Maryland did what others have failed to do. It did the right thing.
When Maryland joined the Big Ten, it was business as usual—a transaction that benefited a cash-strapped athletic program. But this week was anything but business as usual in College Park. It was a week unlike anything we’ve seen in college athletics.
And what happened at Maryland—as chaotic and unpredictable as it was—might just change the landscape of major college athletics.
On Tuesday, the school’s Board of Regents asked UMD President Wallace Loh to reinstate, D.J. Durkin, the Terrapins’ suspended head football coach. He did. Then, on Wednesday, Loh fired Durkin. On Thursday, the Board chair resigned.
Maryland’s Jordan McNair died of heat exhaustion (photo, Tseudo Times)
What caused such these extraordinary turn of events?
The Board concluded that Durkin was being unduly blamed for circumstances that led to the death of Jordan McNair, a player on his team. He should be given a chance to succeed, the Board concluded, and Loh was ordered to reinstate him “or else.” Loh did just that … and, then, simultaneously announced his retirement.
The decision to reinstate Durkin was met with outrage—from undergraduate students to the state’s governor—with loads of folks in between. On Wednesday, Loh got that message full bore when he consulted with and heard from university constituents across the campus, state, and country.
He reversed the decision and fired Durkin (Note: Loh, not the Board, had the final say on Durkin’s appointment). Soon thereafter, the Board chair stepped aside, recognizing that he had lost influence – because of the firestorm that he and the Board had ignited.
But what happened at Maryland—as important as it is for the Terrapins—offers hope for college athletics and universities writ large. How so? Maryland did what others have failed to do.
Maryland did the right thing. Publicly. Emphatically. Full stop.
That didn’t happen at Penn State or Baylor or Michigan State. It didn’t happen at UNC or Louisville or Ohio State. It didn’t happen at any of the schools that have faced similar circumstances.
Some good things happened at those schools, of course—athletic cleansing at Louisville stands out—but none of those schools went as far as Maryland did. Maryland made a statement, loudly and clearly, about what’s right and proper. And, in doing so, Maryland showed the country that some things are more important than athletics.
In acting the way it did this week, Maryland rejected the standard three-step, DENY, DEFER, AND DEFLECT. Maryland didn’t blame the media. Maryland didn’t criticize the NCAA. Maryland didn’t say it was being treated unfairly vis-à-vis other schools.
In effect, Maryland didn’t do any of the things that have come to be identified with what experts say “Protects the Brand.”
And the irony (so sweet) is this: by eschewing business as usual Maryland ENHANCED its brand.
Fear the Turtle? Hell, no! Applaud the Turtle! Respect the Turtle! Bow to the Turtle!
There’s national hope because of Maryland. But make no mistake about it. Hope didn’t come from those who govern it. Hope didn’t come from donors who bankroll athletics. Hope didn’t come from an athletics director who “saw the light.”
–Hope came from students who organized.
–Hope came from alumni who spoke out.
–Hope came from politicians who cried foul.
–Hope came from sports journalists with Maryland roots who said and wrote, “Maryland can do better!”
–Hope came from a president who put values ahead of career.
All those people, acting independently, spoke in unison and from the same script.
There’s hope.
She is not dead, nor deaf, nor dumb …
She breathes! She burns! She’ll come! …
Maryland! My Maryland!
(Closing stanza of My Maryland!)
