Former Maryland star linebacker D'Qwell Jackson believes the NCAA must have more stringent regulations to avoid tragedies like the death of Maryland offensive lineman Jordan McNair, who died at the age of 19 June 13 after suffering heatstroke during a team workout May 29.
Since Minnesota Vikings offensive lineman Korey Stringer died from heatstroke in 2001, 27 college football players have died from heat-related illnesses stemming from conditioning drills, according to The Washington Post. No NFL players have died from heat exhaustion during that same period. The influence of college football strength and conditioning coaches has also come under scrutiny of late.
College football players are allotted eight hours of "athletically-related activities" -- such as conditioning drills or working out in the weight room -- with their teams every week during the offseason, according to the NCAA. On the flip side, the collective bargaining agreement struck by the NFL and NFLPA in 2011 prohibits coaches from as much as meeting with their players until a team's voluntary offseason program begins in April and cut down on practice time.
