Toledo Rockets football
| Toledo Rockets football | |||
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| First season | 1917 | ||
| Head coach |
Jason Candle 1st year, 10–4 (.714) |
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| Stadium | Glass Bowl | ||
| Year built | 1936 | ||
| Seating capacity | 26,248 | ||
| Field surface | Field Turf | ||
| Location | Toledo, Ohio | ||
| NCAA division | Division I FBS | ||
| Conference | Mid-American | ||
| Division | West | ||
| Past conferences | Independent (1948-1950) Ohio Athletic Conference (1932–1947) Northwestern Ohio Intercollegiate Athletic Association (1921–1930) Independent (1917-1920) |
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| All-time record | 502–413–24 (.547) | ||
| Bowl record | 10–6 (.625) | ||
| Conference titles | 13 | ||
| Division titles | 6 | ||
| Consensus All-Americans | 2 | ||
| Colors | Midnight Blue and Gold |
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| Fight song | U of Toledo | ||
| Rivals | Bowling Green Falcons | ||
| Website | Toledo Rockets | ||
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. The University of Toledo has a 10-6 record in bowl games. The Rockets were the 2015 Boca Roton Bowl champions over #24 ranked Temple. The team's current head coach is Jason Candle.
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 Detroit 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.
Clarence Spears served as the Rocket's head coach and athletics director for seven seasons, from 1936-1942. Under his tutelage, the Rockets compiled a record of 38-26-2. which included five consecutive winning seasons.
In two seasons, the Rockets compiled a record of 11-10 under head coach Skip Stahley.
Forrest England served as Toledo's head coach for two seasons in 1954 and 1955, compiling a record of 9–7–2.
From 1969 through 1971, Toledo won 35 consecutive games, which currently ranks as the fifth-longest winning streak in major college football. Under head coach Frank Lauterbur, the Rockets won 3 Mid-American Conference Championships and won each of their 3 appearances in the Tangerine Bowl during those years. Mel Long, a member of the team for all three years, was named to The AP All-America First Team after the 1971 season. Charles "Chuck" Ealey led the Rockets to all 35 victories as starting quarterback.
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