UniversityUniversity History History and and Traditions Traditions University Origin year to complete University Hall and The University of Toledo was the second building built on campus, founded by Jesup Wakeman Scott the Field House. The Collegiate Gothic on October 12, 1872 as a private arts structural design for University Hall set Outlook and trades school, known as Toledo the standard for all other buildings to be University of Arts and Trades, offer- constructed on the University of Toledo’s ing painting and architectural drawing Bancroft Campus. as its only subjects. Scott, the editor for the Toledo Blade newspaper from Centennial Mall 1844 to 1847, was a public-spirited During the Blizzard of 1978, the Toledoan who felt the city should land in mid-campus, which used to be a Coaches have a university to train young faculty parking lot and Army barracks, people for responsible positions in the was completely covered by snow. Gradu- growing community. Scott’s dream ate students in the university’s geography led him to endow 160 acres of land department conducted a study and pho- which later became the Scott Park tographed the paths on the snow made Campus. Scott died in 1874 and the by students walking to class. The design school was forced to close in 1878 of the sidewalks in Centennial Mall was due to a lack of funds. On January Players then constructed using the layout of 8, 1884, the assets of the university The Bell Tower was completed in 1931. those paths. were turned over to the city of Toledo There are 290 trees located in the 9.7 and the school reopened that year as acres of Mall area. This shrine of trees is the Manual Training School, later changing its name to Toledo known as the Circle of Champions. Centennial Mall was com- University. In 1922, the university moved into an automobile pleted in 1980 and provides the campus with an environmentally mechanics training facility on Scott’s land that had been con- friendly look, which contributes to UT’s ranking as one of the structed during World War I. After the Toledo voters passed a “100 most beautifully landscaped places in the country,” accord- bond levy in 1928, the main campus was moved north to the ing to the American Society of Landscape Architects. Only 22 Opponents land located on Bancroft Street, with University Hall being the college campuses are on the list. first building constructed in 1931. On July 1, 1967, the University was given the status of The University Seal a state-funded university by the Ohio General Assembly and The University of Toledo’s Seal was placed in the middle became known as the University of Toledo. On July 1, 2006 the of Centennial Mall and dedicated on October 23, 1995 by the University merged with the Medical University of Ohio, making Student Alumni Council, with the support of various campus and UT one of only x institutions in the state with a medical school community organizations. A tradition that was formally started by 2005 Review and a law school. Omicron Delta Kappa, as part of their ritual, is that no Rockets past, present, or future who cross this path on their educational The Bell Tower and University Hall journey shall ever step on the seal. This is every Rocket’s sign President Henry J. Doermann, the father of the Bell Tower of respect and gratitude for our great university. It is a UT myth, and the university’s structural design, wanted all of the buildings and believed to be true, that if you step on the seal in Centennial on Bancroft Campus to be of a Collegiate Gothic architectural Mall you will fail your next exam. History design to reflect the best design elements of the universities of Europe. President Doermann felt such architecture would provide Toledo Edison Memorial Fountain an atmosphere to inspire students. He also dreamed of a central The Toledo Edison Memorial Fountain, a gift to The Uni- tower that could be spotted from anywhere on campus. President versity of Toledo by the Toledo Edison Co. for the Centennial Doermann went against the objections of many Toledoans who of Light (1879-1979), is located on the north side of the Student felt the design was too extravagant and a waste of money. He Union and was built when Centennial Mall was constructed in knew how much this Tower would mean to the UT community; 1980. The fountain, designed by Toledoan Phyllis Nordin, was therefore, he set out and accomplished his lofty goal of building Records turned into a flowerbed for four years because the rusted pipes the beautiful high structure that resides at the north center part of the fountain would have cost $50,000 to repair. After a fund- of Bancroft Campus. Residing on the top four corners of this raising effort by Student Government President Kevin Hopkins, architectural gem are four gargoyles which overlook and guard Toledo Edison, and many others, the flowerbed was restored back the University of Toledo. into a fountain in 1997. The 156-step, 206-foot Bell Tower sits atop of University Hall. Completed in 1931, University Hall was the first build- Researched and written by Donovan Thomas Nichols ing built on Bancroft Campus. It took 400 men nearly one full University 188 TOLEDO FOOTBALL - 2005 GMAC Bowl Champion AthleticAthletic TraditionsTraditions Nickname Origin While driving to work, Gilbert Mohr heard Jim Uebelhart Outlook When the University of Toledo played then-powerful Carn- announce the contest on the radio in January of that year. An egie Tech in football in 1923, Pittsburgh sports writers were amateur songwriter, Mohr began humming different tunes, and surprised to learn that UT did not have a nickname. Pittsburgh later with his wife, Jean Strout, wrote the lyrics. Their alma writers pressed James Neal, a UT stu- mater entry won the contest and the couple received a $100 dent working in the press box, to come government bond. “Fair Toledo” debuted at up with a nickname. Fight Song halftime of the Marshall-Toledo basketball game on March 2, 1959. Coaches Despite UT’s 32-12 loss, the stu- “U of Toledo” dent labeled the team “Skyrockets,” ob- Chorus viously impressed by his alma mater’s U of Toledo, we’ll fight for you The Cannon flashy performance against a superior (Fight! Fight! Fight!) Everyone who attends a Rocket team. The sportswriters shortened the U of Toledo, we love the Gold and Blue football game knows when UT scores name to “Rockets,” which has been (Let’s go Blue!) by the traditional “boom” of the cannon. used since. Men of the Varsity, the enemy must yield, The cannon originates from a Pi Kappa We’ll fight just like our ancestors Many other suggestions for UT’s Phi member who bartered his cannon for Players and march right down the field! nickname have been considered through his fraternity dues because he was short T-O-L-E-D-O, Toledo! the years, including a Spanish theme on money. The cannon is a Civil War era of Toreadors or Bulls, in honor of Verse (no longer used) model, one of the oldest around. Toledo’s sister relationship with the The Indians roamed the Maumee River land In 1953, the men of Pi Kappa Phi Frater- Till along came Anthony Wayne. city’s namesake in Spain. Others in- Old England was the ruler of the Lakes, nity fired the first cannon shot at a Rocket cluded Commodores, Turtles, Bancroft Till Perry gained his fame. football game from the top northeast stone Highwaymen and Jeeps. They were fighters and victorious tower in the Glass Bowl. The cannon Opponents Toledo teams were referred to as the And they drove back every foe. continued to be fired from this position Blue and Gold, Munies (for municipal Gave their legends and traditions To the school we honor so. until 1989, when it had to be moved to the university) and Dwyer’s Boys (after field because of structural concerns with head football coach James Dwyer) in Alma Mater the stone towers. sports stories prior to 1923. In 1990, the cannon was fired from the “Fair Toledo” northwest corner of the end zone. Then In tower shadows voices now raising, 2005 Review School Colors To alma mater Golden and Blue, during the beginning of the 1995 football Midnight Blue and Gold were se- Fair Toledo praise to thee, season, because of concerns of the on-field lected as the school’s official colors by Portal of learning ever be, media, the administration decided to move the Varsity ‘T’ club, at its organizational Hallowed halls we shall revere, the cannon once more to its present day meeting on December 1, 1919. Ten of Vow to keep thy memory dear. position in the southeast corner of the field the 14 football lettermen met to form near the student section. Blasts are fired at the club, and also chose Ed Stader as the beginning of each home game, at the their first president. end of each quarter, and after every Rocket score. History The Fight Song The Rocket “U of Toledo” was written in 1932 by Dave Connelly, UT In 1961, the University of Toledo procured a genuine Nike- athletic director and baseball coach through much of the 1930s Ajax missile from the U.S. Army missile program. Simply and 1940s. Connelly loved to sing, but had never studied music. known as “The Rocket,” it was placed behind the crossbar of He wrote the words for “U of Toledo” and sang the melody to the north end goalpost, where the Larimer Athletic Complex a family friend, Bernie Jones.