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The 2004 Mid-American champions, and BGSU’s ultimate arch-rival, the Toledo Rockets come to town on Nov. 22 in what may become one of this season’s pivotal games, one that could send one or the other to the 2005 MAC Championship game.
The Rockets will come ready to ultimately defend their crown when they travel south-bound on I-75 to face a Falcons team that is more prepared than ever to deny UT a chance to get their third title in the last five years.
BG and UT are both on the radar this season, being named the two top non-BCS sleepers, according to ESPN’s College Gameday. Both could easily end up top-25 teams.
Last season the Rockets led one of the greatest comebacks in school history to defeat BGSU in a Nov. 23 game at the Glass Bowl, which gave them the bid to advance to the MAC Championship game. In that game, UT came out with their backs to the wall and withstood a 27-7 halftime deficit. They scored 35 unanswered points in the second half to take over the lead and did not look back as they shockingly rolled to a 49-41 victory.
This year the Falcons hope to put this painful memory behind them, and work toward another MAC-title run in 2005.
This season, UT comes back with 14 returning starters, including eight on offense and six on defense.
The Rockets return with one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in school history, Bruce Gradkowski. Gradkowski was one of the most efficient passers in the nation last season, completing roughly 70 percent of his passes and has already thrown for a school-record 56 touchdown passes in his two years as a starter.
UT will showcase other top performers and All-MAC candidates, such as running back Trinity Dawson and wide receiver Steve Odom on offense, Anthony Jordan and David Thomas at linebacker, and defensive backs Keon Jackson and Nigel Morris.
The Falcons will have to respond on defense, and avoid another meltdown like the one that disallowed a chance to go to the MAC-title game.
Though BG has the weapons on offense to get it done, the Falcon D will have to face a passing offense that is just as efficient as theirs, and a running game that is a consistent threat every year.
