Tag: Rockets

Toledo hires Mercer’s Mike Jacobs as head coach

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Mike Jacobs was named the head coach of the Toledo Rockets on Wednesday, replacing Jason Candle.

Jacobs, 46, spent the past two seasons as the coach at Mercer, compiling a 20-6 record (9-3 in 2025) with two trips to the FCS playoffs.

He has an overall record of 94-23 (.803) including stints at Lenoir-Rhyne from 2020-23 and Notre Dame (Ohio) from 2016-19.

“Mike Jacobs is one of the winningest active head coaches in the nation and an extraordinary fit for Rocket Football,” Toledo athletic director Bryan B. Blair said in a news release. “Across 10 seasons as a head coach, he has compiled a remarkable record. He has earned five conference Coach of the Year honors, won seven conference championships, and never had a losing season.”

Candle was named the head coach at UConn on Saturday after compiling an 81-44 record at Toledo since 2015.

Jacobs is an Ohio native who was an offensive lineman and long snapper at Ohio State from 1997-2001.

“My family and I are humbled and honored to lead the University of Toledo’s storied football program,” Jacobs said. “We are looking forward to being a part of Team Toledo and helping this program achieve new heights.”

He was named the Southern Conference’s Coach of the Year in both seasons at Mercer. The Bears’ season ended on Saturday with a loss to South Dakota in the second round of the FCS playoffs.

–Field Level Media

Sep 14, 2024; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Toledo Rockets quarterback Tucker Gleason (4) looks to pass against the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the first quarter at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-Imagn Images

Tucker Gleason tosses 3 TDs as Toledo stuns Mississippi State

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Tucker Gleason completed 23 of 28 pass attempts for 285 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions to lead unbeaten Toledo to a 41-17 upset victory Saturday against Mississippi State at Starkville, Miss.

Mississippi State (2-1) was a 10-point favorite in the first meeting between the programs.

Toledo (3-0) achieved its second road victory against an SEC school. The Rockets, 2-4 against the SEC, beat Arkansas at Little Rock, Ark., in 2015.

Toledo established control in its first possession when it drove 70 yards in 12 plays, capped with Gleason’s 4-yard touchdown pass to Junior Vandeross III.

The drive took 6:13 off the clock and gave the Rockets a 7-0 lead with 6:35 left in the first quarter.

After having to punt on its next possession, Toledo scored a touchdown the next three times it had the ball.

Gleason threw another touchdown pass, a 6-yard connection with Jerjuan Newton, and Connor Walendzak and Willi Shaw III each had rushing touchdowns to give Toledo a 28-3 lead with 1:09 left in the first half.

Mississippi State threatened to score at the end of the first half but came up short after coach Jeff Lebby elected to go for a touchdown rather than a field goal with the ball on the Rocket 12 with one second left.

Blake Shapen’s pass in the end zone was intercepted by Avery Smith.

Shapen, a fifth-year senior who is a transfer from Baylor, completed 28 of 39 pass attempts for 319 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.

Toledo increased its lead early in the third quarter after Mississippi State turned the ball over on downs at its 37.

Davon Booth was stopped for no gain by Toledo’s Lance Dixon and Cavon Butler on the fourth-and-1 attempt.

Four plays later, Gleason connected with Newton for a 15-yard score to increase the lead to 35-3 with 10:05 left in the third quarter.

Mississippi State answered on its next possession, putting together a 13-play, 72-yard drive that was capped with a 9-yard touchdown pass from Shapen to Mario Craver.

The Bulldogs cut the lead to 38-17 with 6:11 left after an 11-play, 80-yard drive that ended with Shapen’s 1-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Coleman Jr.

–Field Level Media

Dec 28, 2021; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Rockets owner submits bid for Commanders

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta has submitted a $5.5 billion bid to buy the Washington Commanders, The Washington Post reported Sunday.

Fertitta purchased the NBA franchise for $2.2 billion in September 2017.

The only other known bidder is Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils owner Josh Harris, according to ESPN.

Commanders owner Dan Snyder announced in November that he and his wife, Tanya, had hired Bank of America Securities to consider “potential transactions” involving the NFL franchise.

ESPN reported Thursday that Amazon founder and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos had hired an investment firm to explore the possibility of bidding on the Commanders.

On Saturday, however, The Athletic reported that Snyder has barred Bezos from placing a bid.

Snyder, 58, has owned the team since 1999.

Media reports last month said the Commanders could be sold as soon as March but that no candidate met Snyder’s asking price of $7 billion in the first round of bids.

–Field Level Media