Maryland Board of Regents Chairman Resigns Following Horrific Mishandling of Fired Coach
Here’s the story … of a man named Brady … who was bringing up alumni’s lunches with the way he handled the firing of embattled Maryland football coach D.J. Durkin.
Durkin, as you recall, was placed on administrative leave in August after the death of player Jordan McNair. The 19-year-old offensive lineman collapsed on the practice field May 29 and succumbed two weeks later to heat stroke. McNair’s family blamed Durkin and said he should be fired, and an ESPN report claimed there was a “toxic culture” in the Maryland football program.
On Tuesday, the University System of Maryland’s Board of Regents, chaired by James Brady, decided to reinstate Durkin as Terps coach, angering players, students and politicians.
Brady didn’t just shoot himself in the foot; he got himself an extra-long ripcord, stood right in front of an artillery piece and pulled the cord in question.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan was among those who spoke out against the board’s decision to reinstate Durkin.
Said Hogan, “I am deeply troubled by the lack of transparency from the board of regents, and deeply concerned about how they could have possibly arrived at the decisions announced yesterday.”
Maryland President Wallace Loh, empowered from over his bosses’ heads to do the only morally correct thing under these circumstances, fired Durkin on Wednesday.
And on Thursday, Brady announced he was stepping down from his post.
“They were difficult decisions, based on information included in reports stemming from two investigations and a great deal of thought and deliberation,” Brady said. “I understand that reasonable people could come to other conclusions. And even among our board, some did.
“Going forward … I believe the board needs to be able to return to the important business of supporting and advancing Maryland’s public university system, for the benefit of its students and families, and of people across the state.
“In recent days, I have become the public face of both the board and its decisions related to these matters. In my estimation, my continued presence on the board will inhibit its ability to move Maryland’s higher education agenda forward. And I have no interest in serving as a distraction from that important work.”
“Accordingly, I will step down from the Board of Regents immediately.”
Hogan’s office issued a statement as well.
“Governor Hogan thanks Mr. Brady for his service on the University System of Maryland Board of Regents, as well as his many years of distinguished public service under three governors of both parties. The governor believes that the university system must move forward in an open and transparent manner to restore public trust in Maryland’s flagship university.”
Meanwhile, the rest of the board, just hoping they won’t have to die on the hill they staked out by standing with Brady, issued a please-don’t-hurt-us for the ages.
Said the board in a statement, “The board has … heard from many, including Governor Hogan, members of the legislature, who strongly disagreed with the recommendations that were shared Tuesday. The board deeply respects the views of Maryland’s elected leaders and will participate in any process they request.”
USM Board of Regents Statement https://t.co/xWiHLP00Dj
— University System of Maryland (@Univ_System_MD) November 1, 2018
Meanwhile, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education will consider at a meeting this month whether this whole mess should affect Maryland’s accreditation, The Baltimore Sun reported.
An independent investigation this summer concluded that while there was not a “toxic culture” in the football program, there were “many occasions” of abusive conduct involving strength and conditioning coach Frank Court, who resigned in August.
At least for now, justice seems in the ascendant in the Old Line State.
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