Stunned but happy, fans greet UT team

Dan Suer greets the returning Rockets, including his nephew, kicker Brett Brodbeck, outside the Glass Bowl at the university. the blade/lori king University of Toledo offensive lineman Phillipkeith Manley gets a hand from Scotty Harder and his teammates, who were at the Glass Bowl playing a little league game.

Returning home triumphant from their 13-10 victory over the University of Michigan yesterday, University of Toledo football players were greeted with clapping, cheers, and shouts when they arrived outside the University of Toledo's Glass Bowl stadium after the game.

Toledo was considered to be the underdog in yesterday's game, which was played in Ann Arbor. It was the first match up for the two teams.

Walking off their buses, Rocket team members smiled and waved to the crowd of about 40 people shouting "UT," "Nice job, guys," "Way to go Rockets," and "Congratulations." Some greeted family members and others walked to their cars.

Several fans and well-wishers in the crowd were clad in Rockets shirts. Others were young football players and their parents from a little league game between Rossford and Maumee being played at UT yesterday.

"I've got no words for it," said Mindy Brodbeck, mother of Rockets player Brett Brodbeck. "I'm so excited. We're very proud of them."

She and her family came from Nashville, Tenn., to watch the game that came down to the last few seconds of play and a missed field goal by Michigan.

"It was awesome," she added.

Prior to this victory over the Wolverines, UT had lost its last three games, and several sports commentators described the Toledo win as shocking and stunning. Some compared it to Toledo's big 24-6 win over Penn State in September, 2000.

Dan Suer, who was also waiting outside the Glass Bowl to greet his nephew, Brett Brodbeck, seemed a little stunned himself.

"They just beat Michigan at Michigan," he said in disbelief. "How exciting is that?"

Yesterday marked Michigan's first loss to a Mid-American Conference school.

"It was an amazing win," said Joel Suer, a Bowling Green State University student who was there. "That's one win they'll remember forever."

Contact Kate Giammarise at:

kgiammarise@theblade.com

or 419-724-6133.