The "It's Been A Long Journey: Part II - The Move To College Coaching" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Talking with my son-in-law Dave who has been the Director of Player Personnel for the University of Maryland football team for a little over half-a-year now and just loves his job.  

After coaching high school football for close to 15 years and being extremely successful at his job, I wasn't sure how well he could adjust to the college level and not being a coach on the field.  Seems that young men who love the game of football and will do everything necessary to be successful at what they do are the type of student-athlete that Dave enjoys whether they be high school or college athletes.  That, plus the excitement and  atmosphere of Division I college football is a great replacement for the high school football scene.  A brief description of what Dave is involved in on a daily basis goes like this:  Maryland football is in its 125th season this year, having began in 1892.  At that time they were known as the "Aggies" and disbanded after three years to once again begin the following season.  

The Maryland team mascot, Testudo! Click on photos to enlarge.

After close to 30 seasons they became known as the "Terrapins."  Since that time they have won 11 conference champion- ships, celebrated 11 consensus All-Americans and 16 NFL first-round draft picks, appeared in 27 bowl games and won the 1953 National Championship.  So you see how Dave has grown to love the atmosphere of Maryland football.  

My granddaughters Camille and Courtney frame my grandson
Caden in front of the Gossett Football Team House.

If you're wondering about the mascot name of "Terrapin," it all began in 1932 when the coach recommen- ded that the Diamond- back terrapin (turtle) be made the school mascot, since it was the state reptile.  The terrapin is native to the Chesapeake Bay, so it was a logical choice for the team's mascot.  But, why was the mascot named "Testudo"?  

The newly refurbished Cole Field House.

It happens to be the scientific classifi- cation for turtle, so once again, a natural choice.  In 1933 the graduating class decided to give a bronze replica of the mascot as its graduation gift to the school.  Sculptor Arsitide Cianfrani cast the bronze 300 pound terrapin using a live Diamondback as a guide.  

The Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium.

On May 23, 1933, Testudo was unveiled to the world.  Today the second casting of Testudo sits in front of what at one time was Byrd Stadium, but today is known as Maryland Stadium.  The field itself is known today as Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium.  It seats slightly over 50,000 fans and on November 1, 1975 set an attendance record of 58,973. The field is shaped like a horseshoe with the Gossett Team House standing on the open end of the horseshoe.  

The cover of the Maryland-Penn State program.

To one side of Gossett Team House is the new Cole Field House which was recently finished and is said to advance the science of sports on the campus.  It houses a full-sized football field with strength, conditioning and hydro-therapy centers inside of it.  Pretty impressive building that will make it much easier to get top notch high school football players to commit to Maryland to play their college football.  I write about all this since Dave recently got tickets for his wife and daughters as well as my wife Carol and myself and my son Derek and grandson Caden to attend the Penn State vs. Maryland football game at the Maryland Stadium.  Final game of the regular season for both teams who are members of the Big 10 Conference.  Tomorrow I will finish my story telling you about game day and the excitement that is truly college football.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.