Nassau, Bahamas – The Toledo Rockets arrived at their hotel, the world-famous Atlantis resort, on Monday, the first day of their trip at the Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl in Nassau. Toledo (7-5) faces FIU (8-4) at Robinson Stadium on Friday (12:30 p.m./ESPN).
 
      The Rockets departed from Toledo Express Airport at 12:30 p.m., landing at Nassau Airport at 3:30, arriving at the hotel a short while later. Both Toledo and FIU enjoyed a buffet dinner that evening where they were treated to a musical and dance performance by a Junkanoo group. The teams then faced off in a pinball competition that was won by UT senior Tyler Taafe, earning the Rockets one of the pinball machines.
 
      Toledo will practice tomorrow morning, and enjoy a beach party along with the FIU players at 4:00 p.m. Other events during the week include a visit to the Ranfurly Homes for Children and a youth football clinic on Wednesday. On Thursday, the Toledo cheerleaders and band will lead a team pep rally.
 
Toledo quotes from the Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl - Day One

Head Coach Jason Candle
On the opportunity to play in the Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl
"How awesome. Our kids are fired up. Any time you can get a reward for a great season and get to a bowl game, that's really cool. To be able to bring it to another country and certainly a place we're looking to spread our brand as a football team and university, it's really exciting."

On the excitement level during the bowl announcement
"You can probably imagine the excitement. You always want your bowl trip to be somewhere really warm and somewhere really nice. This one is obviously the top of the mountain when it comes to that."

On what the team is looking forward to
"I hope our guys enjoy the week. It's a good chance to balance a little bit of fun, and we want to send our senior class off the right way with a win. We want their last time in the Midnight Blue and Gold to be a memorable one. [I'm excited] to watch our guys interact and enjoy the surroundings and enjoy the setting. One thing that gets lost in bowl games is some guys get to see places, whether it's in the States or outside of the country that they might not have otherwise had a chance to ever see. I think that's really cool, that's really awesome about the bowl setting and how it's set up."

Senior Wide Receiver Cody Thompson
On the team's excitement level about playing in the Bahamas
"The excitement started way before we pulled in, when we found out we were coming down here. A lot of guys haven't ever been out of the country - my last time was when I was young. Going to the Bahamas is something everyone talks about and dreams about, so I'm really excited to be here. It's an amazing opportunity to play football outside of our home country."

On playing his final game at Toledo
"It's kind of bittersweet. I've had an amazing ride here, an amazing career. It's been fun. To wrap it up in a different country like the Bahamas is going to be really exciting and something I never thought would be possible. I'm excited to go out and try to get a win with this team."

On being able to share the moment with his family
"My mom, my dad and my nephew will be out here tomorrow. They're excited too, they haven't been out of the country in a while and never been to the Bahamas. My nephew is eighty years old, so he's really excited. My parents traveled to all the games, they're my biggest supporters."


Highlights from Day 1 of bowl week.