College football: Investigation finds Maryland culpable in death of player

An independent investigation into the death of University of Maryland football player Jordan McNair has determined that trainers on the scene did not follow proper procedures after he collapsed on the field.

The report provided details of what happened and confirmed what university officials previously acknowledged.

McNair was hospitalized May 29 after a team workout and died June 13. The family attorney said the cause of death was heatstroke.

Dr. Rod Walters, a former college athletic trainer and sports medicine consultant who led the investigation launched by the school following McNair’s death, said Friday that it was 1 hour, 39 minutes between the time McNair collapsed and the departure of the ambulance from the campus.

“There was the failure to identify escalating symptoms associated with heat illness, including assessing vital signs, identifying the condition and aggressively treating the patient’s elevated core temperature,” Walters said. “No apparatus was used for prompt cooling of the patient. Inadequate cooling devices were used, such as cold towels, ice packs, etc.”

Maryland athletic director Damon Evans acknowledged last month that “mistakes were made” by the training staff in the treatment of McNair, a 19-year-old sophomore offensive lineman. University President Wallace Loh visited McNair’s parents to offer a personal apology for how the situation was handled.

Terrapins coach DJ Durkin is on administrative leave while an unrelated external investigation into the culture of the football program is being conducted. According to the report, Durkin was on the scene when McNair collapsed. His role in the events that followed was not made clear.

Penn State pours it on late vs. Illinois

Miles Sanders set career highs by rushing for 200 yards and three touchdowns, Trace McSorley threw for three touchdowns and ran for 92 yards, and No. 10 Penn State scored 35 points in the fourth quarter to pull away for a 63-24 victory over Illinois.

Penn State (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) fell behind by three early in the third before Sanders scored on a 48-yard run and put away Illinois (2-2, 0-1) with two touchdowns in the opening minute of the fourth.

Central Florida extends win streak

McKenzie Milton ran for a career-best three touchdowns while throwing for three more, helping No. 16 Central Florida extend the nation’s longest winning streak with a 56-36 rout of Florida Atlantic (2-2).

The junior completed 21 of 32 passes for 306 yards without an interception, and the Knights (3-0) won for the 16th straight time to set a record for consecutive victories by an American Athletic Conference team.