A BAD SATURDAY FOR MARYLAND FOOTBALL
Training staff sidelined too amid inquiry into player death, culture
Head coach DJ Durkin and training personnel placed on leave while investigations continue into player’s death, program’s culture.
Maryland placed head coach DJ Durkin on administrative leave Saturday while the school scrutinizes allegations of poor behavior by the football staff, apparent misdeeds that came to light following the death of a player.
In an open letter, athletic director Damon Evans wrote: “At this time, the best decision for our football program is to place Maryland Head Football Coach DJ Durkin on leave so we can properly review the culture of the program.”
Offensive coordinator Matt Canada will serve as interim coach.
Earlier Saturday, Rick Court, the head of the football team’s strength and conditioning staff was placed on paid leave while the school investigates claims he verbally abused and humiliated players, the Associated Press reported.
Maryland has also placed two athletic training staffers it did not identify on leave as it investigates the death of Jordan McNair. The 19-year-old offensive lineman was hospitalized May 29 after a team workout and died June 13. Dr. Rod Walters, a former college athletic trainer, has been hired by Maryland to investigate the circumstances. A report is expected by Sept. 15. McNair’s parents are being represented by Baltimore attorney Bill Murphy.
In his open letter, Evans wrote: “The external review into the tragic death of Jordan McNair continues, and we have committed to releasing publicly the report being prepared by an independent and national expert.”
ESPN reported that head football athletic trainer Wes Robinson and director of athletic training Steve Nordwall were placed on leave by Maryland.
An ESPN story Friday quoted unidentified players, former players and former members of Durkin’s staff, who contended Court and Durkin created a toxic culture within the program.
Durkin is starting his third season at Maryland. The 40-year-old former Michigan defensive coordinator is 11-15 in two seasons after receiving a five-year, contract worth $12.5 million in December 2015.
South Carolina head coach Will Muschamp, for whom Durkin worked as defensive coordinator at Florida from 2011-14, blasted the ESPN story.
“There is no credibility in anonymous sources,” he said. “If that former staffer had any guts, why didn’t he put his name on that? I think that’s gutless. In any football team, especially right here in August, you can find a disgruntled player that’s probably not playing. I think it’s a lack of journalistic integrity to print things with anonymous sources. I know DJ Durkin personally. I know what kind of man he is. I know what kind of person he is. I don’t think it’s right. Next question.”
MICHIGAN: The school’s athletics compliance office is investigating whether any student-athletes violated NCAA rules with regard to shoe resales.
North Carolina suspended 13 football players earlier this week after the school found that they committed secondary violations by selling teamissued Nike shoes. Per reports, a retailer who obtained the shoes said it also bought teamissued shoes from Michigan, Cal and Marquette.
Michigan athletics spokesman Dave Ablauf told the Free Press via a statement Friday night that the school is aware of the situation and is investigating the matter.
OHIO STATE: Tom Herman said Saturday that a report on Facebook that he was the one who alerted sports reporter Brett McMurphy about domestic violence allegations against fired Ohio State assistant coach Zach Smith was “absolutely untrue.”
In a story posted Saturday on the social media site, Jeff Snook, a published author with deep Ohio State ties, claimed that Herman, a former Ohio State assistant (2012-14) and now head coach at Texas, was the one who told McMurphy about Smith’s past. It was sparked by Herman’s anger over losing receiver Garrett Wilson to the Buckeyes, Snook claimed.
“It is absolutely untrue,” Herman told the AmericanStatesman via a spokesman Saturday afternoon. “Neither I nor anybody in my family has ever communicated with Brett McMurphy about the situation at Ohio State.”
Michelle Herman, Tom’s wife, tweeted Saturday, “Nope, wasn’t me either!”
McMurphy tweeted that Herman was not his source. McMurphy’s initial reporting led to Smith being fired and Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer being placed on administrative leave. The school is investigating what Meyer knew about alleged incidents involving Smith and his exwife, Courtney.
Snook also claimed the Hermans gave Courtney Smith money for her legal bills.
“In March of 2017, my wife assisted her friend Courtney Smith during a time of financial need,” Herman told the Statesman. “We have not provided any financial assistance since then.” TEXAS A&M: A service has been scheduled Aug. 30 at Kyle Field to remember late Texas A&M collie mascot Reveille VIII.