Tales From The Tailgate: Joe Scolaro

The typical Maryland fan’s favorite football memory is an incredible touchdown, a game-winning field goal, a bowl game victory. 

For 1985 Maryland graduate Joe Scolaro, his favorite memory is one that was born out of pure bedlam. 

In 1983, No. 13 Maryland welcomed the No. 3 North Carolina Tar Heels into College Park in the biggest game of the season. 

Led by star quarterback Boomer Esiason, the Terps took down the Tar Heels in a thrilling 28-26 game, but it’s what came after that made it one of the most memorable nights for Scolaro. 

As the fan’s rushed the field to celebrate with their football team, the students took it to the next level by climbing on top of the field goal post and even managing to rip it out of the ground and carry it out of the stadium. 

“Let me make it clear that I wasn’t the one who took it out of the ground or carried it,” Scolaro said with a laugh. “That was just such a crazy night that I’ll never forget. Big rivalry game and then we end it with that. I doubt it’ll ever happen again and I’m not sure people want it to happen again!”

Pandemonium aside, Scolaro is a die-hard Maryland fan regardless of the outcomes and has been that way ever since he was seven years old. 

Growing up in College Park Woods, just off of Metzerott Road, Scolaro lived in the shadow of the University of Maryland and always knew that he was going to go to college there. 

In fact, his father always felt he would and told Scolaro that one day he would be a Terp. 

“My dad always told me from the time I was little that I would go to Maryland,” Scolaro said. “He was obviously right and I’m really glad he was. I love this school.”

The love Scolaro has for Maryland isn’t just reserved for the education that it gave him or the memories the sports team provided. 

Maryland was where Scolaro met his wife, Cora, and the two always associated the school, making their experience and connection to College Park that much more special. 

Since graduating, the Scolaros got married and welcomed two children, with their son, Joseph, attending and graduating from Maryland in 2019. 

With Maryland football meaning so much to the Scolaro family, hearing head coach Michael Locksley refer to his program as the “Maryland football family” makes their love for the team grow even more. 

“It shows that Locksley understands what it means to be a coach and what it means to be a leader,” Scolaro said. “The fans consider each other family, so for Locksley to agree and want his players to be in a family is just amazing.”

If you go to a Terps football game, you’ll find the Scolaros in the parking lot where he’s tailgating with his fellow members of the Maryland football family. 

Scolaro is the one on the grill, making all the typical tailgating foods like hot dogs and burgers, which he’s willing to make for all who want one. 

With fans now back in the stands for the 2021 season, Scolaro is looking forward to making more memories with his immediate family and his football family that he’ll cherish forever. 

“To me, Maryland has always been about bringing people together,” Scolaro said. “I can’t wait to see all of the fans in the stands and to hang out with all of my fellow tailgaters and Terp fans. It’s been a long year, but we’re back, and all of us are back.”