Rockets to Close Out Season vs. Arch Rival Bowling Green
11/16/2006 12:00:00 PM | Football
Complete game notes for the Bowling Green game in PDF Format
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Nov. 16, 2006
Toledo, OH - A disappointing season comes to a close with the Rockets hoping to end on a positive note. A win over arch-rival Bowling Green would help sooth the wounds of Toledo's first losing season since 1993.
The Rockets and the Falcons have met 70 times since 1919, with BG holding a 36-30-4 edge in the series. Toledo has won two straight, however, and has not lost to the Falcons in the Glass Bowl since 1994.
The Toledo-Bowling Green game usually has a bearing on the MAC Championship race. Not so this year. This will also be the first time since the series was moved to the season finale in 2000 that the outcome of the game will not determine at least one of the MAC's division champions (prior to 2000 the game was usually played in October).
The Bowling Green game on Nov. 21 will be the final appearance in a Rocket uniform for 17 seniors. Most of the current graduating seniors entered UT in 2002. In that time, the Rockets appeared in three bowl games (winning the 2005 GMAC Bowl), won two MAC West titles (2002 and 2004) and one MAC Championship title (2004). Going into the season finale game, the Rockets are 39-23 since 2002, including a 23-4 mark in the Glass Bowl.
"This group of seniors all have championships rings on their fingers and championship character in their hearts," said head coach Tom Amstutz. "Their never-give-up attitude was on display throughout their entire careers. I'm proud of them as football players, as student-athletes and as young men of great character."
Bowling Green (4-7, 3-4 MAC)
The Falcons enter the Toledo game with a four-game losing streak, their most recent defeat a 9-7 setback to Miami in the mud of Doyt Perry Stadium on Nov. 15. BGSU placekicker Sean Ellis' 25-yard field goal attempt with 31 seconds remaining sailed wide left.
The Falcons' four-game slide also includes losses to Central Michigan, Temple and Akron. Earlier this season BG lost to No. 1 Ohio State and No. 10 Wisconsin. The Falcons' victories have come against Buffalo, Florida International, Ohio and Eastern Michigan. They are led by sophomore quarterback Anthony Turner, who has rushed for 461 yards and thrown for 1,383 more. Backup QB Freddie Barnes, a redshirt freshman, has run for 405 yards.
Quick Hitters...
The Toledo-Bowling Green game will be televised on ESPN2. Calling the action will be Mark May (play by play), Lou Holtz (color), Reece Davis (color) and Rob Stone (sideline)...This will be the first time since 1987 that both Toledo and Bowling Green will finish the season with a losing record...With a victory over Bowling Green, Coach Tom Amstutz would win his 50th game as the Rocket head coach. He is 49-25 in six years at Toledo... Toledo's seven-game winning streak against the Cardinals in the Glass Bowl was snapped with the loss on Nov. 14. It was Ball State's first win in Toledo since 1991...Jalen Parmele now has gained over 100 yards in three straight games and four times this season...Parmele became the 11th player in school history to surpass 1,000 yards rushing in a single season. He now has 1,007 yards on the season...Senior TE Chris Hopkins scored his seventh touchdown of the season vs. Ball State, which ties him for ninth in school history for TDs in a season. He is tied for second in UT annals for TDs in a season by tight ends. The school record is eight TDs by Andrew Clarke in 2003...Senior WR Steve Odom has now caught a pass in 48 straight games, every game of his career and the longest streak in the nation. He needs just six receptions to pass UT's all-time leader, Lance Moore (222 from 2001-04), and become Toledo's all-time leading receiver.
