What’S The Mascot Of Maryland Colleges?

Testudo, the official mascot of the University of Maryland, is a unique and iconic symbol of the campus. For over 80 years, Testudo has been the symbol for the university, overseeing both good times and bad times. The history of the diamondback terrapin turtle in Maryland can be traced back to Native Americans with two important contemporary figures. Testudo’s bronze nose is a symbol of good luck, and the original statue, now in front of McKeldin Library, was gifted by the Class of 1933.

The Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) was chosen as the state reptile and official mascot of the University of Maryland College Park in 1994. The official team colors are red, white, black, and gold, derived from the Maryland state flag. The history of the diamondback terrapin turtle in Maryland can be traced back to the Native Americans with two important contemporary figures.

The school mascot, Testudo, comes in many different forms around campus, from statues to carapace stickers. Maryland’s mascot was introduced back in 1932, when football coach Dr. H. Curley Byrd recommended the Diamondback Terrapin turtle as the mascot.


📹 Maryland’s Beloved Mascot: Testudo Through the Ages

For nearly a century, our legendary mascot at the University of Maryland has captured Terps’ hearts: Testudo! Forever the iconic …


What is the University of Maryland live mascot?

Testudo, a diamondback terrapin, is the mascot of the University of Maryland, College Park, representing the university at sporting events and as a general symbol. In 1932, Curley Byrd proposed adopting the terrapin as a mascot. The first bronze statue of Testudo was donated by the Class of 1933 and displayed on Baltimore Avenue in front of Ritchie Coliseum. However, the statue was subjected to vandalism by visiting college athletic teams. In 1947, students from Johns Hopkins University stole the statue and moved it to their campus.

In 1949, University President Byrd was contacted by a fraternity requesting Testudo be removed from their lawn. Testudo was later filled with 700 pounds of cement and fastened to his pedestal to prevent future removals. It was moved to Maryland Stadium in 1951 and back to a central spot in front of McKeldin Library in the 1960s. In 1992, a duplicate statue was placed at Maryland Stadium, where the football team touches it for good luck before games.

Additional Testudo statues are located outside Gossett Team House, XFINITY Center, Riggs Alumni Center, Adele H. Stamp Student Union lobby, and Van Munching Hall courtyard. In 1994, the Maryland General Assembly approved legislation to name the terrapin as the official state reptile and legally codified mascot of the University of Maryland.

Is a terrapin a real animal?
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Is a terrapin a real animal?

The term terrapin, originally used to refer to any aquatic turtle, is now primarily restricted to the diamondback terrapin of the turtle family Emydidae. These moderate-sized terrapins inhabit salt marshes and coastal waters of North America, from New England to the Gulf of Mexico. They are omnivores, capturing various invertebrate prey and occasionally eating plant matter. Terrapins must find egg-laying sites on beaches above the high-tide line, with most adult females nesting annually from April through July. Clutch sizes vary from 4 to 18 eggs, and incubation typically lasts 80 to 90 days.

The terrapin has been acclaimed as a “gourmet’s delight” during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, leading to the overcollection and near extinction of many coastal populations. Efforts to develop a hatchery-farming system in the early 20th century never reached commercial success, but harvesting pressure was reduced by the Great Depression and World War II, and terrapin populations largely recovered.

Currently, the popularity of the blue crab (Callinectes) and its harvesting methods present a new threat to terrapin populations. Terrapins enter submerged crab traps to catch crabs and baitfish, ensnare themselves, and drown because they cannot reach the surface to breathe.

What is Maryland soccer mascot?
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What is Maryland soccer mascot?

The University of Maryland, College Park, was established in 1856 as Maryland Agricultural College and has been known as the Terrapins since 1932. The school’s nickname was chosen due to the diamondback terrapins native to the Chesapeake Bay region, which were famous for their presence along its shores. The mascot is an anthropomorphic turtle named “Testudo”. The official team colors are red, white, black, and gold, derived from the Maryland state flag. The university is the only NCAA school with four official school colors.

The Terrapins became members of the Big Ten Conference in 2014 after 62 years of membership in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The university currently sponsors varsity athletic teams in 20 men’s and women’s sports, competing at the NCAA Division I level.

The University of Maryland, College Park was a member of the Southern Conference from 1921 to 1953. Tensions within the Southern Conference culminated in 1951 when it banned participation in bowl games midway through the football season. Both Maryland and Clemson were invited and accepted to postseason bowl games, but were sanctioned with a one-year probation. In 1953, Maryland became a founding member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) when it and six other schools voted to split from the Southern Conference.

Is Testudo a turtle or tortoise?

The Testudo genus of tortoises is endemic to the Mediterranean region, with species distributed across North Africa, Western Asia, and Europe. The species is threatened by habitat destruction and is currently classified as endangered. The species ranges in length from 0 to 35 cm and in weight from 0. 7 to 7. 0 kg. The systematics and taxonomy of this species present a significant challenge.

Is Testudo a girl?
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Is Testudo a girl?

Testudo, the beloved school mascot at the University of Maryland, was chosen by the class of 1933 and then-VP Harry Clifton “Curley” Byrd. He wanted “the biggest one” to model for a statue, and the first Testudo statue was unveiled at a ceremony attended by UMD big-names like Ralph Williams, President Raymond Pearson, and Vice President Byrd. However, the woman between Byrd and Pearson had remained unidentified on all copies of the photo.

Whether taken in 1933 or given to University Archives, the photo did not consider the importance of writing down the name of the woman, who was clearly important enough to be front and center of the photo. For decades, the questions of who and why she was there went unanswered because someone took it upon themselves to erase her.

Why is the Maryland mascot named Testudo?
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Why is the Maryland mascot named Testudo?

Testudo, the school mascot of the University of Maryland, was suggested by then-football coach Dr. H. Curley Byrd in 1932 as a response to the search for a new “official” mascot. The terrapin, a turtle native to the Chesapeake Bay, was chosen due to its logical origin and popularity in Crisfield, Maryland. The name Testudo is more mysterious, with some suggesting it is derived from the scientific classification for turtle, testudines, another theory being from testudo gigantia, a species native to the African country Seychelles and the remote island Aldabra, or the Latin word for a protective shelter used for Roman soldiers’ heads.

The Class of 1933 decided to give a bronze replica of the new mascot as its graduation gift, raising money for the sculpture by holding its Junior Senior German (aka the Senior Prom) on campus instead of at an expensive Washington hotel. Additional funds came from the student yearbook The Reveille (renamed The Terrapin in 1935), managed by Harry E. Hasslinger. The SGA donated money for the base.

To make the mascot a reality, Byrd suggested contacting Edwin C. Mayo, President of Gorham Manufacturing in Providence, RI, who agreed to produce the 300-pound bronze terrapin at cost. Sculptor Aristide Cianfarani cast the sculpture, using a live Diamondback as a guide. On June 2, 1933, Testudo was unveiled to the world.

However, Testudo’s perch in front of Ritchie Coliseum soon became the scene of multiple crimes against the unguarded mascot, including painting, defacing the pedestal, and kidnapping. In 1947, when Testudo was captured by Johns Hopkins students, many Maryland students rushed to Baltimore and laid siege to the building where the mascot was held. Two years later, Byrd received a call from a University of Virginia fraternity to get Testudo off their lawn. With Testudo safely recovered, he was hidden in a campus carpentry shed until 1951.

Testudo became more than a symbol of Maryland’s athletics; he found his way into the hearts of the entire student body. When McKeldin Library opened in 1958, Testudo was uprooted from his stadium pedestal and carried by students to his new home overlooking McKeldin Mall in 1965. Since then, Testudo has continued his vigil at Maryland, with myths surrounding him and his unusually shiny nose.

What is Maryland college football name?
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What is Maryland college football name?

The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland, College Park in American football, competing in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and the Big Ten Conference. Established in 1950, the team has played its home games at SECU Stadium in College Park, Maryland, with occasional home games in Baltimore. The team’s official colors, red, white, black, and gold, have been used since the 1920s and are derived from Maryland’s state flag.

The Terrapins nickname, “Terps”, was adopted in 1933 after the diamondback terrapin, a turtle species native to the state. The team has a history of victories, including one national championship in 1953, nine ACC championships, two Southern Conference championships, 12 consensus All-Americans, several Hall of Fame inductees, and 28 bowl game appearances. Maryland has the third-most ACC championships with nine, behind Clemson and Florida State. Many former Terrapins players and coaches have gone on to careers in professional football, including 17 first-round NFL Draft picks.

What is a terrapin Maryland?

It is thought that Diamondback terrapins, the official state reptile of Maryland, are the only turtles in the world that exclusively live in brackish water. This term is derived from an Algonquin word for edible turtles.

Why is it called a terrapin?

The Northern diamond-backed terrapin, North America’s only brackish water turtle, is found in 11 Virginia counties and seven cities in the Chesapeake Bay region and on the Eastern Shore. It is the only true estuarine turtle in Virginia, living in brackish rivers, creeks, bays, and streams along the Chesapeake Bay and the seaside of the Eastern Shore. The species nearly became extinct a century ago due to overfishing, and is now a species of concern with a Tier IIa Virginia Wildlife Action Plan rating due to habitat loss, egg predation, and road mortality of females searching for suitable nest sites.

Why is Maryland’s mascot a terrapin?

In 1933, students sought a suitable university mascot and decided on a diamondback terrapin mascot, inspired by then-football coach Harry Clifton “Curley” Byrd from Crisfield, Maryland. The student newspaper, The Diamondback, was named after Byrd’s suggestion. The Class of 1933, who approved the decision, donated the original bronze sculpture of Testudo as a class gift. To fund the sculpture, they held their senior prom on campus and contributed profits from the 1932 student yearbook, The Reveille. The decision was unanimous among students.

What is Notre Dame of Maryland mascot?
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What is Notre Dame of Maryland mascot?

Notre Dame of Maryland University, a women’s college in Maryland, has a rich history and a diverse student body. The university’s mascot is the “Gator”, which was redesigned in May 2010. Notable alumni include Frances Benjamin Johnston, Audrey J. Carrion, Marta Cunningham, Kathleen Feeley, Brigadier General Elizabeth P. Hoisington, Kit Reed, Susan Love, L. Paige Marvel, and Shelley Puhak.

The university has been a part of the National Association of College and University Business Officers and TIAA since its inception in 2010. In 2022, Notre Dame of Maryland University became fully co-ed for the first time in more than 125 years. However, some alumnae and students oppose the decision to go co-ed, leading to concerns about the institution’s future.

The university has also acquired a graduate health college. The Council of Independent Colleges has a historic campus architecture project, and the university has a rich history of notable alumni and alumni. Notable alumni include Frances Benjamin Johnston, Audrey J. Carrion, Marta Cunningham, Kathleen Feeley, Brigadier General Elizabeth P. Hoisington, Kit Reed, Susan Love, L. Paige Marvel, and Shelley Puhak.

Notable alumni and alumni from Notre Dame of Maryland University include Frances Benjamin Johnston, Audrey J. Carrion, Marta Cunningham, Kathleen Feeley, Brigadier General Elizabeth P. Hoisington, Kit Reed, Susan Love, L. Paige Marvel, and Shelley Puhak. The university’s history and commitment to diversity and inclusivity have contributed to its long-standing reputation as a top institution in higher education.


📹 U.Md. surprises local college hopeful with acceptance letter delivery

Shortly after 9:30 a.m. on a blustery Sunday morning, a bus from College Park pulled up to Noah Jones’ house in Bowie.


What'S The Mascot Of Maryland Colleges?
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Pramod Shastri

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