Bell deflects talk on Terps’ culture
BRADENTON – New Florida State offensive coordinator Walt Bell on Tuesday did not directly address questions regarding an ESPN report on the toxic culture at his former school Maryland, but he did offer condolences following the death of Terps offensive lineman Jordan McNair.
Bell, who was hired away after two seasons in the same role at Maryland, also expressed his joy to work at Florida State under new Seminoles head coach Willie Taggart.
“Ultimately, at the end of the day I was there. We recruited Jordan, know his mother really well. That’s devastating,” Bell said before FSU’s practice at IMG Academy on Tuesday.
“Even more than Jordan, [offensive lineman] Ellis McKinnie, who’s there now, who is one of his best friends, to see how devastated those kids are, my heart goes out to them. Obviously, prayers and thoughts to those guys.
“Just moving forward, whatever happens there, happens. But again, prayers to Jordan and his family.”
Maryland president Wallace Loh and athletics director Damon Evans addressed media at the school on Tuesday, accepting responsibility for McNair’s June 13 death after he suffered heatstroke at a May practice.
Maryland head coach D.J. Durkin was placed on administrative leave on Saturday after ESPN reported players were physically and verbally abused in a program led by Durkin and strength coach Rick Court.
Court was fired and reached a financial settlement with Maryland on Monday, according to reports.
McNair was hospitalized after a workout on May 29, when he collapsed and had a body temperature of 106 degrees, according to another ESPN report.
“Any time there’s a loss of life, especially a kid like Jordan,” Bell said when asked about the difficulty of the Maryland situation as a former assistant.
“Jordan was incredibly special. Not only was he a really good football player, and had an incredibly bright future ahead of him, but he’s everything you want in a kid — a great heart, a comfortable soul and a great demeanor about him.
“To lose a kid like him, above and beyond everything else that you read, that’s the toughest part.”
Bell defended his ethics as a football coach, saying he has always aimed to tell players the truth, love his players and invest in their overall development.
“Always tell the truth and invest in them. I can guarantee you that almost all those kids that I coached at every stop I’ve been in, they can at least tell you those two things about me. Regardless of where I’ve been, that’s what me personally as a human being that I’m about,” Bell said.
“In terms of the culture there [at Maryland] versus here [at FSU], number one, I’m excited to be here at Florida State,” Bell continued.
“Number two, I’m excited to be at a place where kids smile at practice, have a great time at practice and to work for a head football coach that instills that family atmosphere in our organization.
“I’m incredibly excited to be here.”