 TOLEDOROCKETS.NETYour source for information on Rocket Football! |
TOLEDOROCKETS.NETYour source for information on Rocket Football! |
|
By Mike Sopher I received a couple of emails from a former student who has followed Toledo throughout the season and watched them on ESPN against Bowling Green. Currently, he is begging his parents to take him to the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, Alabama on December 21st. He claims Toledo is his new favorite team and that is why he wants to go to Mobile. I personally believe that he just wants to see his former teacher who was the coolest in West Virginia. What I really enjoyed about these emails, besides its obvious appreciation for Toledo football, was the student’s ability to take time and actually proofread what he wrote. Sorry, that’s the teacher in me! Dear Mr. Sopher, I wanted to email you today because last night I saw Toledo beat the crap out of Bowling Green. (What kind of name is that for a school?) I love your quarterback, Bruce Gradkowski, and I think he will be an NFL player next year. He is a great QB and I hope some NFL team takes him in the first round. I was really impressed with Toledo’s offense because the receivers are really good and the running back (#38) is a stud. Does Toledo now play in the championship game? If they do, I think they will win because this team is loaded with talent. "Robert" p.s. If Toledo goes to a bowl game, will it be in Ohio or perhaps somewhere close? His next email came a week later. Dear Mr. Sopher, Toledo is going to the GMAC BOWL!!!!!! That is awesome!!!! I want to go sooooooo bad!!!! I am asking my parents to take me there as a Christmas gift because I have always wanted to go to a bowl game. Even though I live in Virginia, we have relatives in Alabama so it would seem appropriate if we traveled to Mobile because it is on the way from where my cousin lives. I called him already and he said he would go to the bowl game if I got the tickets. Will you be going to the game? I hope I can go because it would be great! Hope you can go! "Robert" I responded immediately to both emails, and told him I was going to the game. I just love the fact that one year in West Virginia has created a small buzz for these new Rocket fans who had never heard of the school until I arrived. I think it is imperative that we as fans continue to promote UT positively to outsiders because you never know who will become a new Rocket fan. The big schools, such as Ohio State, Michigan, USC, and Notre Dame to name a few, get fans by the thousands each year because of their national prestige and exposure. "Mid-Major" schools such as Toledo have to continually promote and raise awareness about their program in order to attract a larger fan base. Fair or not, in order for Toledo to get more national recognition, fans need to do their part and spread the love of Rocket athletics. ESPN helps tremendously, but it's situations such as last year in West Virginia, that will forever move Toledo into the national spotlight that it really deserves. Toledo already has a strong, supportive fan base, but adding a few more will not hurt. Have a question or comment for Mike? Email |