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1923 Toledo Rockets football team

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1923 Toledo Rockets football
NOL champion
ConferenceNorthwest Ohio League
Record6–4 (3–0 NOL)
Head coach
Seasons
← 1922
1924 →
1923 Northwest Ohio League football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Toledo $ 3 0 0 6 4 0
Bowling Green 2 2 0 3 5 0
  • $ – Conference champion

The 1923 Toledo Rockets football team was an American football team that represented Toledo University (renamed the University of Toledo in 1967) during the 1923 college football season. In their first season under head coach Pat Dwyer, the team compiled a 6–4 record, the first winning season in program history, won the Northwest Ohio League championship, and shut out its opponents in all six victories.[1] The team's 87 points against Findlay established the program's single game scoring record and remains the second highest point total in program history.[2]: 202  Gib Stick's 30 point tally in the Findlay game also remains tied for the second highest single game scoring total in program history.[2]: 210 

The team captain was James Pierce, the first African-American to hold the position. Pierce became a professor after graduation.[2]: 133, 164 

According to the Toledo media guide, the program's nickname dates to the 1923 season. The 1923 season opened with a game against Carnegie Tech in Pittsburgh. According to the media guide, the Pittsburgh reporters in the press box were surprised to learn that the Toledo team did not have a nickname and asked a Toledo student, James Neal, to come up with a nickname. Neal suggested the team be called the Skyrockets, and the sportswriters shortened the name to Rockets. The Rockets nickname has been in use since 1923.[2]: 133, 231 

Schedule

[edit]
DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 29at Carnegie Tech*
L 12–32
October 6Michigan State Normal*Toledo, OHW 13–0
October 13at Akron*
L 3–10
October 19Defiance*Toledo, OHW 26–0
October 27Bowling GreenToledo, OH (rivalry) W 27–0[3]
November 3Findlay*Toledo, OHW 87–0
November 10Grand Rapids*Toledo, OHW 32–0
November 17Detroit Junior College*Toledo, OHW 38–0
November 24at Hillsdale*Hillsdale, MIL 19–32
December 1Notre Dame reserves*L 0–31
  • *Non-conference game

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "2017 Media Guide" (PDF). utrockets.com. Toledo Athletics. p. 196.
  2. ^ a b c d "2015 Toledo Football Media Guide" (PDF). University of Toledo.
  3. ^ "Toledo U. Downs Local Collegians". The Daily Sentinel-Tribune. October 29, 1923. p. 1.