From Rocket to Rocket Man: Our Mascot

Rocky emerged as the University of Toledo’s mascot as a personified depiction of a real rocket in 1965, appearing as a cartoon on football programs. He made his first physical appearance during the 1966-1967 season, although information is not available on who wore the costume until 1970. Rocky’s design has seen many changes in the 50+ years since his debut, including a white sheet with "TU" emblazoned on the chest, a wastepaper basket with a pointed rocket top made of papier-mâché, a suit and helmet on loan from the NASA Space Center, and the jumpsuits of the rocket man and woman today, Rocky and Rocksy.

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