BOCA RATON, Fla. — As Toledo’s players and coaches ran around the grass field at FAU Stadium Tuesday night, reveling in their end-of-season triumph in the Boca Raton Bowl, the farthest thing from their minds was the five losses that could have easily been one.
It didn’t matter if the Rockets won nine, 10, or 12 games, 2022 was a success. Not only were they the first UT team since 2001 to win both the Mid-American Conference championship and a bowl game, they were just the second MAC team to accomplish that feat since 2012.
Losses to San Diego State, Buffalo, Bowling Green, and Western Michigan might frustrate Toledo as it looks back at 2022, but when it looks forward to 2023, the only word that’s necessary is momentum.
“We’re going to have more confidence in ourselves,” said running back Jacquez Stuart. “It’s a confidence builder, for sure.”
The Rockets have a favorable non-conference schedule next season, with trips to Illinois and Massachusetts and home games against San Jose State and Texas Southern. They lose top-flight defenders, such as Dyontae Johnson, Desjuan Johnson, and Jamal Hines, but Quinyon Mitchell, Dallas Gant, and Maxen Hook return.
And the offense brings back nearly all of its playmakers, including quarterback Dequan Finn, who, when healthy in 2022, looked like one of the most dynamic players in the country.
“We lose some great pieces,” Toledo coach Jason Candle said. “We'll add some great ones. We’ll continue to build off the guys that are here.”
The 2022 season wasn’t devoid of adversity. UT gave up 77 points to Ohio State. It lost the following week at San Diego State, surrendering the game-winning touchdown in the final two minutes. The Rockets blew a three-touchdown second-half lead at Buffalo. They lost to archrival Bowling Green. The regular season ended with consecutive losses. Injuries piled up at critical positions.
There were moments when UT did shrink, as evidenced by another loss to BGSU, the mini November tailspin, and five total losses. But Tucker Gleason’s clutch play against Eastern Michigan, a thrilling comeback over Kent State, and a 2-0 flourish in the two biggest games of the season were proof that the Rockets have the culture and fortitude to steel themselves under pressure.
“It’s been a long journey,” Finn said. “I would just say, it’s not done yet.”
There were doubts heading into the MAC championship game, not just about the season but regarding the trajectory of the program. It’s plausible that Candle was coaching for his job against Ohio.
After a MAC title and bowl victory, he enhanced his position in negotiations for a contract extension.
“We define culture as this, it’s really simple: It’s really what you tolerate and what you celebrate,” Candle said. “These guys didn’t tolerate a bunch of B.S. all year long, and they celebrated the wins the right way. And, hopefully, our guys learn that from the senior class as we move forward. So if that happens I think we have a lot of momentum going into the offseason.”
First Published December 25, 2022, 12:21 p.m.
