What a shame it is that the University of Maryland football team’s behavior obscures its achievement.

The Big Ten Conference on Monday handed down penalties for the swinish behavior exhibited in State College, Pa., on Saturday, when the Terrapins capped their pregame scuffles with Penn State by exhibiting failed sense of sportsmanship. Their captains, at midfield for the coin toss, refused to shake hands with Penn State’s captains, simply leaving the other young men with extended hands and stunned faces.

The Big Ten, having rescued Maryland’s athletic department from financial privation by inviting it to join a more moneyed operation than the Atlantic Coast Conference, wasn’t happy. The Big Ten reprimanded coach Randy Edsall, suspended receiver Stefon Diggs for one game and fined the school $10,000.

Embarrassing? Certainly. Maryland is now known for fleeing the ACC, of which it was a founding member, its wardrobe of ridiculous uniforms and helmets that would shame a trick-or-treater into staying home, and now its unconscionable behavior before an important game.

Penn State is coached by James Franklin, once Maryland’s coach-in-waiting. Except Maryland fired the coach behind whom Franklin waited and wanted Franklin to leave as well. So he did. He remade Vanderbilt’s program before taking the Penn State job. So Franklin misses no chance to jab at Maryland about recruiting.

Maryland and Penn State, who met yearly until 1993, finally got back on the field together as Big Ten members. And Maryland, after the pregame tantrum, beat Penn State 20-19. It was Maryland’s first win ever at Beaver Stadium and its first victory over Penn State since 1961. The series shows Penn State with 35 wins and Maryland with two (there was also a tie in 1989). So this was big stuff for the Terrapins as they try to make themselves part of this new conference.

Who knows that now? What everyone knows is the handshake snub, the fine and the suspension. Shame, shame and shame.

Today’s question

Will this incident hurt Maryland’s reputation or have the odd effect of impressing kids who might be thinking of playing football there?

Answers in the comment box, please.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman .