| Year: | 1947 |
| Team: | Maryland Terrapins |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Southern Conference |
| Short Conf: | SoCon |
| Record: | 7–2–2 |
| Conf Record: | 4–2–1 |
| Head Coach: | Jim Tatum |
| Hc Year: | 1st |
| Off Scheme: | Split-T |
| Captain: | George Simler |
| Stadium: | Byrd Stadium (original) |
| Bowl: | Gator Bowl |
| Bowl Result: | T 20–20 vs. Georgia |
The 1947 Maryland Terrapins football team represented the University of Maryland in 1947 college football season as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon).
Jim Tatum served as the first-year head coach and replaced Clark Shaughnessy who had been asked to resign. Tatum replaced Shaughnessy's pass-oriented version of the T formation with the option-heavy split-T offense. During his nine-year tenure at College Park, Tatum would become the winningest coach in school history. In 1947, he got off to a good start and significantly improved from Shaughnessy's 3–6 record of the season prior.
The highlight of the season was a berth in the 1948 Gator Bowl, the first postseason game in school history. NCAA-scoring leader Lu Gambino ran for 165 yards and scored all three touchdowns for Maryland. The game ultimately ended in a stalemate.
Maryland was ranked at No. 45 (out of 500 college football teams) in the final Litkenhous Ratings for 1947.[1]
The Maryland roster for the 1947 season consisted of the following players:[2] [3]
Gambino scored three touchdowns and Maryland firmly held the momentum for the first three quarters. In the final period, South Carolina mounted a comeback attempt. Maryland player Gene Kinney intercepted a pass on the Terrapin 31-yard line to secure the victory, 19–13.[4]
Delaware entered the game atop a 32-game winning streak. Gambino again scored three touchdowns, with others added by Davis, Idzik, and Targarona. The Blue Hens responded to an 88-yard touchdown run by Gambino with a 90-yard score by Cole.[5]
Maryland avenged the previous season's loss to Richmond. Gambino scored twice and completed a pass to Simler for the third touchdown.[6]
Maryland fumbles and interceptions helped Duke snap the three-game winning streak. Vernon Seibert scored the Terrapins' only score of the day. It was also the first touchdown ever scored by Maryland against Duke.[7]
VPI scored twice in the first quarter after Maryland penalties and a turnover. In the fourth quarter, Maryland mounted a two-touchdown rally to spoil VPI's homecoming, 21–19. The decisive scores were due to a long Vic Turyn pass to Simler and a 32-yard dash by Idzik. McHugh made all three point after touchdown kicks, which proved to be the margin of victory.[8]
See main article: 1948 Gator Bowl.
Lu Gambino was selected as a first-team All-Southern Conference back.[9] Gambino and Eugene Kinney were named honorable mention All-Americans.[10]