Maryland governor calls upon school, UMD regents to ‘reconsider’ decision to keep DJ Durkin

By Oct 31, 2018, 6:14 PM EDT
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The decision to keep DJ Durkin as head coach at Maryland is no longer sticking to sports.

In a scathing statement released on Wednesday afternoon, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan called upon the UMD Board of Regents and the school president himself to “reconsider” their recent personnel decisions made yesterday by saying they have let down the state and the entire university system with their actions:

The governor’s statement comes in the wake of near universal dismay that the school’s regents and President Wallace Loh have decided to keep Durkin and athletic director Damon Evans in their posts following both the death of offensive lineman Jordan McNair and two subsequent investigations into the entire program that found numerous other issues.

While we have seen college football and politics clash at times in recent years, it’s still fairly significant for the governor of a state to so publicly call out the athletic decisions being made by the leadership of Maryland’s flagship campus. It’s also another sign that this story isn’t going anywhere at all.

Also on Wednesday, the University of Maryland Student Government Association expressed their own outrage over the board’s decision and called on plans for a rally on campus that will take place on Thursday. Even the players themselves are getting involved to make their displeasure known, with some walking out of a team meeting this week and others taking to social media to voice their concerns.

Durkin, who is set to coach the Terps on Saturday at home against Michigan State, may not be totally safe in his position after all even following the very public press conference that led to his reinstatement this week.

Utah State player upgraded to fair condition after collapse

Associated PressMar 25, 2023, 1:50 AM EDT
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Utah State redshirt freshman wide receiver Josh Davis is in fair condition on Friday, one day after collapsing at spring football practice following sudden cardiac arrest, the university announced.

Davis, initially was listed in critical condition, was breathing on his own. He is in the intensive-care unit at McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden, Utah.

Davis’ parents arrived in Utah on Thursday evening.

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Davis, who is from Carlsbad, California, collapsed at Merlin Olsen Field and was immediately treated by the training staff, the university said. He was taken to Logan Regional Hospital.

The university said Davis was stabilized in the Logan hospital before being moved to Ogden.

Alabama suspends freshman defensive back after drug arrest

Associated PressMar 20, 2023, 10:32 PM EDT
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama freshman defensive back Tony Mitchell has been suspended from the team following his arrest on a drug charge.

Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban said Monday after the first practice of spring that Mitchell was suspended from the team “and all team activities until we gather more information about the situation and what his legal circumstance is.”

The Holmes County Sheriff’s Office arrested Mitchell and another man, Christophere Lewis, last week on a charge of possession of marijuana with the intent to sell or deliver, according to a post on the department’s Facebook page. Lewis also was charged with carrying a concealed gun without a permit.

“Everybody’s got an opportunity to make choices and decisions,” Saban said. “There’s no such thing as being in the wrong place at the wrong time. You’ve gotta be responsible for who you’re with, who you’re around and what you do, who you associate yourself with and the situations that you put yourself in. It is what it is, but there is cause and effect when you make choices and decisions that put you in bad situations.”

Mitchell, who is from Alabaster, Alabama, was a five-star prospect rated the 34th-best player and No. 3 safety in the 247Composite rankings.

Mitchell was driving the vehicle during a traffic stop. After deputies smelled marijuana, Mitchell picked up a baggie of marijuana from the passenger floorboard, according to the department’s Facebook post.

Sheriff’s deputies found “an additional significant amount of marijuana, a set of scales, a loaded handgun between the passenger seat and center console, and a large amount of cash,” according to the department’s Facebook post.