New Maryland president Darryll Pines says there are no cuts planned for athletic program this fall
The father of former Terps soccer star Donovan Pines took over this week from Dr. Wallace D. Loh, who was forced to cut seven teams in 2012 because of financial shortfall
(University of Maryland photo)
New University of Maryland president Darryll J. Pines said during a Zoom teleconference Thursday that the school has no plans to disband or disrupt any of its Division I teams due to financial problems caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Several Division I universities have eliminated some non-revenue sports in the wake of the pandemic and many Division III schools have recently announced that they would temporarily shut down the entire fall seasons for their teams.
Pines, who assumed his role Wednesday following the retirement of Dr. Wallace D. Loh, told reporters that “we have no intention of canceling any of our sports teams based on the current financial crisis that has been brought on by the COVID-19 (pandemic).
“Our student-athletes, we’re going to honor our commitment to them, and to the coaches and trainers going forward to this fall for sure.”
Some Maryland fans and athletes have feared a repeat of 2012, when the university was forced to cut seven teams as a result of a financial shortfall. It ultimately led to the Terps joining the Big Ten Conference in 2014.
There has been much debate about whether fall sports - in particular football - will be played as some of the nation’s top teams, including national champion LSU and recent two-time champion Clemson, have had outbreaks of COVID-19 shortly after their players got back on campus.
A number of schools have pushed back or canceled summer workouts for their football teams.
The Maryland men’s basketball team are scheduled to begin summer workouts next week.
Pines said that the athletes will be tested before they are scheduled to arrive on campus, and quarantined for two weeks prior to their arrival. That combination proved effective with the football team and other athletes who came to College Park last month, resulting in all 107 tested receiving clean bills of health when it came to COVID-19.
Testing will be ramped up for student-athletes in the fall, with each receiving “multiple tests a week”, including before and after each game, Pines said Thursday. Those who test positive will be quarantined in dorm rooms reserved for those with COVID-19.
Pines added that the Big Ten Conference will set guidelines in regard to fans attending games in the fall, but that no decision has been reached.
“I think what you’re going to see is the likelihood that the stadiums will be at a reduced capacity at best,” he said. “I think if you’re watching the professionals such as the European Women’s League of Soccer, there’s no one in the stadiums.
“MLS is going to Florida this week, there’s no one that’s going to be in the stadiums. That may be the solution the Big Ten chooses. No decision has been made at this time, but all things are on the table.”
Pines’ son, former Maryland soccer star Donovan Pines, is now a member of the D.C. United.
The younger Pines made a surprise appearance during the teleconference, taping a congratulatory message for his father that was played for him by a Washington television reporter.
“Are you trying to make me cry?,” Pines asked.
Asked what it meant to be the first Black president of the university, Darryl Pines corrected the reporter by telling her that there was another African-American who held the position of chancellor back in the 1980s. Pines was referring to Dr. John Slaughter, who was the last person with that title.
Slaughter was chancellor from 1982 through 1988, and left the university in the tumultuous aftermath of Len Bias’ death in 1986.
“It’s an honor to be the 34th president of the University of Maryland, it’s also an honor to be the first African-American president of the university,” Pines said. “I understand the symbolism it represents to the African-American community, and to the community at large here at the University of Maryland and what it represents in these times of uncertainty in social justice.
“I am going to focus on excellence in everything I do and creating an inclusive and equitable community that’s multi-cultural. I believe the university has an incredible type of diversity and it’s just an incredible place to be. We embrace that, the values, our traditions that are part of our culture and it’s a measure of our excellence. I am just going to enhance that going forward.”