Post by goldwatch on Feb 14, 2017 1:16:23 GMT -5
The Toledo (Ohio) Rockets have always had a good football program, but did you know that at one time they went 3 years in a row without a loss or a tie?
It was 1969-1971. In those days freshmen didn't play varsity in colleges, by rule.
Toledo was loaded for a smaller school.
They finished ranked in the top 20 (major college football) all 3 years.
They went to the Tangerine Bowl all 3 years, and won all 3 times.
Their QB, Chuck Ealey, never lost a game through high school and college. He went to the CFL as a pro and won a championship his first year there, as well as their rookie of the year award. He had success after that, but no more titles.
I was in high school during Toledo's 3 undefeated seasons. A couple of guys in my class were being recruited by Toledo. One was an O-lineman, and while being recruited they put the recruits up against those guys to see what they had. There was this defensive tackle, Mel Long, who won All-American honors (first team) his last 2 years, and my friend said the guy was so fast off the snap that he never saw it coming. Mel went on to the NFL, but was a tweener and switched to LBer. He lasted 3 years, playing for the Browns.
Before college, Mel Long enlisted in the marines. He served with high honors.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Long
They were a very fun team to watch. They had a running back that was blazing fast, and every once in a while they'd run a sweep and you could see his helmet moving past everyone else at an unbelievable speed. Those runs went for TDs. He got hurt in the last game (bowl game or last game of the season?), if I recall right, and never played again.
By the way, Nick Saban, the current head coach at Alabama and their vaunted program, got his first HC job at Toledo, for 1 year, and had a great year before he got hired by Bill Belichick on the Browns staff when he was there.
It was 1969-1971. In those days freshmen didn't play varsity in colleges, by rule.
Toledo was loaded for a smaller school.
They finished ranked in the top 20 (major college football) all 3 years.
They went to the Tangerine Bowl all 3 years, and won all 3 times.
Their QB, Chuck Ealey, never lost a game through high school and college. He went to the CFL as a pro and won a championship his first year there, as well as their rookie of the year award. He had success after that, but no more titles.
I was in high school during Toledo's 3 undefeated seasons. A couple of guys in my class were being recruited by Toledo. One was an O-lineman, and while being recruited they put the recruits up against those guys to see what they had. There was this defensive tackle, Mel Long, who won All-American honors (first team) his last 2 years, and my friend said the guy was so fast off the snap that he never saw it coming. Mel went on to the NFL, but was a tweener and switched to LBer. He lasted 3 years, playing for the Browns.
Before college, Mel Long enlisted in the marines. He served with high honors.
"After receiving his military draft notice, Long enlisted in the Marines and trained as a rifleman. He served in Vietnam from September 23, 1966 to October 18, 1967 where he received the Bronze Star and Navy Cross (after the Medal of Honor, the Navy Cross is the highest Marine/Navy decoration for valor). He participated in Operation Tuscaloosa (January 26, 1967) and Operations Union and Union II (April to June, 1967). During the Battle of Vin Huey, an eight-hour battle in which 70% of U.S. troops were wounded or killed, Long continued to fight for hours after being wounded. Long is the most highly decorated veteran to play professional football."
They were a very fun team to watch. They had a running back that was blazing fast, and every once in a while they'd run a sweep and you could see his helmet moving past everyone else at an unbelievable speed. Those runs went for TDs. He got hurt in the last game (bowl game or last game of the season?), if I recall right, and never played again.
By the way, Nick Saban, the current head coach at Alabama and their vaunted program, got his first HC job at Toledo, for 1 year, and had a great year before he got hired by Bill Belichick on the Browns staff when he was there.
