Terps Football

The Maryland Terrapins football team, most commonly referred to as the Terps, represent the University of Maryland, College Park in NCAA Division I-A Football. The Terps currently compete in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference, most commonly referred to as the ACC. Their mascot is Testudo the Turtle, who was born in 1932, when Dr. Curley Byrd suggested that the school's mascot should be the diamondback terrapin. Their official colors are red, white, black, and gold.

Maryland - West Virginia Rivalry
Maryland and West Virginia share a competitive rivalry in football. The series is the longest current continuous non-conference series for either school, the two teams having met each year since 1980. As of September 2007, the series stands at 23-21-2 in favor of West Virginia. When Ralph Friedgen became head coach of the football team in 2001, he reportedly was offered a chance either to continue or discontinue the annual scheduling of the Terps-Mountaineers matchup, and he chose to maintain the games and the budding 21st-century rivalry. After the Terps won four straight against West Virginia from 2001-2004 (including the 2004 Gator Bowl), the Mountaineers have bounced back, winning the last three. Especially disheartening to Maryland fans has been the play of running back Steve Slaton, who joined the Mountainers after having his scholarship to Maryland revoked by Ralph Freidgen. Slaton got his revenge in the 2006 and 2007 meetings, racking up a total of 332 yards and 5 touchdowns. The series will take a brief hiatus in 2008 and 2009 as Maryland begins a home-and-home series with California. The series is rumored to resume in 2010.

Maryland - Virginia Rivalry
The Terrapins and Cavaliers have met in football since 1913, but have met annually since 1957 although Virginia joined the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1954. The series has included a stretch from 1969 through 1987 when the Terps defeated the Cavaliers, including a conference championship clinching win in 1984 at Charlottesville. Virginia would turn the tables on the Terps from 1988 through 2000, with the exception of Maryland winning in 1990 in Charlottesville and 1991 in College Park. The most heartbreaking game in the series for the Terps came in the final game of the 1999 season where the Terps were leading 30-27 with less than 30 seconds remaining in regulation where they gave up a late touchdown to the Cavaliers, thus losing by 4 points, 34-30, even though LaMont Jordan ran for a single-game school record 306 yards, which still stands to this day. That loss by the Terps denied them a possible bowl invitation and a winning season. The recent history of the series had both teams alternating wins at their home field since 2001 (Maryland winning in 2001, 2003 and 2005, Virginia winning in 2002 and 2004). As of October 2006, Maryland has the lead in the overall series, 41-28-2.

Terps Postseason History

1893- D.C. Champions 1937- Southern Conference Champions 1947- Gator Bowl Co-Champions 1949- Gator Bowl Champions 1951- Sugar Bowl Champions, SC Champions 1953- Orange Bowl Runners-Up, National Champions 1955- Orange Bowl Runners-Up, ACC Champions 1973- Peach Bowl Runners-Up 1974- Liberty Bowl Runners-Up, ACC Champions 1975- Gator Bowl Champions, ACC Champions 1976- Cotton Bowl Runners-Up, ACC Champions 1977- Hall of Fame Bowl Champions 1978- Sun Bowl Runners-Up 1980- Tangerine Bowl Runners-Up 1982- Aloha Bowl Runners-Up 1983- Citrus Bowl Runners-Up, ACC Champions 1984- Sun Bowl Champions, ACC Champions 1985- Cherry Bowl Champions, ACC Champions 1990- Independence Bowl Co-Champions 2001- Orange Bowl Runners-Up, ACC Champions 2002- Peach Bowl Champions 2004- Gator Bowl Champions 2006- Champs Sports Bowl Champions 2007- Emerald Bowl Runners-Up

Curome Cox - CB, Denver Broncos Vernon Davis - TE, San Francisco 49ers E.J. Henderson - LB, Minnesota Vikings Dominique Foxworth - CB, Denver Broncos Shaun Hill - QB, San Francisco 49ers D'Qwell Jackson - LB, Cleveland Browns Kris Jenkins - DT, Carolina Panthers Leon Joe - LB, Buffalo Bills Nick Novak - K, Chicago Bears LaMont Jordan - RB, Oakland Raiders Shawne Merriman - LB, San Diego Chargers Lewis Sanders - CB, Atlanta Falcons Randy Starks - DT, Tennessee Titans Madieu Williams - S, Cincinnati Bengals Chad Scott - CB, New England Patriots