1990 Toledo Rockets football team

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1990 Toledo Rockets football
MAC co–champion
ConferenceMid-American Conference
Record9–2 (7–1 MAC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorGreg Meyer (1st season)
Defensive coordinatorDean Pees (1st season)
Home stadiumGlass Bowl
Seasons
← 1989
1991 →
1990 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Toledo + 7 1 0 9 2 0
Central Michigan + 7 1 0 8 3 1
Ball State 5 3 0 7 4 0
Western Michigan 5 3 0 7 4 0
Miami (OH) 4 3 1 5 5 1
Bowling Green 2 4 2 3 5 2
Eastern Michigan 2 6 0 2 9 0
Kent State 2 6 0 2 9 0
Ohio 0 7 1 1 9 1
  • + – Conference co-champions

The 1990 Toledo Rockets football team represented the University of Toledo during the 1990 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Rockets were led by first-year head coach Nick Saban, and competed as a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). They finished the season with a record of nine wins and two losses (9–2, 7–1 in MAC play) and as MAC co–champions with Central Michigan.

The 1990 Rockets squad opened the season with six consecutive victories over Miami (OH), Northern Illinois, Ball State, Ohio, Eastern Michigan and Bowling Green. At the time of the matchup, their meeting against Central Michigan served as a de facto MAC conference championship game. Although Toledo lost 13–12, victories over Kent State and Western Michigan coupled with a Central Michigan loss to Ball State gave the Rockets a share of the MAC championship. Toledo then concluded the season with a loss to Navy and a victory over Arkansas State.

In February 1991, Nick Saban resigned as head coach of the Rockets after only one season to become defensive coordinator of the National Football League's Cleveland Browns.

Before the season

Toledo finished their

secondary coach for the Houston Oilers).[3] On December 22, 1989, Bohl announced that Saban had been hired to replace Simrell as head coach at Toledo.[4] The position was Saban's first as a head coach.[3][4]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendance
September 81:30 p.m.at Miami (OH)W 20–1419,000
September 157:30 p.m.Northern Illinois*W 23–1421,154
September 222:30 p.m.at
Ball State Stadium
  • Muncie, IN
  • W 28–1613,321
    September 291:30 p.m.at OhioW 27–2015,828
    October 61:00 p.m.Eastern Michigan
    • Glass Bowl
    • Toledo, OH
    W 37–2325,079
    October 137:30 p.m.Bowling Green
    W 19–1329,761
    October 201:00 p.m.at Central MichiganL 12–1320,781
    October 274:30 p.m.Kent State
    • Glass Bowl
    • Toledo, OH
    W 28–1421,670
    November 31:00 p.m.at Western MichiganW 37–917,131
    November 104:30 p.m.Navy*
    • Glass Bowl
    • Toledo, OH
    L 10–1423,958
    November 174:30 p.m.Arkansas State*
    • Glass Bowl
    • Toledo, OH
    W 43–2815,306

    Game summaries

    Miami

    1 234Total
    Toledo 14 600 20
    Miami 7 007 14
    • Location: Yager Stadium
      Oxford, Ohio
    • Game attendance: 19,000

    To open the 1990 season, Toledo traveled to

    kickoff that followed when Milt Stegall returned it 92-yards for the score to tie the game at 7–7.[6] Later in the first, Jeff Lamb recovered a Jim Clement fumble at the Redskins 12-yard line. Three plays later, Parker scored his second one-yard touchdown to give Toledo a 14–7 lead.[5] Early in the second quarter, Dave Walkosky intercepted a Clement pass to give the Rockets possession at their 33-yard line. Nine plays later, Parker scored his third touchdown of the afternoon, this time from two-yards out.[5] Rusty Hanna then had his extra point attempt blocked and Toledo led 20–7 at halftime.[5]

    In the third quarter, a

    goal line stand by the Rockets' defense kept the Redskins out of the endzone on a failed fourth-and-one running play.[6] In the fourth quarter, Miami scored the final points of the game on a five-yard Terry Carter touchdown run to make the final score 20–14.[5][6] The victory improved Toledo's all-time record against Miami to 16–22.[7]

    Northern Illinois

    1 234Total
    Northern Illinois 7 700 14
    Toledo 7 367 23
    • Location: Glass Bowl
      Toledo, Ohio
    • Game attendance: 21,154

    In their first home game of the 1990 season, Toledo defeated the

    field goal before Northern Illinois responded with a 12-yard Robinson touchdown pass to Ray Patterson for a 14–10 halftime lead for the Huskies.[10]

    In the third quarter, the Rockets retook the lead after Kevin Meger scored on a 26-yard run, and after a failed extra point attempt Toledo led 16–14.[8] Parker then scored the final points of the game in the fourth with his two-yard touchdown run for the 23–14 win.[8] Parker set a new school record with his 40 running attempts and rushed for 205 yards on the afternoon.[8][10] For his performance, Parker was named the Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Week.[11] The victory improved Toledo's all-time record against Northern Illinois to 16–6.[12]

    Ball State

    1 234Total
    Toledo 0 7714 28
    Ball State 0 0313 16
    • Location: Scheumann Stadium
      Muncie, Indiana
    • Game attendance: 13,321

    In week three, Toledo defeated the

    field goal late in the quarter.[13][14]

    In the fourth quarter, each team traded a pair of touchdowns with Toledo winning the game 28–16. Toledo scored on touchdown runs of two-yards by Parker and ten-yards by Meger.[13] Ball State scored touchdowns on a 19-yard Corey Croom run and on a 22-yard Scott Hammersley pass to Travis Moore.[14] The victory improved Toledo's all-time record against Ball State to 8–8.[15]

    Ohio

    1 234Total
    Toledo 0 1377 27
    Ohio 0 677 20
    • Location: Peden Stadium
      Athens, Ohio
    • Game attendance: 15,828

    For the third time in as many road games the Rockets were victorious, and this time Toledo defeated the

    field goal before Troy Parker scored the first touchdown of the game on an 11-yard run for a 10–3 Toledo lead.[16] Each team again traded field goals later in the quarter to make the halftime score 13–6.[16]

    In the third quarter, Parker scored on a nine-yard run for Toledo and Ohio responded with a one-yard touchdown run for a 20–13 Rockets lead at the start of the fourth quarter.[16] In the fourth, the Bobcats tied the game up at 20–20 when Anthony Thornton threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Courtney Burton.[16] Toledo then scored the game-winning touchdown with only 0:17 remaining in the game when Parker scored on a one-yard run to complete a 68-yard, 15 play drive.[16] The victory improved Toledo's all-time record against Ohio to 21–19–1.[18]

    Eastern Michigan

    1 234Total
    Eastern Michigan 0 1076 23
    Toledo 10 10017 37
    • Location: Glass Bowl
      Toledo, Ohio
    • Game attendance: 25,079

    With Troy Parker seeing limited action due to an injury, Neil Trotter rushed for 145 yards and Corey Ivey for 96 as Toledo defeated the

    field goal.[19] In the second, both teams scored ten points to give Toledo a 20–10 halftime lead. The Hurons scored on an 85-yard Craig Thompson punt return and a 36-yard Jim Langeloh field goal; the Rockets scored on a 32-yard Hanna field goal and three-yard Kevin Meger touchdown run.[19]

    In the third, Eastern Michigan cut the lead to 20–17 after Cameron Moss scored on a 48-yard touchdown run.[19] Toledo responded with 17 consecutive, fourth quarter points to win the game. After a 37-yard Hanna field goal, touchdowns were scored on a 28-yard Meger pass to Marcus Goodwin and on a four-yard Parker run.[19] The Hurons scored again late in the game on an 11-yard Shane Jackson touchdown pass to Chris Nyenhuis to make the final score 37–23.[19] The victory improved Toledo's all-time record against Eastern Michigan to 11–7.[20]

    Bowling Green

    1 234Total
    Bowling Green 7 600 13
    Toledo 3 0610 19
    • Location: Glass Bowl
      Toledo, Ohio
    • Game attendance: 29,761

    Before what was the second largest crowd to witness a game at the Glass Bowl, Toledo defeated the

    field goal gave the Rockets an early 3–0 lead, a pair of Erik White touchdown passes gave the Falcons a 13–3 halftime lead.[22] However, the Toledo defense shutout the Bowling Green offense in the second half, and the Rockets came back to win 19–13. Points were scored in the third on a seven-yard touchdown run by Kevin Meger and a one-yard Troy Parker touchdown run. Hanna added a field goal in the fourth.[22] The victory improved Toledo's all-time record against Bowling Green to 22–29–4.[23]

    Central Michigan

    1 234Total
    Toledo 3 360 12
    Central Michigan 7 060 13
    • Location: Kelly/Shorts Stadium
      Mount Pleasant, Michigan
    • Game attendance: 20,781

    In the hype that led to their game against the

    field goal, but the Chippewas responded with a 53-yard Jeff Bender touchdown pass to Ken Ealy to take a 7–3 lead at the end of the first quarter.[24] A 46-yard Hanna field goal in the second cut the Central lead to 7–6 at halftime.[24]

    In the third quarter, Toledo briefly retook the lead after Hanna connected on field goals of 41 and 26 yards.[24] However, the Chippewas scored the game-winning touchdown later in the quarter when Bender threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Bob Kench for the 13–12 victory.[24] For his six-tackle performance, Mark Rhea was named the Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Week.[26] The loss brought Toledo's all-time record against Central Michigan to 7–10–2.[27]

    Kent State

    1 234Total
    Kent State 7 700 14
    Toledo 7 3315 28
    • Location: Glass Bowl
      Toledo, Ohio
    • Game attendance: 21,670

    Against head coach Nick Saban's alma mater, the Rockets defeated the

    field goal, Kent took a 14–10 halftime lead on a six-yard Dalpra touchdown run.[28]

    A second, 35-yard field goal cut the Kent State lead to 14–13, and a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns sealed the victory for Toledo.[28] Touchdowns were scored by Neil Trotter on a 38-yard run and on a three-yard pass from Kevin Meger to Dan Grossman for the 28–14 win.[28] The victory improved Toledo's all-time record against Kent State to 18–19.[29]

    Western Michigan

    1 234Total
    Toledo 7 0219 37
    Western Michigan 6 030 9
    • Location: Waldo Stadium
      Kalamazoo, Michigan
    • Game attendance: 17,131

    In their final conference game of the season, Toledo defeated the Western Michigan Broncos 37–9 to secure the conference co-championship with Central Michigan.[30] Toledo led 7–6 at halftime after Kevin Meger threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Rickey Isaiah for the Rockets, and Dan Boggan scored for the Broncos on a one-yard touchdown run.[30]

    Toledo then scored three third-quarter touchdowns to take a 28–6 lead. Touchdowns were scored on a three-yard Meger pass to Jerry Evans, a 14-yard Meger run, and on a 67-yard Meger pass to Romauldo Brown.

    safety and a 37–9 Toledo win.[30] The victory improved Toledo's all-time record against Western Michigan to 23–22.[31]

    Navy

    1 234Total
    Navy 0 0014 14
    Toledo 3 070 10
    • Location: Glass Bowl
      Toledo, Ohio
    • Game attendance: 23,958

    In what was the Rockets' first all-time meeting against

    field goal in the first and on a six-yard David Andrews touchdown run in the third.[32] Navy came back to win the game in the fourth on a pair of Jason Pace touchdowns. The first came on a nine-yard run and the second on a five-yard reception from Alton Grizzard.[32] The loss effectively resulted in the Rockets failing to get a bowl bid as Central Michigan got the automatic MAC bid to the California Bowl due to having the tiebreaker over Toledo.[32]

    Arkansas State

    1 234Total
    Arkansas State 7 7140 28
    Toledo 7 17712 43
    • Location: Glass Bowl
      Toledo, Ohio
    • Game attendance: 15,306

    In the final game of the season, Toledo defeated the

    field goal gave the Rockets a 24–14 halftime lead.[33]

    In the third, Aubrey Miller recovered a Toledo fumble in the endzone for a touchdown and cut the Rockets lead to 24–21.[33] Each team then traded touchdowns with Toledo scoring on a 27-yard Pat Johnson run and Arkansas State on a one-yard Roy Johnson run to make the score 31–28 at the start of the fourth.[33] In the fourth, Toledo scored 12 unanswered points for the win. Damon Nelson scored on a four-yard touchdown run and Hanna connected on field goals of 33 and 41 yards in the 43–28 win.[33] The nine wins were the most won by a Toledo squad since the 1983 season.[33]

    After the season

    Saban resignation

    Nick Saban resigned as Toledo's head coach on February 13, 1991, after one season to become defensive coordinator of the National Football League's Cleveland Browns under Bill Belichick.[34] As defensive coordinator for the New York Giants, Belichick had to postpone assembling his new coaching staff until after Super Bowl XXV. Therefore, Saban's resignation wasn't announced until well after the season had ended.[34] Additionally, Saban wanted any potential move to occur after February 6, National Signing Day for recruits.[34]

    References

    1. ^ "Toledo Game by Game Results – 1989". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 16, 2014. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
    2. ^ Bergener, John (November 23, 1989). "Bohl seeks grid domination". The Blade. Toledo, Ohio: Google News. p. E2. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
    3. ^ a b "Call imminent for Rocket coach candidates". The Blade. Toledo, Ohio: Google News. December 19, 1989. p. 28. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
    4. ^ a b Bergener, John (December 22, 1989). "Saban named UT football coach". The Blade. Toledo, Ohio: Google News. p. 24. Retrieved February 19, 2012.
    5. ^ a b c d e f g Dave, Hackenberg (September 9, 1990). "UT downs Miami, 20–14". The Blade. Toledo, Ohio: Google News. p. B1. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
    6. ^ a b c d e Dave, Long (September 9, 1990). "Struggling Redskins fall, 20–14". Dayton Daily News. Dayton, Ohio: Newsbank. p. 1D. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
    7. ^ DeLassus, David. "Toledo vs Miami (OH)". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on August 28, 2004. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
    8. ^ a b c d e f Dave, Hackenberg (September 16, 1990). "Parker runs for 205 in Rockets' victory". The Blade. Toledo, Ohio: Google News. p. B1. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
    9. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
    10. ^ a b c d "Toledo sails past Northern". Chicago Sun-Times. September 16, 1990. Archived from the original on March 28, 2015. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
    11. ^ "Mid-Am honors Rockets' Parker". The Blade. Toledo, Ohio: Google News. September 18, 1990. p. 25. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
    12. ^ DeLassus, David. "Toledo vs Northern Illinois". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on September 24, 2004. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
    13. ^ a b c d e Dave, Hackenberg (September 23, 1990). "Meager calls tune as Rockets win, 28–16". The Blade. Toledo, Ohio: Google News. p. B1. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
    14. ^ a b c "Toledo tops Ball State". Post-Tribune. September 23, 1990. Archived from the original on January 25, 2013. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
    15. ^ DeLassus, David. "Toledo vs Ball State". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on August 28, 2004. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
    16. ^ a b c d e f g Dave, Hackenberg (September 30, 1990). "UT's dramatic drive beats upstart OU". The Blade. Toledo, Ohio: Google News. p. B1. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
    17. ^ "OU takes on unbeaten Toledo Rockets in MAC tilt Saturday". Times-Sentinel. Garfield Heights, Ohio: Google News. UPI. September 28, 1990. p. 4. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
    18. ^ DeLassus, David. "Toledo vs Ohio". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on August 28, 2004. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
    19. ^ a b c d e f g Dave, Hackenberg (October 7, 1990). "Rockets ride running game to big win". The Blade. Toledo, Ohio: Google News. p. B1. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
    20. ^ DeLassus, David. "Toledo vs Eastern Michigan". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 16, 2014. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
    21. ^ a b Dave, Hackenberg (October 14, 1990). "Rockets rally to defeat BG, 19–13". The Blade. Toledo, Ohio: Google News. p. B1. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
    22. ^ a b c "Parker leads Rockets in win over Bowling Green". Portsmouth Daily Times. Portsmouth, Ohio: Google News. Associated Press. October 14, 1990. p. B4. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
    23. ^ DeLassus, David. "Toledo vs Bowling Green". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 16, 2014. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
    24. ^ a b c d e f Dave, Hackenberg (October 21, 1990). "Rockets handed first loss by CMU". The Blade. Toledo, Ohio: Google News. p. B1. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
    25. ^ "UT-Central Michigan game to decide MAC title". Times-Sentinel. Garfield Heights, Ohio: Google News. UPI. October 19, 1990. p. 6. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
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    27. ^ DeLassus, David. "Toledo vs Central Michigan". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 18, 2014. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
    28. ^ a b c d e f Dave, Hackenberg (October 28, 1990). "Rockets rally to beat Kent". The Blade. Toledo, Ohio: Google News. p. E1. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
    29. ^ DeLassus, David. "Toledo vs Kent State". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 18, 2014. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
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    32. ^ a b c d e Brennan, Christine (November 11, 1990). "Pace's catch, Yancey's heroics provide Navy 14–10 victory". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 16, 2018. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
    33. ^ a b c d e f g h Dave, Hackenberg (November 18, 1990). "Rockets win big, 42–28, for best season since '83". The Blade. Toledo, Ohio: Google News. p. B1. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
    34. ^ a b c Hackenberg, Dave (February 14, 1991). "UT begins the search...again". The Blade. Toledo, Ohio: Google News. p. 29. Retrieved July 15, 2012.