Music and excitement filled the Old Orchard neighborhood near UToledo on Saturday morning as the Rocket Marching Band helped lead the annual Edward C. and Helen G. Schmakel Homecoming Parade before the 94th Homecoming game, a 30-20 victory over the Miami RedHawks.
The parade was one of the main events during the University’s weeklong celebration of Homecoming, its longest-standing tradition, including on-campus events for students.
For University of Toledo alumni, 2024 Homecoming festivities began Friday afternoon in Centennial Mall on Main Campus with Rocket Romance, a celebration of former students who found love at UToledo.
Followed by the Homecoming Gala on Friday evening, The University of Toledo Alumni Association recognized distinguished graduates including Jeffrey Traudt, who received his bachelor of marketing in 1979, with the Gold T award winner.
Also in attendance at the Homecoming Gala was former UToledo football great Chuck Ealey, a College Football Hall of Fame inductee who never lost a never lost a game in his three seasons as the Rockets’ starting quarterback, and his wife, Sherri Ealey.
On Saturday morning, crisp-blue sunny skies greeted the Edward C. and Helen G. Schmakel Homecoming Parade as it worked its way through Old Orchard neighborhood and ended back on campus.
Sponsored by Blue Key National Honor Society and supported by the Office of Student Engagement and the Office of Alumni Engagement, the parade featured floats, dignitaries, alumni, honorees, Rocky and Rocksy, with Interim President Matt Schroeder as grand marshal.
After the parade, the Alumni Association hosted a Pregame Party with food and drinks from noon to 3 p.m. at William and Carol Koester Alumni Pavilion.
And for the main event Saturday afternoon, the 94th Homecoming game, the Toledo Rockets played the Miami RedHawks at Glass Bowl Stadium, with Toledo leading the entire game on the way to a 30-20 victory before a crowd of more than 25,000.
In a rematch of last year’s MAC Championship Game, as well as the league’s last two league title winners, Toledo outplayed the RedHawks in all phases of the game. The Rockets racked up 396 yards of total offense while holding Miami to just 350 yards. On special teams, Toledo blocked a punt and returned another for 33 yards, fielded a late onside kick and made field goals of 47 and 48 yards.
And during halftime, the Homecoming 2024 King and Queen, Marquan Denby and Mai Mang, were recognized by Interim President Schroeder.
The Alumni Association also recognized its three top Homecoming Gala award winners. From left, William Pierce, associate vice president of alumni engagement, Jeffrey Traudt, the Gold T award recipient; Carol Thomas, the Daniel J. Saevig Blue T award recipient; Dr. Gabriella Pardee, the Edward H. Schmidt Outstanding Young Alum award recipient; Alumni Association President André Swinerton; and Interim President Matt Schroeder.
