Two University of Maryland student journalists were asked to leave their positions outside the program's training facility after attempting to speak with Maryland football players following the dismissal of Mike Locksley on Wednesday, Oct. 21, one of the students posted on social media. The request to leave by police allegedly came from the school's athletic department.
In the video below, the two students, who work, for SB Nation's Testudo Times, said they believed they were standing in places they were allowed to stand, as Maryland is a public university, to which the officer who was taking down their information said, "I don't disagree with you."
Nolan
Rogalski, one of the students involved and managing editor of the student-run outlet, said a Maryland athletics staffer took a photo of him and Jude Wilkenfeld, the other reporter, and that police were called in response to "suspicious activity" for the two standing outside the facility. USA TODAY Sports reached out to Maryland athletics for comment but has not received a response as of publication.
For @testudotimes, @JudeWilkenfeld and I were outside Jones-Hill House trying to get players to comment. An athletics staffer took pictures of us, and a police dispatch was called for suspicious activity; a cop and 2 cop cars pulled up, and officers ID’d us and asked us to leave. pic.twitter.com/QdAWU7d8PX
— Nolan Rogalski (@NolanRogalski) October 21, 2026
Following a USA TODAY Sports report, the school announced it parting with Locksley on Wednesday, Oct. 21 after the Terrapins dropped their fifth straight game last weekend in a 37-30 loss to Rutgers.
Defensive coordinator Aazaar Abdul-Rahim, who was promoted to full-time defensive coordinator on Sunday by Locksley after the firing of Ted Monachino, will serve as the program's interim coach as the university begins its search for a permanent coach immediately.
During his tenure at Maryland, Locksley led the Terrapins to a 39–54 overall record that includes six games as an interim coach in 2015 and his hiring full-time before the 2019 season. He compiled a 17-52 mark in the Big Ten, along with three bowl game victories.
Maryland is on bye in Week 8 and then hosts Illinois at noon ET on Saturday, Oct. 31.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Student reports say Maryland called police for removal after Mike Locksley firing
