Maryland Athletics - University of Maryland Official Athletic Site - Football
4/9/2013 8:00:00 AM | Football
Maryland's ACC Championships
1953 (3-0 ACC, 10-1-0)
National champion Maryland and 18th-ranked Duke tied for
the ACC's inaugural grid title/ The Terps finished the season with a perfect 10-0
record, including a 3-0 mark in league play. Maryland, which lost to Oklahoma in
the Orange Bowl, score 298 points, the most by a team until 1967, while allowing
an ACC record-low 31 points. The Terps led the nation in rushing defense, 83.9
yards allowed per outing and scoring defense, 3.1 points per game. Terp tackle
Stan Jones earned consensus All-American honors while teammate Bernie Faloney was
named first-team Academic All-American.
1955 (4-0 ACC, 10-1-0)
For the second time in the ACC's first three years, Duke
and Maryland tied for the league title with identical 4-0 records. The Terps
finished third in both polls while the Blue Devils earned a 16th listing in the
UPI poll. The ACC posted a 22-18-1 records against non-conference opponents.
Maryland led the nation in defense against the rush, allowing 83.9 yards per
game. Maryland had a 15-game win streak snapped with a 20-6 loss to Oklahoma in
the Orange Bowl. Terp center Bob Pellegrini was a consensus All-American.
1974 (6-0 ACC, 8-4)
Maryland won its first conference championship in 18 years,
sweeping past all six of its league opponents. It marked the 10th time in
conference history that a team had gone unbeaten in league play. An ACC record
three teams earned bowl bids. Maryland lost to Tennessee, 7-3, in the Liberty
Bowl. The Terps extended their win streak against ACC foes to 10-in-a-row.
Clemson's Bennie Cunningham, North Carolina's Ken Huff and Maryland's Randy White
were consensus All-Americans. White, a senior defensive tackle, won both the
Outland and Lombardi Trophies.
1975 (5-0 ACC, 9-2-1)
Maryland captured its second consecutive ACC gridiron title
by posting a perfect 5-0 league mark and extending its win streak over conference
opponents to 15-in-a-row, tying a league mark. For the third straight year, the
Terps took part in post-season competition, defeating Florida, 13-0, in the Gator
Bowl. Maryland, which led in total offense with a 375.2 yards per game average,
set an ACC single game total offense mark with 802 yards in a 62-24 victory over
Virginia on Nov. 22. Terps' John Schultz was the nation's top kickoff returner
with a 31.0 average.
1976 (5-0, 11-1)
Maryland's powerful Terrapins swept through the regular season
undefeated and became only the second team in ACC history to win three
consecutive league title outright. Coach Jerry Claiborne's club ran its
conference victory string to a record 20 straight. The Terps appeared in a bowl
for the fourth straight year, losing to Southwest Conference champion Houston,
30-21, in the Cotton Bowl. Maryland tackle Joe Campbell and Wake Forest defensive
back Bill Armstrong were consensus All-Americans. Maryland's No. 8 ranking in the
final AP poll was the first top 10 finish by an ACC team since 1960.
1983 (5-0, 8-4-0)
Maryland claimed its first ACC title since 1976, finishing
undefeated in five league contests while North Carolina was second with a 4-2
mark. Both had identical 8-4 overall records. In bowl action, the Terps dropped
a 30-23 decision to Tennessee in the Florida Citrus Bowl while the Tar Heels, in
their fifth straight bowl game, lost to Florida State, 28-3, in the Peach Bowl.
1984 (5-0-0, 9-3-0)
Maryland pocketed the championship for the second year in a
row and earned their fifth outright crown over the past 11 seasons. The title
was not decided until the season's final weekend when the Terps knocked off
Virginia, 45-33, for the league crown. Maryland, taking part in its third
straight bowl game, defeated Tennessee in the Sun Bowl, 28-17, while Virginia,
making its first-ever bowl appearance, defeated Purdue in the Peach Bowl, 27-24.
Maryland, trailing Miami 31-0 at the half, rallied for 42 second-half points to
beat the Hurricanes, 42-40, setting a record for the greatest comeback in NCAA
Division IA football history.
1985 (6-0, 9-3-0)
Maryland made it three championships in a row and six in 12 years, by finishing
unbeaten in ACC play. For the fourth straight year and the 11th time in 13
seasons, the Terps took part in post-season play, knocking off Syracuse in the
Cherry Bowl, 35-18. Maryland extended its ACC game win streak to 17, with a
33-21 title-clinching victory over Virginia in the season's final weekend. A
pair of offensive tackles, J.D. Maarleveld of Maryland and Jim Dobrowski of
Virginia were tabbed as consensus All-Americans.
