Page 139 - Toledo Football Media Guide - 2012

140 HISTORY

Steeped in tradition, the University of Toledo football programhasproducedcount-less memorable players and great moments in its history. From Mel Triplett in the 50’s to Chuck Ealey in the 70’s to Eric Page in the 21st century, Rocket stars have put their unique stampon college football history. And whether it was the legendary 35-game winning streak from 1969-71, or the Military Bowl victory in 2011, Toledo’s football history is rich with highlights.

Rocket football dates back to 1917 when a group of To-ledoUniversity (as itwas known then) studentsput together a football team with the help of a young professor, John Brandeberry. Toledo lost its frst game to the University of Detroit by the incredible score of 145-0, but the foundation of the program had been established.

Prospects for Toledo gradually improved after that frst season. Coach James Dwyer led Toledo to its frst winning record and its frst Northwest Ohio league championship in 1923. Eventually Toledo became a reliable football power, with just one losing season from 1933 to 1948.

Toledo joined the Mid-American Conference in football in 1952 andwon its frst MAC championship in 1967, but the Rockets really burst onto the national scene two years after that. From 1969-71, Toledo captured the country’s eye by winning 35 consecutive games, three straight MAC cham-pionships and three straight Tangerine Bowl titles. Ineachof thethreeundefeated seasons, Toledo was ranked in the top 20.

The 35-game winning streak ended as the second-longest in major college football history, bettered only by a 47-game string put together by the great Oklahoma teams of 1953-57.

The most famous star of the 1969-71 teams was the legendary quarterback Chuck Ealey. Ealey earned MAC “Back of the Year” honors for an unprecedented three consecutive years and numerous All-Americahonors fromAP,UPI andFoot-ball News magazine. Ealey also became the frst player in MAC history to receive votes for the Heisman Trophy, receiving

mpionship Legacy

168 points for an eighth-place fnish in 1971.

Toledowonitsffthandsixth MACchampionships in1981and 1984, but itwas in the1990’s and 21st century that the Rockets really took of as a national pres-ence. A major renovation of the Glass Bowl was completed in 1990, making the venerable old stadiumone of the jewels of the MAC. The Rocketswere coached in the 90’s by Gary Pinkel, who amasseda73-37-3recordbefore departingforMissouri following the 2000 season. Pinkel’s teamswonor shared four titles and cracked the top 25 three times in his fnal six seasons. Taking the Rockets to even greater heights was Tom Amstutz, a Toledo native and UT graduate who had spent 21 years as an assistant coach. Amstutz led the Rockets to two MAC titles, four division crowns and four bowl games in eight years at the helm from 2001-08.

Tim Beckman came aboard as head coach in 2009 and won 17 games in his fnal two seasons. A big part of Toledo’s resurgence came fromwide receiver Eric Page, whocaught a MAC-record306passes from2009-11andearnedAll-America honors as a kick returner in 2010.

In 2011, the Rockets went 9-4 and won their frst bowl game in six years, a 42-41 triumph over Air Force. The victory marked the head coaching debut of Matt Campbell, who took over at the end of the regular season when Beckman departed for Illinois.

Chuck Ealey scrambled his way to 35 straight victories as the Rockets’ quarterback from 1969-71.

Toledo’s Championship Seasons

Year Record Championship 1923 6-4 NWO Champions 1927 5-2 NWO Champions 1929 4-2-1 NWO Co-Champions 1967 9-1 MAC Co-Champions 1969 11-0 MAC Champions 1970 12-0 MAC Champions 1971 12-0 MAC Champions 1981 9-3 MAC Champions 1984 9-2-1 MAC Champions 1990 9-2 MAC Co-Champions 1995 11-0-1 MAC Champions 1997 9-3 MACWest Champions 1998 7-5 MACWest Champions 2000 10-1 MACWest Co-Champions 2001 10-2 MAC Champions 2002 9-5 MACWest Co-Champions 2004 9-4 MAC Champions 2005 9-3 MACWest Co-Champions 2011 9-4 MACWest Co-Champions

The Rockets celebrate their 2011 Military Bowl victory.