Rocky the Rocket

Rocky the Rocket, The University of Toledo's powerful mascot, was created in the 1966-67 academic year by the Spirits and Traditions committee, an appendage of Student Government, with various students being chosen to dressing up for a couple different games. Then in the fall of 1968, Rocky was taken under the wing of Dan Seemann, Director of Student Activities at the time, and the First Official Rocky the Rocket, Bill Navarre, emerged. Bill displayed his super spirit at UT both home and away football and basketball games in the Rocky the Rocket costume which was made by the theatre department seamstress and passed down to him … a wastepaper basket with a pointed rocket top made of papier-mâché. In the past, Rocky was run through the Student Activities office, but now Rocky is supported by the Athletics Department. Any student can try-out in the spring semester to be Rocky for the following year. A potential Rocky must be fun, committed, good with children, spirited, crazy, and able to communicate through non-verbal methods. Our mighty mascot can be viewed at various university sponsored events including pep rallies, home and away football games, men and women's basketball games and the Homecoming parade. Rocky can always be seen battling other mascots and rocketing around the games cheering UT men and women onto VICTORY! Over the years Rocky's costume has changed many times: In the early 70s, Rocky wore a tall metal rocket helmet with many different jumpsuit type outfits, including such items as bellbottom pants. In 1977, an authentic spacesuit, helmet, and boots were donated to the university by the NASA Space Center in Houston, Texas with the help of former Ohio astronaut and Senator, John Glenn. The space suit was used for football games, but because of its mass, a lightweight replica was used for the basketball season. Both suits were used until 1980 when Rocky took on a more futuristic look in a costume that was designed to present more of a space rocket image. Another Rocky costume, which was plush with huge feet, was introduced in 1983, but was only used until 1986 when a big blue plush Rocky with smaller feet was unveiled. Throughout the late 80s and most of the 90s only minor changes were made to Rocky's costume. In 1998, at the Bowling Green football game, the old Rocky got into a limousine and the new Rocky stepped out and displayed the new blue and gold rocket man Rocky costume, complete with jetpack, to everyone in attendance. In 2002, an inflatable Rocky the Rocket was unveiled as an addition to the Rocket man Rocky.