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The Toledo Rockets defeated the Duquesne Dukes 49-10 on Aug. 29 at the Rockets’ home opener at the Glass Bowl. Junior quarterback Tucker Gleason completed 15-of-23 passes for a total of 205 yards and three first-half touchdowns. Backup quarterback John Alan Richter completed all six of his pass attempts for 78 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown to freshmen Zy’marion Lang to give the Rockets a 39-point lead. Six different Rockets found the end zone: two rushing touchdowns made by Jacquez Stuart, one rushing score from junior Willie Shaw III, and receiving touchdowns from Lang, senior Jerjuan Newton, senior Anthony Torres, and junior Junior Vandeross III. Toledo’s defense held Duquesne a total of 282 yards, forcing three turnovers for the Dukes. Sophomore safety Braden Awls led the defense with career-high nine tackles, a sack, and an interception. According to the UT Athletics website, the crowd of 25,515 was the largest in the Glass Bowl since September 28, 2019, when Toledo played BYU in front of 24,889 fans.

The Toledo Rockets defeated the University of Massachusetts Minutemen 38-23 Sep. 7 in a hard-fought matchup in front of 21,668 fans at the Glass Bowl. Junior quarterback Tucker Gleason connected with senior wide receiver Jerjuan Newton for a 40-yard touchdown, scoring the first points of the game. Newton’s receiving yards gives him a career total of 2,032 receiving yards, which makes him the 14th Rocket to pass 2,000 receiving yards in a career. With 2:44 left in the half, a 98-yard kickoff return was made by senior running back Jacquez Stuart to give Toledo a narrow 17-13 lead at halftime. Junior wide receiver Junior Vandeross III completed Gleason’s pass over the middle at Toledo’s 47-yard line and bolted to the end zone for a 73-yard touchdown to increase Toledo’s lead to 24-16. The Rockets added two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter, securing their victory over the Minutemen. Toledo’s defense came through with a solid performance for the second week in a row, breaking up six passes and sacking UMass’ quarterback Taison Phommachanh five times. With 4:23 left in the third quarter, Phommachanh’s pass was intercepted by sophomore safety Braden Awls at the UT 27-yard line.

Toledo had a strong start against Bowling Green on Oct. 1, but the Rockets ultimately lost in the hard-fought fifth set tiebreaker 2-3 (25-22, 26-24, 18-25, 24-26, 10-15). The Battle of I-75, named for the interstate that connects the universities, brought 1,428 fans to Savage Arena to watch the women’s volleyball game, according to UT Athletics—the most in program history. The Rockets fought hard, with fifth-year senior outside hitter Taylor Alt scoring a total of 19 kills, seven digs, and three blocks. Junior outside hitter Izzy Granger, the team captain, followed with 12 kills and four digs. Sophomore setter Macy Hatkevich totaled 42 assists, tying her season high, while also bringing in a kill, four blocks, and seven digs. Freshmen libero Grace Freiberger totaled 23 digs, tying for her career best. Redshirt freshman middle blocker Kayla Ozanich added eight kills and three service aces to the match. Sierra Pertzborn, of the same year and position, had seven terminations, while sophomore right-side hitter Caylee Sharkey had four. Sophomore defensive specialist Avery Adamski had a new career high of a total of two service aces.

Six Rockets scored in double digits on Dec. 7 to lead the Toledo men's basketball team (6-3) to a 111-49 victory over Defiance College in Savage Arena. The Rockets' 111 points is their most since defeating Oakland 112-90 on Nov. 16, 2022. "We needed a game like this after not playing well our last two games," Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk said. "Prior to those two games, we had won five in a row and were playing great. I liked the way we shared the basketball, and that showed with having 25 assists and just five turnovers. We needed to get our edge back, and I thought we started to do that today." The largest lead of the game for Toledo was 62 points, when freshman Jaylen Murphy broke away and dunked with ten seconds left in play. Sophomore Sam Lewis scored a career-high 18 points, making all seven of his shots from the field, 1-for-1 on three points, and 3-for-4 of his free throws. Sophomore Javan Simmons (16 points), sophomore Sonny Wilson (16 points), freshman Jaylan Ouwinga (13 points), sophomore Grgur Brcic (13 points) and sophomore Bryce Ford (13 points) joined Lewis in double digit points for the game. Brcic also had a career-high nine rebounds to help lead the Rockets to 52 total rebounds. Simmons grabbed eight rebounds while Lewis grabbed five. Fifth-year senior Isiah Adams tallied nine points, six rebounds, and a career-high ten assists. Toledo travels to Youngstown State for a 1 p.m. game on Saturday, Dec. 14.

Toledo Women’s basketball has been a staple at UToledo for generations. In the past 43 seasons, they tallied a record of 850-471. Those 850 wins are the most in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) since 1982. The next closest is Bowling Green with 813. Tricia Cullop, who was hired by UT in 2008, was a big part of that success. In Cullop’s 16 seasons as the UT head coach, she amassed 522 wins, made the NCAA tournament twice, winning the NIT tournament once. When she announced in April that she was leaving to take the head coach job at the University of Miami, a sense of loss was evident across campus and beyond. But administrators and fans alike were thankful she stayed for as long as she did. “We were extremely fortunate to have her for as many seasons as we did,” said Nicole Alderson, executive associate athletic director. “She was a phenomenal coach, but she was an even better person.” Sadness aside, Toledo had to mount a search for a women’s basketball coach for the first time in 15 years. The school started with a list of more than 30 candidates, and it narrowed down quickly. Ginny Boggess, head coach at Monmouth University in New Jersey, was on that list. In the 2020-21 season, Monmouth won only two games, their worst showing in school history. Then they hired Boggess. Under her leadership, just two years later, they won their conference and made the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1983. Fast forward to spring 2024. Coach Boggess was on vacation in Florida when she was contacted about the pending vacancy at UToledo. She did a Zoom interview with Toledo officials, and the next day, left her vacation early to meet with them in person. Toledo hired Boggess on Apr. 9, just 4 days after Cullop left for Miami. While the process was quick, Alderson feels like they got the best coach out there. “It wasn’t about male, female, age, it was about who is the best candidate that’s going to take care of our student athletes and continue the success, build upon the success we’ve already had,” she said. While there is a new coach, Alderson says the expectations don’t change. “She’s not coming here to maintain; she’s coming here to elevate.” Boggess was head coach at Monmouth for three seasons. In her last season at Monmouth, Geoff Lanier joined her staff as an assistant coach and followed her to Toledo to be her Associate Head Coach. Lanier, who will be entering his 34th year in coaching, said the decision was easy to come to Toledo with Coach Boggess after talking with his wife. “I enjoyed my year so much with coach at Monmouth that it was a fairly simple process,” he said of Boggess. “She has a unique ability to take a group, get them focused on a common goal, and get them all pulling them in the same direction faster than anyone I’ve ever worked with,” Lanier said. Toledo is bringing back eight players from last year’s team and welcoming six freshmen. All are new to Boggess and her staff, though, so there’s learning all around during workouts. “Coach Tricia was very successful the way they’ve done it, Coach Ginny’s style is significantly different with the way we’re going to play,” Lanier said. “We’ve been spending a little bit more time on the offensive end installing those concepts.” Lanier says he is the de-facto defensive coordinator for Boggess and that Boggess is fantastic at drawing up offensive plays and getting good shots for her team. “She’s able to see what they’re taking away and figure out where the weakness is and take advantage of that weakness,” Lanier said. Lanier says the type of person she is stands out the most. He asked himself if he would want his daughter to play for Coach Boggess, and the answer was an affirmative “no question.” “She’s not just a great basketball coach, she’s a better person."

UToledo’s 17-month nation-wide search for a new Provost is drawing to an end. UT President Dr. Gregory Postel is hoping to announce the new provost next month, with that person assuming their duties next summer. “I’m hoping by the end of the calendar year to name the new provost,” Postel said. Melissa Hurst, special assistant to the president for strategic talent development, is assisting the search committee. She indicated previous experience as a provost is not required but a role as a dean would be important. “We are looking at both internal and external candidates,” Hurst said. Postel said UT would prefer someone with experience at a public institution, as opposed to a private school. Dr. Karen Bjorkman resigned as provost in July 2022 and subsequently returned to the faculty after taking a one-year sabbatical leave. She holds a tenured faculty position as Distinguished University Professor and the Helen Luedtke Brooks Professor of Astronomy in the Department of Physics and Astronomy in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. A member of the UToledo faculty since 1996, when she joined the Department of Physics and Astronomy, she served as the founding dean of the University’s College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics from 2010 to 2019. She was named interim Provost in January 2019 and was given the permanent job in January 2020. Following Bjorkman’s departure, Dr. Risa Dickson was appointed UT’s interim provost in July 2022, and given a one-year contract. Dickson came to UT through The Registry, a national company that helps place senior interim leaders on college campuses across the country. An article in the August 15 edition of the UT News announced Dickson’s contract had been extended through the end of the 2023-24 school year; however, her departure was announced a few weeks later. “It’s my understanding that the president determined that we’d gotten things in a place where an internal person could hold it down until a permanent provost is hired this year,” Dickson said when contacted via social media. The search for a permanent provost was just beginning when Dickson was hired, but it took time to get everything together as a search committee had to be formed, President Postel said. By the time Dickson left UT no interviews had been conducted with prospective candidates. The current interim provost, Dr. Scott Molitor, is not interested in the permanent position. “It was a bit unexpected,” Molitor said when talking about his recent promotion. A member of the UT faculty since 2000, prior to being named interim provost in September, Molitor had most recently served as interim vice provost for academic affairs and acting dean of the College of Graduate Studies. Postel said Molitor is a good fit to lead UT’s transition to the next provost due to his 20-plus years’ experience at UT. “We are always looking to be frugal,” Postel said. “We don’t ever want to pay for something that is duplicative.” Molitor intends to go back to his vice provost position when a new provost is ready to take office.

The University of Toledo Communication Department is reviewing a proposal that would eliminate the Media Communication (Mcomm) major and turn it into a concentration. If approved, media students would be required to take three additional classes: interpersonal communication, communication theory, and public presentations. “These three classes represent essential skills for students entering the workforce,” Communication Chair Benjamin Myers said. But some media students say this will hurt them because additional courses will reduce the amount of media electives they can take. The Mcomm major was created six years ago and is a hybrid major that combines broadcasting, journalism, and social media. Faculty opposed to this proposal say this material is already covered in the major. Students asked if they could attend a Nov. 17 meeting of CommunicationDepartment faculty to express their concerns but were told they were not invited. Instead, Myers scheduled a meeting for students for Nov. 15. About 20 students filled the conference room to find out what is the plan is for their major. UT faculty and staff stressed this change will not impact students currently enrolled in the program. However, it would impact students who are entering the Communication Department in the future. Students questioned why they weren’t notified about the potential changes and why they haven’t been allowed to provide input. “My biggest concern is this decision to change the major affects students directly and we’re being left in the dark,” said Emily Thomas, a UT senior. Asa Kridelbaugh, a second-year student at UT, attended the Nov. 15 meeting and left frustrated, saying he was “a little confused because the questions students were asking were not answered. Another concern of students is that UT:10 News, the media capstone course, would be cancelled completely since it hasn’t been offered since Fall of 2022. UT:10 is an award-winning, student-produced live news program and is a big reason many Communication students say they decided to attend UT. In the meeting, Myers said the course had not been offered since Fall 2022 because of low student interest. But students disagreed, voicing displeasure with a former instructor, who is no longer working with UT:10, as the reason why they didn’t sign up for the course. In response, Myers told students UT:10 would be offered in Fall 2024. Thomas, who graduates this spring, was happy the course would reinstated but feels strongly the media major should be left alone. “My biggest concern is this decision to change the major affects students directly and we’re being left in the dark,” Thomas said. “Because I’m a senior, I feel like it’s my duty to look out for the freshmen.”

Wondering where to find Huntington Bank? In the past, students have had easy access to the Huntington location right outside the Eatery at the Student Union for their banking needs. This year, things are a little different as The Market has taken the place of Huntington Bank. The Market, which has moved from its old location on the first floor of the Student Union, is open seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, and 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Here, students can find a variety of essential items, such as snacks, fresh baked goods, cold drinks, school supplies, and chargers for electronic devices. An extension of the Barnes & Noble Bookstore at UT Gateway has taken up residence on the first floor of the Student Union where The Market used to be. Although there are no textbooks at the Student Union location, the presence of this branch saves those looking for school supplies, UT apparel, and other merchandise a walk to Gateway. Anyone looking for Huntington now should stop by the Huntington ATM on the first floor of the Student Union across from the Federal Credit Union, or visit Huntington Bank at the UT Gateway next to the Barnes & Noble. The hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with ATM access 24/7.

Many UToledo students and fans may be familiar with the missile located outside the Glass Bowl Stadium. The rocket is painted in UT's school colors--navy and gold--and acts as the centerpiece of the northeast entrance to the stadium, commanding the attention of anyone entering the Glass Bowl. More interesting than the structure of the missile itself is the origin and positioning of the missile. To the untrained eye, the rocket may look like nothing more than an interesting statue after the school’s namesake, however, it is not just any statue. The rocket was donated to the university by the US Army Missile Program back in 1961-- the same year that the program was disbanded--and is an actual Nike-Ajax Rocket. This particular type of rocket can reach subsonic speeds and altitudes of over 50,000 feet when launched. The rocket outside of the Glass Bowl Stadium is no different, fitted with a propellant booster that would theoretically be able to carry UT’s own rocket to those same speeds. Not only would this rocket be able to reach subsonic velocities if launched, but due to the positioning of the rocket itself, it would also be launched directly into the 50-yard line of our arch-nemesis’s stadium. This rocket was positioned specifically with Bowling Green’s location in mind, making it the perfect statement piece for the Glass Bowl Stadium. Furthermore, although Ajax missiles laid the groundwork for several breakthroughs in their field--even outside of the militant world--they were decommissioned in 1960, making the one that now resides on campus a relic of the past in more ways than one. Although it would not be possible to launch the missile as it is now for several reasons (including the lack of fuel and the age of the rocket among other things), the mere existence of it as both a playful reminder of UT’s rivalry with Bowling Green and as a thoughtful gift from the now dissolved US Army Missile Program makes it a beautiful piece of UT’s rich history.

Secor Road has reopened in time for the start of the Fall semester. The road has been closed since January 3 for a full bridge replacement, hindering student flow and increasing car traffic on campus. The bridge opened one-lane traffic in both directions on August 23. West Centennial Mall (the space between Wolfe Hall, Memorial Field House, and the Student Union) was complete in time for the start of the Fall semester as well, with previous desire paths between buildings now paved sidewalks. North Engineering will undergo continued internal renovations, which are slated to end by January 2023. All classrooms and laboratories currently in Palmer Hall will then move to North Engineering, allowing for the eventual destruction of Palmer Hall. Construction on a pedestrian bridge across Douglas Road is scheduled to begin in "early 2024," according to a previous interview with Nicole Baden, University Architect and Director of Planning, Design, and Construction.