Maryland Terrapins Football Details
Back in 1892, the Maryland Agricultural College fielded its first official football team. They failed to score a single point in any of the three games they played that season. But they rebounded well the following season by going undefeated (6-0).
The team’s most successful era came under the guidance of Jim Tatum (1947-1955). During his tenure, the Terrapins won their first national title (1953; unclaimed national title in 1951), won three conference titles (one Southern, 1951; two ACC in 1953 and 1955), finished three seasons with perfect records, and had six top-20 finishes.
When he departed after the 1955 season, the program fell on hard times until Jerry Claiborne took over in 1972. He would guide the team to six consecutive bowl games (1973-78) and three straight ACC titles (1974-76).
Bobby Ross would match the accomplishment a decade later with three ACC titles from 1983-85. They wouldn’t win another conference title until Ralph Friedgen’s first season in 2001.
Maryland was one of the founding members of the ACC, but after 62 years in the conference, they joined the Big Ten in 2014.
When the school was known as the Maryland Agricultural College (1856-1916), athletic teams were referred to as the Farmers or Aggies. It wasn’t until 1932 that the name changed to Terrapins after a species of turtle commonly found in the state.
Heading into the 2017 season, second-year head coach D.J. Durkin is hoping to build off the success the team had in 2016. After going 3-9 the year before, the team improved to 6-6 in regular season play and was invited to the Quick Lane Bowl (which they lost to Boston College, 36-30).
Durkin will lean on his running backs, Ty Johnson and Lorenzo Harrison, to keep the offense afloat while he tries to figure out who can play quarterback. The team struggled at that position last season, but there is hope in the form of freshman Kasim Hill.
With the improvement fans saw last year and the talent returning, fans will have plenty of reasons to pack Maryland Stadium for every home game this season.