Rocket fans sound off on the upcoming season
What do 11 consecutive wins, an 8-0 Mid-American Conference record and back-to-back MAC championship game appearances do for a fan base?
Satisfy them. Thrill them. Entertain them. You pick the word.
The University of Toledo entered last season coming off a MAC title and a bowl victory. A bouquet of returning starters created great expectations that weren’t necessarily met, as the Rockets lost to Miami in the MAC title game and Wyoming in the Arizona Bowl. But they took fans on an incredible ride from start to finish, nearly completing an undefeated regular season and spending a few weeks in the top 25.
The Blade conducted its first-ever UT football fan survey a year ago, and now we’re back for more, gathering intel on the state of the program, head coach Jason Candle, and what to expect in 2024.
The hundreds of responses were wide-ranging and (gasp!) overly positive. College football fans are notorious for their boomerang of emotions that trend toward negativity and fatalism. Toledo is not exempt, but 20 wins over the past two seasons have apparently softened them up.
Just wait for the first loss.
Below is a glimpse into the psyche of UT fans.
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HOW RESPONDENTS RATE THE STATE OF THE PROGRAM (1: POOR; 5: EXCELLENT)
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TOLEDO ROCKETS FOOTBALL DESCRIBED IN ONE WORD
Fans were mostly positive about the team’s direction, with “exciting” being the most-common description. Still, many fans though the team is inconsistent, so while fans expect a strong season from the Rockets, expectations are temepered. Here is a look at the most-frequent responses: