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The 19-year-old from Randallstown, Maryland, collapsed during an outdoor Terrapins workout on May 29. He died two weeks later. No cause of death has been officially released, but ESPN has learned of an official heatstroke conclusion and new details about what happened to McNair based upon interviews with multiple sources in and close to the Terrapins program, as well as two witnesses to the workout.

An ESPN reporter on Thursday and Friday provided details about this story and other findings on the overall football culture and asked Maryland officials for interviews or to comment. University officials on Friday afternoon said, "The University of Maryland has placed members of our athletics staff on administrative leave pending the outcome of the external review." No further details were provided.

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McNair's death, and whether university coaches and officials followed proper protocols after he became distressed, are being investigated by Dr. Rod Walters, a university-hired, former longtime collegiate athletic trainer. Walters' report is expected to be released Sept. 15. McNair's parents have hired the Baltimore law firm of Murphy, Falcon & Murphy to investigate as well.

The May 29 workout, which was organized and led by the Maryland strength and conditioning staff, began at 4:15 p.m. ET. McNair and other linemen were near the end of their sprint set when McNair started having obvious difficulties, according to multiple sources. McNair family attorney Billy Murphy told ESPN on Thursday that McNair had a seizure at about 5 p.m., following a sprint.

"Our reading of the medical records and the 911 call Maryland made to the EMT to come to the field reveal that 45 minutes into the practice, he had convulsions and a seizure on the field," Murphy said, "and the 911 call reflects emergency personnel noted McNair had experienced a seizure."

this is the article what are 3 things u learnt from this

5 answers

From the article, here are three key points:

  1. Circumstances of Death: The 19-year-old athlete, McNair, collapsed during a workout on May 29 and died two weeks later. While an official cause of death has not been released, it is reported that heatstroke is the likely conclusion based on interviews and observations from the Terrapins program.

  2. Investigation and Accountability: The University of Maryland has placed members of its athletics staff on administrative leave while an external review is conducted to investigate the circumstances surrounding McNair's death. This inquiry is being led by Dr. Rod Walters, a former collegiate athletic trainer, with findings expected to be released on September 15.

  3. Medical Emergence During Practice: During the workout led by the Maryland strength and conditioning staff, McNair began to show distress towards the end of a sprint set and suffered a seizure approximately 45 minutes into the practice. This indicates potential concerns regarding the protocols followed by coaches and staff during the workout, considering the reported difficulties McNair was experiencing at that time.

what are 2 things u find intresting

Here are two interesting aspects from the article:

  1. Cultural Reflection in Sports Programs: The article hints at broader concerns regarding the culture within the Maryland football program. The fact that an external investigation into the staff's protocols and the overall environment is necessary raises questions about accountability and the treatment of athletes in high-pressure sports programs. This reflects ongoing discussions in collegiate athletics about athlete safety, mental health, and the responsibilities of coaching staff.

  2. Timeline of Medical Response: The specific timing of McNair's seizure—approximately 45 minutes into the practice—combined with the disclosure of a 911 call made by Maryland officials, points to critical moments that can influence an athlete's health outcomes in emergencies. It raises questions about the immediate medical response protocols in place during workouts and how they may have impacted the situation. Such details emphasize the importance of having well-established emergency procedures during athletic training sessions.

1 thing u still have questions about

One question that remains is: What specific protocols and measures were in place during the workout to monitor the athletes' health and ensure their safety? Understanding the existing safety protocols, the training staff's responsibilities, and how they responded to McNair's distress could provide insights into whether there were any shortcomings or failures in preventing his tragic situation. This could also inform potential changes needed in athletic practices to better protect athletes in the future.