The Story of Flag Suit Guy

Going to a Maryland Terrapins sporting event can allow you to see some of the best athletes in all of college athletics. Whether it’s a football game seeing Taulia Tagovailoa, a field hockey game seeing Brooke DeBerdine, a men’s soccer game seeing Ben Bender, or a volleyball match seeing Rainelle Jones, the Terp stars are always out in force.

But since the fall of 2021, with fans now allowed back inside Maryland’s sporting venues, there’s been a new star taking the school and social media by storm.

One Maryland fan has taken it upon himself to show his Maryland pride in a new and innovative way, by wearing a suit adorned with the Maryland flag. The fan’s name is Thomas Canary, and this wardrobe decision has earned him the very apt nickname around College Park of “Flag Suit Guy.”

“I've always been a pretty big sports guy,” Canary said. “I played a lot of sports growing up, and then I went to St. John's College High School in DC. It's pretty easy to get into it when you're going to school with guys like Anthony Cowan Jr. and Rakim Jarrett. So I knew coming into Maryland I was just going to embrace it.”

The state of Maryland and its residents are not shy about their love of their flag, with the black and gold Calvert coat of arms and red and white Crossland coat of arms making for one of the most predominantly displayed flags in the country.

The Terps wear the flag on their uniforms, with many subtly incorporating it into its uniforms piping or with a patch, or with others like the football and lacrosse teams using it in its helmet design.

Canary is from nearby Rockville, Maryland, and graduated from Maryland this past winter, so he has grown up fully understanding the importance of the Maryland flag. He has since started graduate school inside the prestigious Robert Smith Business School, allowing Canary to keep his student tickets and go to as many sporting events as he wants. 

During his time at Maryland, Canary has been a super fan, attending events for nearly every team from field hockey to wrestling to gymnastics to softball. has seen all but one Terp team play. The lone program left is the women’s tennis team, an omission that Canary is hoping to rectify in the coming weeks with their season just starting on January 22nd. 

Before the pandemic, Canary attended events like any normal fan but still found ways to stand out and make his fandom unique, including a Maryland flag face covering. However, Canary’s mask became passé because of the impending COVID-19 pandemic. 

Even before the pandemic hit, Canary was brainstorming ways to up his Maryland fandom, and that’s when he found the suit. When the Maryland athletic department announced on May 24, 2021, that fans would be allowed in the stands again, Canary knew it was time to make the purchase.

With the memories of the 2020 shutdowns and the lack of fans at sporting events firmly in his mind, Canary made it a point never to take attending games for granted again.

Canary would debut the flag suit for the Maryland football game against Howard University, much to the chagrin of his friends and girlfriend.

“I don't think they were particularly surprised,” Canary said with a laugh. “Maybe a little because even for me, it's a bit much. I think they've gotten pretty much used to by now, but I don't think it came as a surprise to them.”

The University of Maryland has had its share of local student-celebrities with people like Luke Makris, aka “High-Five Guy.” Makris would stand outside of Stamp Student Union, South Campus Dining Hall, and McKeldin Library from 2014-18 and give anyone and everyone a high five to brighten their day. 

Brian Sengelaub played his pan flute outside of numerous buildings around McKeldin Mall in 2018, earning himself the distinction of “Pan Flute Guy.” While the nicknames left a lot to be desired, everyone who encountered them felt their impact on the community.

Canary now finds himself in the same position as Makris and Sengelaub, but his status is growing exponentially due to the high visibility of the Maryland sports teams and several acknowledgments by Maryland social media accounts. 

“It's pretty exciting,” Canary said. “I knew when I purchased the suit that people would probably want to take pictures with me. I didn't think that'd be getting on the official social media pages multiple times though. Whenever I get posted somewhere or am on TV somewhere, my phone is blowing up with everybody who saw me. It's pretty exciting to have people who know me and even people who don't know me reach out.”

Canary’s sports fandom comes from his father, who happens to be a Virginia Tech fan, which he admitted made Maryland’s 54-10 victory over the Hokies in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl a bit awkward. 

Even though it was against his father’s favorite team, Canary and the flag suit guy made their way to the Bronx for the game and he was there to see Maryland take home the bowl victory. 

Canary has made himself at home inside XFINITY Center for the past few weeks, attending both men’s and women’s basketball games during the winter break. He can’t go too far in the building without a Terp Host, security guard, or even someone on the court acknowledging his suit. 

If you go to a Maryland sporting event this spring, be sure to look around for the flag suit. He has some of his favorite spots, like right across from the visiting coaches during basketball games. 

With the 2022 spring semester starting and even more sports like men’s and women’s lacrosse, baseball, and softball beginning, Canary is excited to get out and continue to show off his suit and his fandom to everyone. 

“I just want to go to as many games as I can and show support for all of the teams,” Canary said. “Whether it’s big teams or small teams, I'm here to show my Maryland pride and cheer us on to victory.”