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The University of Maryland football team lined up with just 10 players for its first play Saturday, leaving a space at right guard in honor of deceased teammate Jordan McNair (Fox Sports1 screen shot).

Maryland Honors Dead Teammate With Intentional Penalty, Pulls Off Upset Over Texas

By Ross Kelly September 2, 2018 at 10:34am

Maryland honored fallen teammate Jordan McNair before their game against Texas, which was expected.

But the Terrapins then honored him during the game as well, which was unexpected, but turned out to be one of the feel-good moments of the young season.

McNair died in June after suffering a heatstroke during a May workout. The Terrapins wore “79” decals on their helmets in his honor and held a moment of silence before the game started.

The team held another tribute once the game began. On Maryland’s first offensive play, the team took the field with just 10 players. They intentionally left a hole at right guard which is where McNair would have lined up.

Great stuff: @TerpsFootball honors late Jordan McNair on first play, and @TexasFootball declines penalty. pic.twitter.com/uEefAgX5IX

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) September 1, 2018

Both Texas and the commentators were aware of the tribute beforehand and the Longhorns declined the delay of game penalty in a sign of respect.

“That was a class move by Texas,” Maryland interim coach Matt Canada said. “That’s something those guys wanted to do. They wanted to go out there and make sure Jordan was remembered, and we did that. Everything we’ve done to honor Jordan is from our players. They’re the ones who decided it, talked about it. That was special. It was emotional. It’s emotional right now, talking about it.”

Maryland played an inspired game afterwards, despite being 13-point underdogs to the 23rd ranked team in the nation. The Terrapins started the opening drive with a tribute to McNair, and ended it with a touchdown.

Maryland jumped out to a 24-7 lead midway through the second quarter before Texas started playing like one of the best teams in the country. The Longhorns scored 22 straight points to enter the fourth quarter with a 29-24 lead.

Was this tribute your favorite moment of Week 1 of college football?

A field goal gave Maryland a two-point lead early in the fourth quarter and they added another field goal with under seven minutes remaining.

Trailing 34-29, Texas had its chances to regain the lead but they turned the ball over in each of their last three possessions and Maryland held on for the win.

This is the second year in a row that an unranked Maryland team knocked off a ranked Texas team in Week 1. Last year the Longhorns were also ranked 23rd when they fell, at home, to Maryland 51-41.

With a pregame tribute to Jordan McNair and an in-game one that followed, it was only fitting that Maryland also honored McNair after the game.

Matt Canada said they placed the game ball in Jordan McNair’s locker after the game. #Terps pic.twitter.com/sVbGgYz8vX

— Aaron Oster (@TheAOster) September 1, 2018

“We presented the game ball to Jordan’s locker. We’ll put it in his locker and give it to his parents on Senior Day. This was a win for Jordan,” said Canada.

Maryland will play at Bowling Green next week before returning home to face Temple on Sep. 15. The team will hold another moment of silence in McNair’s honor before its first home game.

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