Toledo Notes- Bowl Game

toledo GAME NOTESthe fifth-straight season. Their last bowlappearance came in 2012 vs. UtahState at the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.• Toledo is 32-8 in MAC play since2010, 18-6 since Matt Campbell tookover as head coach in 2012. The Rocketsare also 15-3 overall at home underCampbell.11 ROCKETS MAKE ALL-MACThe University of Toledoclaimed 11 spots on the 2014 All-MAC football team, tied with WesternMichigan for the most of anyschool. Three Rockets made firstteamAll-MAC. They were seniorcenter Greg Mancz, sophomorerunning back Kareem Hunt and seniorlinebacker Junior Sylvestre.Seven Rockets made secondteamAll-MAC, while one made thethird team. Earning second-teamhonors were senior offensive linemenJosh Hendershot and JeffMyers; sophomore wide receiverCorey Jones; senior placekickerJeremiah Detmer, a three-time All-MAC selection; junior defensivelineman Orion Jones; sophomoredefensive lineman Treyvon Hester;and senior safety Jordan Haden.Junior wide receiver Alonzo Russellmade third-team All-MAC for thethird consecutive season.Toledo’s 2014 All-MAC HonoreesFirst-Team All-MACKareem Hunt, So., RBGreg Mancz, Sr., CJunior Sylvestre, Sr., LBSecond-Team All-MACJeremiah Detmer, Sr., PKJordan Haden, Sr., SJosh Hendershot, Sr., OLTreyvon Hester, So., DTCorey Jones, So., WROrion Jones, Jr., DTJeff Myers, Sr., OLThird-Team All-MACAlonzo Russell, Jr., WR• The win over EMU made Toledo15-0 against MAC opponents fromthe state of Michigan over the last fiveseasons.• The Rockets lead the MAC in totaloffense (486.3) and rushing offense(247.3), and are second in scoringoffense (34.4) and rushing defense(120.5).• Toledo also leads the league inkickoff coverage (42.2), red-zone offense(89.5%) and first downs (24.2).MANCZ NAMED ALL-AMERICA BYFWAASenior center Greg Mancz wasnamed second-team All-America bythe Football Writers Association ofAmerica (FWAA).Mancz is the only player from theMid-American Conference to make theFWAA All-American team. He is the firstRocket to earn All-American honorssince Eric Page was named honorablemention by Sports Illustrated in 2011.He is also the first UT offensive linemanto make either first- or second-teamAll-America on one of the five majorAll-America teams since Dan Bukovichmade the Associated Press first-team in1938.“This is a great honor for Greg, onethat he truly deserves,” said Toledohead coach Matt Campbell. “To benamed an All-American is very special,an honor that very few players everreceive. This is a proud day for Gregand for the entire University of Toledofootball program.”“I am very honored and humbledto be named an All-American by theFWAA,” said Mancz. “I look upon anaward like this as an honor for my entireteam, especially the offensive line.We are all seniors and really worked asa single unit this year, so I feel like theother four guys on the line earned ashare of this honor.”MANCZ NAMED MAC’S TOP PLAYERSenior center Greg Mancz washonored as the 2014 Vern Smith LeadershipAward winner, given annuallyto the best player in the Mid-AmericanConference. The award is voted on bythe league’s head coaches.Mancz is a three-time All-MACplayer who moved to center this yearafter playing three seasons at guard.He helped lead the Rockets to an 8-4record and guided the offense to theNo. 1 spot in the MAC in total offense(486.3) and rushing offense (247.3). Heis the first Rocket to receive this awardsince quarterback Bruce Gradkowskishared the honor with Western Michiganwide receiver Greg Jennings in2005, and the first Rocket to win theaward outright since running backWasean Tait in 1995. He is also the firstoffensive lineman to earn the award inits 33-year history.“Greg has had an outstandingcollege career and a terrific seniorseason so he is very deserving of VernSmith Leadership Award,” said UT headcoach Matt Campbell. “He has been adominant center and the anchor ofour offense this year. Greg is also atrue student-athlete and has been oneof the best leaders I have ever beenaround, both on and off the field.”Mancz suffered a knee injury inthe Kent State game on Nov. 4 andsat out the next two games, haltinghis string of 47 consecutive gamesstarted —every game since his redshirtfreshman season. He returned to thelineup on Nov. 28 at Eastern Michigan,playing one series off the bench. He isexpected to be in the starting lineupfor the bowl game, according to HeadCoach Matt Campbell.THE HUNT IS ON FOR RUSHINGROCKET RECORDSSophomore Kareem Hunt becamethe 15th Toledo player to rush for 1,000yards in a season, passing that mile-