Two University of Maryland student reporters were questioned by police for standing outside the football complex following the dismissal of head coach Mike Locksley. The incident occurred on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, shortly after the athletic department announced the termination of the coaching contract, which was described as a mutual agreement after a five-game losing streak.
Nolan Rogalski of SB Nation's Testudo Times and Jude Wilkenfeld were positioned outside Jones-Hill House to seek comments from players leaving the facility. Rogalski stated on social media that he and Wilkenfeld believed they had the right to stand in the public area because Maryland is a public university. However, a Maryland athletics staff member reportedly contacted police, citing suspicious activity. Two officers arrived, identified the reporters, and asked them to leave.
Rogalski detailed the encounter, noting that an athletics staffer took photographs of the students before the police dispatch was made. He reported that one officer and two police cars arrived at the scene, where officers recorded their identities and instructed them to depart. The University of Maryland Police Department (UMPD) confirmed that it recorded the names of both students but stated that no formal report was filed regarding the interaction.
In a joint statement released Wednesday evening, UMPD and Maryland Athletics addressed the incident, emphasizing their respect for First Amendment rights of journalists reporting in public spaces. The statement attributed the police contact to heightened security concerns surrounding the football program in recent weeks. It noted that increased security measures have been implemented around athletics facilities due to these concerns. An officer approached the individuals, learned they were with a campus media organization, and recorded their student IDs without taking a report.
The dismissal of Locksley followed a period of intense scrutiny on the program. The athletic department has recently faced criticism over decisions regarding press conferences involving the former head coach. As the university searches for a replacement, the incident adds to ongoing discussions about media access and safety protocols at the facility. Defensive coordinator Aazaar Abdul-Rahim will serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the season.