Maryland’s Board of Regents voted unanimously to take full control over both the investigation into the death of offensive lineman Jordan McNair, and a commission investigating the culture of the Terrapins football program.
Their decision comes after what was described as a what many believed as a “four-hour meeting” centered around the futures of Maryland’s president Wallace Loh, athletic director Damon Evans and football head coach D.J. Durkin, according to Testudo Times.
“Earlier today, the Board of Regents was fully briefed by UMCP President Wallace Loh about the circumstances of Mr. McNair’s tragic death, about the actions that have been taken since, and finally about the alarming allegations that have emerged in the last week related to the football program,” Maryland’s Board of Regents Chair James Brady said in a statement.
“After a long and robust discussion, the board voted unanimously to assume responsibility for the investigations into these two separate issues. Our goal is to ensure that all system universities, including UMCP, are actively working to protect the health and safety of every student and to foster a supportive culture in which everyone can flourish.”
On Tuesday Loh and Evans announced during a press conference they had apologized to the parents of McNair. Loh also announced Maryland “accepts legal and moral responsibility for the mistakes our training staff made on that fateful workout day of May 29.”
McNair collapsed during a May 29 workout at Maryland. After attempts to treat an ailing McNair, the training staff placed a 911 call leading to him being hospitalized. He later died two weeks later.
McNair’s death sparked two ESPN reports. The first stated that McNair passed of a heatstroke and detailed from witnesses accounts alleging the training staff mishandled caring for the 19-year old after he initially collapse.
The second report centered around a “toxic culture” created by Durkin and strength and conditioning coach Rick Court. Several members of training staff were placed on administrative leave and Court later resigned. Durkin was also placed on administrative leave while the investigation into the culture of the program is underway.
