A crowd of 43,000 gathered on Oct. 19, 1957 in Byrd Stadium to watch the Terps trample North Carolina 21-7. For one member of the audience, it was the first football game she had ever made it to.
Then again, the Queen of England is a busy woman.
This month marks the 50th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s first visit to the United States after her inauguration in 1952 and the university’s one short brush with royalty. The queen’s husband, Prince Philip, asked to see a typical American sport during their stay, and, scouring local sports schedules, State Department officials contacted the school about playing host to the queen.
Last night, those who attended what has been dubbed the “Queen’s Game,” including players from the football team, crowd members, marching band players and even the SGA president at the time, gathered to relive the moment when royalty walked the campus.
The clutter of five decades slipped away as friendships were rekindled and memories revisited. Hornbake was bedecked with red curtains and attendees clutched miniature bags of popcorn as they gathered to watch a documentary about the game put together by alumnus and freelance videographer, Mike Springirth.And though the players and spectators were the guests of honor last night, they recalled in vivid detail how the school rolled out the red carpet for the queen 50 years ago.
The cheerleaders performed a special cheer in her honor and card holders in the stands flashed an English flag and the Queen’s crest. She was even served tea at half-time.
Those who had the privilege of actually meeting her had to memorize strict guidelines before they could approach. No shaking hands and no speaking unless spoken to.
The SGA president at the time, Howard Miller, 72, recalled students lending a hand in the planning. One smart call, he said, was seating her on the North Carolina side to avoid putting Her Majesty in contact with the drunk, football-crazed masses.
As SGA president, Miller had the honor of sitting in the Queen’s box.
“Everybody got a second or more of being in her presence,” Miller said. “I was struck by the fact that she was so young and attractive. It all took a second to sink in. It was pure excitement.”
As for the football players, they were more focused on the game and playing against their old coach, James Tatum, who had left the university for the Tarheels several years before.
“I think the big hype was around the queen,” former halfback Gene Verardi said. “That was probably the first thought in my mind. When the game got started, we just wanted to win and beat Tatum and North Carolina. The most important thing is to play the game and play the game to win.”
After the victory, the Queen and Prince Philip climbed back into their bubble-topped limousine and drove around the field and off the campus.
Roland “Doc” Swanson, a member of the marching band at the time, recalls seeing her car drive by the tunnel where the marching band stands to come out. “We were lucky to be there at that time,” Swanson said.
The College Park tour didn’t end there, though. The Queen also made a stop at the local Giant grocery store in Hyattsville to get a look at the true American shopping experience.
Vivian Moyle, 76, was picking up groceries for dinner that night when the queen turned up.
“I was standing there anxious to get home and feed my family,” Moyle said. “She asked me how I shop with two children.”
Moyle demonstrated, seating her youngest child in the shopping cart basket, and then strolled the aisles with the Queen, who Moyle remembers being especially interested in the meat selection.
For the players, the reunion continues throughout the weekend, with a reception at the Gossett Football Team House Friday night, an appearance during halftime at Saturday’s game, and a tailgating party afterwards hosted by head coach Ralph Friedgen’s wife, Gloria.
“It’s pretty exciting,” said former Terps halfback Joe Behrmann. “It will be fun. I’ve gone to a lot of Maryland games over the years, but this one will have a special meaning.”
Mementos and information about the “Queen’s Game” will be up in the lobby of Hornbake until Dec. 21.
“It’s such an unlikely event,” said university archivist Anne Turkos, the anniversary’s mastermind who helped gather material for the documentary and bring together alumni for the screening. “I think a lot of students today could not imagine the Queen coming to campus. It is important to me to get people intrigued with the university history. It’s a very intriguing place to be, and it’s a place to be very proud of.”
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