The University of Toledo
12/13/2024 | Press release | Archived content
Toledo Highly Motivated to Play Pitt in Dec. 26 GameAbove Sports Bowl
Toledo Highly Motivated to Play Pitt in Dec. 26 GameAbove Sports Bowl
Toledo enters the GameAbove Sports Bowl with a chance to send its senior class out with a win and do something only one other Rocket team has done before - beat two power conference opponents in the same year.
Toledo (7-5) faces ACC member Pittsburgh (7-5) at Ford Field in Detroit on Thursday, Dec. 26 (2 p.m./ESPN). The Rockets have 20 seniors on their roster who will be playing in their final game as a collegian, 11 of whom are playing in at least their sixth season of college football. Head Coach Jason Candle would like nothing better than to send out this senior class with a victory.
Linebacker Daniel Bolden will be playing in his 58th game wearing the Midnight Blue and Gold when the Rockets play Pitt in the GameAbove Sports Bowl on Dec. 26 at Ford Field in Detroit. Tickets are available.
"You're talking about guys who have lived through some really hard moments here at Toledo," Candle said. "You've got guys who went through losing a teammate (Jahneil Douglas in 2020), you've got guys who went through COVID, you've got guys who went through multiple injuries that have taken seasons away from them. You've got guys who have won championship games, you've got guys who have lost championship games. They've stayed the course. They've viewed prosperity and adversity as the same thing and have tried to learn lessons from both sides of that. So I want to put this team in a great position to help our seniors win their last football game. They should leave here with a great memory."
Linebacker Daniel Bolden is one of those seniors. Bolden, who is in his seventh season as a Rocket, will be playing in his 58th game wearing the Midnight Blue and Gold when the Rockets take the field on Dec. 26.
"It's been a long time to finally get here. It feels surreal that it's my last game ever as a Rocket," said Bolden, who missed the 2021 and 2022 seasons due to injuries. "I'm motivated, and the team's motivated to finish this out with a win. I want to go out with a good feeling."
Bolden and his teammates have a chance to do something that only one other Rocket team has done - win two games against a power conference opponent. Toledo defeated Mississippi State of the SEC, 41-17, in Starkville on Sept. 14. The only time the Rockets defeated two power conference opponents in the same year was in 2015 when they knocked off No. 18 Arkansas on the road and Iowa State at home. Candle was the offensive coordinator at the time for the Rockets under current Iowa State Head Coach Matt Campbell.
"We know we are playing a tremendous opponent in Pittsburgh," Candle said. "Coach (Pat) Narzduzzi and his staff have a done a great job for a really long time in developing a good program. They're a physical team that plays really hard, so we've got our work cut out for us. We're excited to get an opportunity to play a Power Four opponent in what I believe will be a first-class trip for our team."
Toledo is 1-2 all-time vs. Pitt, including a 35-31 win in the Glass Bowl in 2003 when the Panthers were ranked No. 9 in the country.
Tickets for the 2024 GameAbove Sports Bowl are on sale now at UTRockets.com/bowltix, by phone at 419-530-GOLD (4653) or at the Rocket Ticket Office in Savage Arena during normal business hours, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.
The deadline for priority seating is Tuesday, Dec. 17, at 5 p.m. After the deadline, assigned seat locations will be based on football season ticket, Rocket Fund and Toledo Athletics giving history. The deadline for all purchases is Monday, Dec. 23, at noon. After that, all purchases must be made through Ford Field or at the gate on game day.
Tickets will be delivered digitally via Ticketmaster starting on Friday, December 20. Specific instructions will be sent via email at the time of delivery.
The University of Toledo Alumni Association will host a pre-game party at Ford Field at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 26, at the Comerica Gridiron Club. Pre-game party tickets are $25 for Alumni Association members and $35 for non-members. A charter bus and pre-game package can be purchased for $65 for Alumni Association member and $85 for non-members.
A full buffet dinner with soft drinks will be offered at the party, as well as a cashless bar available with assorted beers and specialty cocktails.
Buses will begin loading at the Center for Alumni and Donor Engagement (CADE) at 4510 Dorr St. at 9:30 a.m. and depart promptly at 10 a.m. Buses will drop off at Gate C for the GameAbove Sports Bowl Pregame Party. Immediately following the game, buses will pick up passengers at Ford Field, Gate C for the return trip to CADE.
Click here to purchase tickets to the UToledo Alumni Association pre-game party.
For more information and questions, call 419-530-2586.