Terp madness continues
With number five seed Maryland’s win against number 13 seed Hawaii in the NCAA tournament Sunday night, the Terrapins men’s basketball team advances to their first Sweet Sixteen game since 2003. Great news for Terp Nation, but also great news for bars on the Eastern Shore.
The reason why, local bars have been busier during Maryland games, a trend that’s expected to increase the further the Terps go in the tournament.
“The more wins they get the more people that’ll be in here I’m sure,” said Brian Ziegler, a a bartender at the Crabcake Factory USA in Ocean City, Md.
Stephen Pappas, manager and bartender at the Greene Turtle in Ocean City, Md., also thinks similarly to Ziegler.
“Even if they’re not a Maryland fan, you want to see how far they can go,” Pappas said, speaking about the locals that come in to watch the Maryland games.
Pappas said that during the recent Maryland games, the bar will get so packed it’s hard to walk.
“Everyone is wearing Maryland gear, as soon was we turn on the surround sound (and the) Maryland game’s on, everyone’s screaming,” Pappas said. “I don’t even have to watch the game and I know if Maryland’s doing well or not.”
Both the Greene Turtle and the Crabcake Factory USA have deep roots when it comes to Maryland basketball. The Greene Turtle’s owner, Steve Pappas, is a proud Maryland alumnus. His pride for his Alma matter is evident by the amount of Terrapin memorabilia hanging on the walls of the bar.
Meanwhile, at the Crabcake Factory, their late owner Ron Brooks, or Mr. B, as many knew him, was a former basketball player at UMD. Employees also show their support for the team, with shirts that read “Crab cakes and Terrapins basketball, that’s what Maryland really does.”
Ask an employee at either bar though, and they’ll tell you that the local pride for the Terrapins runs deeper than the Chesapeake Bay.
“Everyone want’s to see them go far, I mean I know the sports around here, everyone around here wants to see them go,” Pappas said. “It’s always fun to say ‘yeah we’re from Maryland, they’re going all the way.'”
“It’s definitely a Maryland sports town, no doubt about it,” Ziegler said.
Maryland is set to play number one seed Kansas on Thursday night.
