The University of Maryland fired head football coach DJ Durkin on Wednesday evening, one day after it received heavy criticism for reinstating him from administrative leave.
Durkin was on leave amid an investigation into the death of freshman offensive lineman Jordan McNair during a June workout.
STEELE: Maryland's initial decision was shameful
News of the university's sudden change was welcomed on campus and in the Terrapins' locker room.
Members of the UMD Student Government Association were taking turns slamming Durkin and the Board of Regents during their Wednesday night meeting. They were getting ready to pass a resolution calling for the coach to be fired. Then the news broke and the room broke into applause. https://t.co/GB87hWbFv9
— Talia Richman (@TaliRichman) October 31, 2018
SOURCE: After #Maryland AD Damon Evans told the team that DJ Durkin was fired "those players were very happy." https://t.co/PKOkRYEk25
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) October 31, 2018
It also produced predictable reactions on social media. A sample:
My University of Maryland public relations degree tells me that my University of Maryland is a huge f’n embarrassment. What a debacle.
— Mason Levinson (@masonlev) October 31, 2018
holy cats, how bent are the regents
— Chuck Pearson (@ShorterPearson) October 31, 2018
that's a lot of money Maryland just committed to
DJ missed a big moment should have resigned on his own....out of respect to McNair family 1st and Maryland team, college and students 2nd.
— Bruce Kaplan (@bkap3) October 31, 2018
I don’t think it Maryland could have possibly handled this entire situation any worse. He should have been fired in July or August. https://t.co/AXwrunpXPi
— Steve C. (@Stephenc202) October 31, 2018
Clearly, it will not happen on its own, so guess what---the students have spoken, the alumni have spoken, Maryland football players have spoken, and DJ Durkin is out of a job. At the end of the day, he's the football coach and he knew what was going on. He wasn't oblivious.
— Francis (@smelllikesugar) October 31, 2018