Green Terror Mascot History The Green Terror first appeared in the October 15, 1923 edition of the Western Maryland monthly. The article recounts the WMC football game with Washington and Lee in Lexington, Virginia. Although Western Maryland College (WMC) lost by a 19-7 margin, the 11 players fielded that day are called "green terrors." Some keepers of College history and folklore say that then-Coach D.K. Shroyer coined the term "Terror" to boost the morale of his players after their disheartening loss to Washington and Lee. Subsequently, it’s believed that Baltimore Sun reporter W. Wilson Wingate, class of 1918, used the term in a game story. Still others claim that a Virginia reporter described the green-clad team as "terrors" after a decisive victory. Whatever the origin of the Green Terror, the name has come to represent the spirit of the College community both on and off the athletic field. The Green Terror has seen several incarnations as a thing – a wolf-like critter, a bobcat and even a leopard – but currently reigns as the symbol of the deep-rooted commitment to excellence and perseverance found on the Hill. About our Green & Gold colors: Students first chose college colors in 1889. Their choices were black, red and white. No one knows why these colors were never woven into campus life, but four years later the Athletic Association asked that the College consider “old gold and olive green" as the official school colors. A faculty committee approved the suggestion. In 1900, the Athletic Association requested those colors be changed. Uniforms apparently were hard to find in old gold and olive green. This time the request was rejected. Too much had been invested in the colors which appeared in and on more than team uniforms. And more than 100 years later, green and gold remain our colors today. About the Green Terror logo: In September 2011, representatives throughout the College community -- including student-athletics, coaches, faculty and alumni -- served on a committee to develop a new visual identity for Green Terror Athletics. In June 2012, the College unveiled the new logo (seen above) for Green Terror Athletics that incorporates our green and gold colors in a re-envisioning of the mascot. Watch Green Terror videos: Check out some of the varied iterations of the Green Terror through videos below. Green Terror Mascot History Green Terror Mascot Survey Support the Green Terror Mascot Contact the Alumni Office