--- title: Standing the Testudo of Time date: 2024-01-12T17:30:00-05:00 author: University of Maryland canonical_url: "https://terp.umd.edu/testudooftime" section: Articles --- # Standing the Testudo of Time *January 12, 2024* — by [Terp Staff](/authors/terp-staff) - *Testudo mascot photo by Maryland Athletics* - *Historic images of Testudo courtesy of University Archives* > From Turtlenappings to TikTok Shenanigans, How an Unassuming Reptile Evolved to Represent Terp Spirit *Testudo turtle mascot with open arms. Vintage mascot photos in background* **Let’s be honest. A turtle’s an odd choice for a college mascot, up there with Syracuse’s Otto the Orange, UC Santa Cruz’s Sammy the Slug and Stanford’s Tree.** Turtles are slow. Most aren’t big, strong or intimidating. They can’t leap, mountain lion-like, out of a tree to maul you, or crack you one across the noggin with a shillelagh—and really, is that a bad thing? Instead, these can-do reptiles impress with their positive attributes: They’re persistent and tough. Diamondback terrapins scream (as if turtles make a lot of noise) “Maryland pride” in a state where residents don scarves, overalls and even suits in the flag’s colors. The University of Maryland loves its Testudo, in every form the mascot takes. He’s the gravitas-heavy, inspirational bronze sculpture that students make offerings to during finals. He’s the furry goofball that dances in the student section at football games, that wears a yellow rain hat and poncho with adorable panache. He’s the logo on our hoodies, the pin on our lapels. He’s at the center of UMD’s most treasured traditions. And he might have originally been a she. Testudo has evolved in more ways than one. With the help of University Archivist Emerita Anne Turkos, we delve into our mascot’s muddy origin story, his role in an outrageous, yearslong prank war and his wackiest iterations. “There are few things I enjoy talking about more than Testudo,” she says. “There’s no mascot quite like him, and he’s had quite a history.” --- ## A Symbol Emerges *Two men shake hands above turtle statue as crowd watches. Inset photo of diamondback terrapin — Taxidermied Testudo photo by John T. Consoli* --- ## Terrapin Travails *five students pose with sign that reads, "I'm from Johns Hopkins, I helped steal the terrapin"* --- ## 7 Bronze Testudos on Campus *Testudo statue outside Van Munching Hall — Photo by John T. Consoli* --- ## Final Offer(ings) *Testudo statue with food offerings — Photo by John T. Consoli* Besides rubbing Testudo’s nose for good luck, students have left offerings to the statue outside McKeldin during finals week in hope of earning good grades since the 1990s. Like turtles themselves, the tradition has evolved, as gifts of pocket change, notes and flowers turned to beer cans and coffee cups. In more recent years, Terps’ offerings looked more like pranks, including a life-size cutout of Pope Francis, a toilet and stolen traffic cones; a fire even broke out in the pile in 2013. Last semester, a coalition of student associations appealed to Terps’ goodwill, encouraging students to instead drop off donations of nonperishable foods for the Campus Pantry at his pedestal. --- ## Drawn to a Turtle **THE ERAS TOUR** Like a comic book superhero, how artists imagine Testudo has radically changed over the decades. (Also superherolike: Testudo’s definitely muscled up.) Illustrations in UMD yearbooks depict him as a delinquent, a ladies’ man, a daydreamer, a sleep-inducing teacher, an astronaut, athlete and proud grad. Here are some standouts: *1930 drawing of Testudo being woken up by someone playing a horn; 1936 drawing of Testudo at black tie event; 1936 drawing of Testudo yelling at podium to sleeping audience; 1945 drawing of Testudo with diploma; 1959 drawing of two Testudos on campus; 1962 drawing of diamondback terrapin; 1973 drawing of Testudo at dining hall door; 1984 drawing of Testudo with block M; 1986 drawing of Testudo with sunglasses and microphone with "All-Niter" written on shell; 1992 drawing of muscular basketball player Testudo; drawing of current Testudo logo* --- ## Reptile Roundup *group of Testudo sculptures — Photo by John T. Consoli* --- ## Suited for the Role *Testudo waving Maryland flag on basketball court — Photo by Maryland Athletics* The furry, funny Testudo mascot is the Terps’ top cheerleader. He cartwheels on the sidelines, shakes his turtle tush on viral TikTok dances and poses for selfies with fans. But he didn’t always look this way (and definitely didn’t have these moves). Since then, dozens of men and women have donned the costume, including Grant Handley ’22, M.P.P. ’23. He shells out what it takes to be Maryland’s mascot: **BE EVERYWHERE (BUT NO OVERLAPS!)** Testudo’s a busy turtle, greeting families during move-in, high-fiving kids during Maryland Day, hobnobbing with the governor during announcements and, of course, attending sports games. But he’ll never be in two places at the same time. **THINK ON YOUR FEET** “A mascot should never be standing around—they should always be miming or reacting to something,” says Handley, who uses props and improv to perform at all times. That includes dealing with difficult opposing fans: “You have to figure out how to defuse that situation.” **KEEP IT MOVING** “We joke that you have to be in ‘mascot shape,’” says Handley. The suit weighs at least 30 pounds—the head is the heaviest part—so the four or five students on the team each year always have to hit the gym. **DON’T SPILL THE BEANS** Team members have to keep their identity a secret from everyone, and they can’t speak or show any skin. (The Oregon Duck’s head falling off at a game last fall was “nightmare fuel,” says Handley). **BE CONFIDENT—NOT COCKY** Testudo’s known for his one-handed chest pound, but he’s not an in-your-face mascot. “He might grab someone’s hat and dangle it in their face. And when children come, he’ll get low so he’s not intimidating,” says Handley. “He’s a friendly, lovable turtle.” Click through the gallery to see how Testudo has evolved over the decades. - **1950s** — The first known photograph of a Testudo mascot was in 1951, when Zeta Beta Tau members perched on goalposts in masks, shells and street clothes. By the end of the decade, ZBT mascots were banned for being “costumed poorly” and acting “in a disorderly fashion,” The Diamondback wrote. - **1960s** — Versions from the next two decades still looked MacGyvered: papier-mâché heads, wool gloves, Converse sneakers—while others were alarmingly shiny and green. - **1960s** — There was even a Testudinette in that era, and today, women are a regular part of the Testudo crew. - **1970s** — - **1980s** — The turtle we know and love today took shape in the early 1980s, with a brown plush suit and shell and a red M across the chest. - **2020s** --- ## Testudo ... Now in 3D! *3D printer prints Testudo — Photo by John T. Consoli* *tiny 3D printed Testudo* --- ## Neat as Pins *three Testudo pins — Photo by John T. Consoli* Former UMD President C.D. “Dan” Mote, Jr. (1998-2010) began handing out golden lapel pins to VIPs and other outstanding Terps to show off Maryland spirit. The design was tweaked for successor Wallace D. Loh (2010-20), who began distributing them more widely. President Darryll J. Pines is sticking with the practice, sharing his version with everyone he meets. **Sidebar note:** Testudo has taken lots of unique forms on campus, whether in a walking path or as a topiary. Take our quiz to find them all at today.umd.edu/wheres-testudo. **Issue:** [Winter 2024](https://terp.umd.edu/editions/winter-2024) **Types:** [Features](https://terp.umd.edu/category/features)