I was scrolling through Netflix yesterday, killing some time and mulling blog post ideas. I came across a documentary about The Eagles. It is sadly just a week since the announcement of the death of Eagles founding member, Glenn Frey. I came of age in the early seventies and The Eagles were one of my bands. So I watched the show and learned more than I needed to about the band and the members. The early seventies was a long time ago, but that music is still great. RIP Glenn Frey.
Last week, while driving west on Sylvania Avenue, near Camp Miakonda, between Corey and Holland-Sylvania roads, I was dive-bombed by a real, honest to goodness Bald Eagle. It swooped down from above, flew over my car and appeared to make a pass at some roadkill in the center lane of the street. We jabbed the brakes, and the great bird flapped its wings - the span of them was wider than the car we were in - and cruised just above car-top level in front of us, for maybe 50 yards before climbing above the trees again, heading north.
There were no Bald Eagles in Metro Toledo in the seventies - other than a pretty mangy one I remember being caged at the Toledo Zoo. In fact, raptors of any kind were rare sights. Over the past couple decades though, big birds like Red Tailed and Sharp Shinned hawks are commonly seen along the highways, on fence posts and in the trees. Peregrine Falcons have nested in downtown Toledo buildings. And news of Bald Eagle's nests started to appear in the local media. Not long ago, a big deal was made that there were six - SIX - eagle's nests established along the Lake Erie shore and Maumee River. There may be more than that within the city's limits today.
So those Metro Toledo schools that have the majestic eagle as there mascot have a bit more localness to hang on to. Notre Dame, Toledo Christian and Clay high schools have a symbol that actually resides in the area. There are no panthers or polar bears running wild in Metro Toledo. And no school has adopted the white tailed deer or Canada Goose so far.
Photo credit: Creative Commons some rights reserved - Bill Evans, 50th Space Wing multimedia photographer
BG head coach Dino Babers' Falcons defeated the Purdue Boilermakers 35-28 on 12-yard TD with just nine seconds to go in regulation. The victory evened the Falcon's 2015 record at 2-2, with both wins against Big 10 schools. BG defeated Maryland two weeks ago 48-27.
Read the story of the game here.
Later Saturday, the UT Rockets took it to the Arkansas State 37-7 at the Glassbowl. The Rockets improved to 3-0 on the 2015 season and are ranked no. 26 nationally in the latest NCAA top 30 poll. UT quarterback Phillip Ealey was selected MAC West offensive player of the week after throwing for 308 yards. UT's Orion Jones was named MAC West defensive player of the week as well.
The Rockets travel to Muncie, Indiana to play Ball State this week while BG plays at Buffalo as both teams open Mid Am Conference play on the road.
Matt Campbell's University of Toledo Rocket football team finally got to play a game that counted at home Saturday night. And the made it count, edging Big 12 power Iowa State in the Glassbowl.
The game was close all night, with the Cyclones taking a late 4th quarter lead, forcing the Rockets to come from behind for a game-tying field goal on the last play of regulation time.
The two teams traded field goals to start the extra time period. Then the Rockets scored the eventual winning TD in the second overtime on a 10-yard run by junior Damion Jones-Moore.
Final score: Rockets 30 Cyclones 23
Toledo beat SEC powerhouse Arkansas last week. UT now becomes just the third Mid-American Conference school to beat two Power Five teams in the same season.
In the other Metro Toledo NCAA Football contest of the weekend, The BGSU Falcons were edged by Memphis 44 - 41 in a thriller at Doyt L Perry Stadium.
The November 17 Battle of I-75 between the Falcons and Rockets shapes up to be a heck of a game.
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