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Jimmy’s Famous Seafood in Baltimore is doing its best to boost Maryland’s NIL support at the expense of its former basketball coach. The restaurant added a new item to the menu “in honor of” Kevin Willard.
Snakehead bites will now be available to customers that dine in the establishment. Proceeds from the sales will be donated to the Turtle NIL collective.
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The menu item introduction comes alongside a number of digs at Willard following his tumultuous exit, the most obvious being the bites themselves.
A “snake” can relate to a “worthless or treacherous fellow” according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Kevin Willard fits the bill in the eyes of many Terps fans after he bailed for Villanova following the Terrapins’ run to the Sweet 16. While snakehead is actually a species of fish, the point remains.
A second slight came with the $16.17 price. Willard went 16-17 last year before making his March Madness run this spring.
Many believed he’d been in talks with the Wildcats prior to season’s end. Willard did little to quiet the noise when asked about speculation surrounding the Villanova opening. Rather than deny interest, he took the opportunity to bash his employer.
The coach called his athletic department cheap while laying out a blueprint to remain at Maryland. He was heard on multiple occasions telling players of his intentions to stay put given his list of demands be met.
“He’s been transparent with us… He said he was staying and fighting for some changes. That’s that.”
-Guard Rodney Rice after a Sweet 16 loss to Florida
The university reportedly offered Willard a boost in both salary and NIL support. Still, he bailed in the middle of the night only to inform his team of the move via Zoom.
The betrayal left the Terrapins in an extremely undesirable position. The transfer portal window had already opened. Attrition from Willard’s roster began immediately after his decision went public. A number of potential coaching replacements had already been scooped up. Maryland was up a creek without a paddle.
NIL was a major concern for Kevin Willard. He noted it frequently throughout his drama with the university. Jimmy’s Famous Seafood is hoping to put an end to those issues for the next hire.
Jimmy’s is one of the more popular stops in Baltimore. Described as a “laid-back locale serving Maryland-style crab cakes, seafood specialties, and steak,” it boasts over 11,000 reviews and 4.4-star service on Google.
Opened in 1974, it’s tripled in size over the last 50 years and employs more than 200 staff members. It’s been featured on popular Food Network TV shows Beat Bobby Flay and Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives while serving local pro venues like Camden Yards, M&T Bank Stadium, and Nationals Park.
It’s also worth noting that the restaurant is doing a service for the local waterways, too. The Norhtern Snakehead is an invasive species in Maryland. Its eradication is encouraged by local government agencies.
Northern snakeheads are a problem in the United States because they are an invasive species. Because they can get so large and be a top predator, they threaten native species of fish and have the potential to overtake certain native fish species. They can disrupt the food web, so researchers are trying to find ways to contain and eliminate snakeheads in the United States waters.
Jimmy’s is doing its part while capitalizing on Kevin Willard’s departure. Hopefully, it will result in a sizeable NIL donation for the Terps. The snakehead bites should be a popular menu item over the next few weeks.