Lester Richmond News

Eric Page slowly walked alone off the field at Doyt Perry Stadium. Minutes earlier, the University of Toledo freshman receiver fumbled away the ball at Bowling Green's 11-yard line and cost his team a chance at tying the game at 31.

Anybody arriving at the University of Toledo's Larimer Athletic Complex yesterday received a surprising welcome.

While his players sang the fight song after the victory over Eastern Michigan on Friday night, Tim Beckman glanced at the countdown in the University of Toledo locker room that showed the days, hours, minutes, and seconds until the Rockets faced their archrival.

Opelt, named MAC player of the week two weeks in a row, has thrown for 742 yards in two games.

A boatload of congratulatory text messages and voicemails awaited Aaron Opelt when he walked into the University of Toledo locker room after Friday night's rout of Colorado.

It's never an easy ride as a college quarterback, and it's gotten especially bumpy for Colorado's Cody Hawkins.

The bus ride back from West Lafayette, Ind., for the University of Toledo's football team wasn't exactly upbeat following Saturday's 52-31 loss to Purdue.

Toledo At Purdue FACTS & STATS: Site: Ross-Ade Stadium -- West Lafayette, Indiana.

There is some history that never will be repeated. In 1971, for example, as the University of Toledo polished off its remarkable 35-0 football winning streak, the Rockets' defense led the nation by holding opponents to 164.6 yards per game.

The Pastor and 19 other preachers gathered in the spring, looking to lead their congregation in a new, more successful direction.

COACH: Tim Beckman, first year at Toledo, first year as a head coach. CRITICAL CAMP FOCUS: New Toledo head coach Tim Beckman will stick with the spread offense in place at Toledo, but he is demanding it employ a much more physical approach.

Saturday, Sept. 19, Cleveland Browns Stadium, time TBA. Any football coach will tell you he wants aggressive kids who play hard, listen and compete.

New Toledo football coach Tim Beckman is enjoying his first spring season with the Rockets and already looking forward to playing Ohio State in Cleveland on Sept.