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Mark Turgeon’s court escort, always on guard Mark Turgeon’s court escort, always on guard
(about 2 hours later)
Ken Petralia knew something was wrong when he arrived for work the morning of Jan. 16. Petralia was one of the first people in the at Xfinity Center in the hours leading up to Maryland’s game against Ohio State, taking his usual seat outside the Terrapins’ locker room to begin his shift. Ken Petralia knew something was wrong when he arrived for work the morning of Jan. 16. Petralia was one of the first people at Xfinity Center in the hours leading up to Maryland’s game against Ohio State, taking his usual seat outside the Terrapins’ locker room to begin his shift.
The 64-year-old always has been fiercely proud of his work as a “Terp Host,” known as a grandfatherly gatekeeper responsible for escorting Maryland Coach Mark Turgeon to and from the court each home game. Petralia had never missed a game for health reasons in Turgeon’s five seasons, but that streak was about to end that day as he sat in his red chair and waited for the team to arrive. The 64-year-old always has been fiercely proud of his work as a “Terp Host,” known as a grandfatherly gatekeeper responsible for escorting Maryland Coach Mark Turgeon to and from the court each home game. Petralia had not missed a game for health reasons in Turgeon’s five seasons, but that streak was about to end that day as he sat in his red chair and waited for the team to arrive.
Already suffering from an ear infection, Petralia couldn’t stop sweating, and soon he was shaking in the chair, not fully realizing he was having a heart attack. After being rushed to the emergency room, Petralia was in a hospital bed at Washington Adventist in Takoma Park as Maryland crushed Ohio State, 100-65.Already suffering from an ear infection, Petralia couldn’t stop sweating, and soon he was shaking in the chair, not fully realizing he was having a heart attack. After being rushed to the emergency room, Petralia was in a hospital bed at Washington Adventist in Takoma Park as Maryland crushed Ohio State, 100-65.
[Maryland climbs to No. 2 in AP poll][Maryland climbs to No. 2 in AP poll]
Petralia’s second heart attack in eight years robbed him of his ability to go running in the morning, but it couldn’t stop him from returning to his post at Xfinity Center on Saturday, just three weeks later. He had butterflies going to work, pulling on his customary uniform — khakis, black vest and a red tie dotted with Maryland’s logo — and after guarding the team’s locker room for a few hours, he walked Turgeon to the court before Maryland’s 72-61 win over Purdue.Petralia’s second heart attack in eight years robbed him of his ability to go running in the morning, but it couldn’t stop him from returning to his post at Xfinity Center on Saturday, just three weeks later. He had butterflies going to work, pulling on his customary uniform — khakis, black vest and a red tie dotted with Maryland’s logo — and after guarding the team’s locker room for a few hours, he walked Turgeon to the court before Maryland’s 72-61 win over Purdue.
“Ken is like a comfort-zone guy for me,” Turgeon said. “Since I’ve been here and I walk out, Ken’s been there for me. When I walk off the court, Ken is there for me. Through thick and thin, he’s been there for me.”“Ken is like a comfort-zone guy for me,” Turgeon said. “Since I’ve been here and I walk out, Ken’s been there for me. When I walk off the court, Ken is there for me. Through thick and thin, he’s been there for me.”
With Petralia known as a deeply superstitious man devoted to a singular routine before games, Turgeon wondered where he was before tipoff against Ohio State. Notified afterward of what had happened, Turgeon continued to miss Petralia during the next two home wins over Northwestern and Iowa, he said, leading him to reflect on everything the two had been through together. Court stormings in particular have brought them only closer. With Petralia known as a deeply superstitious man devoted to a singular routine before games, Turgeon wondered where he was before tip-off against Ohio State. Notified afterward of what had happened, Turgeon continued to miss Petralia during the next two home wins over Northwestern and Iowa, he said, leading him to reflect on everything the two had been through together. Court stormings in particular have brought them only closer.
When students flooded the court after Maryland beat Duke in College Park three years ago, Turgeon spotted an injured Blue Devils player who was on crutches and marooned behind the bench as the chaos descended. He needed a clear path to the locker room.When students flooded the court after Maryland beat Duke in College Park three years ago, Turgeon spotted an injured Blue Devils player who was on crutches and marooned behind the bench as the chaos descended. He needed a clear path to the locker room.
“Let’s go get him,” Turgeon told Petralia, who led the group through the pandemonium and back to the locker room.“Let’s go get him,” Turgeon told Petralia, who led the group through the pandemonium and back to the locker room.
When the students rushed again after last season’s win over Wisconsin, Turgeon latched on to Petralia’s belt and didn’t let go until they reached the tunnels.When the students rushed again after last season’s win over Wisconsin, Turgeon latched on to Petralia’s belt and didn’t let go until they reached the tunnels.
Among Petralia’s most panicked moments was when he lost sight of Turgeon following an on-court interview after another home win, but Turgeon didn’t fully leave the court until he had located Petralia.Among Petralia’s most panicked moments was when he lost sight of Turgeon following an on-court interview after another home win, but Turgeon didn’t fully leave the court until he had located Petralia.
“He’s quiet about it; he’s humble about it. But he’s very protective,” Turgeon said.“He’s quiet about it; he’s humble about it. But he’s very protective,” Turgeon said.
Petralia has been a Terp Host for the past 25 years, and he has worked his way up. He ripped tickets in the parking lots to start. He has supervised the media tower at Maryland football games. He escorted Gary Williams to and from the court for seven years and then became a part of Turgeon’s rituals once Turgeon took over in 2011. While Petralia calls it a “vacation” from his structured day job as an IT worker at Trinity, an all-women’s college in Northeast Washington, he still takes it just as seriously. He laughs about being the muscle for Turgeon, picking off anyone who gets in the coach’s path on the way into the arena.Petralia has been a Terp Host for the past 25 years, and he has worked his way up. He ripped tickets in the parking lots to start. He has supervised the media tower at Maryland football games. He escorted Gary Williams to and from the court for seven years and then became a part of Turgeon’s rituals once Turgeon took over in 2011. While Petralia calls it a “vacation” from his structured day job as an IT worker at Trinity, an all-women’s college in Northeast Washington, he still takes it just as seriously. He laughs about being the muscle for Turgeon, picking off anyone who gets in the coach’s path on the way into the arena.
Once inside, he remains keenly observant, watching Turgeon’s every move before halftime and after the game ends, responsible for shooing away any hecklers or fans who disrupt the path. He has become an institution within the program, though, because of his warmth and modest demeanor. After he had waved at all of Purdue’s players and welcomed them to Xfinity Center on Saturday, he was greeted by Maryland legends Lefty Driesell and Juan Dixon as each walked through the tunnels. He was also bear-hugged by Maryland guard Trevor Anz­mann as he entered the locker room.Once inside, he remains keenly observant, watching Turgeon’s every move before halftime and after the game ends, responsible for shooing away any hecklers or fans who disrupt the path. He has become an institution within the program, though, because of his warmth and modest demeanor. After he had waved at all of Purdue’s players and welcomed them to Xfinity Center on Saturday, he was greeted by Maryland legends Lefty Driesell and Juan Dixon as each walked through the tunnels. He was also bear-hugged by Maryland guard Trevor Anz­mann as he entered the locker room.
“Good to have you back!” Anz­mann said.“Good to have you back!” Anz­mann said.
“Good to be back,” Petralia said with a smile.“Good to be back,” Petralia said with a smile.
He had waited three weeks to get back to Turgeon’s side, and the moment finally arrived shortly before 4 p.m. Turgeon was nervous and didn’t say much. Petralia understands that the coach is a creature of habit, but he didn’t need to be reminded of how important he was to the program. During his second night in the hospital in January, the room’s phone rang unexpectedly. It was Turgeon.He had waited three weeks to get back to Turgeon’s side, and the moment finally arrived shortly before 4 p.m. Turgeon was nervous and didn’t say much. Petralia understands that the coach is a creature of habit, but he didn’t need to be reminded of how important he was to the program. During his second night in the hospital in January, the room’s phone rang unexpectedly. It was Turgeon.
“We talked for 15 minutes,” Petralia said. “I almost started crying.”“We talked for 15 minutes,” Petralia said. “I almost started crying.”