The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AFTER settling overnight, the Toledo Rockets got down to business with their first practice yesterday at the Roscoe Davies Developmental Centre in preparation for Friday’s seventh Bahamas Bowl game against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders.

As the first two teams to return to play in the game, which is back after a year’s absence last year because of the COVID-19, the pair will square off at noon at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.

The game, free to the general public, will be carried live on ESPN.

Back in town after coming up short by a field goal in the fifth Bahamas Bowl to FIU (35-32), the Blue Raiders are hoping that they won’t have a repeat of their last bowl appearance in 2018.

After sitting at 4-5 through nine games this season, Toledo reeled off three straight wins over Bowling Green, Ohio and Akron to clinch a bowl spot. Tuesday’s practice set the stage for what the Blue Raiders anticipate will be another victory.

“It went very well. Just coming out of Toledo being in the cold, being in that windy city, in that windy state, so it was a good thing to be back in the sun and getting used to this heat and weather,” said Toledo’s redshirt freshman quarterback Dequan Finn.

The scorching heat here, according to Finn, is just what is wanted for him to play in the game, his first bowl, although this is actually the second for Toledo, who suffered a 35-31 loss to the Florida International University Panthers in 2018.

“This is really an eye opener. Seeing this big old Atlantis resort (where they are staying) is a humbling experience and a grateful experience for me,” he said.

“Being from Detroit, I’ve never seen a lot of stuff like this, so just being out of the country is just a blessing.”

As he looks ahead to Friday’s game, Finn said they will continue to stay focused, watch the films and make sure everyone is locked and loaded because even though many may consider this a weekend, they are just as eager to win the game.

Deonte Johnson, a junior linebacker, said he has been in constant communication with his team-mates to make sure that they remain focused on the task ahead of them.

“We’re here to have fun, but it is a business trip,” he said.

One of the few players returning from Toledo’s first trip here in 2018, Johnson said he was just a freshman, but he clearly remembers the experience and he’s hoping that they can reverse the decision by taking the victory this time around.

Mitchell Berg, an offensive linesman in his junior year as well, said they were able to get adjusted very quickly to the change in weather and it worked in their favour as they participated in their first practice.

“We were flying around, got our assignments done at every level, so we’re pretty happy about that,” Berg said. “It’s always good to have one last practice before you play.”

Although they have a chance to enjoy all of the amenities at Atlantis, Berg said the coaching staff has insisted that they are here on business.

“The last time we were here, that kind of hurt us,” said Berg, who played in the game in 2018. “A lot of guys came down for vacation, but we have taken a different mindset, especially for the guys who have been here before. We here to play football first and have fun second.”

Only time will tell on Friday if Toledo, coached by Jason Candle, is here this time for vacation or business.