Maryland Runs A Reverse, Fires Durkin

After an intense outcry from students, politicians, alum and, we’re sure major donors, Maryland waited just one day to admit it blew it when it retained head football coach DJ Durkin and went ahead and canned him.

Durkin had been on paid leave after the death of offensive lineman Jordan McNair. On Tuesday, the Board of Regents told President Wallace D. Loh that he would be fired if he didn't retain McNair.

Apparently everyone got involved from members of congress and the governor on down. The candidate running to replace him ripped the decision too. At last - bipartisanship!

Durkin will not be fired for cause and therefore is going to get a lot of money: he’s owed about $5.5 million.

It’s not clear yet what will happen to Loh. He was nearly fired Tuesday, then fired Durkin on Wednesday in defiance of the board’s wishes. He had announced that he would retire next summer but after this power play he could reconsider or the board, which has shown a stunning lack of awareness, could continue on that path and go ahead and fire him.

Everyone involved in this fiasco - Durkin, A.D. Damon Evans, Loh, who didn’t have the courage to put himself in harm’s way even to fire a man as repugnant as Durkin, and the board - they should all go and without being told to either.

Anyone who has no shame about this whole sorry episode should have nothing to do with college athletics let alone a liberal arts education.

UNC and Louisville are embarrassing enough for the ACC. The Big Ten wanted this dumpster fire. They’re welcome to it.

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