1969 Toledo Rockets football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1969 Toledo Rockets football Mid-American Conference MAC 11–0 5–0 Frank Lauterbur 7th Curtis Johnson Dave Penn Jim Rance Glass Bowl MAC championTangerine Bowl champion Tangerine Bowl W 56–33 vs. Davidson The 1969 Toledo Rockets football team was an American football team that represented the University of Toledo in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 1969 NCAA University Division football season. In their seventh season under head coach Frank Lauterbur, the Rockets compiled an 11–0 record (5–0 against MAC opponents), outscored all opponents by a combined total of 385 to 160, and won the MAC championship. The season began with a 45–18 victory over Villanova and concluded with a 56–33 victory over Southern Conference champion Davidson in the 1969 Tangerine Bowl. The Rockets were ranked No. 20 in the final AP Poll taken before bowl games.1969 Toledo Rockets Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football September 21, 2016 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/toledo/1969-schedule.htmlToledo Football 2015 Media Guide University of Toledo 2015 190, 196 http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/utrockets.com/documents/2015/8/17/Toledo_Football_Media_Guide_2015b.pdf September 23, 2016 February 10, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160210044115/http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/utrockets.com/documents/2015/8/17/Toledo_Football_Media_Guide_2015b.pdf dead The defense led the way for the 1969 team, allowing only eight rushing touchdowns and intercepting 22 passes in eleven games.2015 Media Guide, pp. 200-201. The 1969 season marked the beginning of a 35-game winning streak that consisted of three consecutive seasons from 1969 through 1971. During the streak, Toledo won three consecutive MAC championships and three consecutive bowl games, led the nation in total defense all three years, and outscored opponents by a combined total of 1,152 to 344.2015 Media Guide, p. 138. It remains the second longest winning streak in modern Division I-A college football history behind Oklahoma's 47-game streak in the 1950s.Toledo to celebrate 30th anniversary of 35-0 football streak Ron Musselman The Blade (Toledo) October 4, 2001 http://www.toledoblade.com/UT/2001/10/04/Toledo-to-celebrate-30th-anniversary-of-35-0-football-streak.html Cornerback Curtis Johnson, who intercepted seven passes in 1969,2015 Media Guide, p. 213. received first-team All-America honors from the Newspaper Enterprise Association and second-team honors from the Associated Press.Steve Owens, Mike Phipps Pace NEA All-Americans Clovis News-Journal November 21, 1969 12 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3369758/1969_nea_all_america_football_team/Mike Reid, Dennis Onkotz of Penn State Named to All-America Hazleton Standard-Speaker December 5, 1969 27 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3369378/1969_ap_all_america_football_team/ Eight Toledo players received first-team All-MAC honors: Curtis Johnson, quarterback Chuck Ealey, tailback Tony Harris, defensive tackles Mel Long and Jim Rance, defensive end Jim Tyler, linebacker John Niezgoda, and placekicker Ken Krots.2015 Media Guide, p. 147. Chuck Ealey was named MAC Back of the Year, and Frank Lauterbur was named MAC Coach of the Year.2015 Media Guide, p. 149. Ken Crots, who converted six of 18 field goal attempts,2015 Media Guide, p. 224. won the Jim Nicholson Award as the player contributing the most to the team's success.2015 Media Guide, p. 160. The team captains were Curtis Johnson, Dave Penn, and Jim Rance.2015 Media Guide, p. 164. The team's statistical leaders included Chuck Ealey with 1,428 passing yards, Tony Harris with 889 rushing yards (including 217 in the season opener against Villanova), Don Fair with 469 receiving yards, Charles Cole with 78 points scored, and John Niezgoda with 201 tackles.2015 Media Guide, pp. 205, 218-222. The Rockets played their home game in the Glass Bowl. The attendance at five home games was 75,282, an average of 15,056 per game.2015 Media Guide, p. 199. Schedule 1969 AP Eastern y y y y September 20 8:00 p.m. Villanova<ncg> Glass Bowl Toledo, OH W 45–18 14,987 https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-news-toledo-bomba-cats-4518/183357388/ Sunday News Toledo bombs 'Cats, 45–18 September 21, 1969 October 20, 2025 Newspapers.com September 27 8:00 p.m. at Marshall<ncg> Fairfield Stadium Huntington, WV W 38–13 7,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/beckley-post-herald-the-raleigh-register/183325887/ Beckley Post-Herald & Register Toledo Rockets hand Marshall 23rd consecutive loss September 28, 1969 October 20, 2025 Newspapers.com October 4 8:00 p.m. Ohio Glass Bowl Toledo, OH W 34–9 19,223 https://www.newspapers.com/article/springfield-news-sun-toledo-bombs-ohio-u/183361793/ Springfield News-Sun Toledo bombs Ohio U. October 5, 1969 October 20, 2025 Newspapers.com October 11 at Bowling Green Doyt Perry Stadium Bowling Green, OH (rivalry) W 27–26 20,820 https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-journal-windy-win/183361920/ News Journal Windy win October 12, 1969 October 20, 2025 Newspapers.com October 18 Western Michigan<hc> Glass Bowl Toledo, OH W 38–13 16,823 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-blade-half-dozen-rocket-interception/183362045/ The Blade Half-dozen Rocket interceptions bust Broncos, 38–13 October 19, 1969 October 20, 2025 Newspapers.com October 25 Kent State Glass Bowl Toledo, OH W 43–17 14,931 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-toledo-crushes/183362149/ The Philadelphia Inquirer Toledo crushes Kent St., 43–17 October 26, 1969 October 20, 2025 Newspapers.com November 1 at Miami (OH) Miami Field Oxford, OH W 14–10 13,213 https://www.newspapers.com/article/palladium-item-toledo-nails-down-mac-gri/183362270/ The Palladium-Item Toledo nails down MAC grid title November 2, 1969 October 20, 2025 Newspapers.com November 8 2:30 p.m. at Northern Illinois<ncg> Huskie Stadium DeKalb, IL W 35–21 11,483 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune-toledo-rally-tops-nort/183325300/ The Tampa Tribune-Times Toledo rally tops Northern Illinois November 9, 1969 October 20, 2025 Newspapers.com November 15 8:00 p.m. Dayton<ncg> Glass Bowl Toledo, OH W 20–0 9,318 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-blade-rockets-muffle-dayton-200/183362402/ The Blade Rockets muffle Dayton, 20–0 November 16, 1969 October 20, 2025 Newspapers.com November 22 1:30 p.m. at Xavier<ncg> 20 Corcoran Stadium Cincinnati, OH W 35–0 2,281 https://www.newspapers.com/article/dayton-daily-news-ealey-leads-toledo-tou/124059601/ Dayton Daily News Ealey leads Toledo toundefeated season November 23, 1969 May 4, 2023 Newspapers.com December 26 vs Davidson<ncg> 20 Tangerine Bowl Orlando, FL (Tangerine Bowl) W 56–33 16,311 Toledo socks Davidson 56–33 Chillicothe Gazette December 27, 1969 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108487008/toledo-socks-davidson-5633/ August 28, 2022 Newspapers.com Schedule/Results (1969 Toledo) https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/130389 National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Statistics May 5, 2025 After the season NFL draft The following Rockets were selected in the 1970 NFL draft following the season.https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1970/draft.htm 1970 NFL Draft Listing Pro-Football-Reference.com July 29, 2023 Toledo Rockets 2 Round Pick Player Position NFL club 481Curtis JohnsonDefensive backMiami Dolphins6137James ManuelTackleSt. Louis Cardinals11269Danny CrockettWide receiverSan Francisco 49ers References Toledo Category:Toledo Rockets football seasons Category:Mid-American Conference football champion seasons Category:Citrus Bowl champion seasons Category:College football undefeated seasons Toledo Rockets football