From at least 1983 to 1994 various University of Maryland institutions gave out “Spirit Buttons,” and there are indications that buttons were made in 1982 and 1995. Basketball buttons were also made for all ACC home opponents during this window, which complicates identifying football buttons.
1982
1983
In 1983 the University held a slogan contest and made buttons for home games only. The bottom of the button says “Sponsored by…” then either University Dining Services, University Student Union, or University Book Store.
- @ Vanderbilt
- West Virginia – Waste West Virginia
- Pitt – Blitz The Pitts
- Virginia – Virginia Is For Losers
- Syracuse – Real Men Don’t Wear Orange
- @ Wake Forest
- Duke – Terpurgatory for the Devils (Homecoming)
- North Carolina – Defeat The Dirty Feet
- @ Auburn
- @ Clemson
- @ North Carolina State
- Tennessee – Button Exists. No slogan
1984
In 1984, UMD also did buttons for home games because only five slogan winners were announced and Maryland played in five home games that year. The buttons have the three sponsors – Student Union, Eateries, and Book Store along the bottom.
- Syracuse – I (heart) NY It’s Syracuse I (cross out heart)
- Vanderbilt – Terpedo the Commodores
- @ West Virginia
- Wake Forest – Wake Forest When It’s Over
- @ Penn State
- North Carolina State – Terps Make Em Cry Wolf
- @ Duke
- @ North Carolina
- @ Miami (FL)
- Clemson – Terps Are Tiger Tamers
- @ Virginia
- Tennessee
The below are AI generated images of what the other buttons look like. I know what the slogans and designs are, but have never seen the buttons themselves. The actual buttons likely differ slightly from these.
1985
It is not clear if buttons were made in 1985 beyond the first game of the year against Penn State. This button was famously handed out AFTER Maryland already lost to Penn State, and only 1,000 were made.
1986
It is also not clear if game-by-game buttons were made in 1986. There was a single season button made with the slogan “Feel It! Maryland Momentum” and the below Homecoming button.
1987
In 1987 the slogans returned!
- @ Syracuse
- Virginia – Slogan Unknown
- West Virginia – Take a Hike
- @ North Carolina State
- @ Miami (FL)
- @ Wake Forest
- Duke -Duke The Devils
- North Carolina – Nothing Could Be Fina Than to beat Carolina
- Penn State – Leave The Lions Cryin
- @ Clemson
- @ Vanderbilt
The below images are AI generated based on descriptions of the buttons, but I have never seen an actual image of these. The actual buttons probably differ slightly from these.
1988
In 1988, the University Book Center again made buttons for all home games, but the slogans are unknown.
- Louisville – Slogan Unknown
- @ West Virginia
- North Carolina State – Slogan Unknown
- @ Syracuse
- Georgia Tech – Slogan Unknown
- Wake Forest – Slogan Unknown
- @ Duke
- @ North Carolina
- @ Penn State
- Clemson – Slogan Unknown
- @ Virginia
1989
The University Book Center again made buttons, but only the Penn State slogan is known.
- @ North Carolina State
- West Virginia – Slogan Unknown
- Western Michigan – Slogan Unknown
- @ Clemson
- @ Michigan
- @ Georgia Tech
- @ Wake Forest
- Duke – Slogan Unknown
- North Carolina – Slogan Unknown
- Penn State – Cage The Lions
- Virginia – Slogan Unknown
1990
Buttons were made, no slogans are known.
- Virginia Tech
- @ West Virginia
- Clemson
- North Carolina State
- @ Michigan
- Georgia Tech
- Wake Forest
- @ Duke
- @ North Carolina
- @ Penn State
- @ Virginia
- Louisiana Tech
1991
By 1991 the buttons had a major makeover. They featured the turtle mascot, a slogan, and the bottom third of the button was red or yellow with the Maryland Book Exchange logo. The first letter is capitalized and either red or yellow. It’s possible this change happened much earlier because I don’t have a confirmed button photo from 1988 to 1991.
- Virginia – Hoo Cares?
- Syracuse – Fresh Squeezed
- West Virginia – ‘Eer Ache
- @ Pitt
- @ Georgia Tech
- @ Wake Forest
- Duke – Time to Exorcise
- @ North Carolina
- Penn State – Cowardly Lions
- @ Clemson
- @ North Carolina State
The below images are AI generated based on descriptions of the buttons, but I have never seen an actual image of these. The actual buttons probably differ slightly from these.
1992
- @ Virginia
- North Carolina State – Pack Up
- @ West Virginia
- @ Penn State
- Pitt – Pittiful
- Georgia Tech – Deck Tech
- Wake Forest – Break Wake
- @ Duke
- North Carolina – Blue Plate Special
- @ Florida State
- Clemson – Cat Nap
1993
In 1993, UMD made buttons using the team slogan “red hot.”
- Virginia – Slogan Unknown
- @ North Carolina
- West Virginia – Whack West Virginia
- @ Virginia Tech
- Penn State – Punish Penn State
- @ Georgia Tech
- Duke – Dump Duke
- @ Clemson
- Florida State – Fillet Florida State
- @ North Carolina State
- @ Wake Forest
1994
Finally, they put a year on the buttons!
- @ Duke
- Florida State – Chop Fooey
- @ West Virginia
- Wake Forest – Quake Forest
- @ Clemson
- @ North Carolina
- Georgia Tech – Wreck-less
- Tulane – Wave Goodbye
- North Carolina State – Pack It In
- @ Virginia
- @ Syracuse
1995
The Eateries kept making basketball buttons into the mid 1990s, suggesting this Maryland Book Exchange button is for the football team. The slogan is likely Duke, “Level The Devils,” who Maryland football played at home in 1995. More buttons are needed to be sure.
There’s also an undated North Carolina button, “Hang The Heels,” which could be from 1995, but it doesn’t have the Terrapin mascot and the font is different, suggesting it’s a different year.
For more information, including archived newspaper articles and basketball buttons, check out this Google Doc.
We Are "Pin" State 