Hook'em Headlines
Fansided

Texas Football: 5 biggest storylines in season opener vs. Maryland

By Andrew Miller

AUSTIN, TX - SEPTEMBER 02: Head coach Tom Herman of the Texas Longhorns walks into the stadium before the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on September 2, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX - SEPTEMBER 02: Head coach Tom Herman of the Texas Longhorns walks into the stadium before the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on September 2, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
ANN ARBOR, MI – NOVEMBER 05: Head coach D.J. Durkin of the Maryland Terrapins looks on from the sideline while playing the Michigan Wolverines on November 5, 2016 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI – NOVEMBER 05: Head coach D.J. Durkin of the Maryland Terrapins looks on from the sideline while playing the Michigan Wolverines on November 5, 2016 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

5. Turmoil for D.J. Durkin and the Terps

Very few programs across the country had an off-season as long as the one for Maryland football. At this point, Maryland’s head football coach D.J. Durkin is placed on administrative leave due to the reports of a “toxic culture” within the program. He won’t be in the locker room with his team for Week 1 in Landover, MD.

Similar to that of the Ohio State Buckeyes, Maryland is a Big 10 program that is looking to pull things back together after some of the worst news coming about during fall camp. Durkin likely won’t be returning as the head coach of the Terps at any point during the 2018 regular season and beyond.

Maryland also had one of the biggest tragedies of the off-season with the passing of offensive lineman Jordan McNair in summer workouts. That was a major factor in the development and allegations surrounding Durkin’s dismissal and investigation into the entire football program.

This has to be a distraction to Maryland to some degree entering Week 1. No matter how well this team was prepared for the season opener against the Horns, the vibe in fall practice was going to change. Seeing where the headspace is at for all of the players for the Terps on Sep. 1 in the first few minutes of the game will be a telling sign as to how hard it will be to pull the emotions back together.

Home/Texas Football