Maryland players dispute reported reason for whistleblower being assaulted
A fight between two punters on the Maryland Terrapins football team Tuesday led to severe injuries to one of the men, and now members of the team are disputing the reported reason for the fight.
The Baltimore Sun reported Thursday that backup punter Matthew Barber was beat up by starting punter Wade Lees towards the end of practice Tuesday. Barber ended up needing stitches on his forehead, had a black eye and dislocated shoulder.
The Sun says Barber was beat up because word had gotten around that he was the whistleblower who had talked with investigators about problems within the program under DJ Durkin. Durkin was reinstated on Tuesday but fired Wednesday due to public outcry over his reinstatement. They say that Barber was targeted because Durkin was reinstated, leading the coach’s supporters to become emboldened and begin taunting Barber.
Defensive lineman Oseh Saine said Barber was “lying out his mouth” about the reason for the altercation.
This is absolutely fake. kids lying out his mouth, this altercation had nothing to do with the coach Durkin situation had everything to do with him picking on a younger players. There were many witnesses and wade has the total support of everyone here https://t.co/bnPhj8CKfw
— Os3h $ain3 (@Oseh11) November 1, 2018
Lees also released a statement on Twitter, saying there are “many inaccuracies” about the way the incident has been portrayed.
My Statement!! pic.twitter.com/0chnHYwuaO
— Wade Lees (@WL_88) November 1, 2018
Freshman kicker Mike Shinsky called Barber a “pathological liar.”
Matt Barber is a pathological liar. He has tried to fight multiple players on the team, has taken pictures of teammates changing, has spit on multiple teammates, and he and his father even blackmailed UMD coach’s with fake allegations. These can be verified by multiple witnesses
— mike shinsky (@MikeShinsky) November 1, 2018
Running back Jake Funk supported Lees’ assertion that the punter was standing up for younger teammates.
All 100+ players are behind this man. He was standing up for younger teammates who were being ridiculed and bad mouthed. Do not always believe what you see on Social Media. The truth always wins. #FakeNews https://t.co/BXjVpc7u3F
— Jake Funk (@jakefunk34) November 1, 2018
Campus police conducted interviews regarding the fight and also have video of it.
