In an effort to promote itself and raise money for scholarship funding, the university will start selling elastic black and red “Fear the Turtle”-emblazoned wristbands for $2 at Terrapin basketball games.

The wristbands are part of a collaborative effort between Terrapin men’s basketball coach Gary Williams and members of the university’s Sportsmanship Committee to reach a seven-year goal of securing $200 million in scholarship funding.

“The wristbands will be a great way for all Maryland fans to show their pride and support for our university,” a spokesman for Williams said.

The bands are similar to the “Livestrong” bands launched by five-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong to promote cancer awareness. Armstong’s bracelets became popular on campus this semester, and university officials are hoping the trend will carry over to its version of the wristband.

The university ordered 50,000 wristbands from Diversified Marketing Inc., a merchandise promotions company based in Catonsville and 20,000 of the wristbands will be sold through the university beginning in January, said Joe Ebaugh, assistant director of trademark licensing. One dollar from each wristband will go to the scholarship fund.

The company will sell 30,000 wristbands and will donate some of the profits to the scholarship fund. Andre LeBate, a spokesman for Diversified, said he couldn’t comment further because the details are not yet finalized.

Diversified already sells red “Terps” wristbands, and LaBate said they’ve been selling well.

The Student Government Association unanimously endorsed the wristbands at its weekly meeting last night and agreed to help sell them to the student body.

“It’s just a great outside-the-box way of improving a quality education,” said Andrew Rose, SGA vice president of administrative affairs.

Rose said he wants SGA members to volunteer time at basketball games to promote the wristbands.

Some students, however, said they don’t think they’ll buy the wristbands because they think the trend is fading.

“I think it’s kind of played out, the whole bracelet thing,” said Astrid March, a sophomore kinesiology major. “I think they should come up with something more original and creative.”

Other students said they would be happy to spend a few dollars on a wristband.

“Anything that gets scholarship money, I’m all for,” said Kuinia Johnson, a senior biology major.