Rocket Report with Bryan B. Blair - April 2025
4/2/2025 1:19:00 PM | Athletics
April 2, 2025
Team Toledo,Â
As the snow melts away and the first signs of spring emerge, there's an undeniable energy in the air here at the University of Toledo. With the return of warmer weather, we're reminded of the excitement and renewal that comes with the season. From the thrill of March Madness to the promise of spring football and the outstanding performances of our spring sports teams, there's so much to celebrate as Rockets.
Of course, March wouldn't be complete without the madness of college basketball! While our men's and women's basketball teams have officially wrapped up their seasons, we're proud of their hard work and dedication throughout the year. Head Coach Ginny Boggess' women's team made it to the finals of the MAC Championships and earned a berth into the Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament, hosting Minnesota from the Big Ten in first-round action. Tod Kowalczyk's men's squad advanced to the MAC semifinals before falling to eventual league champion Akron. Both staffs are busy laying the groundwork for next year's squads as they look to return to the top of the Mid-American Conference!
Meanwhile, our football team is hard at work during its spring practice season, and the excitement is building for what's to come this fall. Coach Candle and the team are looking to build off the momentum of last December's incredible six-overtime victory over Pitt in the GameAbove Sports Bowl, and I can't wait to see their progress as we gear up for another thrilling season of Rocket Football. Kickoff for the season opener at Kentucky is just five month.
Spring is also a time to shine for our spring sports programs. From baseball and softball to track and field, tennis, and golf, our student-athletes are competing at the highest level and representing Toledo with pride. I encourage all of you to come out and support these incredible teams as they chase MAC championships!
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JOIN US AT THE RESEARCH CELEBRATION AT SAVAGE ARENA!
As you may know, The University of Toledo recently earned the prestigious R1 classification given to universities that are in the top 5 percent of research universities in the United States. UToledo is now one of only 187 universities in the nation to earn this prestigious designation as one of the country's top-tier research institutions!
To put it plainly, this is a big deal for our University, for our community and for our Athletic Department! So we are proud to be hosting a Research Celebration at Savage Arena on Wednesday, April 2 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Faculty and students representing colleges across the University, including artists, astronomers, cancer biologists, ecologists, educators, engineers and historians, will showcase their work during the event. A brief program will begin at 3:30 p.m. with remarks by UToledo Interim President Matt Schroeder and other leaders.
This is just the latest example of the #TeamToledo pride we all feel to be part of this great University, and how when any one of us wins, we all win. That is why we in the Athletic Department are continually looking for ways to be involved in activities throughout our University. Recently, our department wrote over 300 "welcome postcards to newly admitted students, as our entire campus locks arms to bolster enrollment and provide a warm welcome to future Rockets! Our Athletic Department is fully committed to supporting the academic mission of this University!
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MANUFACTURED IN THE GLASS CITY:Â CELEBRATING TOLEDO'S OWN
The Manufactured in the Glass City series highlights the incredible journeys of student-athletes and leaders who call Toledo home. Our first episode featured Dallas Gant, a hometown standout who made his mark in college football and is now navigating life in the NFL. If you missed it, be sure to check it out and hear his inspiring story of perseverance and success.
Now, we're keeping the momentum going with our next installment of the MFD.GC dropping in April featuring two Rocket alumni turned Engineers – quarterback Austin Dantin and swimmer Emma Sampson.
Stay tuned as we continue to showcase Toledo's finest, their passion, and the dedication that fuels their success.
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UPDATE ON NIL/NCAA VS HOUSE SETTLEMENT
While many of us will be focused on what takes place on the court on April 7 when the championship game of the NCAA Men's Final Four takes place in San Antonio, an important gathering in court is also scheduled to take place that day.
April 7 is the final approval hearing in the landmark case, House v. NCAA. All signs point to Wilken approving a $2.8 billion settlement with select Division I athletic conferences, which will pay back damages to former student-athletes, set roster limits in all sports, and allow athletic departments to compensate student-athletes for their name, image, and likeness (NIL).
In addition, another case currently before a federal judge that is also expected to be approved would allow recruited student-athletes to negotiate their NIL compensation as part of their recruiting process.
These changes point to the new reality in college athletics that has been coming our way for some time now. For Toledo Athletics, we feel these changes are mission-critical as we move forward and seek to recruit, retain, and develop the very best student-athletes. As I have said before, change brings opportunity. I feel Toledo Athletics is uniquely positioned among our peers to capitalize on these changes, so it's critically important that we embrace the opportunity to enhance Toledo Athletics and its impact on the University and our community.
Needless to say, your support is critical in helping us fulfill our mission of graduating champions who excel both academically and athletically. It's no small challenge, but with your unwavering support, we have the opportunity to achieve greatness like never before!
Team Toledo, we invite you to be part of this exciting journey by contributing to the Rocket Fund or joining the 1923 Society. Together, we can make a lasting impact and continue to elevate Rocket Athletics to new levels of success!
FOOTBALL: NEW FIELDTURF FOR THE GLASS BOWL, ROCKETS IN THE NFL DRAFT
The football team officially wraps up spring practice on April 4 and then shifts to summer workouts in preparation for what should be an exciting 2025 season! As you may have heard, a new FieldTurf playing surface is being installed in the Glass Bowl this spring. The new surface is exactly the same as the Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons. This investment will not only provide our Rockets with the latest in FieldTurf technology but will also give us an opportunity to give the Glass Bowl a fresh look for 2025!
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In other football news, mark your calendars for April 24-26 for the upcoming NFL Draft. A year after Quinyon Mitchell was the only player from a G-5 school chosen in the first round of the draft, defensive tackle Darius Alexander is expected to be a high pick in this year's draft. Darius made a big impact in the Senior Bowl and in last month's NFL Scouting Combine and now looks to be the 11th Rocket chosen in the draft under Head Coach Jason Candle. Safety Maxen Hook is also projected as a possible draft choice, and many of their teammates are also candidates to be playing on Sunday. We are proud of Darius, Maxen and all our Rockets playing in the NFL as they pursue their professional dreams and make help put Toledo on the map!
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As for next year's team, don't forget to renew or make your first-time purchase for football season tickets! Our 2025 schedule features FIVE Saturday home games, including the "Biggest Party in Toledo" on Sept. 6 (home opener vs. Western Kentucky) and the Homecoming Game vs. Akron on Sept. 27. You won't want to miss any of the action in what promises to be another exciting year of Rocket Football!
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EXCITING ACTION AHEAD FOR OUR SPRING SPORTS!
Our spring sports are fully underway and we are excited to cheer on our baseball, softball, track & field, tennis and golf teams as they compete for MAC Championships!
I would like to call your attention to these special events coming up on our spring sports calendar:
- Baseball has two games coming up at Fifth Third Field, April 15 vs. Michigan and May 2 vs. Bowling Green.
- Women's Tennis will be hosting the MAC Championships on Thursday-Friday, April 24-25 at the UT Varsity Tennis Courts.
You can find schedules for all our teams at our official website UTRockets.com. We hope you'll join us in supporting our student-athletes at our home events this spring.
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BRAGGING RIGHTS….
I'd like to recognize these fantastic accomplishments from the past month:Â
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| Women's Track & Field: Graduate student Laura Nicholson was named MVP at the 2025 Mid-American Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships on March 1 as she won the mile, 800m and 3000m all on the same day. She is the first Rocket ever to win three individual championships at the MAC Championships. Laura also was named the MAC Most Outstanding Women's Track Performer for the 2025 indoor season, and earned All-MAC First Team honors. |
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| Women's Swimming & Diving: Sophomore Leah Evans earned seven top-10 finishes at the 2025 MAC Championships in Buffalo (Feb. 26-March 1). Leah also broke the school record in the 100 backstroke with a time of 53.67. |
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| Women's Basketball: Graduate student Nan Garcia was named the MAC's Sixth Player of the Year. |
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| Softball: The Rockets shattered a school record with seven home runs in a dominant 16-7 win over Western Michigan on March 15. Just days later, Kylee Graham etched her name in the history books, tossing her first career no-hitter in Toledo's 6-0 victory over Akron. The Rockets' defense was rock solid, backing Graham as she struck out five in the commanding performance. |
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| Men's Tennis: Sophomore Poonthong Komolpisut pulled out an exciting third-set tiebreaker win on the No. 1 singles court to help the Rockets clinch a 4-3 match victory over UIC, who was previously unbeaten in MAC play, on March 20. |
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As you can see, there's no shortage of incredible achievements happening within our Athletic Department, our University, and our community. While we celebrate our successes, I truly believe this is only the beginning of what we can accomplish. To transform these remarkable moments into a lasting legacy, we must continue to innovate, unite, and Rise Together in pursuit of our mission.
With the unwavering support of #TeamToledo, we will elevate the national profile of our athletic programs, our University, and our community, all while developing champions who will go on to make a meaningful impact on the world. Together, the best is yet to come!
This Community. This University. This Athletics Department.Â
Together, we will accomplish the "impossible."Â
Go Rockets!Â
