College Sports Established
1892
Location
College Park, Maryland
College Name
University of Maryland
Collegiate History
1973 - Present / NCAA Division 1
1907 - 1973 / University Division of the NCAA
Conference History
2014 - Present / Big 10 Conference
1953 - 2014 / ACC Conference
1921 - 1953 / Southern Conference
Nickname
Terrapins - It’s no secret that the Maryland Terrapins are one of the most beloved teams in college sports. But what many people don’t know is where their iconic nickname comes from. The Terrapin, or diamondback terrapin, is a turtle native to the Chesapeake Bay and has been adopted as an unofficial mascot for University of Maryland athletics since 1932.
The story behind how this reptile became associated with UMD dates back even further than its first official use on uniforms and merchandise; it was inspired by a poem written by alumnus Dr. Hosea Matson in 1892! In his work entitled “The Diamond Back: A College Fable," he wrote about a small creature who faced off against larger opponents with courage and tenacity - much like UMD athletes do today when they take on competitors around the nation!
Since then, fans have embraced this unique moniker as part of their team spirit - wearing it proudly at games or sporting themed apparel out-and-about town (not to mention all those fabulous "Fear The Turtle" t-shirts!). And while other schools across NCAA divisions may claim some version of “Terps” as their mascot name, none can match up to our original diamondback terrapin roots here at the University Of Maryland!
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 1
2002
Women's Basketball 1
2006
Football 0
Soccer 4
2018, 2008, 2005, 1968
- 1892
- 1913
- 1948
- 1953
- 2002
- 2006
-
University of Maryland fields its first football team
In 1892: The University of Maryland fields its first football team and joins the Maryland Intercollegiate Football Association. -
Maryland Terrapins baseball team wins SAIAA Title
In 1913: The baseball team wins its first conference title in the South Atlantic Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SAIAA). -
Maryland first national championship in SOCCER
In 1948: The men’s soccer team wins its first national championship, defeating Michigan State in the NCAA Tournament Final. -
football team wins its second national championship
In 1953: The football team wins its second national championship, defeating Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl. It finishes the season with a perfect 10-0 record. -
Terrapins NCAA Basketball Champs 2002
The Final Four consisted of Maryland, making their second consecutive appearance, Kansas, making their first appearance since 1993, Indiana, making their first appearance since 1992, and Oklahoma, making their first appearance since their national runner-up finish in 1988. Maryland defeated Indiana 64–52 in the championship game to win their first-ever national championship. Juan Dixon of Maryland was named the tournament’s ... -
2006 NCAA Women’s Basketball Champions
The 2006 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament was held from March 18 to April 4, 2006, at several sites, with the championship game held in Boston. The Maryland Terrapins, coached by Brenda Frese, won their first National Championship, beating the Duke Blue Devils, coached by Gail Goestenkors, 78–75 in overtime. Laura Harper of the Terrapins was named Most Outstanding ...
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
History of the Terrapins
The Maryland Terrapins are one of the most storied sports teams in college athletics. With a long and proud history from 1892, the Terps have been an NCAA powerhouse for decades, having won multiple national titles across various sports. From legendary basketball coach Gary Williams to Hall of Fame lacrosse player Frank Urso, Maryland has produced some of the greatest athletes in collegiate sports, often facing off against their rivalry team, the Purdue Boilermakers.
Throughout their time as an NCAA member school, Maryland has consistently performed at a high level on both men’s and women’s sides, with numerous conference championships and trips to major bowl games or tournaments under their belt. They even held two separate streaks where they went undefeated throughout entire seasons, firstly during football season from 1953-1955 before achieving something similar again between 1973-1975 when they have crowned ACC Champions three times consecutively!
The success doesn't stop there, though; over recent years, we've seen them become one of the college's top programs in terms of overall wins with six National Championships (two each for men's & women's soccer) plus seven more appearances since 2000 alone! As if that wasn't enough - this streak includes four consecutive Final Four appearances by both basketball teams too! Then, no matter what sport you follow - Football or Basketball - you can always expect great things from these guys year after year, which is why so many fans love them dearly...
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