Page 217 - Toledo Football Media Guide - 2012

218 THE UNIVERSITY

hletic Traditions

fountain, designed byToledoan Phyllis Nordin, was turned into a fowerbed for four years because the rusted pipes of the fountain would have cost $50,000 to repair. After a fundraising efort by Student Government President Kevin Hopkins, Toledo Edison, andmany oth-ers, the fowerbed was restored back into a fountain in 1997.

Nickname Origin

When the University of Toledo played then-powerful Carnegie Tech in football in 1923, Pittsburgh sports writers were surprised to learn that UT did not have a nickname. Pittsburgh

writers pressed James Neal, a UT student working in the press box, to come up with a nickname.

Despite UT’s 32-12 loss, the student labeled the team “Skyrockets,” obviously impressed by his alma mater’s fashy performance against a superior team. The sportswriters short-ened the name to “Rockets,”which has been used since. Many other suggestions for UT’s nickname have been considered through the years, including a Spanish theme of Toreadors or Bulls, in honor of Toledo’s sister relationship with the city’s namesake in Spain. Others included Commodores, Turtles, Bancroft Highwaymen and Jeeps. Toledo teamswere referredto as the Blue and Gold, Munies (for municipal university) and Dwyer’s Boys (after head football coach JamesDwyer) insportsstoriesprior to 1923.

School Colors

Midnight Blue and Gold were selected as the school’s ofcial colors by the Varsity ‘T’ club, at its organizationalmeetingonDecem-ber 1, 1919. Ten of the 14 football lettermen met to form the club, and also chose Ed Stader as their frst president.

The Fight Song

“U of Toledo” was written in 1932 by Dave Connelly, UT ath-letic director and baseball coach through much of the 1930s and 1940s. Connelly loved to sing, but hadnever studiedmusic.Hewrote the words for “U of Toledo” and sang themelody toa family friend, BernieJones. Jonesplayeditonthe piano and put it to music.

The tune remained largely unchanged until 1975, when UT associate professor of music David Jex arranged the cur-rent version. At that time, the song’s one verse (see box) was dropped from the ofcial version of the fght song.

The Alma Mater

“Fair Toledo”was selected from eight entries which were submitted in the UT Alma Mater Song Contest, sponsored jointly by the Student Senate and the Alumni Association in 1959. The competition was held to replace “Golden and Blue,” set to “Amici,” a tune used by various universities.

While driving to work, Gilbert Mohr heard Jim Uebelhart announce the contest on the radio in January of that year. An amateur songwriter, Mohr began humming diferent tunes, and later with his wife, Jean Strout, wrote the lyrics. Their alma mater entry won the contest and the couple received a $100 government bond. “Fair Toledo” debuted at halftime of the Marshall-Toledo basketball game on March 2, 1959.

The Cannon

Everyone who attends a Rocket football game is familiarwiththe“boom”of thecannon when the Rockets score. The tradition of the cannon originates from 1966 when Pi Kappa Phi member Walt “Swift” Piotrowski saw a canon being shot of at a University of Texas game. Another fraternitybrother, John“Tank” Drake,wasabletoobtainaCivilWar eracanon. that canon was in use until it was replaced by a brand-new cannon in 2010.

The canon was frst fred at the football game vs. Xavier onSept. 17, 1966 fromthe top east stone tower in the Glass Bowl. The can-non continued to be fred from this position until 1989, when it had to be moved to the feld because of structural concerns with the stone towers. From 1990 to 2008 the cannon

Fight Song “ U of Toledo ”

Chorus

U of Toledo, we’ll fght for you (Fight! Fight! Fight!) U of Toledo, we love the Gold and Blue (Let’s go Blue!)

Men of the Varsity, the enemy must yield, We’ll fght just like our ancestors and march right down the feld! T-O-L-E-D-O, Toledo!

Verse (no longer used)

The Indians roamed the Maumee River land Till along came Anthony Wayne. Old England was the ruler of the Lakes, Till Perry gained his fame. They were fghters and victorious And they drove back every foe. Gave their legends and traditions To the school we honor so.

Alma Mater

“Fair Toledo”

In tower shadows voices now raising, To alma mater Golden and Blue, Fair Toledo praise to thee, Portal of learning ever be, Hallowed halls we shall revere, Vow to keep thy memory dear.