So, Maryland Football Actually Was the First to Put Names on Jerseys [Update: Now With Photos]
by Ben Broman on Aug 1, 2011 11:30 AM EDT
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In our original post about the removal of last names from Maryland's football jerseys at Randy Edsall's behest, commenter Maryland Pride mentioned that Maryland was actually the first team to put names on their jerseys. And, with a credit to @jonas_shaffer, it turns out that's the case indeed:
In 1961, the University of Maryland was the first collegiate football team to place the surnames of its players on the backs of their uniforms along with their numbers, following a trend established by the professional American Football League and baseball's Chicago White Sox.
Okay, so it isn't the first ever, but considering that the AFL was the Arena League or XFL of it's day, being second to them is still pretty cutting-edge.
And it's certainly a tad ironic, no? Not very meaningful, but interesting nonetheless.
For the record, Danny O'Brien doesn't seem to care about the change, but he's not hyped either. I've gotten over it; Edsall's gonna do things his way, and it'll either work or not. Aesthetically, I can actually see some upside. So there's that.
UPDATE: Ken R. emailed in with some photographic evidence from a 1962 yearbook. Check out all three photos past the jump:
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Interesting history
Anyways, although I don’t like the particular redesign for the Terps supposedly on the horizon.
People always make too much about actually changing uniforms, as long as they are nicely designed like Okie States and most of Oregon’s are, it’s fine.
What I think would be better if the Terps put their big fat M on the helmet, better than the fleeting cursive. More impact in my opinon.
always enjoy learning a tidbit of
sports history, especially when it comes to the Terps – thx
PS – I bet quite a few Terps fans do not even know why our mascot is named Testudo – don’t look it up!
"firegary, go sit under the basket at one of FCHS's games next year so...
Seth can flush one right down your throat you little trouble making hatin’ weasel…"
huh?
I was saying it’s good, no?
"firegary, go sit under the basket at one of FCHS's games next year so...
Seth can flush one right down your throat you little trouble making hatin’ weasel…"
by bball purist on Aug 1, 2011 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions
unless you referred to waltlantz
"firegary, go sit under the basket at one of FCHS's games next year so...
Seth can flush one right down your throat you little trouble making hatin’ weasel…"
by bball purist on Aug 1, 2011 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions
I mean, I understand the Latin behind Testudo
Both linguistically and historically. Some other reason?
no
I just think some would not know the historical significance
"firegary, go sit under the basket at one of FCHS's games next year so...
Seth can flush one right down your throat you little trouble making hatin’ weasel…"
by bball purist on Aug 1, 2011 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions
History
Edsall needs to learn the history of Maryland football before he makes changes. Removing names from the football jerseys is equivalent to getting rid of Midnight Madness for basketball (invented by Lefty).
by TerpFan2001 on Aug 1, 2011 12:32 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 1 recs
Wow
I doubted it and I now apologize to Maryland Pride.
Still think its a bad move by Edsall, this just makes it look worse.
Back on the Sweed train. Choo Choo!
"It’s easy to lie with statistics, but it’s easier to lie without them." -Fred Mosteller
I always thought it was Maryland
After a Google search I came up with U of Hawaii
by PaTerp on Aug 1, 2011 1:26 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
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