Page 143 - Toledo Football Media Guide - 2012

144 HISTORY

easy. Four of the games were decided by four points or less, including two contests that UT squeezed out by a point.

One of those tight games, possi-bly the greatest in MAC history, was played inBowlingGreen,Ohio, onOct. 11, 1969. Toledo and Bowling Green

battled in a hard-fought war in front of a then-record 20,820 fans at Doyt Perry Field. UT led most of the way but the Falcons rallied to take the lead late in the contest, 26-24. With two seconds remaining in the contest, UT placekickerKenCrotsbooteda37-yard feld goal into the teeth of a strong wind togive theBlueandGolda27-26 come-from-behindwin,extendingthe

5Wins in a Row!

The famous Toledo 35-consecutive game winning streak, the second-longest in modern major college football history to Okla-homa’s 47 (1953-57), began on Sept. 20, 1969 anddidn’t end until Sept. 9, 1972. During that streak, the Rockets won three Mid-Amer i can Conference championships and three Tangerine Bowl titles. They outscored opponents , 1,152-344 and led the na-tionintotaldefenseall three seasons, on their way to

threeundefeatedseasons:11-0(1969), 12-0 (1970) and 12-0 (1971).

In all three seasons, UT was ranked in the Top 20, as high as No. 12 by the Associated Press in 1970, becoming the frst MAC team to be ranked in three straight seasons. Legendary quarterbackChuckEaleyearnedMAC “Ofensive Player of the Year” honors for an unprecedented three seasons, while defensive tackle Mel Long be-camethefrst consensusAll-American (AP and UPI polls) in MAC history in 1971.

Nationwide attention came to the UT campus, as curious football fans from all over the country awaited anxiously each week to see if the Rockets couldkeep their streak intact. Media such as ABC, CBS, NBC, Sports Illustrated and Newsweek made trips to the Glass Bowl to report on the unfolding drama.

There were certainly several big wins during the streak, including the Rockets’56-33demolitionofDavidson in the frst Tangerine Bowl, and UT’s 45-18 drubbing of Villanova on Sept. 20, 1969, the one that started it all. In addition, the Rockets posted seven shutouts, and their largest margin of victory was a 52-3 thrashing of Mar-shall on Sept. 26, 1970.

But not all of the wins were that

string to amere four games at that time.

The next year, in perhaps one of themost famous of the victories, Toledo again faced certain defeat until the magic of its incredible quarterback came to the forefront. Ealey reached down into his bag of tricks and rallied the Rockets late in the fnal quarter, over-taking Miami, 14-13, to keep the streak going at 19. And who could ever forget what happened on Oct. 16, 1971? The Western Michigan Broncos had Toledo on the ropes, leading by 14 points in the third quarter and carrying a 10-point lead into the fourth. Rocket fans and players later admitted that they were defnitely scared that the streakwould end. But thesteel-armedEaley,whoset fve MAC records in the game, again tookcontrol.HeguidedtheRocketson numerousdrives, putting21pointson the scoreboard in the fnal quarter to give UT an unbelievable 35-24 come-from-behind victory in the Glass Bowl that pushed the string to 29 straight. The victory was so extraordinary, it prompted Western Michigan coach Bill Doolittle to say after the game, “I thinkGodwas throwingsomeof those passes. I know he (Ealey) had to have some help, somehow.”

Frank Lauterbur was at the Rocket helm for 23 of the victories, while Jack Murphy took over the reins in 1971, guidingUT to12 straightwins.The fun fnally came toanend in thefrst game of the 1972 season when Tampa shut out UT, 21-0.

Ealey, however, wasn’t around to experiencetheloss. Infact,hewasupin Canada leadingtheHamiltonTi-Catsto the Grey Cup championship. Awinner through and through, Ealey never lost a game at the amateur level, posting a 65-0 record during his combined high school and college career.

Toledo’s 35-game winning streak grabbed the attention of sports fans and media from around the country.

1969 (11-0)

45-18, Villanova 38-13, Marshall 34-9, Ohio 27-26, Bowling Green 38-13, Western Michigan 43-17, Kent State 14-10, Miami 35-21, Northern Illinois 20-0, Dayton 35-0, Xavier 56-33, Davidson

1970 (12-0)

35-2, East Carolina 27-6, Bufalo 52-3, Marshall 42-7, Ohio 20-0, Bowling Green 20-0, Western Michigan

THE VICTIMS

34-17, Kent State 14-13, Miami 45-7, Northern Illinois 31-7, Dayton 24-14, Colorado State 40-12, William & Mary

1971 (12-0) 45-0, East Carolina 10-7, Villanova 23-0, Texas-Arlington 31-28, Ohio 24-7, Bowling Green 35-24, W. Michigan 35-7, Dayton 45-6, Miami 23-8, Northern Illinois 43-0, Marshall 41-6, Kent State 28-3, Richmond