Howdy from SC

[DubDub]

Testudo, a diamondback terrapin, is the mascot of the University of Maryland, College Park and represents the university both at sporting events and as a more general symbol. Testudo has served as the school's mascot since the 1930s, and several statues of the terrapin exist on the school's campus.

I'm a MD graduate - my grandfather was the 1st Terp in the family. Grew up close to the University going to games and am fortunate to have experienced the Len Bias and Boomer Esiason days. We used to go to Bias' high school games before he landed at MD.

Ah, Testudo is a proper noun. Interesting, and thanks.

Small world, my first Navy assignment was the USS Maryland, which was sponsored by the University of Maryland. We had “Testudo” on all of our swag and the words “Fear the turtle” everywhere. Testudo is Latin for tortoise, and there is a family of tortoises (greek, russian, hermann’s to name a few) names after that word. It is also a military tactic of the Romans empire popularized by movies and shows. So, I knew alot about the formal Testudo, and was even connected to your version without even knowing it.