1947 Maryland Terrapins football team

The 1947 Maryland Terrapins football team represented the University of Maryland in 1947 college football season as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon).

Jim Tatum served as the first-year head coach and replaced Clark Shaughnessy who had been asked to resign. Tatum replaced Shaughnessy's pass-oriented version of the T formation with the option-heavy split-T offense. During his nine-year tenure at College Park, Tatum would become the winningest coach in school history. In 1947, he got off to a good start and significantly improved from Shaughnessy's 3–6 record of the season prior.

The highlight of the season was a berth in the 1948 Gator Bowl, the first postseason game in school history. NCAA-scoring leader Lu Gambino ran for 165 yards and scored all three touchdowns for Maryland. The game ultimately ended in a stalemate.

Maryland was ranked at No. 45 (out of 500 college football teams) in the final Litkenhous Ratings for 1947.

Roster
The Maryland roster for the 1947 season consisted of the following players:


 * Pete Augsburger
 * John Baroni
 * Sam Behr
 * Harry Bonk
 * James Brasher
 * Paul Broglio
 * Fred Davis
 * Joseph Drach
 * Francis Evans
 * William Everson
 * Lu Gambino
 * Rudolph Gayzur
 * Chester Gierula
 * Jim Goodman
 * John Idzik
 * Eugene Kinney
 * Ray Krouse
 * Joe Kuchta
 * Jim LaRue
 * Stanford Lavine
 * Thomas McHugh
 * Thomas McQuade
 * James Molster
 * Al Phillips
 * Ed Pobiak
 * Wilbur Rock
 * Earl Roth
 * Jake Rowden
 * Edward Schwarz
 * Vernon Seibert
 * George Simler
 * Bernie Sniscak
 * Jack Targanrona
 * John Troha
 * Robert Troll
 * Joe Tucker
 * Vic Turyn
 * Hubert Werner
 * Elmer Wingate

Coaching staff

 * Jim Tatum, head coach
 * George Barclay, assistant coach
 * Flucie Stewart, assistant coach
 * Jim Meade, assistant coach
 * Houston Elder, assistant coach
 * Albert Woods, assistant coach
 * Bill Meek, assistant coach
 * Duke Wyre, trainer

South Carolina
Gambino scored three touchdowns and Maryland firmly held the momentum for the first three quarters. In the final period, South Carolina mounted a comeback attempt. Maryland player Gene Kinney intercepted a pass on the Terrapin 31-yard line to secure the victory, 19–13.

Delaware
Delaware entered the game atop a 32-game winning streak. Gambino again scored three touchdowns, with others added by Davis, Idzik, and Targarona. The Blue Hens responded to an 88-yard touchdown run by Gambino with a 90-yard score by Cole.

Richmond
Maryland avenged the previous season's loss to Richmond. Gambino scored twice and completed a pass to Simler for the third touchdown.

Duke (#17)
Maryland fumbles and interceptions helped Duke snap the three-game winning streak. Vernon Seibert scored the Terrapins' only score of the day. It was also the first touchdown ever scored by Maryland against Duke.

VPI
VPI scored twice in the first quarter after Maryland penalties and a turnover. In the fourth quarter, Maryland mounted a two-touchdown rally to spoil VPI's homecoming, 21–19. The decisive scores were due to a long Vic Turyn pass to Simler and a 32-yard dash by Idzik. McHugh made all three point after touchdown kicks, which proved to be the margin of victory.

Awards
Lu Gambino was selected as a first-team All-Southern Conference back. Gambino and Eugene Kinney were named honorable mention All-Americans.