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Pressure mounting as state governor calls out MarylandPressure mounting as state governor calls out Maryland
Washington, DC,
October 31, 2018
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247Sports
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Keeping Communities Safe
Maryland’s governor is the latest to light into the University of Maryland regarding its DJ Durkin decisions announced earlier this week. Larry Hogan called upon the Maryland Board of Regents and university president Wallace Loh to “reconsider their decisions” surrounding the football culture and Durkin’s return from suspension.
Maryland’s governor is the latest to light into the University of Maryland regarding its DJ Durkin decisions announced earlier this week. Larry Hogan called upon the Maryland Board of Regents and university president Wallace Loh to “reconsider their decisions” surrounding the football culture and Durkin’s return from suspension. In a statement released approximately 24 hours after Maryland went public with its decision, Hogan expressed his “deeply troubled” feelings surrounding the Terrapins. “I share the concerns of many Marylanders and believe very strongly that more must be done to restore the public trust. I am calling on both the University System of Maryland Board of Regents and President Wallace Loh to reconsider their decisions and to schedule a public hearing to address these issues an an open and transparent manner. “While the university system is required by law to operate independent of political influence, and as such no governor has the ability to hire or fire any university personnel or members of the Board of Regents, I can and will demand that the university is held accountable for making the reforms they have pledged to put in place with the full transparency that the students, parents and faculty expect and deserve. “The University System of Maryland has let down the University of Maryland community and the citizens of Maryland, and now is the time to fix it.” The outrage surrounding Durkin now hits both sides of the political aisle within the state. Hogan, a Republican governor, issued similar statements to that of Democratic congressman Anthony G Brown. Brown sternly criticized Maryland for its handling and decision regarding Durkin. “Coach Durkin should be fired,” Brown stated. “Director Evans should be fired. And Governor Hogan’s hand-picked Board Chairman Brady should resign for the extreme callousness and ineptitude he demonstrated by putting his own personal vendettas and agenda ahead of the welfare of our students. Jordan McNair’s life matters. As a father and a University of Maryland parent, I urge the entire UMD community to come together and reject this litany of excuses and demand accountability.” The University of Maryland announced Tuesday that Durkin was being reinstated this season in the aftermath of McNair’s death in June, many national analysts are at a loss for words, unsure of a decaying culture in collegiate athletics. Durkin, who has been on leave since Aug. 11, addressed his team for the first time in 2.5 months and several Maryland players reportedly got up and walked out. Durkin is expected to lead the Terps Saturday against Michigan State. McNair's father said Tuesday he feels like he's "been punched in the stomach" by the university's final decision. McNair's parents and their attorneys had previously called for Durkin to be fired for what they perceived as leadership failures that contributed to the circumstances of their son's death. "How can a student athlete be called a 'pussy' as he is in the early stages of death, dying before their eyes, with no action taken, and yet no one be held accountable?" their attorney, Hassan Murphy, said. "Chairman Brady and the board of regents had an obligation, not only to the football players on the University of Maryland team, but also to the memory of our brother and our son, Jordan. And despite their agendas, the facts are undeniable. The university has an obligation to protect, to educate and to nurture every one of its students and its very first obligation is to the health and safety to the students.” |