Logan Woodside and the Rockets make their 2017 debut at the Glass Bowl this Thursday vs. Elon.
Rockets Ready to Open 2017 Season With Matchup vs. Elon
8/28/2017 10:13:00 AM | Football
TOLEDO - The Toledo Rockets, favorites to win the 2017 Mid-American Conference title, will get their first test when they host Elon on Thursday, Aug. 31 at the Glass Bowl (7:00 p.m./ESPN3).
The Rockets were 9-4 in Jason Candle's debut as head coach in 2016, earning a berth into the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl. They came up one game short of their ultimate goal, a trip to the MAC Championship Game, leaving additional incentive for 2017.
UT returns one of the nation's most explosive offenses. Led by senior quarterback Logan Woodside, Toledo averaged 38.0 points per game and led the Mid-American Conference in total offense with a school-record 517.8 yards per game in 2016. Woodside paced the nation with 45 touchdown passes and was named a Heisman contender by the Heisman Trophy Trust. Two of his favorite targets are back—Cody Thompson (64 receptions, 11 TDs, 19.8 ypc) and Jon'Vea Johnson (40/10/19.3)—as is 2015 second-team All-MAC running back Terry Swanson. On defense, the Rockets return seven starters, including All-MAC linebacker Ja'Wuan Woodley.
Elon, an FCS program from the Colonial Athletic Association, is led by first-year head coach Curt Cignetti. Cignetti, who built a winning program in six seasons at the helm at Indiana (Pa.), has 15 returning starters from a team that went 2-9 a year ago.
Toledo vs. Elon
• TEAM RECORDS (2016):
Toledo (9-4, 6-2 MAC)
Elon (2-9, 1-7 CAA)
• SERIES RECORD: First meeting.
• THE COACHES:
Jason Candle, 10-4 (2nd year) at Toledo, same overall. 0-0 vs. Elon.
Curt Cignetti, 0-0 (first year) at Elon, 53-17 overall in six seasons at Indiana (Pa.). 0-0 vs. Toledo.
• TV/STREAMING: ESPN3
Play by Play: Keith Morehouse
Analyst: Watson Brown
• ROCKET RADIO NETWORK: Pregame begins at 5:30 p.m.
Play by Play: Brent Balbinot
Analyst: Bruce Gradkowski
Sidelines: Mike Robinson
• WEB-AUDIO: Free live audio streaming of the UT Rocket Radio Network broadcast on UTRockets.com.
• UT COACH'S SHOW: Coach Jason Candle and host Brent Balbinot talk Rocket Football every Monday beginnin on Sept. 4 from 6-7 p.m. at Frickers in Maumee. Carried live on WSPD-AM1370 and online on UTRockets.com.
• TWITTER:
@ToledoFB: Regular updates on UT Football, live updates on Game Day.
@UTPaulHelgren: Regular updates on UT Football.
@ToledoRockets: Updates for all Rocket sports.
Rocket Round-Up
• Toledo (9-4, 6-2 MAC) finished in second place in the MAC West Division in 2016.
• The Rockets played in the 2016 Raycom Media Camellia Bowl, their sixth bowl in the last seven years.
• Toledo has won at least nine games in five of the last six seasons, and has been bowl-eligible for each of the past seven years.
• Toledo averaged 517.8 yards of total offense and 322.8 in passing in 2016, both top marks in the MAC.
• Toledo's 517.8 yards per game shattered the school record of 490.5 set in 2014. UT's 322.8 passing yards per game also smashed the school record of 298.4 set in 2004.
• The Rockets averaged 38.0 points in 2016 while allowing 25.7.
• Senior Logan Woodside was named a "contender" for the Heisman Trophy by the Heisman Trophy Trust in 2016.
• Woodside led the nation with 45 touchdown passes and threw for at least three touchdowns in 12 of 13 games.
• Senior Cody Thompson had 1,269 receiving yards, breaking the school record previously held by 10-year NFL standout Lance Moore (1,194 in 2003).
• Toledo has five players on official watch lists for national honors: Jon'Vea Johnson (Biletnikoff), Elijah Nkansah (Outland), Terry Swanson (Doak Walker), Cody Thompson (Biletnikoff, All State AFCA Good Works, Wuerffel), Logan Woodside (Maxwell, Davey O'Brien, Manning, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm).
Head Coach Jason Candle previews the Elong game.
Logan Woodside previews the Elon game.
Ja'Wuan Woodley previews the Elon game.
The Rockets were 9-4 in Jason Candle's debut as head coach in 2016, earning a berth into the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl. They came up one game short of their ultimate goal, a trip to the MAC Championship Game, leaving additional incentive for 2017.
UT returns one of the nation's most explosive offenses. Led by senior quarterback Logan Woodside, Toledo averaged 38.0 points per game and led the Mid-American Conference in total offense with a school-record 517.8 yards per game in 2016. Woodside paced the nation with 45 touchdown passes and was named a Heisman contender by the Heisman Trophy Trust. Two of his favorite targets are back—Cody Thompson (64 receptions, 11 TDs, 19.8 ypc) and Jon'Vea Johnson (40/10/19.3)—as is 2015 second-team All-MAC running back Terry Swanson. On defense, the Rockets return seven starters, including All-MAC linebacker Ja'Wuan Woodley.
Elon, an FCS program from the Colonial Athletic Association, is led by first-year head coach Curt Cignetti. Cignetti, who built a winning program in six seasons at the helm at Indiana (Pa.), has 15 returning starters from a team that went 2-9 a year ago.
Toledo vs. Elon
• TEAM RECORDS (2016):
Toledo (9-4, 6-2 MAC)
Elon (2-9, 1-7 CAA)
• SERIES RECORD: First meeting.
• THE COACHES:
Jason Candle, 10-4 (2nd year) at Toledo, same overall. 0-0 vs. Elon.
Curt Cignetti, 0-0 (first year) at Elon, 53-17 overall in six seasons at Indiana (Pa.). 0-0 vs. Toledo.
• TV/STREAMING: ESPN3
Play by Play: Keith Morehouse
Analyst: Watson Brown
• ROCKET RADIO NETWORK: Pregame begins at 5:30 p.m.
Play by Play: Brent Balbinot
Analyst: Bruce Gradkowski
Sidelines: Mike Robinson
• WEB-AUDIO: Free live audio streaming of the UT Rocket Radio Network broadcast on UTRockets.com.
• UT COACH'S SHOW: Coach Jason Candle and host Brent Balbinot talk Rocket Football every Monday beginnin on Sept. 4 from 6-7 p.m. at Frickers in Maumee. Carried live on WSPD-AM1370 and online on UTRockets.com.
• TWITTER:
@ToledoFB: Regular updates on UT Football, live updates on Game Day.
@UTPaulHelgren: Regular updates on UT Football.
@ToledoRockets: Updates for all Rocket sports.
Rocket Round-Up
• Toledo (9-4, 6-2 MAC) finished in second place in the MAC West Division in 2016.
• The Rockets played in the 2016 Raycom Media Camellia Bowl, their sixth bowl in the last seven years.
• Toledo has won at least nine games in five of the last six seasons, and has been bowl-eligible for each of the past seven years.
• Toledo averaged 517.8 yards of total offense and 322.8 in passing in 2016, both top marks in the MAC.
• Toledo's 517.8 yards per game shattered the school record of 490.5 set in 2014. UT's 322.8 passing yards per game also smashed the school record of 298.4 set in 2004.
• The Rockets averaged 38.0 points in 2016 while allowing 25.7.
• Senior Logan Woodside was named a "contender" for the Heisman Trophy by the Heisman Trophy Trust in 2016.
• Woodside led the nation with 45 touchdown passes and threw for at least three touchdowns in 12 of 13 games.
• Senior Cody Thompson had 1,269 receiving yards, breaking the school record previously held by 10-year NFL standout Lance Moore (1,194 in 2003).
• Toledo has five players on official watch lists for national honors: Jon'Vea Johnson (Biletnikoff), Elijah Nkansah (Outland), Terry Swanson (Doak Walker), Cody Thompson (Biletnikoff, All State AFCA Good Works, Wuerffel), Logan Woodside (Maxwell, Davey O'Brien, Manning, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm).
Head Coach Jason Candle previews the Elong game.
Logan Woodside previews the Elon game.
Ja'Wuan Woodley previews the Elon game.
Players Mentioned
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