Maryland admits mistakes were made in lineman’s death

The University of Maryland acknowledged Tuesday the football player who collapsed during practice and subsequently died did not receive proper medical care and the school must accept “legal and moral responsibility for the mistakes.”

Maryland has parted ways with strength and conditioning coach Rick Court, who resigned in the wake of the death of offensive lineman Jordan McNair. Athletic Director Damon Evans acknowledged “mistakes were made” in the treatment of McNair, who was hospitalized May 29 after a team workout and died June 13. The attorney for the McNair family said a preliminary death certificate indicates the cause of death was heatstroke.

Court posted his letter of resignation Tuesday on Twitter. He wrote: “I am stepping down to allow the team to heal and move forward.” He had previously been placed on administrative leave.

Head coach D J Durkin is also on administrative leave and his future is unclear. McNair family attorney Billy Murphy Jr. has said Durkin should be fired immediately.

Evans said Tuesday the university has “hired an external review team to take a look at this, but as additional information comes forward, we will do what’s appropriate.” Dr. Rod Walters, a former college athletic trainer, was hired by Maryland to investigate the circumstances of McNair’s death. A report is expected by Sept. 15, but the school has been provided preliminary findings and shared some of those in a news conference.

“Jordan did not receive appropriate medical care, and mistakes were made by some of our athletic training personnel,” Evans said. “Walters found that the emergency response plan was not appropriately followed” and that McNair’s symptoms “were not properly identified or treated.”

University President Wallace Loh said the visit to the McNair home was to apologize personally for the loss.

“They entrusted their son to us, and he did not return home,” Loh said. “The University accepts legal and moral responsibility for the mistakes that were made on that fateful day.”

Loh is adamant in his belief that the school will take steps to make sure this never happens again. “I made a commitment to Jordan’s parents,” he said. “I want to make the same commitment to the parents of all of our student-athletes, and to our entire campus community: We will do everything within our power to ensure that no University of Maryland student-athlete is ever again put in a situation where his or her safety and life are at foreseeable risk.”

Later in the day, the law firm of Murphy, Falcon & Murphy, which represents the McNair family, wrote in a statement: “While Marty and Tonya will never get another day with Jordan, Dr. Loh’s words were meaningful to them and give them some comfort that he will put the University on the path to change the culture of the program so that no Terrapin family will have to endure the heartache and grief that they feel.” be awarded the Lifetime Achievement award at an Austin banquet on Sept. 21 to be emceed by NBC Sports’ Mary Carillo.

3. Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger, when asked whom he studied this offseason, said he watched a lot of tape on Drew Brees, Brett Favre and Derek Carr. “I admire Drew Brees’ accuracy and Brett Favre’s ability to win,” Ehlinger said. “Derek Carr has a very similar build like mine. I do like the way he stands in the pocket and delivers the ball.”

4. Like many of you, I was transfixed by the mesmerizing play of Tiger Woods, but I was just as impressed with his comments about his two kids when he said, “I don’t want to talk to them about (golf ) this week. They’re not really interested in it because they’re interested in starting school, and they’re nervous about starting school. So that takes far more precedence than me playing a major.” ... Champion Brooks Koepka referred to Woods as the greatest golfer ever, but someone should remind him that title belongs to Jack Nicklaus until Tiger passes his 18 major titles. Remember, Nicklaus had 19 runner-up finishes in majors to Woods’ seven. Oh, and Jack came back on the final day to win eight of his majors; Tiger’s yet to do it.

5. Ben Kern told me Tiger didn’t ask for any driving tips last weekend at the PGA Championship, but he should have. Kern, a 34-year-old pro at Georgetown Country Club, hit 45 of 56 fairways to rank second in the field. That went a long way toward Kern becoming the only club pro of the 20 entrants to make the cut — just the third in the last seven PGAs — and finishing tied for 43rd. “As good as he hits the ball, I was not surprised,” his boss, general manager Patrick Buhrmann said. Kern, a former golfer at Kansas State, was driving home from St. Louis on Tuesday instead of flying back on a private jet. “Maybe if I got Koepka’s check,” Kern joked. So certainly his rates for lessons are going up. Buhrmann said no, but the golf shop has fielded four or five calls about membership and lessons, “and one guy wanted to buy the hat Ben was wearing.” Well done, Ben.

5. Turned in my ballot for the preseason Associated Press college football poll, which will be released Monday. I won’t reveal my No. 1 until then, but I do have five Big 12 teams in my Top 25 . ... Best name in college football this year? It has to be LSU cornerback Greedy Williams, who had six interceptions last year . ... Coolest summer job by football players had to be that of Minnesota defensive ends Jerry Gibson and Winston DeLattiboudere. They worked at the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory as security guards and got to feed the giraffe.

6. If you’re gearing up for your fantasy draft, I think everyone’s rookie favorite is Saquon Barkley. That said, his quarterback, Eli Manning, may be close to done. The Giants’ offense scored just 28 TDs in 16 games last year. Barkley just tweaked a hammy. I love Sony Michel, but that Patriots backfield caucus scares me.

7. About halfway through Verne Lundquist’s entertaining new book, “Play by Play.” I learned he struck out 14 times in a row playing youth baseball and was a cheerleader his senior year in high school. His mother still calls him by his given name, LaVerne, but the world and Bowling for Dollars enthusiasts know him by Verne since station manager Bob Gifford at WOC in Davenport, Iowa, refused to let him on the air with that gender-confusing name.

8. Love summer football magazines. Street & Smith projects Texas in the Alamo Bowl against Oregon . ... Great to have back Bryce Love for another season, but it’s amazing to think that with his 3,127 yards, he’s still almost 4,000 career yards behind NCAA rushing king Ron Dayne’s 7,125. Is that an unbreakable record? ... I had a nice conversation with Barry Switzer recently about Baker Mayfield, and the Sooners legend told me he spoke to a Frank Broyles Award luncheon in Fayetteville recently and told the audience, “I know no Arkansas policeman would ever run down one of my quarterbacks.”

9. “Mission: Impossible — Fallout” may have been the best of this series. Don’t go to the bathroom during the helicopter scene or the hellacious restroom fight. Gave it 8 ducks.

10. Crazy prediction: The NFL rookie QB who will make the most starts this year is the Jets’ Sam Darnold.