Toledo to Unveil Brand-New Alternate Unis vs UMass

The Toledo Rockets have been one of the top programs in the MAC in the Jason Candle era. The Rockets are 66-35 in his eight-plus seasons at the helm (one game in 2015 taking over for Matt Campbell and then one this year) and have won two MAC Championships and made one other. Ever since the 2022 season, the Toledo unis have been primarily navy with a few alternates and throwbacks thrown in there. For this week’s matchup with UMass, the Rockets will break out a brand-new look.

call us Midas, cause everything we touch turns gold ✨#TeamToledo pic.twitter.com/aWpnqieGWT

— Toledo Football (@ToledoFB) September 5, 2024

Toledo to Unveil Brand-New Alternate Unis vs UMass

Toledo has been sporting a new look since the 2022 season but unlike a handful of alternates other schools would use, the all-gold look is a tad different. The gold jerseys have white-lined navy numbers and nameplates with navy numbers on top of the shoulders, rather than the sides like the standard set.

Instead of numbers on the sleeves, Toledo will roll with a thick navy stripe to go with a thick white stripe.

The pants look to be solid gold with just a navy Nike swoosh on the left hip.

A Chance to Start 2-0

The Rockets come into this game 1-0 with a commanding win over Duquesne (FCS) thanks to a three-touchdown first quarter. Tucker Gleason has filled in over the last couple of years but now has full reigns on the offense and starred. He finished the day 15/24 with 202 yards and three touchdowns without any interceptions. John Alan Richter came in late and added 77 yards and a score.

Jerjuan Newton is still an absolute playmaker. He amassed 98 yards and a touchdown off five receptions and tight end Anthony Torres went for 39 yards and a score.

Perhaps the most pressing question (outside of how will you replace Dequan Finn and Quinyon Mitchell) was who will take over as running back with Peny Boone gone? Four running backs logged at least six carries. Willie Shaw led the way with 50 yards and a touchdown. Jacquez Stuart added 34 yards but scored twice. Sevaugh Clark actually finished with the most carries while redshirt freshman and Perrysburg alumnus (a high school power just outside Toledo) got in for six carries and 27 yards.

Defensively, Braden Awls had a commanding game. He finished with nine tackles, half of a sack, half of a tackle for loss, a pass breakup, and an interception.

The Rockets will have to prepare for a dual-threat quarterback in Taisun Phommachanh. Last week in the loss to Eastern Michigan, Phommachanh threw for 177 yards off 30 attempts and ran the ball 16 times for 57 yards. The sixth-year quarterback is on his third school and took over the UMass offense last year, finishing with 1,507 yards and six touchdowns through the air.

Wear Gold!

🧐🧐🧐#TeamToledo pic.twitter.com/1dPcjZGc7F

— Toledo Football (@ToledoFB) September 5, 2024

While UMass isn’t back in the MAC yet, the Minutemen are playing five MAC teams this year. This trip to the Glass Bowl will be the ninth meeting between the two clubs and the Rockets own a commanding 7-1 lead all time with the lone loss coming in the first matchup in 1976.

It’ll be the fourth year in a row Toledo and UMass will play and the Rockets have outscored the Minutemen 141-41 in the previous three meetings. Toledo has a great opportunity to keep the momentum going before heading south to Mississippi State in Week 3.