According to Toledo Rockets lore, the team began when a group of students purchased uniforms from a sporting goods store, then arranged a game against the University of Detroit in order to settle the debt.

[2] For the first few years Toledo played without a nickname, but was dubbed the "Rockets" after two long touchdown runs in a 1923 loss to Carnegie Tech.

With his upgraded schedule and organized recruiting, Nicholson helped build UT's team into a powerful and respected program.

Nicholson help design the Glass Bowl stadium, and continued to be involved in the school's athletics following his retirement by reorganizing the Varsity 'T' Club.

In 1942 when UT's football program was suspended due to WWII, Spears left to take the head coaching job at Maryland.

[6] Although head coach for the Rockets for just two seasons, Bill Orwig established one of the best winning percentages in the program's history (.762).

[6] Affectionately known at "FXL" by his team, Frank Lauterbur coached the Rockets during one of the most successful eras of the program's history.

After capping that season with a second Tangerine Bowl victory, Lauterbur took a head coaching job at Iowa.

In his first season, he led the Rockets to an undefeated 12–0 record, a MAC Championship title, a third consecutive Tangerine Bowl win, and a 14th ranking in the year's final AP poll.

[6] Chuck Stobart held the head coaching position for five seasons, rebuilding the Rockets into a stronger program and premier MAC conference contender.

In 1981, he led UT to a 9–3 record, a MAC Championship title, and a memorable 27–25 victory over San Jose State in the California Bowl that was decided on a last-second field goal by Tony Lee.

[6] Nick Saban was head coach of the Rockets for one season, leading Toledo to a 9–2 record and a MAC co-championship in 1990.

[7] While at the helm of the Rockets, Saban turned down an application of Urban Meyer, who was looking for a job on his staff as an assistant coach.

[12] He's been inducted into four college football halls of fame: Toledo, Kent State (his alma mater), the Mid-American Conference,[6] and the Missouri Hall of Fame (in two categories) Known as "Toledo Tom", Tom Amstutz led the Rockets to some of the greatest successes, including two MAC Championships, four MAC West titles, and four bowl game appearances.

[6] In December 2008, Toledo hired Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Tim Beckman as the new head coach for the Rockets.

[16] He revived the football program, leading the team through consecutive winning seasons with two bowl appearances and one MAC West Division co-championship.

Beckman resigned at the end of the regular season before the bowl game to take on a head coaching position at the University of Illinois.

In 2024, Candle tied Gary Pinkel as the winningest coach in Toledo football history with 73 wins after beating Pittsburgh in the GameAbove Sports Bowl.

[26] Other Football Facilities: Toledo and Bowling Green have a rivalry, nicknamed "The Battle of I-75", dating back to 1924, when BGSU challenged the participation of Toledo's captain, Gilbert Stick, after it was discovered that Stick also played for a local team in Genoa, Ohio.

[28] Another incident came in 1951, when a fight broke out after a hard hit by a BGSU player on fullback Mel Triplett.

In Greenwood's view, the officials should have called a penalty for excessive roughness, and he had a duty to protect his players.