Maryland interim coach Canada: Health, safety are 'primary focus'
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[August 16, 2018]
Maryland offensive coordinator
and interim head coach Matt Canada emphasized the health and safety
of his players on Wednesday in his first public comments since head
coach DJ Durkin was placed on leave.
"Our practices have been extremely crisp," Canada told reporters at
practice. "The focus of our players' health and safety is No. 1, and
our players are feeling that and understanding that. That's our
primary focus."
The comments came a day after university president Wallace D. Loh
said at a press conference that the school accepted "legal and moral
responsibility" for the decisions made by its training staff in
relation to the death of 19-year-old offensive lineman Jordan
McNair.
McNair died on June 13 after being hospitalized following a team
workout on May 29. No cause of death has been announced, but ESPN
reported he died of heatstroke.
Canada spoke to some of the changes the team has made in recent
weeks to improve health and safety, including giving players two
breaks per practice. Players also have access to snacks, Gatorade
and water, and two white tents (one for offense, one for defense)
have been set up at practice to serve as cooling stations.
"Our entire staff has done a tremendous job of coming together, of
bonding together, of making it about our players," Canada said.
"It's amazing what you can accomplish when nobody cares who's
getting the credit, and we're seeing that right now in our
building."
Canada added that his staff had a meeting with players' parents to
discuss any concerns they have.
"I've talked to a couple of parents, and I've been very open and
honest, which I think is the only way to be," he said. "Everybody's
concerns right now are very wide-ranging. ... Our parents and our
players want to have a good football season."
The university previously hired former collegiate athletic trainer
Dr. Rod Walters to investigate whether coaches and team staff
followed proper procedures on the day McNair was hospitalized.
According to Walters' preliminary findings, the staff at Maryland
did not take McNair's body temperature at the workout, apply any
cold water immersion treatment or follow the proper emergency
response plan.
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Penn State linebacker Jason Cabinda (40) moves in to strip the ball
from Maryland Terrapins quarterback Max Bortenschlager (18) at
Maryland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports
The details of Walters' full investigation are expected to be
released on Sept. 15.
Billy Murphy, the McNair family's attorney, told ESPN over the
weekend that McNair suffered a seizure at 5 p.m. on May 29, and
nobody from Maryland called 911 until an hour after. Murphy added
that McNair had a body temperature of 106 degrees when he was
admitted to a local hospital.
An ESPN report over the weekend detailed what it called a "toxic
culture" in the Maryland football program that existed before
McNair's death's. In the report, assistant athletics director for
sports performance Rick Court was singled out for allegations of
verbal abuse and bullying, which were allegedly enabled by Durkin.
Maryland put Durkin on administrative leave Saturday, and parted
ways with Court through a financial settlement on Tuesday. ESPN
reported the team also placed head football athletic trainer Wes
Robinson and director of athletic training Steve Nordwall on leave.
Loh said Tuesday that all individuals suspended deserve "due
process" before a decision is made on their futures.
--Field Level Media
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