The University of Maryland informed the parents of Jordan McNair that the school will be accepting responsibility for the death of their son in June.
University President Wallace Loh said in a press conference on Tuesday that the school would be accepting the “legal and moral” repercussions for their part in the death of McNair, an offensive lineman on Maryland’s football team. McNair was hospitalized for two weeks with heat stroke and exhaustion following a team workout, before he ultimately passed away on June 13.
The Terrapin football team, including McNair, was reportedly running 110-yard sprints when McNair passed out. When McNair became too exhausted to stand, the team trainer’s reportedly told his teammates to drag him across the field.
Loh said that the coach and trainers “misdiagnosed” the situation regarding McNair.
“The university accepts legal and moral responsibility for the mistakes that our training staff made on that fateful day of May 29,” Loh said, via The Athletic’s Nicole Auerbach. “No vital signs were taken. Other safeguarding actions were taken. For me, that’s enough for to say I need to come to personally apologize to [Jordan McNair’s family].”
In a statement released via the family’s lawyer, McNair’s parents said they appreciated Loh taking responsibility.
“While Marty and Tonya [McNair] will never get another day with Jordan, [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,” the statement said.
The culture of Maryland’s football team was called into heavy scrutiny by ESPN, in a report detailing the “fear and intimidation” based coaching methods. Among some of the more serious allegations, former and current players alleged widespread verbal and emotional abuse by coaches and trainers at the school.
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