- Toledo Rockets
Infobox college athletics
name = Toledo Rockets
size = 150px
university = University of Toledo
conference = MAC
division =Division I
director =Mike O'Brien
city = Toledo
state = Ohio
stateabb = OH
teams = 15
stadium =Glass Bowl Stadium
baseballfield =Scott Park
arena =Savage Hall
mascot = Rocky the Rocket
nickname = Rockets
fightsong = U. of Toledo
color1 = Blue
hex1 = 191970
color2 = Gold
hex2 = FFD700
pageurl = http://www.utrockets.com/
pagename = www.utrockets.comOrigin of nickname
The University of Toledo football team did not have a nickname until 1923, when they played Carnegie Tech in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania . Local sportswriters asked James E. Neal (1904–1983), [U.S. Census, Jan. 1, 1920, State of Ohio, County of Lucas, enumeration district 46, p. 9-B, family 202.] [Social Security Death Index .] a University of Toledo student working in the press box, to give his team a name. He called them the "Skyrockets", which the sportswriters shortened to the "Rockets". [ [http://www.utrockets.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=98474&SPID=10702&DB_OEM_ID=18000&ATCLID=1255500 Nickname Origin] , Rocket Football Timeline, Official Website of the Toledo Rockets.]Football
(MAC) Championships, in 1969, 1970, 1971, 1981, 1984, 1990 (co-champs with Western Michigan), 1995, 2001, and 2004. The team also won 35 consecutive games from 1969 to 1971. cite web
url=http://www.toledorockets.net/football/tradition.php
title=Toledo Rockets Football Tradition
accessdate=2007-06-04] On October 11, 2008, the Rockets defeated theMichigan Wolverines 13-10, marking the first time a MAC team had ever beaten the Wolverines. [cite news | title=In-game analysis: Wolverines lose to MAC team for first time | first=Chris | last=Lau | publisher="Detroit Free Press " | date=2008-10-11 | accessdate=2008-10-11 | url=http://www.freep.com/article/20081011/SPORTS06/81011022]Toledo's principal rivals are the Falcons of
Bowling Green State University . The two teams play for a trophy each year known as the Peace Pipe, a prize that originated in basketball but progressed to football in 1980. BGSU currently holds a 36-31-4 advantage over the Rockets, but Toledo has won four of the last five meetings. This rivalry is known as "The Battle for I-75" because the cities of Toledo and Bowling Green are located just offInterstate 75 and only 20 miles separate the two campuses.The University of Toledo recently signed to play a two-game series in football with the Buckeyes of the
Ohio State University . The first game will be considered a "home" game for Toledo, and will be played atCleveland Browns Stadium on September 19, 2009.The football team has played at the
Glass Bowl since 1937. cite web
url=http://www.toledorockets.net/football/glassbowl.php
title=Glass Bowl Stadium
accessdate=2007-06-04]Basketball
Other sports
Among other sports, Toledo consistently fields strong distance running teams; Brianna Shook '04, who is also an assistant track coach at the school, holds the American record for the steeplechase.
Blue Crew
The University of Toledo also has an official spirit crew known as Blue Crew. They attend numerous athletic events and are present throughout the community.
References
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