1970 Toledo Rockets football team

The 1970 Toledo Rockets football team was an American football team that represented the University of Toledo in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 1970 NCAA University Division football season. In their eighth and final season under head coach Frank Lauterbur, the Rockets compiled a 12–0 record, outscored all opponents by a combined total of 384 to 88, and won the MAC championship. The season ended with a 40–12 victory over Southern Conference champion William & Mary in the 1970 Tangerine Bowl.^[1][2] The Rockets were ranked No. 12 in the final AP Poll and No. 17 in the final UPI Poll.^[3] After the Tangerine Bowl, William & Mary head coach Lou Holtz said, "Toledo can play football with anyone – that includes teams like Ohio State and Texas."^[4]

1970 Toledo Rockets football
MAC champion Tangerine Bowl champion
Tangerine Bowl, W 40–12 vs. William & Mary
Conference	Mid-American Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 17
AP	No. 12
Record	12–0 (5–0 MAC)
Head coach	Frank Lauterbur (8th season)
Offensive coordinator	Dave Hardy (3rd season)
Defensive coordinator	Dick Strahm (1st season)
Captains	Tom Duncan Tony Harris
Home stadium	Glass Bowl
Seasons ← 1969 1971 →

1970 Mid-American Conference football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 12 Toledo $	5	–	0	–	0			12	–	0	–	0
Miami (OH)	3	–	2	–	0			7	–	3	–	0
Ohio	3	–	2	–	0			4	–	5	–	0
Western Michigan	2	–	3	–	0			7	–	3	–	0
Kent State	1	–	4	–	0			3	–	7	–	0
Bowling Green	1	–	4	–	0			2	–	6	–	1
$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

The 1970 season was part of a 35-game winning streak that consisted of three consecutive seasons from 1969 through 1971. During the streak, Toledo won three consecutive MAC championships and three consecutive bowl games, led the nation in total defense all three years, and outscored opponents by a combined total of 1,152 to 344.^[5] It remains the second longest winning streak in modern Division I-A college football history behind Oklahoma's 47-game streak in the 1950s.^[6]

The defense led the way for the 1970 team, allowing 104.8 rushing yards, 185.8 total yards, 3.7 turnovers forced, and 7.3 points per game.^[7] In a game against Dayton, Toledo allowed only 44 yards of total offense, zero rushing first downs, and zero passing yards, each of which remains a program record.^[8] In a 52–3 victory over Marshall, the team forced seven turnovers.^[9]

Defensive tackle Mel Long was selected as a first-team All-American by the Newspaper Enterprise Association.^[10] Eleven Toledo players received first-team All-MAC honors: Mel Long, quarterback Chuck Ealey, fullback Charlie Cole, end Don Fair, offensive guard Bob Caverly, offensive tackle Ken Wilson, defensive end Bob Rose, linebacker John Niezgoda, middle guard Steve Schnitkey, and defensive backs Tom Duncan and Gary Hinkson.^[11]

For the second consecutive year, Chuck Ealey was named MAC Back of the Year, and Frank Lauterbur was named MAC Coach of the Year. Mel Long was also named MAC Lineman of the Year.^[12] Ken Crots, who converted six of 18 field goal attempts,^[13] Ealey also won the Jim Nicholson Award as the player contributing the most to the team's success.^[14] The team captains were Tom Duncan and Tony Harris.^[15]

The team's statistical leaders included Chuck Ealey with 2,026 passing yards, Charles Cole with 774 rushing yards, Don Fair with 949 receiving yards, Tom Duncan with 76 points scored, Steve Schnitkey with 178 tackles, and Gary Hinkson with seven interceptions.^[16]

The Rockets played their home game in the Glass Bowl. The attendance at six home games was 93,120, an average of 15,520 per game.^[17]

One day before the Rockets' appearance in the Tangerine Bowl, Frank Lauterbur confirmed a leak that he was leaving the program to become the head football coach at Iowa.^[4] Lauterbur compiled a 48–32–2 record in eight seasons at Toledo.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 12	East Carolina*		Glass Bowl Toledo, OH	W 35–2	14,106	[18]
September 19	at Buffalo*		Rotary Field Buffalo, NY	W 27–6
September 26	Marshall*		Glass Bowl Toledo, OH	W 52–3
October 3	at Ohio		Peden Stadium Athens, OH	W 42–7
October 10	Bowling Green		Glass Bowl Toledo, OH (rivalry)	W 20–0
October 17	at Western Michigan		Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	W 20–0
October 24	at Kent State	No. T–19	Dix Stadium Kent, OH	W 34–17
October 31	Miami (OH)		Glass Bowl Toledo, OH	W 14–13
November 7	Northern Illinois*	No. 15	Glass Bowl Toledo, OH	W 45–7
November 14	at Dayton*	No. 16	Baujan Field Dayton, OH	W 31–7
November 21	Colorado State*	No. 15	Glass Bowl Toledo, OH	W 24–14	14,521	[19]
December 28	vs. William & Mary*	No. 15	Tangerine Bowl Orlando, FL (Tangerine Bowl)	W 40–12	15,664	[20]
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Roster

1970 Toledo Rockets football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class QB 16 Chuck Ealey Jr	Defense Pos. # Name Class DT 77 Mel Long Jr	Special teams Pos. # Name Class	Head coach Frank Lauterbur Coordinators/assistant coaches Dave Hardy – Offensive coordinator Sil Cornachione – Offensive backs Charlie Snyder – Wide receivers Dick Strahm – Defensive coordinator Don Lewis – Defensive ends/linebackers Jim Flynn – Defensive backs Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt

After the season

NFL Draft

The following Rockets were selected in the 1971 NFL draft following the season.^[21]

Round	Pick	Player	Position	NFL club
4	101	Tony Harris	Running back	San Francisco 49ers
15	369	Charles Cole	Running back	Buffalo Bills