Maryland Reinstated DJ Durkin After The Irresponsible Death Of One Of His Players Because They Hate Winning, Recruiting, And - Most Notably - What's Right

DJ Durkin called a team meeting yesterday after being fully reinstated as Maryland's coach.

Several Maryland players reportedly walked out of that meeting, while others took to Twitter to speak out against the school's decision.https://t.co/R97TFlzPyw

— SB Nation (@SBNation) October 31, 2018

Sources tell ESPN that several players walked out of the meeting with DJ Durkin in College Park. https://t.co/pRO06LXiS0

— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) October 30, 2018

So, ESPN is reporting that if Wallace Loh didn't keep DJ Durkin, the board of regents would have fired Loh and found a CEO that would retain Durkin. What kind crazy world are we living in? https://t.co/WnFdxHI48h

— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) October 30, 2018

I'm not going to pretend I have first-hand knowledge of the investigation into what certainly reads like a toxic environment engulfing the University of Maryland football program. I'm not going to act like I'm fully aware of which links were the most faulty in a chain of command that ultimately couldn't keep 19 year old Jordan McNair from tragically suffering a certain death.

​That's partially because it would be irresponsible of me to assume I know everything that factored in to the decision to reinstate DJ Durkin, but it's mostly because people far more in tune with what took place at College Park on that fateful summer day have indirectly told me all I need to know in determining that it wasn't just a wrong decision, but an inexplicable one...

Every Saturday my teammates and I have to kneel before the memorial of our fallen teammate. Yet a group of people do not have the courage to hold anyone accountable for his death. If only they could have the courage that Jordan had. It’s never the wrong time to do what’s right. pic.twitter.com/AaZVmLGTtS

— Ellis McKennie (@emck_cubed97) October 30, 2018

We're not just talking about the chaotic culture of college football prioritizing winning while proving counterproductive in shaping the morals of boys instead of turning them into men. Sadly, thanks in large part to Urban Meyer, that conversation is hardly even worth the wasted breath at this point. Rather, we're talking about a fatal culture in college football ignoring losing while proving deaf to the existing morals of boys that are already bigger men than the person that's somehow still entrusted with their safety.

Simply put, no matter the motivation, it makes no sense to keep DJ Durkin. Whether it be winning on the field, winning on the recruiting trail, or winning in the game of life, Maryland just actively chose to remain losers and they did it all to retain a Head Coach whose team has inarguably been better in his absence. Put aside his negligence leading to more teenage deaths than his supervision has led to encouraging seasons, because - regardless of the ethical implications - he's undoubtedly lost trust amongst the Terrapins' mediocre present and the ear of what could have the Terrapins' brighter future. There should be no coming back from having a kid die on your watch, and - though it shouldn't matter - that's especially true when your timepiece is both ineffective and easily replaceable. Never mind finding a good reason to reinstate to DJ Durkin, because - judging by the reaction of those who should matter a hell of a lot more than he does - the University of Maryland (whose Board of Regents apparently understands the fatality of death about as well as a classroom of 3 year olds) would be hard pressed to come up with a bad one that doesn't have a dollar sign attached.