Maryland Holds Press Conference, Admits Fault In Death Of Jordan McNair

Maryland called an impromptu press conference today at 2:00pm ET where the school President, Wallace Loh, admitted fault in the death of Jordan McNair during a training session earlier this summer.

School President, Wallace Loh, led off the press conference with condolences to Jordan McNair, his family, and detailing how they had just arrived back from Baltimore after first discussing the details of what he was about to talk about with the McNair’s.

What did President Loh have to say?

Wallace Loh, while leading off stating that they had just returned from the McNair’s residence, also unexpectedly admitted that he had not spoken to the McNair’s in person since Jordan’s death. This is incomprehensible that the school’s president and athletic director had not even reached out to the family after Jordan passed away and prior to the passing had only reached out via phone call (Damon Evans had visited the hospital).

Loh admitted full fault for Maryland in what occurred with McNair, stating the following:

• Maryland training staff did not properly follow established procedures to treat and diagnose Jordan when symptoms were present;
• Maryland did not properly diagnose the heat stroke nor have an ice bath or cold water immersion bath available at the practice;
• Maryland did not take Jordan’s temperature to determine if heat exhaustion/stroke were present; and
• Maryland failed to immediately call emergency services when symptoms presented themselves.

Unreal. Embarrassing. Incomprehensible given the technology available today. As an avid Maryland fan, I cannot even express how disappointed I am that the school was so negligent in the treatment of a player. I am also shocked that Loh gave such detail prior to the investigation being complete with an attorney threatening to sue the school. Loh accepted full responsibility on behalf of the university in the case.

Loh also went on to detail a commission being put together to investigate the separate allegations made regarding the culture around the program. Loh stated that the allegations are reprehensible if true and would be investigated fully by a team of four lawyers/judges that he put together. He promised a swift but full investigation into the claims of the toxic culture around the program and that all student athletes would be interviewed and any other students that wanted to come forward.

What did Damon Evans have to say?

Evans did not state much on his own that was not already stated by Wallace Loh. Evans promised to implement changes into the medical staff as well as rest and hydration policies around all sports to ensure this never occurs again as well as the full cooperation into any investigations into the culture surrounding the program. Evans stated he had never witnessed the culture stated by the sensational ESPN story that was published but would ensure that if found true that further actions would be taken to correct the atmosphere.

When reiterating all details that Loh had stated, Evans further stated that head strength and conditioning coach Rick Court had been releived of his position with the University. Further investigation via twitter of all places confirmed that Maryland had not fired court but rather reached a financial settlement with him to resign.

What are your thoughts on today’s presser?