The University of Toledo made a big national splash on Tuesday, and not just because its football team defeated Buffalo to win its eighth-consecutive game in a Mid-American Conference midweek “MACtion” game that was broadcast on ESPN2.
The big story on social media was the “Touchdown Tank,” an old-fashioned carnival dunk tank located in the southeast corner of the Glass Bowl field. After every touchdown, one volunteer takes the plunge into the tank, a new tradition that was started this season.
After Maddie Miller, a junior human resources management major and the president of Alpha Xi Delta sorority, emerged from the “Touchdown Tank” during Tuesday’s football game against Buffalo, during which temperatures hovered near 30 degrees, video of her dunk quickly went viral.
During the warmer games in September, there was no shortage of volunteers for the Touchdown Tank. University of Toledo President Gregory Postel was the very first dunkee in Toledo’s home opener vs. Texas Southern. Numerous Rocket coaches and University leaders have also taken the plunge.
But with a surprise snowstorm and temperatures hovering round 30 degrees for Tuesday night’s game, the list of volunteers came down to assistant swimming & diving coach Noah Frederick and a few hardy students. Toledo scored four touchdowns, meaning Frederick and three UToledo students took an arctic plunge.
It was on the Rockets’ third touchdown in the second quarter when the nation really took notice. UToledo student Maddie Miller, a junior human resources management major and the president of Alpha Xi Delta sorority, had been waiting patiently on the platform throughout most of the first quarter. Her moment in the spotlight finally came early in the second quarter when Toledo quarterback Dequan Finn hit tight end Anthony Torres for a 26-yard touchdown. Miller’s subsequent plunge was captured by the ESPN2 cameras and replayed following a commercial break.
The screen grab quickly went viral on social media.
Barstool Sports X (formerly Twitter) account’s comment, “Toledo is utilizing the DUNK TANK in 25 degree weather” received 694,000 views and more than 4,100 likes. The Mid-American Conference stated: “1. Yes, it’s around 30 degrees. 2. Yes, that’s a dunk tank!” That post got 64,000 views on Twitter and 21,000 on Instagram, a very large number for their social media accounts. Many more posts followed.
A day later, the national media picked up the story. Fox News reported the story on its website, “Toledo Rockets fans brave cold for dunk tank celebration.” Sports Illustrated wrote a story with the headline, “Even a Snowstorm Couldn’t Stop Toledo’s Dunk Tank on a 30-Degree Night.” USA Today wrote, “Toledo somehow kept its touchdown tank going during a snowy Halloween game.”
A story on Outkick.com praised the University and its students for their determination to fight through adversity. “If you thought a little bit of snow and some freezing temperatures would make The University of Toledo pack up its dunk tank for the season, you are sorely mistaken … A lesser school would have seen those conditions and said, ‘Y’know what, we’re going to forego the touchdown tank out of an abundance of caution.’ Not Toledo. They weren’t going to let a bit of the white stuff cancel one of their greatest traditions.”
Toledo Vice President and Director of Athletics Bryan B. Blair said the publicity surrounding the “Touchdown Tank” is an example of how Athletics can help improve the on-campus experience for students.
“We love that the entire nation got to see our amazing student section – the Launchpad – having a blast at our games,” said Blair. “The Touchdown Tank is a part of our marketing plan this year to enhance the fan experience at our football games, and much of that effort was focused on getting our students more involved in the games. Students are the lifeblood of our campus and set the tone at our athletic events for a fun, festive environment that you can’t get on the couch.
“We added a new student tailgate area closer to the Glass Bowl, and we have dedicated our entire third quarter to student promotions. However, our efforts to engage our students really got going last year at our men’s and women’s basketball games. We set records for student attendance (34% and 253% increases, respectively) and they really had a positive effect on our teams, both of whom won MAC Championships. We look forward to adding new and exciting ways to engage our students and make them proud to be Rockets!”
Toledo, the defending MAC Champion and currently in first place in the MAC West Division with a 5-0 league record (8-1 overall), has one more home game this season. The Rockets host Eastern Michigan on Wednesday, Nov. 8, in a 7:30 p.m. game that will once again be on ESPN2. The long-range weather forecast calls for possible rain with game-time temperatures in the 40s. The Touchdown Tank will be in full operation with no shortage of student volunteers.
Tickets for the EMU game are available at UTRockets.com/FBTix or by calling or texting 419-530-GOLD (4653).
