How a Maryland Football Coach Invented the Modern College Basketball Midnight Madness Tradition
In short: In 1971, Maryland basketball coach Lefty Driesell faced a problem: his players were too exhausted to practice after a mandatory mile run. His solution—holding the run at 12:03 a.m. to kick off the season—sparked a nationwide collegiate tradition now adopted by powerhouses like Duke, Kentucky, and Kansas.
The University of Maryland, College Park, has evolved from its 1856 origins as the Maryland Agricultural College into a major athletic institution. While the school's teams were once known as the Old Liners, the current Terrapins nickname was coined in 1932 by Harry C. Byrd. Byrd, a former football coach and later university president, chose the name to honor the diamondback terrapins native to the Chesapeake Bay region, specifically near his hometown of Crisfield.
The athletic program has navigated significant transitions, including moving from the Southern Conference to the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1953, and finally joining the Big Ten in 2014. These shifts were often marked by controversy and change, such as the 1951 Southern Conference ban on bowl games that prompted Maryland to eventually split from the league. The university also faced internal challenges, notably in 2011 when a committee recommended cutting eight varsity teams to reduce costs, though the men's outdoor track team successfully avoided elimination by raising $888,000.
Beyond the administrative shifts, the Terrapins have built a legacy of athletic success across multiple sports. The football program, which officially began in 1892, reached its modern peak under Jim Tatum, who coached from 1946 to 1955 without a single losing season. Meanwhile, the basketball program gained national prominence under coaches like Lefty Driesell and Gary Williams, the latter leading the team to its first national championship in 2002. The women's basketball team has also seen immense success, particularly under Brenda Frese, while the field hockey program remains one of the most accomplished in the country with eight NCAA national titles.
The university's identity is uniquely colorful, as it is the only NCAA school to feature four official colors—red, white, black, and gold—all derived from the Maryland state flag. From the early days of boxing and football doubleheaders at Ritchie Coliseum to the modern era of Big Ten competition, the Terrapins have maintained a distinct place in collegiate sports history.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Maryland Terrapins
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/culture-maryland-terrapins.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Languages · More in Cultures · Latest · A–Z · All topics
