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wore gold/black jerseys against SMU in 1961, ce
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[[File:Maryland Hopkins football.jpg|thumb|right|275px|A game between Maryland and [[Johns Hopkins-Maryland rivalry|intrastate rival]] {{cfb link|team=Johns Hopkins Blue Jays|title=Johns Hopkins}} in 1919.]]
 
In 1892, the school then known as the Maryland Agricultural College fielded its first officially- sanctioned [[college football]] team. They went scoreless in all three of that season's games, but the following year, posted a perfect record of 6–0. For the first two decades of the program, the team primarily competed against local universities and high schools due to the prohibitive nature of long-distance travel at the time.<ref name="ungrady4">David Ungrady, ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=kty1Jvi1j0IC Tales from the Maryland Terrapins]'', p. 4, Sports Publishing LLC, 2003, ISBN 1-58261-688-4.</ref>
 
In 1911, [[Harry C. Byrd|Harry C. "Curley" Byrd]] became head coach and held that position for more than two decades until he was named the [[President of the University of Maryland, College Park|university president]]. In 1921,<ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9D00E7D9103FE432A25751C1A9649D946195D6CF New College Body Planned in South], ''The New York Times'', December 12, 1920.</ref> Maryland joined the [[Southern Conference]] where it remained for thirty years.<ref>[http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/md/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/08guide-11.pdf ''2008 Maryland Terrapins Football Media Guide''] (PDF), University of Maryland, 2008, accessed December 9, 2008.</ref> Between 1935 and 1946, the school had several coaches that achieved fame elsewhere: [[Frank Dobson (American football)|Frank Dobson]], a former assistant coach under [[John Heisman]]; [[Clark Shaughnessy]], architect of [[Stanford Cardinal football|Stanford]]'s [[1940 Stanford Indians football team|undefeated 1940 turnaround]]; and [[Bear Bryant|Paul "Bear" Bryant]], who later became the long-time [[Alabama Crimson Tide football|Alabama]] head coach.<ref name="umd">[http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/md/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/08guide-11.pdf Year-by-Year Results] (PDF), ''2008 Maryland Terrapins Football Media Guide'', University of Maryland, 2008.</ref><ref name="clark">[http://www.collegefootball.org/famersearch.php?id=40060 Clark Shaughnessy], College Football Hall of Fame, retrieved December 15, 2008.</ref> Bryant resigned after one season when a player he had suspended was reinstated by President Byrd.<ref>B.J. Phillips and Peter Ainslie, [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,952802-4,00.html Football's Supercoach], ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'', p. 4, September 29, 1980.</ref>
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===After Tatum (1956–1971)===
The Terrapins entered [[1956 Maryland Terrapins football team|1956]] ranked number-six, but after the departure of Tatum, they suffered their first losing season in a decade.<ref name=umd/> It marked the beginning of a long undistinguished period of Maryland history, and between 1956 and 1971, they compiled a record of 50–100–1 and only three winning seasons.<ref name=umd/> In 1967, they suffered their first winless season in 75 years.<ref>[http://www.jhowell.net/cf/scores/Maryland.htm Maryland Historical Scores] Stassen, retrieved January 17, 2009.</ref> High points during this period included victories over 14th-ranked {{cfb link|year=1957|team=North Carolina Tar Heels|title=North Carolina}} in [[1957 Maryland Terrapins football team|1957]], 11th-ranked [[1959 Clemson Tigers football team|Clemson]] in 1959, eighth-ranked {{alternate links|[[1960 Clemson Tigers football team|alt=Clemson}}]] in 1960, and seventh-ranked [[1961 Syracuse Orangemen football team|Syracuse]] in 1961.<ref>[http://www.mdgridiron.umd.edu/terps/timeline/timeline-1960.html 1960s], Maryland Football Historical Timeline, Maryland Gridiron Network, retrieved January 8, 2008.</ref> Maryland became the first college football program in the nation to put players' names on the back of their [[jersey (clothing)|jersey]]s in 1961.<ref>Dan Steinberg, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-sports-bog/post/when-maryland-football-first-put-players-names-on-jerseys/2011/08/02/gIQAvp6vpI_blog.html When Maryland football first put players names on jerseys], ''The Washington Post'', August 2, 2011.</ref> In 1962, assistant coach [[Lee Corso]] convinced African-American [[wide receiver]] [[Darryl Hill (American football)|Darryl Hill]] to transfer from the [[United States Naval Academy|Naval Academy]]. Hill broke the [[color barrier]] in football at four institutions: [[Gonzaga College High School|Gonzaga High School]], the Naval Academy, Maryland, and the ACC.<ref>Tom D'Angelo, [http://umterps.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/102506aad.html Barriers made to be broken] ''[[The Palm Beach Post]]'', October 25, 2006.</ref> In 1965, back Bob Sullivan led the nation with 10 interceptions.<ref name=accrecords>[http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/acc/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/07fbguide097123.pdf ACC Year-by-Year] (PDF), ''2007 Atlantic Coast Conference Media Guide'', Atlantic Coast Conference, 2007.</ref>
 
===Jerry Claiborne era (1972–1981)===
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In 1972, [[Jerry Claiborne]] took over as head coach of the Terrapins, which had only nine wins in the past five years. 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 until his fifth season, 1976, when they finished the regular season with an 11–0 record, their first perfect mark since Tatum's [[1955 Maryland Terrapins football team|1955 squad]].<ref name="umd"/> [[Boomer Esiason]] later described Claiborne's coaching style as "vanilla", and said his strategy was "run right, run left, run up the middle, punt, and play good defense."<ref name=ungrady210/> He went on to say, "But, there's no question he made me a tougher player . . . We'd do drills where the quarterback had to take on a linebacker. It was like he had a sign on our back, 'Hit us, we're stupid'. It made you a tougher player."<ref name=ungrady210>David Ungrady, p. 210.</ref>
 
In 1974, Maryland had a pre-seasonpreseason rank of 14th and later beat 17th-ranked {{cfb link|year=1974|team=NC State Wolfpack|title=NC State}} to win the [[List of Atlantic Coast Conference football champions|ACC championship]]. The Terrapins were defeated by 20th-ranked Tennessee in the {{alternate links|1974 Liberty Bowl|Liberty Bowl|title=Liberty Bowl}} and finished the season ranked 13th. In 1975, Maryland again won the ACC and defeated 13th-ranked [[1975 Florida Gators football team|Florida]] in the {{alternate links|1976 Gator Bowl|Gator Bowl|alt=Gator Bowl|title=Gator Bowl}} to finish 13th in the nation.<ref name=umd/> That season, the Terrapins led the ACC in total offense with 375.2 yards per game.<ref name=accrecords/> Maryland started 1976 ranked 12th, and quarterback [[Mark Manges]] led them to eleven consecutive wins to secure their third straight ACC championship.<ref name="umd"/> Maryland's loss to sixth-ranked [[1976 Houston Cougars football team|Houston]] in the {{alternate links|1977 Cotton Bowl|Cotton Bowl Classic|title=Cotton Bowl Classic}}, 30–21, ended any hopes for a national championship.<ref>[http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F60B15FE3C5A107B93C5AB1789D95F428785F9 Cotton Bowl Foes Arrive], ''The New York Times'', December 27, 1976.</ref>
 
In 1978, Maryland beat 20th-ranked {{cfb link|year=1978|team=NC State Wolfpack|title=NC State}} and finished with a ranking of 20th. The game that pitted 11th-ranked Maryland against 12th-ranked [[1978 Clemson Tigers football team|Clemson]] has been described as one of the most exciting games of the era.<ref name="usa today encyclopedia"/> The "big-play caravan" ultimately saw Clemson triumph, 28–24.<ref name="usa today encyclopedia">Bob Boyles and Paul Guido, ''The USA Today College Football Encyclopedia: A Comprehensive Modern Reference to America's Most Colorful Sport, 1953–present'', p. 356, New York: Skyhorse Publishing, 2008, ISBN 1-60239-331-1</ref> From 1974 to 1978, Claiborne and the Terrapins secured five consecutive bowl game berths and three consecutive ACC championships. Maryland made it to a sixth bowl game in 1980.<ref name=umd/> After the 1981 season, Claiborne left the program for his alma mater, [[Kentucky Wildcats football|Kentucky]],<ref>Herbert Sparrow, [http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wHMQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=W4sDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3723,2925405&dq=claiborne+maryland+kentucky Claiborne seeks return to Kentucky glory days], ''[[The Free-Lance Star]]'', December 17, 1981.</ref> and was replaced by [[Bobby Ross]], an assistant coach for the [[Kansas City Chiefs]].<ref name="Champion of the underdog"/>
 
===Bobby Ross era (1982–1986)===
In a surprising choice, former Maryland assistant coach and [[The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina|Citadel]] head coach [[Bobby Ross]], who was not a big name at the time, was selected as head coach in 1982. In contrast to Claiborne's style, Ross implemented a high-powered offense. He replaced the [[triple option#I formation|I-veer triple option]] with an [[Pro Style|NFL-style]] offense that emphasized dropback passes, [[bootleg play|bootlegs]], and [[play action pass|play action]] passes.<ref name="Champion of the underdog">Justin Rodriguez, [http://archive.recordonline.com/archive/2004/08/08/army1.htm Champion of the underdog], ''[[Times Herald-Record]]'', August 8, 2004.</ref> This change in tactics and strategy enabled starting quarterback [[Boomer Esiason]] the opportunity to excel to a degree not seen under Claiborne the season prior. Esiason said, "Ross has an uncanny knack of putting players in a position to not only succeed, but to overachieve . . . If he didn't show up at Maryland, I don't know what would have happened to me. I don't know if I would have turned into the player I was and played in the NFL."<ref name="Champion of the underdog"/> DuringIn thisthe timefollowing years, several [[Maryland Terrapins quarterbacks|Maryland quarterbacks]] went on to careers in the [[National Football League]] (NFL), and the school was nicknamed "[[Quarterback U]]" as a result.<ref>[http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1140217/index.htm Quarterback U], ''Sports Illustrated'', November 25, 1991.</ref><ref>Ken Murray, [http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19930109&slug=1679050 Ex-Maryland Qbs Not A Passing Fancy], ''[[The Seattle Times]]'', January 9, 1993.</ref>
 
In Ross's inaugural season, Maryland defeated 10th-ranked {{cfb link|year=1982|team=North Carolina Tar Heels|title=North Carolina}}, and then edged [[1982 Miami Hurricanes football team|Miami]] before their most important conference game of the season against the [[1981 Clemson Tigers football team|1981 national champions]], the [[1982 Clemson Tigers football team|Clemson Tigers]]. Between 1974 and 1988, either Clemson or Maryland won the ACC title all but three years. Clemson had lost to the [[1980 Georgia Bulldogs football team|1980 national champions]], seventh-ranked [[1982 Georgia Bulldogs football team|Georgia]], 13–7, and tied {{cfb link|year=1982|team=Boston College Eagles|title=Boston College}}, 17–17, after the opposing quarterback, [[Doug Flutie]], led a comeback. Clemson was therefore unable to defend their NCAA championship, but either Clemson or Maryland, with perfect conference records, would secure the ACC title. Thus, decades before the official [[ACC Championship Game]], 1982 saw a rare ''de facto'' title match. Clemson scored first, then pulled away 14–7 before half. In the second half, a favorable wind twice yielded Maryland excellent field position, Esiason threw for two rapid-fire touchdowns and a [[two-point conversion]], and the defense held Clemson at bay. However, the Terrapins also turned the ball over five times in the second half and lost, 24–22.<ref>Jim Sumner, [http://www.theacc.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/102407aad.html Looking Back... The 1982 Clemson at Maryland Game: A Game Worthy of Championship Status], Atlantic Coast Conference, October 24, 2007.</ref> With the win, Clemson won the ACC and Maryland finished second. Immediately after the game, the NCAA announced its investigation into Clemson recruiting had found improprieties. As a result, the Tigers were denied a bowl game and television coverage in the following season. The ACC instituted further punishment, making Clemson ineligible for a conference title for the next two years.<ref>Daniel Taylor, [http://www.thetigernews.com/news/2004/10/22/Sports/83.Maryland.Game.Was.A.Crucial.Win-1991538.shtml '83 Maryland game was a crucial win], ''[[The Tiger (newspaper)|The Tiger]]'', November 30, 2007.</ref> Maryland finished 1982 ranked 20th after losing to ninth-ranked [[1982 Washington Huskies football team|Washington]] in the {{alternate links|1982 Aloha Bowl|Aloha Bowl|title=Aloha Bowl}}.<ref name="umd"/> In 1983, Maryland lost to third-ranked [[1983 Auburn Tigers football team|Auburn]] and 20th-ranked [[1983 West Virginia Mountaineers football team|West Virginia]], but beat 17th-ranked [[1983 Pittsburgh Panthers football team|Pittsburgh]] and third-ranked {{cfb link|year=1983|team=North Carolina Tar Heels|title=North Carolina}}. [[1983 Clemson Tigers football team|Clemson]] and Maryland once more met with perfect ACC records, and Maryland again lost, this time blown out, 52–27. Despite the loss, Maryland was awarded the conference championship because of the sanctions against Clemson.<ref name="umd"/>
 
In 1984, Maryland defeated the [[1983 Miami Hurricanes football team|defending national champions]], sixth-ranked {{cfb link|year=1984|team=Miami Hurricanes|title=Miami}}, in what was then the biggest comeback in college football history and judged by some as the most exciting.<ref>[http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=57490 This Day in History November 10, 1984: Maryland gets a miracle in Miami], [[History (TV channel)|The History Channel]], retrieved September 6, 2009.</ref> At half time, Maryland trailed Miami, 31–0. Back-up quarterback [[Frank Reich]] replaced [[Stan Gelbaugh]] and proceeded to throw four touchdown passes, and capitalizing on Miami errors, the Terrapins won, 42–40.<ref>[http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/college/maryland_terps/blog/2007/10/the_greatest_comeback.html The greatest comeback?], ''The Baltimore Sun'', October 2007.</ref> The recovery from the 31–point31-point halftime deficit stood as the greatest college football comeback for the next 22 &nbsp;years, until the record was [[2006 Michigan State vs. Northwestern football game|finally broken]] by [[2006 Michigan State Spartans football team|Michigan State]] against [[2006 Northwestern Wildcats football team|Northwestern]].<ref>[http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=262940077 Spartans stun Cats for biggest comeback in I-A history], ESPN, October 12, 2006, retrieved December 16, 2008.</ref> Reich later repeated the feat in his professional career when he led the [[Buffalo Bills]] to overcome a 32-point deficit and set the [[The Comeback (American football)|NFL comeback record]].<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/2002-11-19-memorable-moments_x.htm College football's best of the last 20 years], ''[[USA Today]]'', November 19, 2002.</ref> That season, Maryland also defeated 17th-ranked [[1984 West Virginia Mountaineers football team|West Virginia]] and 20th-ranked [[1984 Clemson Tigers football team|Clemson]], and secured the ACC championship. In the postseason, they edged Tennessee, 28–27, in the {{alternate links|1984 Sun Bowl|Sun Bowl|title=Sun Bowl}} and finished 12th in the nation.<ref name="umd"/> Maryland entered the 1985 season with a number-one preseason rank, and set its all-time home attendance record in Byrd Stadium with an average of 49,385 over five games.<ref>[http://www.mdgridiron.umd.edu/terps/timeline/timeline-1980.html 1980s], Maryland Football Historical Timeline, Maryland Gridiron Network, retrieved January 8, 2008.</ref> However, they dropped to a ranking of 17th in Week 2, and then out of the polls in Week 4 after a [[shutout]] by [[1985 Michigan Wolverines football team|Michigan]].<ref name=umd/> Despite the early setbacks, the Terrapins finished undefeated in six conference games to take the ACC championship for the third consecutive year. Maryland defeated {{cfb link|year=1985|team=Syracuse Orangemen|title=Syracuse}}, 35-18, in the [[Cherry Bowl]] and earned a final ranking of 18th.<ref name=umd/> In 1986, the Terrapins posted a mediocre 5–5–1 record.<ref name=umd/>
 
After the season, Ross resigned as head coach. He expressed frustration over the university's failure to improve Byrd Stadium and its associated facilities.<ref name="ross leaves"/> Ross had shown recruits stadium and facility renovation plans as an indication of the program's direction, and when they did not come to fruition, he felt that he had misled the players.<ref name="coaching exodus"/> Ross also stated that he was hurt by "innuendo, insinuation, and guilt by association" with respect to the [[cocaine]]-induced death of Maryland [[Maryland Terrapins men's basketball|basketball]] star [[Len Bias]].<ref name="ross leaves"/> He said, "I feel the football team has represented the university well, both on and off the field."<ref name="ross leaves">[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A0DE6DF1738F931A35751C1A960948260 Ross to Leave Maryland], ''The New York Times'', December 2, 1986.</ref> The athletics department investigation report had commended the propriety of the football program, but university chancellor [[John B. Slaughter]] did not offer his vocal support for Ross until a month later.<ref name="coaching exodus">[http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1291&dat=19861201&id=b-0PAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lI0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6955,527519 Maryland's coaching exodus claims Ross], ''[[Boca Raton News]]'', December 1, 1986.</ref>
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In [[2001 Maryland Terrapins football team|2001]], Maryland won its first four games and entered the AP Poll for the first time since September 1995.<ref name=umd/> Maryland beat 15th-ranked [[2001 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team|Georgia Tech]] in [[overtime (sports)|overtime]] when placekicker [[Nick Novak]], the ACC's future all-time scoring leader, equalized and then won the game with 46- and 26-yard [[field goal (American football)|field goal]]s, thereby ensuring a winning season and bowl appearance.<ref>[http://www.theacc.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/101101aab.html No. 22 Terrapins Top Tech In Overtime], Atlantic Coast Conference, October 11, 2001.</ref> In [[Tallahassee, Florida|Tallahassee]], 18th-ranked [[2001 Florida State Seminoles football team|Florida State]] broke a stalemate in the fourth quarter to hand Maryland its only defeat of the regular season, 52–31.<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/sports/scores101/101300/101300375.htm Maryland vs. Florida State], ''USA Today'', October 27, 2001.</ref> Maryland closed the year with a win over {{Cfb link|year=2001|team=NC State Wolfpack|title=NC State}}, which secured the ACC championship and made the Terrapins the first team other than Florida State to take the title outright since the Seminoles joined the conference in 1991.<ref>[http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/90511372.xml?dids=90511372:90511372&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Nov+18%2C+2001&author=Josh+Barr&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=%27Unbelievable%27%3B+Hill%27s+Late+Touchdown+Pass+to+Gary+Gives+Maryland+ACC+Championship%2C+Berth+in+Top-Flight+Bowl+Game&pqatl=google 'Unbelievable'; Hill's Late Touchdown Pass to Gary Gives Maryland ACC Championship, Berth in Top-Flight Bowl Game], ''The Washington Post'', p. D01, November 18, 2001.</ref> Sixth-ranked Maryland then faced fifth-ranked [[2001 Florida Gators football team|Florida]] in the [[Bowl Championship Series|BCS]] [[2002 Orange Bowl|Orange Bowl]]. The Terrapins lost, 56–23, and finished with a 10–2 record and ranked 10th in the nation.<ref>[http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/97855856.html?dids=97855856:97855856&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jan+03%2C+2002&author=Amy+Shipley&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=Terps+Bowled+Over+by+Gators%3B+Maryland%27s+Uplifting+Season+Ends+With+Orange+Bowl+Defeat%2C+56-23&pqatl=google Terps Bowled Over by Gators; Maryland's Uplifting Season Ends With Orange Bowl Defeat, 56-23], ''The Washington Post'', p. A01, January 3, 2002.</ref>
 
In [[2002 Maryland Terrapins football team|2002]], Maryland had a pre-seasonpreseason rank of 20th, but their first three games included a shutout by 12th-ranked [[2002 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team|Notre Dame]], 22–0, and a loss to 16th-ranked [[2002 Florida State Seminoles football team|Florida State]], 37–10. The Terrapins rallied to defeat 13th-ranked [[2002 West Virginia Mountaineers football team|West Virginia]] and 17th-ranked {{cfb link|year=2002|team=NC State Wolfpack|title=NC State}}, while losing only to [[2002 Virginia Cavaliers football team|Virginia]].<ref name=umd/> That loss, however, prevented Maryland from earning a share of the ACC championship alongside Florida State.<ref>[http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/243872201.html?dids=243872201:243872201&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Nov+24%2C+2002&author=&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=Losers%2C+and+Still+Champions%3B+Seminoles+Back+Into+ACC+Title+Despite+Second+Straight+Loss+to+Wolfpack&pqatl=google Losers, and Still Champions; Seminoles Back Into ACC Title Despite Second Straight Loss to Wolfpack], ''The Washington Post'', p. D17, November 24, 2002.</ref> The Terrapins routed [[2002 Tennessee Volunteers football team|Tennessee]] in the [[2002 Peach Bowl|Peach Bowl]], 30–3, and finished with an 11–3 record and final ranking of 18th.<ref name=umd/> Maryland began the [[2003 Maryland Terrapins football team|2003 season]] with losses to {{cfb link|year=2003|team=Northern Illinois Huskies|title=Northern Illinois}} and eighth-ranked [[2003 Florida State Seminoles football team|Florida State]]. They later defeated 23rd-ranked [[2003 West Virginia Mountaineers football team|West Virginia]], but were edged by {{cfb link|year=2003|team=Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets|title=Georgia Tech}}. In the postseason, 24th-ranked Maryland delivered a second crushing defeat against 20th-ranked West Virginia in the [[2004 Gator Bowl|Gator Bowl]], 41–7, and finished the season ranked 17th.<ref name="umd"/> ''[[The New York Times]]'' computer poll ranked Maryland third in the nation, behind only split-national champions [[2003 LSU Tigers football team|Louisiana State]] and [[2003 USC Trojans football team|Southern California]].<ref>[http://umterps.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/010604aaa.html Maryland Football Finishes No. 3 In New York Times Computer Ranking], University of Maryland, January 6, 2004.</ref> The [[2004 Maryland Terrapins football team|2004 season]] was Friedgen's first with a losing record. Maryland finished with a 5–6 mark that included an overtime loss to [[2004 West Virginia Mountaineers football team|West Virginia]], 19–16. The highlight of the season was an upset victory over fifth-ranked [[2004 Florida State Seminoles football team|Florida State]], which was Maryland's first against the Seminoles and their first win against a top-10 team since 1990. The Terrapins again ended the [[2005 Maryland Terrapins football team|2005 season]] with a 5–6 record.<ref name="umd"/> That season opened with a victory over {{cfb link|year=2005|team=Navy Midshipmen|title=Navy}}, which was the first meeting between the [[Crab Bowl Classic|intrastate foes]] in 40 years.<ref name=snider/>
 
In [[2006 Maryland Terrapins football team|2006]], Maryland returned to a bowl game and finished with a 9–4 record. During the season, the Terrapins upset 19th-ranked [[2006 Clemson Tigers football team|Clemson]], 13–12, and five of their games were won by four points or less. In the [[2006 Champs Sports Bowl|Champs Sports Bowl]], Maryland beat [[2006 Purdue Boilermakers football team|Purdue]], 24–7.<ref name="umd"/> In [[2007 Maryland Terrapins football team|2007]], Maryland overcame extensive injuries to again secure a postseason appearance.<ref name=resilience>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/27/AR2007122702553.html Maryland's football season was one of determined resilience and unrealized promise. Tonight's Emerald Bowl will decide whether it will be remembered as a winning season], ''The Washington Post'', December 28, 2007.</ref> During the season, unranked Maryland tallied two shocking upsets against 10th-ranked [[2007 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team|Rutgers]], 34–24, and eighth-ranked Boston College, 42–35.<ref><!--[http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/college/football/bal-sp.terpsfoot25dec25,0,5875623.story --> Turner's trip from underdog to top dog, ''The Baltimore Sun'', December 25, 2007.</ref> They finished the season with a rout of [[2007 NC State Wolfpack football team|NC State]] to attain bowl eligibility, 37–0,<ref>[http://www.thetimesnews.com/sports/state-7877-wolfpack-first.html Going nowhere fast: Wolfpack fizzles in finale], ''[[The Burlington Times-News]]'', November 25, 2007.</ref> but lost to [[2007 Oregon State Beavers football team|Oregon State]] in the [[2007 Emerald Bowl|Emerald Bowl]], 21–14.<ref>[http://dispatch.com/live/content/football/stories/2007/12/29/cfb29.ART_ART_12-29-07_C11_ID8TLT1.html?sid=101 Oregon State runs roughshod over Maryland], ''[[The Columbus Dispatch]]'', December 29, 2007.</ref> According to the final [[Jeff Sagarin|Sagarin]] computer-generated rankings, Maryland had the second-hardest schedule in the ACC and the 27th-hardest schedule among [[Division I (NCAA)|Division I]] teams.<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin/fbt07.htm Jeff Sagarin NCAA football ratings], ''USA Today'', January 8, 2008.</ref>
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When the school was known as the Maryland Agricultural College, from 1856 to 1916, the media called the athletics teams the "Farmers" and the "Aggies".<ref name="snider">Rick Snider, [http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2005/aug/29/20050829-122511-3724r/ Ill will lingers at Navy, Maryland; Rivalry to restart in Crab Bowl], ''The Washington Times'', p. 1, August 29, 2005.</ref> As the University of Maryland, the teams became known as "The Old Liners" in reference to the [[List of U.S. state nicknames|state nickname]].<ref name=autogenerated4/> During the 1923 season, ''[[The New York Times]]'' referred to Maryland as the Orioles, after [[Baltimore oriole|a bird species]] endemic to the region that was already the namesake for [[Baltimore Oriole (disambiguation)#Baseball|several baseball teams]].<ref>[http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0B12F63C5D15738DDDAB0994D9415B838EF1D3 YALE MEN PRAISE MARYLAND ELEVEN; Hope to Feature Game With Orioles in 1924, Calling Them Fine Sportsmen], ''The New York Times'', November 12, 1923.</ref><ref>[http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F60916FD3F5D15738DDDAB0894DA415B838EF1D3 FOOTBALL SEASON SET NEW RECORDS; All Attendance Marks Were Broken and the Sport Had Its Greatest Year], ''The New York Times'', December 2, 1923.</ref><ref name=yale1923>[http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F60D1EFA3E5416738DDDA80994D9415B838EF1D3 YALE VICTOR, 16-14, AFTER UPHILL FIGHT; Touchdown by Stevens in Third Period Wrests Victory From Maryland Eleven], ''The New York Times'', November 11, 1923.</ref> In 1932, [[Curley Byrd]] suggested that the namesake become the [[diamondback terrapin]] (''Malaclemys terrapin''), a species of land-dwelling turtle common throughout the state, particularly the [[Chesapeake Bay]] area where Dr. Byrd spent his early life.<ref name=autogenerated4/> The student newspaper had already been named ''[[The Diamondback]]'' since 1921, and the athletics teams were sometimes referred to as the "Terrapins" as early as 1928.<ref>''Reveille'', University of Maryland Yearbook, Class of 1928, p. 182, 1928.</ref> Newspapers began referring to the team simply as the "Terps" to shorten headlines.<ref name=autogenerated4>[http://www.umterps.com/trads/md-m-fb-mas.html Testudo: Tale of the Top Shell], University of Maryland, retrieved August 20, 2011.</ref> The truncated name stuck and is now in official use by the school.<ref>[http://www.trademarks.umd.edu/guidelines/um_visual_identity_guide.pdf Visual Identity Guide] (PDF), p. 16, University of Maryland, retrieved August 20, 2011.</ref>
 
The mascot is a diamondback terrapin named Testudo, which means "turtle" in [[Latin language|Latin]]. It is also the name of an ancient Roman [[Testudo formation|military tactic]], in which soldiers protected their infantry square from projectiles by completely enclosing it with their shields. Derivations of the word have also been used in scientific nomenclature related to the reptile, such as the order [[Testudines|Testudine]] and the family [[Testudinidae]].<ref name=autogenerated4 /> In 1933, the graduating class raised funds for a 300-pound bronze replica of a terrapin. It was initially placed in front of [[Ritchie Coliseum]], which was then the home arena of the [[Maryland Terrapins men's basketball|basketball team]]. In 1951, after being the subject of numerous pranks, the statue was relocated to [[Byrd Stadium]], reinforced with 700&nbsp;pounds of concrete, and anchored with steel rods. It was moved again in the 1960s, in front of [[University of Maryland Libraries|McKeldin Library]], and a second replica was placed at Byrd Stadium in 1992.<ref>[http://www.umd.edu/testudo.html All About Testudo], University of Maryland, retrieved July 24, 2009.</ref> TodayIn the 2000s, under coach Ralph Friedgen, it iswas a pre-gamepregame tradition for the football players to walk 200 &nbsp;yards, through what is known as "Terp Alley", to the locker rooms, and touch the bronze Testudo.<ref>Michael MacCambridge (ed.), ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=_xaiAQAACAAJ ESPN College Football Encyclopedia: The Complete History of the Game]'', pp. 464–467, ESPN, 2005, ISBN 1-4013-3703-1.</ref>
 
===Colors===
[[Image:Flag of Maryland.svg|thumb|The Maryland state flag]]
Originally, the athleticsathletic teams had no official colors and often used gray or maroon and gray for their uniforms. Senior classes would sometimes select colors of their own choosing.<ref name="umterps.cstv.com">[http://umterps.cstv.com/school-bio/md-school-colors.html Maryland Colors: Red, White, Black, and Gold], University of Maryland, retrieved December 5, 2008.</ref> In modern times, the uniforms have been based on some combination of the four colors of the [[Flag of Maryland|Maryland flag]]: red, white, black, and gold. The dominant colors have occasionally changed back and forth with changes of the head coach. In 1904, Maryland adopted a state flag based on the heraldry of [[George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore|Lord Calvert]]: the Calvert family arms (black and gold) quartered with his mother's Crossland family arms (red and white). From the early 1920s until 1942, the black and gold were adopted as the official school colors.<ref name="umterps.cstv.com"/>▼
 
In [[1942 Maryland Terrapins football team|1942]], [[Clark Shaughnessy]] left [[Stanford Cardinal football|Stanford]] to coach at Maryland. He brought with him an affinity for a red and white color scheme and changed the team's uniforms. Shaughnessy left after one season, and the school switched back to the more traditional black and gold. He returned in [[1946 Maryland Terrapins football team|1946]] and again changed the colors to red and white. He was replaced with [[Jim Tatum]] the following season, but Shaughnessy's colors were retained. In 1961, Maryland wore gold jerseys with black numerals for the first time since 1945 for their season opener against {{cfb link|year=1961|team=SMU Mustangs|title=Southern Methodist}}.<ref>Paul Attner, ''The Terrapins: Maryland Football'', p. 258, 1975, Strode Publishers, ISBN 87397-066-7.</ref> In 1987, [[Joe Krivak]] introduced black uniforms for selected games. [[Ron Vanderlinden]] took over in 1997 and a new black and white uniform was adopted.<ref name="vandy">[http://umterps.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/md-m-footbl-spec-rel23.html Vanderlinden Era Begins; Terps Play Host to Ohio University], University of Maryland, September 1, 1997.</ref> Under [[Ralph Friedgen]], Maryland returned to red and white in 2001, with black uniforms being reserved for select games. Maryland was one of the first schools to utilize the "blackout" concept, where fans uniformly wear the color to stand out in the stadium. It was introduced unofficially as the "Byrd Blackout" in 2005.<ref>Megan Eckstein, [http://media.www.diamondbackonline.com/media/storage/paper873/news/2005/10/10/NewsonCampus/Group.Aims.To.Coordinate.School.Spirit-2322857.shtml Group aims to coordinate school spirit], ''The Diamondback'', October 10, 2005.</ref><ref>Jeff Amoros, [http://media.www.diamondbackonline.com/media/storage/paper873/news/2007/09/13/Sports/Athletics.Announces.Blackout-2966184.shtml Athletics announces blackout], ''The Diamondback'', September 13, 2007.</ref> For the [[2011 Maryland Terrapins football team|2011 season]], Maryland wore new [[Under Armour]] uniforms that offered a "dizzying array" of combinations in the four school colors.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/terrapins-insider/post/maryland-unveils-new-football-uniforms/2011/08/22/gIQA19BQXJ_blog.html Maryland unveils new football uniforms], ''The Washington Post'', August 22, 2011.</ref> In the season opener against [[2011 Miami Hurricanes football team|Miami]], the Terrapins unveiled a unique uniform based on the Maryland state flag that received nationwide media attention.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-sports-bog/post/maryland-new-football-uniforms-on-cnn-pti/2011/09/07/gIQAfZU98J_blog.html Maryland new football uniforms on CNN, PTI], ''The Washington Post'', September 7, 2011.</ref>▼
▲Originally, the athletics teams had no official colors and often used gray or maroon and gray for their uniforms. Senior classes would sometimes select colors of their own choosing.<ref name="umterps.cstv.com">[http://umterps.cstv.com/school-bio/md-school-colors.html Maryland Colors: Red, White, Black, and Gold], University of Maryland, retrieved December 5, 2008.</ref> In modern times, the uniforms have been based on some combination of the four colors of the [[Flag of Maryland|Maryland flag]]: red, white, black, and gold. The dominant colors have occasionally changed back and forth with changes of the head coach. In 1904, Maryland adopted a state flag based on the heraldry of [[George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore|Lord Calvert]]: the Calvert family arms (black and gold) quartered with his mother's Crossland family arms (red and white). From the early 1920s until 1942, the black and gold were adopted as the official school colors.<ref name="umterps.cstv.com"/>
 
▲In 1942, [[Clark Shaughnessy]] left [[Stanford Cardinal football|Stanford]] to coach at Maryland. He brought with him an affinity for a red and white color scheme and changed the team's uniforms. Shaughnessy left after one season, and the school switched back to the more traditional black and gold. He returned in 1946 and again changed the colors to red and white. He was replaced with [[Jim Tatum]] the following season, but Shaughnessy's colors were retained. In 1987, [[Joe Krivak]] introduced black uniforms for selected games. [[Ron Vanderlinden]] took over in 1997 and a new black and white uniform was adopted.<ref name="vandy">[http://umterps.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/md-m-footbl-spec-rel23.html Vanderlinden Era Begins; Terps Play Host to Ohio University], University of Maryland, September 1, 1997.</ref> Under [[Ralph Friedgen]], Maryland returned to red and white in 2001, with black uniforms being reserved for select games. Maryland was one of the first schools to utilize the "blackout" concept, where fans uniformly wear the color to stand out in the stadium. It was introduced unofficially as the "Byrd Blackout" in 2005.<ref>Megan Eckstein, [http://media.www.diamondbackonline.com/media/storage/paper873/news/2005/10/10/NewsonCampus/Group.Aims.To.Coordinate.School.Spirit-2322857.shtml Group aims to coordinate school spirit], ''The Diamondback'', October 10, 2005.</ref><ref>Jeff Amoros, [http://media.www.diamondbackonline.com/media/storage/paper873/news/2007/09/13/Sports/Athletics.Announces.Blackout-2966184.shtml Athletics announces blackout], ''The Diamondback'', September 13, 2007.</ref> For the [[2011 Maryland Terrapins football team|2011 season]], Maryland wore new [[Under Armour]] uniforms that offered a "dizzying array" of combinations in the four school colors.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/terrapins-insider/post/maryland-unveils-new-football-uniforms/2011/08/22/gIQA19BQXJ_blog.html Maryland unveils new football uniforms], ''The Washington Post'', August 22, 2011.</ref> In the season opener against [[2011 Miami Hurricanes football team|Miami]], the Terrapins unveiled a unique uniform based on the Maryland state flag that received nationwide media attention.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-sports-bog/post/maryland-new-football-uniforms-on-cnn-pti/2011/09/07/gIQAfZU98J_blog.html Maryland new football uniforms on CNN, PTI], ''The Washington Post'', September 7, 2011.</ref>
 
===Rivalries===
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