Toledo Rockets football
Encyclopedia
The Toledo Rockets football team is a college football
program in Division I FBS, representing the University of Toledo
. The Rockets compete in the Mid-American Conference
. Toledo began playing football in 1917, although it did not field teams in 1931, and 1943-1945. Since the inception of the AP Poll
in 1936 Toledo has finished in the Top 25 four times. Its highest finish came in 1970 when it ranked #12 after finishing 12–0–0. Its current head coach is Tim Beckman
.
in order to settle the debt. Brandeberry stepped in to coach the team, which promptly lost the game 145–0 (but settled the debt).
For the first few years Toledo played without a nickname, but was dubbed the "Rockets" after two long touchdown runs in a 1923 loss to Carnegie Tech
. That season also saw Toledo win its first conference title.
have a rivalry dating back to 1924, when BGSU challenged the participation of Toledo's captain, Gilbert Stick, after it was discovered that Stick also played for a local team in Genoa, Ohio
. Conference rules did not prohibit such play, and BGSU's protest was overruled. In 1950, Toledo's athletic director charged BGSU students a higher price for tickets at a basketball game than the general public, while rumors spread of a dog-napping attempt by BGSU against Toledo's mascot. Another incident came in 1951, when a fight broke out after a hard hit by a BGSU player on fullback
Mel Triplett
. Don Greenwood
, then Toledo's coach, participated, and resigned after the university failed to back him up. In Greenwood's view, the officials should have called a penalty for excessive roughness, and he had a duty to protect his players.
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
program in Division I FBS, representing the University of Toledo
University of Toledo
The University of Toledo is a public university in Toledo, Ohio, United States. The Carnegie Foundation classified the university as "Doctoral/Research Extensive."-National recognition:...
. The Rockets compete in the Mid-American Conference
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
. Toledo began playing football in 1917, although it did not field teams in 1931, and 1943-1945. Since the inception of the AP Poll
AP Poll
The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...
in 1936 Toledo has finished in the Top 25 four times. Its highest finish came in 1970 when it ranked #12 after finishing 12–0–0. Its current head coach is Tim Beckman
Tim Beckman
-External links:...
.
History
Toledo first fielded a football team in 1917, under the leadership of John Brandeberry. According to Toledo Rockets lore, the team began when a group of students purchased uniforms from a sporting goods store, then arranged a game against the University of DetroitUniversity of Detroit Mercy
University of Detroit Mercy is a private, Roman Catholic co-educational university in Detroit, Michigan, United States, affiliated with the Society of Jesus and the Sisters of Mercy. Antoine M. Garibaldi is the president. With origins dating from 1877, it is the largest Roman Catholic university...
in order to settle the debt. Brandeberry stepped in to coach the team, which promptly lost the game 145–0 (but settled the debt).
For the first few years Toledo played without a nickname, but was dubbed the "Rockets" after two long touchdown runs in a 1923 loss to Carnegie Tech
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
. That season also saw Toledo win its first conference title.
Bowling Green rivalry
Toledo and Bowling Green State UniversityBowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University, often referred to as Bowling Green or BGSU, is a public, coeducational research university located in Bowling Green, Ohio, United States. The institution was granted a charter in 1910 by the State of Ohio as part of the Lowry Bill, which also established Kent State...
have a rivalry dating back to 1924, when BGSU challenged the participation of Toledo's captain, Gilbert Stick, after it was discovered that Stick also played for a local team in Genoa, Ohio
Genoa, Ohio
Genoa is a village in Ottawa County, Ohio, United States. The population was 2,230 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Genoa is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all of it land....
. Conference rules did not prohibit such play, and BGSU's protest was overruled. In 1950, Toledo's athletic director charged BGSU students a higher price for tickets at a basketball game than the general public, while rumors spread of a dog-napping attempt by BGSU against Toledo's mascot. Another incident came in 1951, when a fight broke out after a hard hit by a BGSU player on fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
Mel Triplett
Mel Triplett
Melvin C. Triplett was an American football running back in the National Football League who played for eight seasons for the New York Giants. He played college football at the University of Toledo and was drafted by the Giants in the 1955 NFL Draft, where he played for six seasons...
. Don Greenwood
Don Greenwood
Don Greenwood is a board game designer. He worked for Avalon Hill from 1972 to 1998 and has done work for GMT Games. He was editor of Panzerfaust Magazine from 1967 until 1972 and of The General Magazine from 1972 until 1982. He is the founder of the Origins, Avaloncon, and WBC gaming conventions...
, then Toledo's coach, participated, and resigned after the university failed to back him up. In Greenwood's view, the officials should have called a penalty for excessive roughness, and he had a duty to protect his players.
Head Coaches
- James Dwyer (1923–1925)
- Frank LauterburFrank LauterburFrancis X. Lauterbur is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Toledo from 1963 to 1970 and at the University of Iowa from 1971 to 1973, compiling a career college football record of 52–60–3...
(1963–1970) - John MurphyJohn Murphy (American football coach)John A. "Jack" Murphy is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Heidelberg University in Tiffin, Ohio in 1970 and at the University of Toledo from 1971 to 1976, compiling a career college football record of 38–38.-Head coaching record:-External links:...
(1971–1976) - Chuck StobartChuck Stobart-External links:...
(1977–1981) - Dan Simrell (1982–1989)
- Nick SabanNick SabanNicholas Lou "Nick" Saban is the head coach of the University of Alabama's Crimson Tide football team. Saban has previously served as head coach of the National Football League's Miami Dolphins and three other NCAA universities: LSU, Michigan State and Toledo...
(1990) - Gary PinkelGary PinkelGary Robin Pinkel is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at the University of Missouri, a position he has held since the 2001 season. From 1991 to 2000, Pinkel coached at the University of Toledo, where his team won a Mid-American Conference...
(1991–2000) - Tom AmstutzTom AmstutzTom Amstutz was the head football coach at the University of Toledo. He is one of Toledo's most popular figures, known as 'Toledo Tom.' Amstutz was Toledo's head football coach from 2001 to 2008, and posted a 58-41 record, including a 39-24 record in conference play...
(2001–2008) - Tim BeckmanTim Beckman-External links:...
(2009–present)
Season Breakdown
- 2009 Toledo Rockets football team2009 Toledo Rockets football teamThe 2009 Toledo Rockets football team represented The University of Toledo in the college football season of 2009. They competed in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football during the football season and as a member of the Mid-American...
- 2010 Toledo Rockets football team2010 Toledo Rockets football teamThe 2010 Toledo Rockets football team represented the University of Toledo during the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Rockets, led by second-year head coach Tim Beckman, compete in the West Division of the Mid-American Conference and played their home games at the Glass Bowl...
- 2011 Toledo Rockets football team2011 Toledo Rockets football teamThe 2011 Toledo Rockets football team represent the University of Toledo during the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Rockets are led by second-year head coach Tim Beckman, compete in the West Division of the Mid-American Conference and play their home games at the Glass...