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Star Pittsburgh Recruit Chooses Toledo December 29th, 2005 By Brian Nowicki 
According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, safety Barry Church has given a verbal commitment to play football at the University of Toledo. Church, who runs a 4.5 forty, was named 2nd team Associated Press Class AAAA in the state of Pennsylvania as a senior this past season. Scout.com had this to say about Barry Church, "Church has developed over the past year into an exceptional prospect. He has outstanding ball skills and great speed for his size. He plays a variety of roles on defense, often blitzing and providing run support." Both Scout.com and Rivals.com have Church listed as a 3 star recruit. He received offers from Toledo, Bowling Green, Cincinnati, West Virginia, Maryland, Iowa, Indiana, Akron, Miami University, and North Carolina State. He narrowed his list down to Toledo, Cincinnati, and West Virginia before choosing Toledo. Church is an outstanding pickup for the Rockets. Full StoryA Great Bowl Experience December 28th, 2005 By Mike Sopher 
Observations from the GMAC Bowl:The 30-hour roundtrip ride in the Jambulance went quicker than expected. Of course, it didn’t hurt that we had numerous DVD’s to pass the time. Mobileans were very hospitable to Rocket fans and many thanked us for making the long drive down to watch our team. I know I speak for many Toledo fans in saying thanks to Mobile for being very generous and friendly to all of us who traveled down to the game. Full Story Focused December 26th, 2005 By Mike Sopher 
I knew this team would perform well once they got off the bus a few hours before kickoff at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Not one player acknowledged the dozens of fans cheering and waving just feet away. Eyes were straightforward with a look of determination that could only mean one thing: This team was focused. And it showed on the field.Toledo’s 45-13 win over the University of Texas El-Paso in the GMAC Bowl put an exclamation mark on the 2005 season. Although the Rockets were not able to defend their Mid-American Conference title, the team finished with a solid 9-3 record and concluded its season with a win for the first time since 2001. Full Story Kicker Verbals to Toledo December 23rd, 2005 By Brian Nowicki According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, kicker Alex Steigerwald has given a verbal commitment to play football at the University of Toledo. Steigerwald kicked 29 extra points, 7 field goals, and averaged 42.9 yards per punt for Cleveland Benedictine this past fall. Scout.com said "Steigerwald boasts one of the strongest legs in the Midwest." He was named First Team All Ohio as a junior punter in 2004, while his Cleveland Benedictine team won the Ohio Division III State Championship. As a senior this fall, Alex was named Second Team All Ohio as a kicker. Full Story LB Alex Johnson Verbals to Toledo December 22nd, 2005 By Staff 
According to Scout.com, linebacker Alex Johnson has given a verbal commitment to play football at the University of Toledo. The 6-2, 230 pounder from Lansdale, PA was named as a Fab 85 Preseason All-State player by a publication called Pennsylvania Sports Fever. He was named AP 2nd team Class AAAA All-State in the state of Pennsylvania this past season. He runs a 4.7 forty and bench presses 330 pounds. Alex received offers from Toledo and Duke. He had an upcoming visit to Michigan State with a possible scholarship offer coming, but he cancelled the visit and committed to the Rockets. He will likely play inside linebacker for Toledo.Rockets Win GMAC Bowl! December 22nd, 2005 By Brian Nowicki
The University of Toledo Rockets are the 2005 GMAC Bowl Champions after a 45-13 victory over the UTEP Miners. Toledo (9-3) had lost their last two bowl games, losing to Boston College in the 2002 Motor City Bowl and to UCONN in the 2004 Motor City Bowl. The Rockets would not be denied this time though as senior QB Bruce Gradkowski threw for 298 yards and 5 touchdowns and senior running back Trinity Dawson rushed for 124 yards, while the Rockets put up 470 yards in total offense. The Rocket defense stood tall as well, giving up just 1 total yard to UTEP in the 3rd quarter. UTEP had just 255 yards in total offense for the game. Full Story --- Photo GalleryOL Jan Gewont Verbals to Toledo December 20th, 2005 By Staff 
According to Scout.com, offensive lineman Jan Gewont has given a verbal commitment to play football at the University of Toledo. Jan, 6-5 and 280 pounds, was named to the All-State team in the state of Illinois as a senior this past season. Rivals.com has him listed as the 24th best player in the state of Illinois, regardless of position.Scout.com had this to say about Jan, "Gewant is a fine offensive lineman that will be a three-year varsity starter in 2005. John has very good feet, he's strong and he's also a very good run blocker. He plays guard for Stagg and projects at that position at the next level." Full Story Chris Meenan Verbals to Toledo December 19th, 2005 By Staff 
According to Rivals.com, offensive lineman Chris Meenan has given a verbal commitment to play football at the University of Toledo. Chris told Scout.com "I think my run blocking and my ability to pull and trap are my strengths. I'm also good at getting out on the linebackers."Chris is listed as a 2 star recruit by both Rivals.com and Scout.com. He chose Toledo over an offer from Minnesota. He narrowed his choices to just UT and Minnesota back in November and took a visit to Toledo in early December. Chris bench presses 360 pounds. 2006 Recruiting Class Linebacker Verbals to Toledo December 18th, 2005 By Staff 
According to Scout.com, linebacker Archie Donald has given a verbal commitment to play football at the University of Toledo. Donald is a 6-2, 223 pound linebacker from Penn Hills High School in Pittsburgh, PA. He runs a 4.47 in the forty and bench presses 300 pounds.Donald is from the WPIAL, the league where Rocket players such as QB Bruce Gradkowski (Seton LaSalle), Tyrrell Herbert (Penn Hills), and former players Patrick Body (Scheley) and Brandon Hefflin (Penn Hills) all played. Archie had 100 tackles his junior season and was named All-AAAA by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazzette. A Scout.com article on Archie Donald said that he "may be the most physical linebacker in the WPIAL, he is definitely not afraid to initiate contact." Fab 50 Recruiting has him listed as one of the Top 50 linebackers in the country. 2006 Recruiting Class Aaron Opelt Verbals to Toledo December 15th, 2005 By Staff 
According to Rivals.com, quarterback Aaron Opelt has given a verbal commitment to play football at the University of Toledo. Opelt runs a 4.6 forty. Chris Pool from Scout.com had this to say about Aaron Opelt back in November:"Opelt has one of the quickest and most accurate releases in the Midwest. He wastes very little time and or motion on his throws. Surprisingly good arm strength for not taking a lot of time or using a lot of his body behind his throws. Like Stanzi, Opelt has a very high ceiling. He shows tremendous leadership ability and takes control of the offense. Opelt is also a very good athlete who can beat you with his legs as well as his Arm." Full Story 2005 GMAC Bowl Predictions December 15th, 2005 By Mike Sopher The GMAC Bowl is just a few days away and RocketFootball.Net columnist Mike Sopher weighs in on his thoughts about the game between the University of Toledo Rockets and the University of Texas El Paso Miners. Full Story Florida DB Commits to Toledo! December 14th, 2005 By Staff 
According to the Orlando Sentinel, defensive back/wide receiver Joe Shuler has given a verbal commitment to play football at the University of Toledo. Shuler (6-2, 185 pounds) runs a 4.55 forty and will likely play defensive back for Toledo. Before the 2005 season started, the Orlando Sentinel called Joe Shuler a "Division I-A Athlete" in a high school football preview. He was named to the Friday Night Football 2005 Preseason Team, a publication for the Central Florida area, as a defensive back. A couple of days ago, Friday Night Football announced their 2005 All FNF Team and Joe Shuler was again selected as a defensive back. He had offers from Toledo, Mississippi, and Temple. Shuler is the 5th publicly made verbal to the University of Toledo 2006 football recruiting class.University of Toledo Football Banquet December 13th, 2005 By Brian Nowicki On Friday, December 9th, the University of Toledo held its annual football banquet. This year the coaching staff did something different. Instead of handing out awards to the best player at each position, the staff honored each of the 13 seniors on the team. After listing the charitable events that each senior took part in, head coach Tom Amstutz asked each senior to stand up and announced that all 13 of them would be graduating by Spring of 2006. Full Story Jerome Jones Commits to Toledo! December 12th, 2005 By Staff According to the Youngstown Vindicator, tight end/defensive lineman Jerome Jones has given a verbal commitment to play football at the University of Toledo. Jones missed the first eight games because of being academically ineligible, however he has his academics back in order now. He was an all-conference and all-district selection his junior season. Because of not playing, his stock dropped in the recruiting world and Toledo may have found a diamond in the rough. "Toledo had a nice family environment and a good team. Plus the coach is a real nice guy," said Jones. The versatile Jones also plays basketball. He scored 20 points in their last basketball game. Why I Love Toledo! Part 2 December 6th, 2005 By Mike Sopher I received a couple of emails from a former student who has followed Toledo throughout the season and watched them on ESPN against Bowling Green. Currently, he is begging his parents to take him to the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, Alabama on December 21st. He claims Toledo is his new favorite team and that is why he wants to go to Mobile. I personally believe that he just wants to see his former teacher who was the coolest in West Virginia. What I really enjoyed about these emails, besides its obvious appreciation for Toledo football, was the student’s ability to take time and actually proofread what he wrote. Sorry, that’s the teacher in me! Full Story Toledo to Play UTEP! December 3rd, 2005 By Brian Nowicki GMAC Bowl officials announced today that they have invited UTEP, University of Texas at El Paso, to play against Toledo in the GMAC Bowl on December 21st. UTEP is 8-3 on the season, but has lost their last two games. UTEP finished in 2nd place in Conference USA's West Division with a 5-3 conference record. Their most impressive win was a 31-3 victory over Marshall on October 22nd. This will be the first ever meeting between Toledo and UTEP in football. GO!!!!!! December 1st, 2005 By Mike Sopher We are going to a bowl baby! Sorry, I know a stole a line from the movie "The Program," but it just feels good to hear those words. Even though we are not playing in the MAC championship game tonight, the GMAC bowl representatives were kind enough to invite our Rockets to their bowl game on Dec. 21 in Mobile, Alabama. Full Story Maurice Hill Commits to Toledo! November 30th, 2005 By Brian Nowicki According to Rivals.com, defensive tackle Maurice Hill has given a verbal commitment to play football at the University of Toledo. Hill has an official visit to Toledo this weekend, but he decided not to wait until the visit to make his decision. "I had a pretty strong feeling about Toledo after I made my unofficial visit a few weeks ago, but I wanted to wait and make sure that I was 100 percent sure about Toledo. I decided really this afternoon that I wanted to become a part of the Rockets program." Coach Randall McCray made an in-home visit to see Maurice Hill and that is when he gave the Rockets the news. "Coach McCray was really happy tonight when I gave him the news. I really just liked everything about Toledo, from the success of the football program to the academics and the facilities. Toledo was also my first offer and they showed me a lot of confidence in offering me a chance, and now I'm going to make them look smart." Full Story Mobile on the Mind! November 28th, 2005 By Staff The Toledo Rockets have accepted a bid to the 2005 GMAC Bowl to be played in Mobile, AL on December 21, 2005 according to GMAC Bowl President Jerry Silverstein. "We are excited to have Toledo coming to the GMAC Bowl for the first time" said Mr. Silverstein. UT Athletic Director Mike O'Brien added, "We are thrilled to be playing in the GMAC Bowl in what I consider to be one of the best bowls in the country." Toledo's opponent has not been named yet, but it will be a school from Conference USA. "We look forward to our stay in Mobile, and playing against an excellent Conference USA opponent" said UT Head Coach Tom Amstutz. Possibly opponents include UTEP, UCF, Memphis, Tulsa, and Southern Miss. November 28th, 2005 By Staff According to reports in Mobile, later this afternoon the Toledo Rockets are expected to be invited to the GMAC Bowl. The GMAC Bowl is scheduled for December 21st at 7:00pm in Mobile, AL. The game consists of a MAC opponent against a C-USA opponent. UTEP, UCF, Memphis, Tulsa, and Southern Miss are all still possible opponents in the bowl game. When an official invite and statement is released we will have more information. Gradkowski Named Co-MAC MVP! November 28th, 2005 By Brian Nowicki  Toledo senior QB Bruce Gradkowski has been named Co-MVP of the MAC with Western Michigan wide receiver Greg Jennings. The Vern Smith Award, as it is called, was voted on by each MAC coach and two media representatives of each MAC school. Gradkowski is the first UT football player to win the league's MVP award since Wasean Tait in 1995.The All-MAC teams were also announced. OL John Greco, RB Trinity Dawson, QB Bruce Gradkowski, LB Mike Alston, and CS Keon Jackson were all named to MAC first teams for offense and defense. TE Chris Hopkins, K Jason Robbins, and LB Anthony Jordan were named to MAC second teams for offense and defense. The MAC News Media Association also named Jason Robbins as Special Teams Player of the Year in the MAC. A full list of MAC first and second teams along with specialty award winners can be found on the UT athletic site - Full Awards Rockets Beat Bowling Green! November 23th, 2005 By Brian Nowicki  The Toledo Rockets have won the Battle of I-75 for the 2nd consecutive year as they outlasted Bowling Green 44-41 in 2 overtimes. Attendance for the game was 17,438. Toledo (8-3 overall, 6-2 MAC) was led by Trinity Dawson on the ground and Bruce Gradkowski through the air. Trinity Dawson had 28 carries for 172 yards and 2 TD's, while Gradkowski was 23 of 36 for 298 yards and 4 TD's.Tight end Chris Hopkins had 4 catches for 58 yards and 2 touchdowns, including a game winning 22 yard TD reception in the 2nd overtime. Steve Odom led all receivers with 20 receptions for 146 yards and one touchdown. Tight end Josh Powell had the other touchdown reception for Toledo, and a total of 4 receptions for 61 yards. Toledo had 482 yards of total offense, 298 yards through the air and 284 yards rushing. Full Story --- Photo Gallery 44-41! November 23rd, 2005 By Mike Sopher YWow! What a conclusion to the 2005 regular season! Hopefully with a little help from our now second favorite team in Western Michigan, these seniors will get the opportunity to play for a MAC title and a potential bowl game. To say these seniors have led us fans to several memorable Novembers would be an understatement. An 8-3 record is about on par with what most Rocket fans expected this season. Hopefully, they will get the chance to add to that record along with another MAC title. Since Thanksgiving is right around the corner, I figure I will give Toledo fans what I am thankful for this season, especially Tuesday night. Full Story Disappointing...but not Surprising November 17th, 2005 By Mike Sopher Yeah Northern Illinois finally shook off the "Toledo curse." They deserve congratulations from Rocket fans. They played a hard fought game and won it fair and square. On the other side, Toledo disappointed a lot of Rocket fans last night. However, as I watched the game, I wasn’t surprised by the outcome. I have come to the conclusion that this year’s team is too young and inexperienced to win the MAC West and a berth for a conference championship. Full Story Huskies Upset Rockets! November 17th, 2005 By Brian Nowicki  Toledo had won 17 straight home games and Northern Illinois had not won in the Glass Bowl since 1972, but that all came to an end last night. Toledo could not overcome 5 turnovers and several dropped passes, as Northern Illinois beat the Rockets 35-17.QB Bruce Gradkowski, playing his last home game of his career, was 14 of 34 for 168 yards and 1 TD pass, but threw 3 interceptions. Trinity Dawson, also playing his last home game of his career, had 24 carries for 104 yards rushing and 4 receptions for 59 yards and 1 touchdown. Trinity led the team in rushing and receiving in the game. Despite nearly selling out, the cold weather kept many fans away. Attendance was just 20,912 for the game. In order to advance to the MAC Championship game, Toledo must now beat Bowling Green next Tuesday and Northern Illinois has to lose at home to Western Michigan. If that happens, Toledo and Western Michigan will tie for the West Division title and Toledo would get the nod into the conference championship game by virtue of their 59-23 victory over the Broncos. A Northern Illinois win over Western Michigan would send the Huskies to the conference championship game for the first time, while a Western Michigan win and a Toledo loss to Bowling Green would send Western Michigan to their 3rd conference championship game (1999, 2000). Photo Gallery Amstutz Agrees to Contract Extension! November 15th, 2005 By Staff The University of Toledo and head football coach Tom Amstutz have agreed on a contract extension through the 2009 season, according to UT Athletic Director Michael O'Brien. Since becoming the head coach in 2001, Amstutz is 43-17 with four victories over Top 25 schools and a 26-1 record at the Glass Bowl. Wednesday's Game Almost Sold Out! November 13th, 2005 By Brian Nowicki Approximately 4,000 tickets remain for Wednesday night's matchup between the Toledo Rockets and the Northern Illinois Huskies. Toledo can clinch a share of the MAC West Division Title and a berth into the MAC Championship Game with a win over Northern Illinois Wednesday. The first 500 UT students will receive a free Bruce Gradkowski bobblehead doll as they enter the gates. Also, the first 3,000 UT students will receive a voucher for a free hot chocolate at the concession stands. The first 7000 UT students will receive thunderstix at the gates. The University is holding 8,000 seats for UT students, so come early to ensure you can get into the game. The student gates open at 6:00PM. For ticket information, please call the UT Athletic Ticket Office at 419-530-4653. Rocket Fans! November 7th, 2005 By Brian Nowicki When I started RocketFootball.Net a few years ago, my intent was to promote Toledo Rockets football and to have a place for Rocket fans to gain information about the football program. If you read this site often, you have probably read numerous articles about players, coaches, and games. The one thing you have not read about is the importance of you, the fan. Today, that changes. There are all kinds of Rocket fans of all ages, gender, and race. Some fans have season tickets, some get to a couple of games, and some only get to listen on the radio or watch the games available on national television. Full Story Rockets beat Bobcats 30-21! November 5th, 2005 By Brian Nowicki
QB Bruce Gradkowski passed for 236 yards and 2 touchdowns, and ran for another 51 yards an a touchdown as the Rockets defeated the Ohio University Bobcats 30-21. Gradkowski completed 22 of 30 passes in the game, after going 18 of 23 for 195 yards and one touchdown pass with one touchdown run in the 1st half.The Rockets rushed for 293 yards in the game, and had 529 yards in total offense. Trinity Dawson led the way on the ground with 28 rushes for 167 yards, a 6.0 yards per carry average. Quinton Broussard had 9 rushes for 68 yards (7.6 ypc), Bruce Gradkowski had 6 rushes for 51 yards and a TD (8.5 ypc), and Jalen Parmele had 1 carry for 7 yards for the Rockets. Dawson, Broussard, and Gradkowski each had carries of over 30 yards as Dawson had a long of 33 yards, Broussard had a long of 31 yards, and Gradkowski had a long of 31 yards. Full Story --- Photo Gallery Bruce to Play in Hula Bowl November 1st, 2005 By Brian Nowicki Senior QB Bruce Gradkowski has accepted an invitation to play in the 2006 Hula Bowl. The game will be played on January 21st in Honolulu, HI and aired live on ESPN. Gradkowski will also play in the Las Vegas All-American Classic on January 14th. That game will be aired live on CSTV. Execution is the Key November 1st, 2005 By Mike Sopher I knew the Central Michigan game was going to be Toledo’s toughest test. And it proved that I was correct. Even though Toledo had the better talent and depth on both sides of the ball, Central Michigan won because they wanted it more. They believed they could win and they proved it on the field. Toledo does not have that killer instinct that previously no one would question. It’s time for several of these guys to do some soul searching by Friday night. Full Story Rockets Lose Heartbreaker October 29th, 2005 By Brian Nowicki The Toledo Rockets lost their first conference game of the season when a last second pass in the end zone fell incomplete and Central Michigan beat Toledo 21-17. Gradkowski led the Rockets down the field on a last minute attempt to win the game. A first down completion to the CMU 5 yard line with just 4 seconds, left setup the last play that was a little high and through the hands of redshirt freshman wide receiver Nick Moore as time ran out. Toledo falls to 6-2 overall and 4-1 in the MAC while Central Michigan moves into a tie with Toledo for first place in the MAC West with a 4-1 conference record. Toledo plays at Ohio University on Friday, November 4th at 8:00pm. The game will be televised on ESPN2. Andre Hatchett Verbals to Toledo October 25th, 2005 By Staff According to the Indianapolis Star, Warren Central's Andre Hatchett has orally accepted a scholarship to play football at the University of Toledo next season. Hatchett is a 5-11, 208 lb linebacker. He led Warren Central with 144 tackles last season, helping them to their second straight Class 5A Football State Championship. So far this season he leads the team with 79 tackles, 6 tackles for loss. Current Rocket defensive tackle, Tyree Pollard, is also from Warren Central High School in Indianapolis, IN. Toughest Test Awaits - CMU Preview October 24, 2005 By Mike Sopher This could be Toledo’s toughest remaining foe left in the 2005 regular season. I know Toledo has an upset minded Ohio team next week on the road followed by two MAC powerhouses in Northern Illinois and arch-rival Bowling Green. But if Toledo doesn’t squeak past a solid Central Michigan squad this Saturday, those games will be even more crucial. Full Story Rockets Defeat Buffalo! October 23, 2005 By Brian Nowicki 
It was closer than many expected, but Toledo wore down Buffalo in the 2nd half for a 38-15 victory to improve to 6-1 overall and 4-0 in the Mid-American Conference. Trinity Dawson and Quinton Broussard each rushed for 119 yards for the Rockets as they had 478 yards in total offense and scored 38 points against a defense that has been holding opponents to 357 yards in total offense and 26 points per game. Senior QB Bruce Gradkowski was 16 of 21 passing for 186 yards and 3 touchdowns against 2 interceptions. Sophomore Andrew Hawkins led all receivers with 5 catches for 100 yards and 1 touchdown. Full Story --- Photo GalleryHerbert Shines for Toledo October 19, 2005 By Brian Nowicki 
One of the main reasons for the success of the Rocket defense this year is because of sophomore free safety Tyrrell Herbert. The first year starter is 2nd on the team in tackles with 38. He is also 2nd in the nation with 5 forced fumbles. On the field he is an aggressive and hard hitting defender who is next in line in a tradition of great free safeties at Toledo. Names like Andy Boyd and Patrick Body come to mind when thinking of hard hitting free safeties at Toledo. And now we have Tyrrell Herbert.Tyrrell is a 6-2, 190 pound sophomore from Pittsburgh, PA. After spending time backing up another Pittsburgh native in Patrick Body last season, Herbert has become the starting free safety for the Rockets. On the field he is quickly becoming known as a hard-hitter and aggressive player that causes turnovers. Off the field he is a soft-spoken and well-mannered individual. Full Story Buffalo is Next! October 17th, 2005 By Brian Nowicki After a 34-14 victory at Ball State, the Rockets are 5-1 overall and 3-0 in the Mid-American Conference. Toledo is in the driver's seat in the MAC's West Division with a one game lead on Northern Illinois and Central Michigan, and next up for Toledo is a home game against the Buffalo Bulls. Full Story Rockets Beat Ball State! October 15th, 2005 By Brian Nowicki  Toledo defeated Ball State today by a score of 34-14 to improve to 5-1 overall and 3-0 in the Mid-American Conference. Toledo's defense rose to the occasion and held Ball State to just 67 yards in the first half and 190 yards in the whole game. Toledo had 472 yards in total offense and 231 yards rushing in the game.Early on it didn't look so good for Toledo. Toledo came into a pivotal game at Ball State knowing that they have lost 3 of the last 4 times they played in Muncie, IN. They were determined to break the "Muncie Curse" but early on it looked like the curse would continue. On the opening kickoff, UT kick returner/running back Richard Davis bobbled the ball and was tackled at the 9 yard line. The Rockets marched right down the field, but a pass went through the hands of redshirt freshman Nick Moore and into the hands of a Ball State defender for an interception. Rocket fans were fearing the curse at this point Full Story It's on to Muncie! October 12th, 2005 By Brian Nowicki It's on to Muncie we go. Yes, the Toledo Rockets are 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the MAC. After defeating Eastern Michigan 30-3 last weekend, the Rockets are all alone atop the MAC West Division standings. And now we travel to Muncie for a pivotal conference showdown against the Ball State Cardinals. Sound Familiar? Full Story Why I Root for Toledo October 12th, 2005 By Mike Sopher Last year while I was teaching down in West Virginia, I would give students extra credit if they chose the right winner in a Toledo football game. I did this for all six nationally televised games played by the Rockets. Not only did this increase awareness about the University of Toledo to middle school aged children in West Virginia, but it also offered them exposure to my beloved Rockets. Generally, my students enjoyed this side project because few teachers gave extra points for a football game. But I was probably not "most" teachers in more ways than one. Full Story Rockets Defeat Eastern Michigan 30-3!  October 8th, 2005By Brian Nowicki The Toledo Rockets defeated the Eastern Michigan Eagles by a score of 30-3 in front of a homecoming crowd of 25,266. The Rocket defense held a potent Eastern Michigan offense to just 3 points and forced two turnovers as the Rockets improved to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the Mid-American Conference. The Toledo defense held Eastern Michigan to just 286 yards in total offense and 3 points. Eastern came into the game average 342.2 yards per game and 21.4 points per game. Full Story! --- Photo Gallery UT-EMU Game Notes October 7th, 2005 By Brian Nowicki The 33rd meeting between the Toledo Rockets and the Eastern Michigan Eagles will take place Saturday night at 7pm. It will also be Toledo's 76th Homecoming game. Click Here for Game Notes! Witton Verbals to Toledo October 6th, 2005 By Staff According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Cleveland Glenville's Lindsey Witton was offered a scholarship on Tuesday evening to play football at the University of Toledo and he orally committed to attend Toledo on that scholarship. Witton, a 6-4 and 190 pounder that could play defensive end or tight end, received a scholarship offer from the Big Ten's Indiana Hoosiers during the summer. However, he was holding out for an offer from a school in Ohio and got just that from the Rockets. "I wanted to stay in Ohio because it's closer to home" Witton told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Homecoming Festivities October 4th, 2005 By Brian Nowicki This Saturday evening the Rockets will host the Eastern Michigan Eagles in this year's homecoming game. The game against the MAC West Division Leader, Eastern Michigan is currently 2-0 in conference play, will be the culminating event in a week that consists of several events surrounding homecoming. Full Story It's Homecoming Time September 30th, 2005 By Brian Nowicki After dominating the first three games of the season and winning by a combined score of 163-54, the Toledo Rockets ran into a steel wall in Fresno, CA. The Rockets lost to Fresno State 44-14 as turnovers, field position, and the loss of star QB Bruce Gradkowski was too much for the Rockets. And while Rocket fans might be dwelling on the loss, the team has moved on and have their sights set on winning the MAC West Division Title, the MAC Championship, and a Bowl Game. Full Story Frustrated, but Still Believe September 28th, 2005 By Mike Sopher I do not want to write this article, but I have to. Similar to most Rocket fans, I share a deep love for Toledo, especially their football team. But there are days like yesterday when it is good to let out my frustrations. So here it goes. . . Full Story Toledo's Best Kept Secret September 22nd, 2005 By Mike Sopher Toledo’s top receiver so far in the 2005 season is Chris Hopkins, a junior from Hyde Park Academy in Chicago, Illinois. He leads the Rockets with 11 catches for 139 yards with one touchdown grab through three games. Toledo’s spread offense focuses on short screen passes with a mix of the run thrown in. But when defenses are caught napping or off-guard, and this occurs frequently, that’s when guys like Hopkins, Josh Powell, and John Allen can become effective. Full Story A Much Different Opponent September 21st, 2005 By Brian Nowicki It was December 19th, 1981. Just a few seconds left in the inaugural California Bowl and the MAC Champion Toledo Rockets trailed #20 San Jose State 25-24. UT kicker Tony Lee trots onto the field in Fresno, CA to attempt a 41 yard field goal. Rocket fans in attendance and watching on TV fold their hands together in prayer. Lee steps up and kicks the ball right through the uprights with just 13 seconds to play and the Rockets go on to beat San Jose State 27-25. That was the first time Toledo played at Bulldog Stadium in Fresno, CA. They played there again in the 1984 California Bowl against UNLV. However, Toledo has never played the Fresno State Bulldogs.....until now. On Tuesday, September 27th the Rockets will travel to Fresno, CA for their first ever meeting against the Fresno State Bulldogs. Same field as 1981 and 1984, but a different opponent. A much different opponent. Full Story The Power and Fun of the Message Board September 20th, 2005 By Roudebush Rocket Do you like talking Rocket sports? Do you wish you had more fans to talk about the Rockets with? Would you like to get more information about any of the Rockets' teams? If the answer is "yes" to any of these questions, you may want to consider checking out the Rockets message board. A few years ago, while becoming a big UT Rockets fan, I started to search the Internet for more information about the team. After running a few searches, I came up with a couple fans’ websites. I found these to be very informative and by digging a little deeper, I came up with what is now known as "The Launch Pad." Full Story Gradkowski Invited to Post-Season Game September 15th, 2005 By Staff Toledo senior quarterback Bruce Gradkowski has accepted an invitation to play in the Las Vegas All-American Classic on January 14, 2006. The game will feature select athletes from across the country that have aspirations of playing professional football. Many times these games help athletes to move up on NFL team's draft boards. Last year, WR Lance Moore and FS Patrick Body were invited to the Las Vegas All-American Classic. Where is Everyone? September 12th, 2005 By Brian Nowicki The Toledo Rockets football team looks to be in the midst of another great season. The Rockets are 2-0 overall and 1-0 in the MAC as they have outscored their opponents 118-37 so far this year. Senior QB Bruce Gradkowski is the only quarterback in Division I-A history to have a completion percentage over 70% in two consecutive seasons. He is on the Davey O'Brien Award and Walter Camp Player of the Year Award watch lists and he has a website promoting him as a Heisman Award Candidate. The Rockets have won two MAC Championships in the last four years and six MAC West Division Titles in the last eight years. Toledo is gunning for their 12th straight winning season. Yet the Rockets are averaging just 19,502 fans per game after their first two home games of the season. Full Story Rockets Defeat Western Michigan September 10th, 2005 By Brian Nowicki The Univesity of Toledo Rockets won their conference opener over the Western Michigan Broncos by a score of 56-23. Senior QB Bruce Gradkowski was 25 of 35 for 338 yards passing and 3 touchdowns and senior running back Trinity Dawson rushed for 97 yards and 1 touchdown to lead the Rockets. Toledo had 612 yards in total offense. Western Michigan had just 299 yards in total offense and trailed Toledo 35-0 before getting on the scoreboard with just 1:39 left in the 2nd quarter. Toledo led 42-9 after three quarters. Next week Toledo travels to Philadelphia to take on the Temple Owls in a 1:00pm start time that will be televied live on BCSN in Toledo. Photos Toledo to Play Iowa State September 8th, 2005 By Staff Toledo Athletic Director Michael O'Brien has announced that Toledo and Iowa State have signed a contract to play a home and home series in 2006 and 2007. Toledo will travel to Ames, IA on September 2nd of 2006 and the Cyclones of Iowa State will travel to the Glass Bowl in Toledo, OH on for a on September 22nd, 2007. Iowa State is a member of the Big 12 conference, one of the top football conferences in the country. The move gives the Rockets a great home schedule in 2007 with non-conference home games against Iowa State and Purdue. The Rockets will also host conference games against Miami University, Northern Illinois, Western Michigan, and Eastern Michigan in 2007. The Chuck Ealey Story September 8th, 2005 By Brian Nowicki Nobody could have imagined what was about to happen when the Rockets took the field on September 20, 1969. The scene was Glass Bowl Stadium in Toledo, OH. The Rockets were hosting Villanova and starting a new QB, Chuck Ealey. A QB, who went undefeated (30-0) in high school. By the time the game was over, a 45-18 victory for UT, Rocket fans knew there was something special about Chuck Ealey. Full Story Rockets Crush Western Illinois September 1st, 2005 By Brian Nowicki The Toledo Rockets got off to a great start in the 2005 season with a 62-14 victory over Western Illinois. The Rockets unveiled a new look on defense, with the 3-4 set that was installed by new Defensive Coordinator Tim Rose. The new look and intensity paid off as the Rockets intercepted three passes, had two fumble recoveries, and blocked one punt. One of the interceptions was returned for a TD and one of the fumbles was also returned for six points. Offensively, Richard Davis led the way with 111 yards rushing and one rushing TD. Davis also returned a kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown. Senior QB Bruce Gradkowski was 9 of 17 passing for 134 yards and two TD passes. He also rushed one in for a touchdown as well. Redshirt Freshman QB Clint Cochran played the entire 2nd half and was 7 of 9 for 57 yards and played very well for his first collegiate football game. The Rockets led 41-0 at halftime and 62-0 with 8:24 left in the 4th quarter before Western Illinois scored a couple of late touchdowns. Our Beloved Coach Amstutz August 31, 2005 By Mike Sopher As reported by the Toledo Blade's Ron Musselman, it appears as though Coach Tom Amstutz has asked for an extension of his contract, which expires in 2007. But rather than make a large issue out of this, Amstutz has decided to focus on the season now and not his contract. After all, "Toledo Tom" cares more about his school and his players than a couple of extra dollars. Full Story MAC Daddies of the BCS? August 30, 2005 By Ryan Paunovich Its college football pre-season. Expectations are high and unrealistic. This ability to see one’s favorite team through rose-colored glasses seems to affect all fans. Every team’s fans think they can go undefeated and have their star player in the Heisman race (Well, except for Temple). I’m obviously a Toledo "homer" and I suffer from the very same affliction as the rest of the college fans. I’m going to say it because I know that you as a Toledo Rockets' fan are thinking it. Toledo could go undefeated this year. Full Story Practice Report August 25, 2005 By Brian Nowicki The defending MAC Champion Toledo Rockets continue to prepare for their season opener against Western Illinois on Thursday, September 1st. I stopped by practice today to see how things are going. For a quick report and some photos Click Here! Home Opener on September 1st August 23, 2005 By Brian Nowicki The Toledo Rockets open the 2005 football campaign on Thursday, September 1st. The Rockets will host Western Illinois at the Glass Bowl with a 7:00pm kickoff. Western Illinois is a traditionally strong DI-AA football school. For more on the game Click Here! Autograph Day August 20, 2005 By Brian Nowicki The University of Toledo football team held a practice open to the public this morning, with an autograph session immediately after. The Defending MAC Champions continue to prepare for their season opener against Western Illinois on Thursday, September 1st at the Glass Bowl. Today, fans got their chance to meet the players and get autographs from their favorite players. Pictures! Q & A with Michael O'Brien August 11, 2005 By Brian Nowicki Michael O’Brien has been the Athletic Director at the University of Toledo since January 22nd of 2002. In this short time Rocket athletics has made huge strides, both on and off the field. I recently had the opportunity to conduct a Q & A with Mr. O’Brien. To view the Q & A click here! Gradkowski for Heisman August 11, 2005 By Brian Nowicki Senior QB Bruce Gradkowski is the only Division I-A player to complete at least 70% of his passes in two consecutive seasons. The University is featuring him in a series of commercials promoting Rocket football and season tickets. And now he has a website promoting him for the Heisman Memorial Award. Four UT fans have come together and created www.bruce4heisman.com to promote the Rockets senior quarterback. The site includes a biography, individual game statistics, and photos of Gradkowski. There is also a page that links to recent news articles about the QB. Last season Bruce threw for 3518 yards and 27 touchdowns with just 8 interceptions in leading the Rockets to the MAC Championship and a berth in the Motor City Bowl. Toledo has won 2 MAC Championships in the last 4 years and they have played in the Motor City Bowl 3 times in the last 4 years. Rockets to Play Boise State June 29, 2005 By Brian Nowicki The University of Toledo has announced that they have signed a two game deal to play the Boise State Broncos in football in 2009 and 2010. Toledo will host Boise State at the Glass Bowl in 2009. The Rockets will then make the trip to Boise to play on the blue turf in 2010. Toledo and Boise State have never played against each other in football. Boise State plays in the WAC, Western Athletic Conference. They are 36-3 in the last three years and 44-7 in the last five years, including a 11-1 record last season where their only loss was 44-40 against Louisville in the Liberty Bowl. Future Rocket schedules have at least one high profile team coming to the Glass Bowl in every season through 2009. Of course Northern Illinois comes to Toledo this fall in a conference game. In 2006 Toledo will host Kansas and arch-rival Bowling Green. In 2007 the Rockets will host Purdue, Miami University, and Northern Illinois. In 2008 the Rockets will host Fresno State and Bowling Green. In 2009 Toledo will host Boise State and Northern Illinois. 2005 Preseason Predictions May 06, 2005 By Staff Once again RocketFootball.Net has put together a Spring Preseason Prediction article for Division I-A college football. This is the fifth year for the predictions, which cover predictions for conference champion of every I-A football conference as well as predictions for the Heisman, national champion, and Mid-American Conference bowl teams. There is also a section on the Toledo Rockets and a quick prediction on the Rocket season. 2005 Preseason Predictions! Another Rocket to the NFL? April 29, 2005 By Brian Nowicki Former Rockets tight end Chris Holmes has been invited to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers mini-camp this weekend for a tryout with the team. Chris will be given a look at the mini-camp and the Buccaneers coaching staff will then decide on whether or not to offer him a contract. Good luck Chris! Three Rockets Sign Free Agent Contracts April 25, 2005 By Brian Nowicki Former Rockets Lance Moore, Kenny Higgins, and Patrick Body have signed free agent contracts with NFL teams. WR Lance Moore signed with the Cleveland Browns. WR Kenny Higgins signed with the San Diego Chargers. Free Safety Patrick Body signed a contract with the Cincinnati Bengals. Good luck to these former Rocket football players! Kaczur Drafted by Patriots April 23, 2005 By Brian Nowicki Former Rocket offensive tackle Nick Kaczur was drafted in the 3rd round of the NFL draft, 100th overall pick, by the defending NFL champion New England Patriots. Kaczur was a four year starter at Toledo, leading a strong offensive line. The NFL draft continues tomorrow with rounds 4 through 7. Rocket hopefuls for day two of the draft include WR Lance Moore, FS Patrick Body, and TE Chris Holmes. 2005 Football Season Tickets on Sale April 17, 2005 By Brian Nowicki Season tickets for the 2005 Toledo Rockets football season are now on sale. The Rockets home schedule consists of five games, including a November 16th nationally televised game against Northern Illinois. Toledo has won 13 straight home games, including two victories over Bowling Green and a huge upset of 9th ranked Pittsburgh in that stretch. Season tickets cost $125.00 plus $4.00 handling per seat. Kids tickets are half price. To order tickets call the UT Athletic Ticket Office at 419-530-4653. Blue Defeats Gold 21-20 in Spring Game April 17, 2005 By Brian Nowicki The University of Toledo football team conducted their annual Spring Game yesterday with the Blue defeating the Gold 21-20 in front of a couple thousand fans, including over 100 possible recruits and several incoming freshman. Sophomore running back Jalen Parmele shined with 102 yards rushing. His first carry was an amazing 65 yard touchdown run that looked like he would be tackled after a 5 yard gain before he spinned away and off to the races. Full Story! UT Special Teams Preview April 14, 2005 By Brian Nowicki Special teams can be a very important part of a football game. This year Head Coach Tom Amstutz hopes to see a more aggressive punt blocking team and an improved kicking game. As well, Toledo will have to replace Lance Moore as the primary kick and punt returner. Steve Odom is an obvious choice, but there are others that could step up. Junior Steve Odom was the #2 punt returner for the Rockets last season. He returned just 5 punts for a total of 9 yards, but as a freshman in 2003 he returned 3 punts for 102 yards with one touchdown. Odom is listed as the #1 punt returner on the Spring depth chart and is expected to be the primary returner this fall. Along with returning punts, Odom is expected to be a starting kick returner for Toledo. Full Story! UT Secondary Preview April 12, 2005 By Brian Nowicki Senior rover Keon Jackson is a mainstay on the Rocket defense. He has been a starter every year at Toledo, and enters his final season of his career this fall. Jackson (5-11, 206) had 67 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 3 sacks, last season for the Rockets. He also had 3 interceptions, including an interception returned for a touchdown in the MAC Championship Game, and he forced and recovered 1 fumble. Jackson's leadership abilities will be very important to a fairly young secondary.Full Story! Spring Practice Update April 08, 2005 By Brian Nowicki The University of Toledo football team conducted scrimmage at the end of practice today that lasted about an hour. For the most part, the defense dominated the scrimmage. New defensive coordinator Tim Rose has the defense playing with a lot of intensity and a bit of a swagger. It has been a few years since I have seen the defense fly around like they did today. Rose is a high energy type of guy and he is rubbing off on the players. Full Story! UT Linebackers Preview April 06, 2005 By Brian Nowicki New Defensive Coordinator Tim Rose is also the linebackers coach for the Rockets and he has a lot of talent to work with. With Rose taking over the defense, a new scheme appears to be in the works for the Rockets. In Spring workouts the Rockets have been doing a lot of looks with 3 linebackers on the field and for the purpose of this preview we will look at the linebacker position primarily using that scheme. Full Story! UT Defensive Line Preview April 05, 2005 By Brian Nowicki Last season Toledo gave up 31.1 points per game. In an attempt to turnaround the defense, the Rockets have turned to Tim Rose to step in as the new defensive coordinator. Rose has 18 years of experience as a defensive coordinator in Divison I-A college football. Throughout that time, his defenses have been known for their aggressiveness and attacking style. Toledo has run a 4-4 style defense for several years, but Rose has been known for implementing a 3-4 style defense where he goes. So far this Spring the Rockets have been testing several different looks on defense, mainly with a 3-4 set. So how does the defensive line fit in this? Full Story! UT Offensive Line Preview March 31, 2005 By Brian Nowicki LT Nick Kaczur has been a mainstay on the UT offensive line for four years. He is the first Rocket to be named to the All MAC team four years in a row. When the Rockets take the field this fall they will be without Kaczur for the first time since Gary Pinkel was the head coach back in 2000. So how do you replace a star like Nick Kaczur? Well Toledo will try to by moving John Greco over from the right side into the left tackle position. Greco is a 6-5, 315 pound sophomore who surprised everyone with his strong play last season. He received the Norman Cohen Award for the top freshman on the team last season. As left tackle this fall, he will be responsible for protecting Bruce's blind side on passing plays and opening the whole on off tackle running plays. Backing up Greco should be junior Greg Luna (6-7, 318). Full Story! UT Receivers Preview March 29, 2005 By Brian Nowicki Toledo has lost four important receivers from last year's team to graduation. Wide receivers Lance Moore, Kenny Higgins, and Terrance Hudson along with tight end Chris Holmes accounted for 186 receptions and 21 touchdowns last season for the Rockets. That equates to 60% of the team receptions and 75% of the team touchdown receptions from 2004. Needless to say 2005 will see a lot of inexperience at the receiver position for Toledo, but there is a lot of talent that will make this one of the strongest receiving corps in UT history by the end of the season. It helps to have Bruce Gradkowski throwing the passes to these young receivers as well. Junior wide receiver Steve Odom will probably become the "go to" man this fall. Odom (5-10, 165) was 2nd on the team last season with 53 receptions for 675 yards and 5 touchdowns. As a freshman in 2003 he had 62 receptions for 838 yards and 6 touchdowns. He comes into Spring practices as the most experienced receiver by far. He is a small guy, but his quickness makes him a gamebreaker for the Rockets. Full Story! Future Football Schedules March 29, 2005 By Staff The Mid-American Conference has compiled conference schedules through the 2009 football season and we have put them together with the announced non-conference games for Toledo that go through the 2010 season. There are still open dates in for non-conference games in many of the seasons and the dates of the conference football games have not been finalized, but our list gives you a pretty good idea of the Rockets' future schedules. To view the future schedules click here! To look at this year's schedule click here! UT Running Backs Preview March 26, 2005 By Brian Nowicki  Toledo is loaded at running back this year, but the biggest question is whether or not Scooter McDougle can come back from offseason knee surgery and be the same back that led the Rockets to a 35-27 victory over Miami University in the 2004 MAC Championship Game. Scooter rushed for 167 yards on 35 carries before injuring his knee late in the 4th quarter of the game. During the offseason he had surgery to repair that injured knee and is hopeful to be back on the field this fall.McDougle led the Rockets in rushing last season with 620 yards, even though he only started a couple of games. He had 7 touchdowns and averaged 4.2 yards per carry throughout the season. His biggest asset is his size at 6-1 and 220 pounds. He wore down defenses and ran right through them in the 2nd half. A perfect example is the Bowling Green game last season. He had just 12 yards rushing in the first half against the Falcons. Then came the 2nd half. Scooter rushed for 100 yards and 2 touchdowns in the 2nd half as he and the Rockets took over the game and staged a dramatic 49-41 comeback victory. Full Story UT Quarterbacks Preview March 24, 2005 By Brian Nowicki  For the second consecutive season, head coach Tom Amstutz doesn't have to wonder who his starting quarterback is going to be. Bruce Gradkowski (6-2, 210) returns for his senior season after throwing for a school record 3,518 yards with 27 touchdowns and just 8 interceptions. He completed 70.2% of his passes with a school record 280 completions against 399 attempts. Full StoryRockets Start Spring Practices March 24, 2005 By Brian Nowicki The defending MAC Champion University of Toledo football team started Spring practices last Saturday. They will conduct 15 practices from now through the Spring Game on April 16th. Practices are closed to the public, but the Spring Game is open to the public and free. The Spring Game will be at 6:30pm on Saturday, April 16th. Many Rocket fans are planning on coming early that day to tailgate in Lot 10, just outside the Glass Bowl. This year's Spring Game should be a great atmosphere and is a great way to get a Rocket football fix while we wait for the 2005 football season to get here. Rockets Sign 23 Players The Toledo Rockets signed 23 players from 9 states and Canada today to fill out the 2005 recruiting class. Among the states represented are five players from Florida, one from Texas, one from New York, and one from California. For a list of the 23 players, Click Here! Rockets to Play Fresno State 
Fresno State highlights the Toledo Rockets 2005 football schedule. Toledo will host Western Illinois on Thursday, September 1st to kickoff the 2005 football season. Toledo will travel to Philadelphia, PA to play the Temple Owls on September 17th. Then on Tuesday, September 27th the Rockets will travel to Fresno, CA to play the Fresno State Bulldogs in a game that will be televised on ESPN2. It will be the first ever meeting between Toledo and Fresno State. The Fresno State Bulldogs are expected to be a Top 25 team next season. In 2004 they had notable wins over Kansas State (45-21), Washington (35-16), and Virginia (37-34). In 2005 they return 16 starters, including QB Paul Pinegar. Pinegar threw for 2099 yards and 23 TD's, with 15 INT's.Rockets sign 3 Game deal with Purdue!  By Brian NowickiThe Toledo Rockets have signed a new 3 game deal with the Purdue Boilermakers of the Big Ten Conference. Toledo will host Purdue at the Glass Bowl in 2007 and then Toledo will travel to West Lafayette, IN in 2009 and 2010. Toledo is currently 2-1 all-time against the Purdue Boilermakers. Toledo won the first ever meeting against Purdue back in 1992. Toledo traveled to West Lafayette and beat the Boilermakers 33-29 in a shootout. Purdue got their revenge in 1994 when they beat the Rockets 51-17, again in West Lafayette. Toledo then defeated Purdue 36-22 in the 1997 season opener at the Glass Bowl. Recruiting Heats Up! 
This is the time of year that recruiting really picks up for the Rockets. In just less than a month, high school seniors can sign Letters of Intent with colleges. Toledo is starting to put together another strong recruiting class, including star RB DaJuane Collins (pictured left) from Deptford, NJ.For a list of recruits that have either given Toledo a verbal committment, or have shown interest in Toledo Click Here! |