Walt Bell excited to be in ‘family atmosphere’ after leaving Maryland

Florida State offensive coordinator Walt Bell might have taken a jab at his former employer in College Park — telling reporters Tuesday he was “excited to be at a place where our kids smile at practice.” 

Bell, who was the offensive coordinator under DJ Durkin for two seasons before being leaving for FSU in January, was asked about Maryland on Tuesday in light of an ESPN report that detailed a “toxic culture” under Durkin leading up to Jordan McNair’s death. 

Bell offered no specifics, only stating he was “really excited” to be in Tallahassee. Still, there’s one particular comment that could cause people to raise their eyebrows. 

“I’m excited to be at a place where our kids smile at practice, they have a great time at practice, and they work for a head football coach (Willie Taggart) that kind of instills that family atmosphere in our organization,” Bell said. 

The former Maryland coordinator also said that McNair’s death was “devastating.” 

“Jordan was incredibly special,” he said. “Not only was he a really good football player, and had an incredibly bright future ahead of him, but he’s everything you want in a kid — a great heart, a comfortable soul and a great demeanor about him.”To lose a kid like him, above and beyond everything else that you read, that’s the toughest part.”

McNair, a former offensive lineman, died 15 days after he suffered a heat stroke during a May 29 workout. Maryland has put Durkin on leave while the university investigates the incident and parted ways with strength and conditioning coach Rick Court.

In a news conference Tuesday, Maryland President Wallace D. Loh said the university took “legal and moral responsibility” for McNair’s death. Maryland athletic director Damon Evans added McNair did not receive appropriate medical care from the university’s training staff.