic and athletic endeavors. This commitment will be carried out with accountability, fairness, and transparency.”
“A unnamed former Maryland player told The Washington Post, “There was just constant degrading of players, and that was the culture they brought to the program, and they thought it would toughen us up.”
“He is the second Big Ten head coach in two weeks to be placed on leave. Ohio State’s Urban Meyer is out while the school investigations what he might have known about a former assistant’s alleged domestic violence.”
One of my history professors comes from a family where all the boys play football growing up. I’m not sure if they’re continuing that practice, given the issues with concussions and other issues.
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Dear Brendan Birth,
If the football big wigs don’t come up with rules to make football a safer sport through the high school years, the parents won’t be allowing their kids to participate.
That a young adult has to be subject to the likes to Coach DJ Durkin, is negligence. It tells me that the school is more interested in winning than in the welfare of their students.
But the Terrapins do not have that great a winning record under this coach. As per Wikipedia, In 2017, they finished the season 4–8, 2–7 in Big Ten play to finish in a tie for sixth place in the East Division.
They finished the 2016 season 6–7, 3–6 in Big Ten play to finish in fifth place in the East Division.
Hugs, Gronda
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Totally agree on all fronts.
I do think that the school (and many schools) is more interested in winning than in the welfare of their players. To that end, I’m not sure if Maryland would’ve reacted in the way that it did if they were a Top 25 program under him.
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Gronda, a coach who is dehydrating players is not making them tough. He is putting them at risk. This is what happens when coaches are myopic. Keith
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Dear Keith,
It’s real simple for me. The Coach DJ Durkin is a sadist who shouldn’t be anywhere near young adults. The university is going to be paying some big monies out in law suits and rightfully, so.
Universities have to learn that these bully coaches come at too high a price.
Hugs, Gronda
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Dehydrating players, not just a fool but criminally negligent (another oaf with a Gunner Sergeant Hartmann Complex)
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Dear Roger,
There will probably be several lawsuits filed against the University and rightfully so. What bothers me is that the football player Jordan McNair died in the first week of June 2018 but the coach and his supporters on staff were not suspended until the news outlet ESPN published its expose on the 10th of August.
That tells me all I need to know.
Hugs, Gronda
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The old theme of ‘Let’s Hope It Goes Away’
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