Maryland Terrapins

The Maryland Terrapins, commonly referred to as the Terps, consist of 20 men's and women's athletic teams that represent the University of Maryland, College Park in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I competition. Maryland became a founding member of the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1952, and is now a Football Bowl Subdivision program in football. It is also a member of the East Atlantic Gymnastics League (women).

The nickname was coined in 1932 by Dr. Harry C. "Curley" Byrd, then the school's football coach and later the school's president. Previously, Maryland teams were known as the "Old Liners"—a reference to the state's nickname, "The Old Line State." However, the school newspaper, The Diamondback, wanted a better nickname. Byrd thought "Terrapins" was a good choice because of the diamondback terrapins endemic to the Chesapeake Bay region. Byrd's hometown of Crisfield was famous for the number of terrapins along its shores. The school mascot is an anthropomorphic turtle named "Testudo". The official team colors are red, white, black, and gold, derived from the Maryland state flag. It was announced on November 19, 2012 that the Maryland Terrapins will be leaving the ACC for the Big Ten Conference starting with the 2014-2015 season.

History
The University of Maryland, College Park was established in 1856 as Maryland Agricultural College. Baseball and football were played on the campus as early as the Civil War era. It was renamed Maryland State College in 1916, and in 1920, merged with the state's professional schools in Baltimore to become the University of Maryland. Between 1921 and 1953, the university was a member of the Southern Conference.

Longstanding tensions within the Southern Conference culminated in 1951, when it passed a ban on participation in bowl games midway through the football season. At the end of the regular season, both Maryland and Clemson were invited and accepted invitations to postseason bowl games. The Southern Conference sanctioned the two schools with a one-year probation in which they could not schedule any football games against conference opponents. On May 8, 1953, Maryland became a founding member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) when it and six other schools voted to split from the Southern Conference.

The school's sports teams are referred to as the Terrapins, and the university mascot is a diamondback terrapin named Testudo. The school's athletic colors are red, white, black, and gold, derived from the colors of the state flag. The university currently sponsors varsity athletic teams in 20 men's and women's sports, which compete at the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I level. As of December 2010, Maryland's athletic teams have been awarded 38 national championships by the NCAA, USILA, AIAW, and NCA.

Varsity teams
The University of Maryland currently has 20 varsity teams: 8 men's and 12 women's.

Men's basketball
Burton Shipley was Maryland's first and longest serving basketball coach, but his lengthy tenure from 1923 to 1947 was described as "remarkably quiet". At that time, the sport was not widely popular in the mid-Atlantic region and football and boxing were much better drawing spectator sports on the Maryland campus. To capitalize on the popularity, basketball games at Ritchie Coliseum were held as doubleheaders with boxing matches for 26 years. Bud Millikan became head coach in 1950 and soon led Maryland to consistent respectability within the Southern Conference. Defensive point guard Gene Shue averaged 22 points per game and his scoring record stood for two decades. In 1955, the small Ritchie Coliseum was replaced by Cole Field House centrally located on campus, and with Maryland now a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, the fanbase rapidly expanded. . Millikan's tenure culminated in 1958 when Maryland won its first Atlantic Coast Conference tournament championship and advanced to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament. In 2002 Gary Williams led the Terrapins to the programs first national championship defeating Indiana 64-52. Williams retired in May 2011 and Mark Turgeon was hired from Texas A&M to be his successor.

Football


An unofficial football team composed of Maryland Agricultural College students played games against local high schools in 1890 and 1891. The following year, the school lent its support, which marked the official establishment of the Maryland football program in 1892. The football team has continued to the present day with the exception of a brief hiatus in 1895. In 1894, former Maryland coach and player William W. Skinner spearheaded the formation of the Maryland Intercollegiate Football Association, which served to award the state football championship. Maryland hired D. John Markey as its first paid football coach in 1902. H. C. "Curley" Byrd, who eventually served as the university president from 1936 to 1953, began his playing career on the team in 1905. In 1911, Byrd was appointed as the head football coach, and he served in that position through 1934. During his tenure, Byrd was instrumental in growing support of the program, and in 1915 successfully requisitioned funding for the school's first stadium. In his position as university president, he was also responsible for building the school's current football facility, Byrd Stadium.

In 1945, Paul "Bear" Bryant began his long and distinguished career as a head football coach at the University of Maryland. The following year, he was replaced by Jim Tatum, a pioneer of the split T. Maryland football achieved its greatest success under Tatum, who compiled a 73–15–4 record without a single losing season, and to date, he remains the winningest Maryland coach of the modern era. NCAA recognized selectors awarded Maryland the national football championship in 1951 and 1953. During Tatum's tenure from 1946 to 1955, Maryland also secured one Southern Conference championship and two Atlantic Coast Conference championships. In 1962, Darryl Hill transferred to Maryland from the United States Naval Academy, making the school the first team in the Atlantic Coast Conference with a black player. Jerry Claiborne became head coach in 1972, and led Maryland to three consecutive ACC championships from 1974 to 1976. The Terrapins finished the 1976 regular season with an undefeated 11–0 record, but lost to Houston in the Cotton Bowl Classic, which ended national championship speculation. Bobby Ross replaced Claiborne in 1982, and he repeated the feat of three consecutive ACC championships from 1983 to 1985. In 1984, Maryland quarterback Frank Reich led the Terrapins to the then greatest halftime comeback against the defending national champions, Miami. After a long bowl game drought, Ralph Friedgen was hired as head coach in 2001, and in his first season, led Maryland to the ACC championship and its first Bowl Championship Series game appearance.

The football program has secured two NCAA-recognized national championships, nine ACC championships, two Southern Conference championships, eleven consensus All-America honors, and twenty-four bowl game appearances. Maryland possesses the third-most ACC championships with nine, which places them behind Clemson (13) and Florida State (12). Many former Terrapins players and coaches have gone on to careers in professional football including 15 first-round NFL Draft picks.

Men's lacrosse
The Terrapins men's lacrosse team is one of the most tradition-rich in all of collegiate lacrosse, having advanced to ten NCAA Championship games since its inception in 1971, winning the tournament in both 1971 and 1973. The Terrapins' lacrosse tradition traces back even further with 7 Wingate Memorial Trophies between 1936 and 1970. The school has also won a record 25 ACC championships, most recently in 2011 when it won the ACC Tournament Title en route to an NCAA Runner-Up finish.

Men's wrestling
The Terrapins wrestling team has won more ACC team championships than any other school in the conference, winning their 24th ACC title in 2012. The 2012 ACC championship is the Terps' fourth in the past five years. Maryland has finished in the top 20 at the NCAA Championships each year since the 2010 season and produced multiple all Americans since 2009, a school record. There have been six head coaches in Maryland's history, currently led by two-time NCAA champion and two-time Olympian Kerry McCoy now in his fourth year as head coach.

Maryland has had over 200 ACC Champions, 2 NCAA Champions, and 18 NCAA all Americans. In 2010 Hudson Taylor became Maryland's first three-time all American with his fourth place finish at 197 pounds. Spencer Myers became Maryland's first freshman in 2011 when he earned all American status with his sixth place finish at heavyweight. The first wrestling team started in 1940 competed in the Southern Conference, with Paul McNeil becoming the Terps' first champion that same year at 175 pounds. Kyle John celebrates his 157 pound 2012 ACC title

Discontinued Sports of 2011-12
In November 2011, University President Wallace Loh announced that eight sports would be cut following the end of the 2011-12 academic year due to mounting financial woes in the Maryland athletics department. The athletics deficit was expected to reach $4 million by 2012 and $17 million by 2017 unless action was taken. In July 2011, President Loh had assembled a Commission to identify ways to lower athletic expenses. In November 2011, the Commission recommended, and President Loh accepted, cutting eight teams: men's indoor and outdoor track and field, men's cross country, men's swimming and diving, women's swimming and diving, men's tennis, women's water polo, and competitive cheer (aerobatics and tumbling). 

Following the commission's recommendation, Athletic Director Kevin Anderson allowed each team the opportunity to raise funds towards its continued survival. Only one program—men's outdoor track and field—reached its fundraising benchmark and will play in the 2012-13 season. On July 1, 2012, Kevin Anderson announced the dissolution of the remaining seven programs. All active student-athlete scholarships and coaching contracts were honored for discontinued teams.

Rugby
The Maryland Terrapins rugby team was founded in 1968. Maryland's best season was 1985, when Maryland played in the national championship final, losing 31-6 to Cal. Maryland plays in the Atlantic Coast Rugby League, a conference formed in 2011 along with other Atlantic Coast Conference schools. The Terps are led by head coach Jeff Soeken, who was a three-time All-American when he played rugby for Maryland.

Maryland were champions of the league's inaugural 2011 season, defeating North Carolina 39-32 in the title match. Maryland repeated as Atlantic Coast champion again in 2012, defeating Clemson. Maryland placed 10th in the 2012 Collegiate Rugby Championship (CRC), notching wins against Penn State and Oklahoma. The CRC is the highest profile college rugby tournament in the country, held at PPL Park in Philadelphia and broadcast live on NBC. Maryland reached the semifinals of the 2012 ACI 7s tournament in Blacksburg.

Songs and chants
Victory Song The Maryland Victory Song was written in 1928 by Thornton W. Allen. It is played frequently during Terp Basketball and Football games. During Football games, it is played after every touchdown the Terps score, regardless of whether the team is winning or losing, celebrating the immediate victory of accomplishment. Ironically, the "Victory" song is played even after defeat. The lyrics are as follows:

Maryland we're all behind you, Raise high the black and gold. For there is nothing half so glorious, As to see our team victorious. We've got the team boys, We've got the steam boys, So keep on fighting, don't give in! M-A-R-Y-L-A-N-D Maryland will win

During the M-A-R-Y-L-A-N-D section of the victory song, Terrapins fans show their clenched fists, and alternate pumping them in the air, beginning with their right fist on the "M" and alternating between left and right with each letter of the MARYLAND. The motion resembles someone climbing a ladder.

Alma Mater & Fight Song Other official school songs include the school's Alma Mater and Fight Song. Each of these are played at every home football game during the pregame festivities.

"Hey, You Suck!" A popular saying among the students at Maryland is a simple "Hey, You Suck!" directed at opponents. Students have incorporated the phrase into Gary Glitter's popular sports anthem "Rock and Roll Part Two" (often referred to as the "Hey Song"). Sometime in the early 2000s, then-football coach Ralph Friedgen asked that the song not be played at football games. Friedgen had never liked hearing the song since his return to College Park in 2001, and added that it hurt his recruiting efforts. In 2004, basketball coach Gary Williams followed Friedgen's lead and asked that the song not be played at basketball games either. While he personally liked the song, complaints from a large number of parents and grandparents had led him to conclude it was too controversial. However, the students have continued to sing the song without the band's support. Before each basketball game and after every touchdown at football games, the crowd sings the song a capella.

Football and basketball
Key Plays At football games, Terp fans also shake their keys to signify urgency ("Key" Plays).

Fist Pump At the beginning of each men's basketball game during his tenure, Maryland Coach Gary Williams would pump his fist to signify a good game.

Midnight Madness Midnight Madness was originally started by Maryland Head Coach Lefty Driesell in 1970. Midnight Madness is held at the earliest time the Men's Basketball Team can practice, which used to be midnight on the first day of practice. Students would attend the practice and over the years it has evolved into a circus-like atmosphere, including light shows, magic shows, the mascot trampoline challenge, skits, food, beverage, and other fanfare.

Recently, Maryland and some other schools have moved the start of Midnight Madness to earlier in the day - generally around 7 o'clock - with permission of the NCAA, of course. This is to encourage more families and fans who aren't even students to attend the event. As a result of this change, Midnight Madness has been rebranded as "Maryland Madness".

Newspaper Shaking Maryland students attempt to read the newspaper as the opposing team is being introduced. They shake the paper as the visiting team is introduced.

Other sport traditions
The Crew The Crew is an exceptionally dedicated group of Men's Soccer fans. They generally sit behind the goal the opposing team is defending (switching sides at halftime) and berate the opposing goalie, referring to him by formal (given) name. Members of the Crew often travel to away games to continue to support their Terps. The Crew also organize activities to join the soccer environment.

National championships
, Maryland claims 45 national championships. Maryland was awarded a national championship by a widely recognized selector for the following seasons:

RifleTeam (womens) 1925

Rifle Team 1947, 1949, 1953, 1954

Radio Network Affiliates
Terrapins Sports Radio Network