Homecoming, 150th anniversary, Family Weekend and the big reveal

Welcomed by the cheers of McDaniel family and friends, the new Green Terror skipped through “the arch” and onto the field to celebrate the College’s first 150 years on the Hill during Homecoming and Family Weekend pre-game festivities.

McDaniel’s 150th Birthday Party kicked off at 9 a.m. on campus with a historic walking tour followed by a talk by College historian Jim Lightner at the “150 Years on the Hill” exhibit in Rice Gallery. The celebration continued from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. around Memorial Plaza, where hundreds signed the 7-foot-tall 1-5-0 numbers and enjoyed live music featuring Western Maryland College/McDaniel College alumni, children’s activities and a beer and wine garden. The party moved to the stadium in time for the debut of the Green Terror’s new look and included a cake-cutting ceremony at halftime with cupcakes for all.

The celebration began when alumni and friends gathered Oct. 20 for the Alumni Association Awards banquet. Stephen Ports ’83 was honored as Alumnus of the Year and Erin Giles ’15 received the Young Alumni College Service Award. Alumni Community Service Award recipients include Bernard Franklin M.Ed. ’78, Ed Kasemeyer ’67 and Beth Heckert Tevis ’77 and Alumni Professional Achievement awardees are Tom Armbruster ’80, Barbara Hetrick ’67 and Sandra Geiman Ruby ’99.

Green Terror Hall of Fame inductees who were inducted during the awards banquet are Rick Carpenter M.Ed. ’72, Steve Comes ’93, Charlie Conaway ’00, John Holter ’61, Paul Hugus ’06, M.S. ’09, Elizabeth Blasi McGraw ’00 and Jennifer Piccolomini ’03.

After the big reveal, the Green Terror posed for photos with party-goers. Long at the top of “weirdest school mascot” lists, the Green Terror has been brought to life through a variety of homemade costumes resembling a leopard, a dog and a snaggle-toothed monster. Last year, the Alumni Office surveyed alumni, students, faculty and staff about what the Green Terror meant to them. A new mascot was commissioned based on 776 responses, and its creation was supported 100 percent by gifts from the College community.

The Green Terror made its first appearance 94 years ago in the October 15, 1923, edition of Western Maryland monthly. The article recounts a WMC football game where the 11 players on the field that day are called "green terrors." Some say that then-Coach D.K. Shroyer coined the term "Terror" to boost the morale of his players after a loss. Others claim that a reporter described the team as "terrors" after a victory.

See photos of the weekend events »