Amid the turmoil of the past week, Maryland played Michigan State with a chance to become bowl eligible. But, once again this season, the action on the field at College Park came secondary to the happenings outside the lines.
The story at Maryland has not been about who was there, but who wasn't. On Saturday it was Matt Canada on the sideline coaching the Terrapins, not D.J. Durkin, who was fired about 24 hours after being reinstated by the Board of Regents.
The story wasn't the Terps community rallying to see their team go for a sixth win on the season, but the sea of empty seats at Maryland Stadium.
Today’s crowd in College Park: pic.twitter.com/VsNjmbejEx
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach)
November 3, 2018 At kickoff. Michigan State traveled pretty well. Maryland, well ... pic.twitter.com/fFhgnGrDMW
— David Steele (@David_C_Steele)
November 3, 2018 One drive in and still not much support from the #Terps student section against Michigan State pic.twitter.com/Jtq26dD2SV
— Jake Russell (@_JakeRussell)
November 3, 2018 Earlier in the week at a protest on campus, some students called for a boycott of Saturday's game to express their discontent with the handling of the football program.
Student leaders on steps of admin building ask that students attend Saturday’s game to support the players. Marchers interrupt with chant of “boycott, boycott” pic.twitter.com/dU9pctA4l3
— David Steele (@David_C_Steele)
November 1, 2018 Before the game, other players from Maryland teams were on the field to express their support for the football players.
Student-athletes from other Maryland sports teams lined up to welcome the football team as it ran onto the field. pic.twitter.com/PSWxvph6nU
— Thomas Kendziora (@TKendziora37)
November 3, 2018 Before the game it was Ellis McKennie running on the field carrying the No. 79 flag, in honor of Jordan McNair. McKennie tweeted earlier in the week his displeasure with the Board of Regents, saying "Every Saturday my teammates and I have to kneel before the memorial of our fallen teammate. Yet a group of people do not have the courage to hold anyone accountable for his death. If only they could have the courage that Jordan had. It’s never the wrong time to do what’s right."
And of course it's Ellis McKennie holding the No. 79 flag coming onto the field. He grew up on the same street as Jordan McNair and has been one of the team's most prominent voices this week.
— Emily Giambalvo (@EmilyGiam)
November 3, 2018 The entire Maryland Football team runs to the 79 paint decal, remembering Jordan McNair, to pray pic.twitter.com/ikGWkQPXwX
— Tramel Raggs (@Raggs_No_Riches)
November 3, 2018 Michigan State defeated Maryland, 24-3. The Terps fell to 5-4 on the season (3-3 Big Ten).
