University of Maryland accepts responsibility in football player’s death

The president of the University of Maryland said during a press conference on Tuesday that the school accepts “legal and moral responsibility” for the death of football player Jordan McNair, who died of heatstroke after a strenuous practice.

“Based upon what we know at this time, even though the final report is not completed, I said to the family [of McNair], ‘The university owes you an apology,'” University of Maryland president Wallace Loh said. “You entrusted Jordan to our care and he is never returning home again.’”

Medical examiners have determined that McNair received improper medical treatment after he collapsed during a workout last spring. Trainers apparently did not take his temperature, which was 106 degrees, and did not ice his body, The Washington Post reported.

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“Some of the actions of our athletic training staff — not the coaching staff — our athletic training staff, they basically misdiagnosed the situation.” Loh said. “No vital signs were taken, other safeguard actions that should have been taken were not. For me, that was enough to say, I need to come and personally apologize.”

“I have looked into the eyes of a grieving mother and father, and there is simply nothing good enough,” Loh added.

The university last week suspended four members of its athletic staff pending a review of the football team’s coaching practices.

The suspensions came as an ESPN report published last week alleged the Maryland Terrapin coaches fostered a toxic and abusive culture for the football players. The report interviewed current and former team members who agreed the coaching environment was built on fear, shame and intimidation.

“Pending the final outcome of this review, the university has placed members of the Athletics staff on administrative leave,” the university said on Friday. “We will be able to speak in greater detail when the review is complete and shared with the public. Our thoughts remain with Jordan McNair’s family, friends and teammates.” 

The university suspended coach DJ Durkin, who was the head coach when McNair died.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan in a statement on Saturday supported Durkin’s suspension.

“In light of deeply troubling reports about the University of Maryland football program’s training practices and general culture, I support the university’s decision to suspend Coach DJ Durkin, and expect that the investigation into the program will be wide-ranging and thorough,” Hogan said. “We must have complete confidence that our student athletes are treated with dignity and respect and that they are supervised and coached responsibly.”

Loh ended the press conference on Tuesday by promising that the university’s athletic program will focus on athletes’ safety moving forward.

“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,” Loh said.