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As the University of Maryland tries to recover from the untimely death of offensive lineman Jordan McNair and the fallout the proceeded about the program’s “toxic” culture. Maryland is putting forth an effort to honor McNair.
The school announced that the football team will wear a helmet sticker with the No. 79 to honor McNair, who collapsed during a conditioning drill on May 29 and later died two weeks later while hospitalized. The school will also ensure no player will wear the No. 79 for the next three seasons — the time McNair would have been eligible to play.
Maryland will also hold a moment of silence during their two games against Texas and Temple. The game versus Texas will be played at FedEx Field in Landover, Md. on Sept. 1 while Maryland will host Temple at their on campus home, Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium, on Sept. 15.
McNair’s locker will be encased in glass as well.
Maryland offensive lineman Ellis McKennie said, ”Every play we make, every snap we take, will be in Jordan’s honor” during the announcement that took place at Cole Field House with Terrapin teammates lined up in unison.
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Since McNair’s death the University of Maryland has opened an external investigation into the handling of the training staff during the workout that McNair fell ill. The school placed several members of the training staff on administrative leave following an ESPN report that detailed questionable practices by the coaching and training staffs of the program. Strength and conditioning coach Rick Court resigned shortly afterwards.
Head coach D.J. Durkin was later placed on administrative leave and the school opened a second investigation to review the allegations of the ESPN report. Maryland’s Board of Regents have since taken over full control of both investigations while Durkin remains on administrative leave.
Both school president Wallace Loh and athletic director Damon Evans apologized to McNair’s parents and acknowledged responsibility of mistakes made in the treatment of McNair during the May 29 workout.
