Maryland Terrapins Football: A Tradition of Excellence

The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland, College Park, in the sport of American football. As a member of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and the Big Ten Conference, the Terrapins boast a rich history dating back to 1892. Their journey has been marked by periods of dominance, challenges, and ultimately, a commitment to excellence.

Program Overview

First Season: 1892
Conference: Big Ten (joined July 1, 2014)
Home Field: SECU Stadium (since 1950)
Official Colors: Red, white, black, and gold

Early Years and the Byrd Era

In 1892, the Maryland Agricultural College, as it was then known, established its first officially sanctioned college football team. While the inaugural season saw them go scoreless in all three games, the team quickly rebounded, posting a perfect 6-0 record the following year.

The program experienced significant growth under the leadership of Harry C. "Curley" Byrd, who served as head coach for over two decades beginning in 1911 before becoming the university president.

The Jim Tatum Era: A Golden Age

Jim Tatum's arrival in 1947 marked the beginning of Maryland's most successful period in modern history. During his nine-season tenure, Tatum led the Terrapins to:

Two national championships (one retroactive)
Three conference championships
Three perfect seasons
Six top-20 final rankings
Five bowl game appearances

His impact was undeniable, with seven of his players earning first-team All-American honors, including five consensus All-Americans.

Bowl Game Breakthrough

The 1947 season culminated in Maryland's first bowl game appearance, the 1948 Gator Bowl, where they tied Georgia, 20-20. Lu Gambino, the NCAA season-scoring leader, scored all three Maryland touchdowns. The following year, the Terrapins defeated 20th-ranked Missouri, 20-7, in the Gator Bowl, finishing the season ranked 14th by the Associated Press.

The 1950s: National Recognition

In 1950, Byrd Stadium, named after former coach and university president Curly Byrd, was constructed as the Terrapins' home field. The team won the 1951 Southern Conference co-championship alongside the Virginia Military Institute. Their perfect season culminated in an upset victory over top-ranked Tennessee in the 1952 Sugar Bowl. Although the wire services released their final rankings before the bowl games, placing Maryland third in the Associated Press Poll, several selectors have retroactively credited Maryland with the national championship.

In 1953, Maryland and six other schools formed the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). That year, the Terrapins achieved remarkable shutouts against 11th-ranked Mississippi (38-0) and Alabama (21-0), won the ACC co-championship with Duke, and were crowned national champions as the only undefeated and untied team in the nation.

The Long Road Back

Following Tatum's departure, the Terrapins struggled to maintain their previous success. Between 1956 and 1971, they endured a period of mediocrity, compiling a 50-100-1 record with only three winning seasons. In 1967, they suffered their first and only winless season in 75 years.

Despite these challenges, there were moments of brilliance, including victories over ranked opponents like North Carolina (1957), Clemson (1959, 1960), and Syracuse (1961). In 1962, assistant coach Lee Corso played a pivotal role in integrating the program by convincing African-American wide receiver Darryl Hill to transfer from the Naval Academy.

Read also: History of the Block 'M'

The Claiborne Turnaround

Jerry Claiborne took over as head coach in 1972, inheriting a program that had only nine wins in the previous five years. Claiborne instilled a sense of discipline and toughness, transforming the Terrapins into a formidable force.

Return to Prominence

In his first season, Maryland improved to 5-5-1, and the following year, they reached their first bowl game in almost two decades. The team steadily improved, culminating in an 11-0 regular season record in 1976, their first perfect mark since Tatum's 1955 squad.

From 1974 to 1978, Claiborne led the Terrapins to five consecutive bowl game berths and three consecutive ACC championships.

The Bobby Ross Era: High-Powered Offense

In 1982, Bobby Ross, a former Maryland assistant coach, was surprisingly selected as head coach. Ross implemented a high-powered, NFL-style offense that emphasized dropback passes, bootlegs, and play action passes. This strategic shift allowed quarterback Boomer Esiason to flourish.

ACC Championship Battles

Between 1974 and 1988, Clemson and Maryland dominated the ACC, with one of the two programs winning the conference title in all but three years.

Read also: Legacy of Fordham University

In 1984, Maryland defeated the defending national champions, sixth-ranked Miami, in a historic comeback. Trailing 31-0 at halftime, the Terrapins rallied behind quarterback Frank Reich, who threw four touchdown passes to secure a 42-40 victory. This comeback stood as the greatest in college football for 22 years.

Maryland finished the 1984 season with a 12th-place national ranking. In 1985, despite early setbacks, the Terrapins finished undefeated in conference play to win their third consecutive ACC championship.

Ross's Departure

After the 1985 season, Ross resigned, citing frustration over the university's failure to improve Byrd Stadium and its facilities.

The Krivak and Duffner Years: A Period of Struggle

Following Ross's departure, offensive coordinator Joe Krivak was promoted to head coach. This marked the beginning of a challenging period for Terrapins football, with the program compiling a 55-88 record and making only one bowl appearance from 1987 to 2000.

In 1990, the Terrapins upset 8th-ranked Virginia. After that season, athletic director Andy Geiger fired Krivak and hired Holy Cross head coach Mark Duffner as his replacement.

Duffner installed a run and shoot offense that shattered school records, but the defense struggled. During this time, quarterbacks Scott Milanovich and John Kaleo set numerous school passing records.

Ron Vanderlinden: Laying the Foundation

Ron Vanderlinden was hired as head coach for the 1997 season. In 1999, the Terrapins showed signs of improvement, but narrowly missed a winning season and a bowl invitation. Despite this, Vanderlinden was granted a contract extension.

In 2000, Maryland again fell short of a winning season. However, Vanderlinden did oversee substantive improvement in the program.

The Ralph Friedgen Era: A Return to Glory

Ralph Friedgen, a former Maryland player and assistant under Bobby Ross, was hired as Vanderlinden's replacement for the 2001 season.

ACC Champions

In 2001, Maryland won its first four games and entered the AP Poll for the first time since September 1995. The Terrapins secured the ACC championship with a win over NC State, becoming the first team other than Florida State to win the title outright since the Seminoles joined the conference in 1991.

Sixth-ranked Maryland then faced fifth-ranked Florida in the Orange Bowl-their first-ever BCS appearance, and their first major bowl of any sort since the 1977 Cotton Bowl.

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