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1970 Toledo Rockets football team

1970 Toledo Rockets football
MAC champion
Conference Mid-American Conference
Ranking
Coaches No. 17
AP No. 12
1970 record 12–0 ( MAC)
Head coach Frank Lauterbur (8th year)
Captain Tom Duncan
Captain Tony Harris
Home stadium Glass Bowl
Seasons
← 1969
1971 →
1970 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf     Overall
Team W   L   T     W   L   T
#12 Toledo $ 5 0 0     12 0 0
Miami (OH) 3 2 0     7 3 0
Ohio 3 2 0     4 5 0
Western Michigan 2 3 0     7 3 0
Kent State 1 4 0     3 7 0
Bowling Green 1 4 0     2 6 1
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1970 Toledo Rockets football team was an American football team that represented the University of Toledo in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 1970 college football season. In their eighth and final season under head coach Frank Lauterbur, the Rockets compiled a 12–0 record, outscored all opponents by a combined total of 384 to 88, and won the MAC championship. The season ended with a 40–12 victory over Southern Conference champion William & Mary in the 1970 Tangerine Bowl. The Rockets were ranked No. 12 in the final AP Poll and No. 17 in the final UPI Poll. After the Tangerine Bowl, William & Mary head coach Lou Holtz said, "Toledo can play football with anyone – that includes teams like Ohio State and Texas."

The 1970 season was part of a 35-game winning streak that consisted of three consecutive seasons from 1969 through 1971. During the streak, Toledo won three consecutive MAC championships and three consecutive bowl games, led the nation in total defense all three years, and outscored opponents by a combined total of 1,152 to 344. It remains the second longest winning streak in modern Division I-A college football history behind Oklahoma's 47-game streak in the 1950s.

The defense led the way for the 1970 team, allowing 104.8 rushing yards, 185.8 total yards, 3.7 turnovers forced, and 7.3 points per game. In a game against Dayton, Toledo allowed only 44 yards of total offense, zero rushing first downs, and zero passing yards, each of which remains a program record. In a 52-3 victory over Marshall, the team forced seven turnovers.

Defensive tackle Mel Long was selected as a first-team All-American by the Newspaper Enterprise Association. Eleven Toledo players received first-team All-MAC honors: Mel Long, quarterback Chuck Ealey, fullback Charlie Cole, end Don Fair, offensive guard Bob Caverly, offensive tackle Ken Wilson, defensive end Bob Rose, linebacker John Niezgoda, middle guard Steve Schnitkey, and defensive backs Tom Duncan and Gary Hinkson.


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