Ad Disclosure
D.J. Durkin at B1G Media Days: We’re a team playing for Jordan McNair this year
Published:
It didn’t take long for Maryland head coach D.J. Durkin to mention Jordan McNair in his opening remarks at B1G Media Days on Tuesday. He wanted to make it clear that McNair was still at the forefront of everyone’s mind.
Tragedy hit the Maryland campus when McNair collapsed following a summer workout in June. He was taken to the hospital but died following a liver transplant. He was 19.
On Tuesday, Durkin spoke highly of the fallen Terrapin and said that this year was dedicated to McNair.
“Jordan was a special member of our team,” Durkin said. “He had a unique way about him that was infectious to his teammates. He was loved by everyone.
“We have a team that’s working through the grieving process together. The focus with our guys is to come together, both as student-athletes as well as the staff, coaches and everyone involved.”
Durkin also said that Maryland will play for McNair this year and will find some way to honor him throughout the 2018 season and moving forward.
“We’ve assigned a committee to make sure there’s always that presence,” he said. “We’re a team playing for Jordan this year. There will be some things that we announced in the coming days of what exactly we’re going to do.”
Maryland opens the season at home against Texas on Sept. 1.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB