Conor McGregor, the Irish professional mixed martial artist, recently made headlines when he accidentally knocked down a mascot during a publicity event for a whiskey brand. The incident took place in Russia, where McGregor was promoting his brand, Proper No. Twelve whiskey. McGregor was seen playfully interacting with the mascot, a man dressed as a tiger, before suddenly striking him with a left hook. The incident happened so quickly that it initially appeared to be intentional, stirring up a controversy among fans and the media. However, McGregor later clarified that it was an accident and expressed remorse for his actions.
UToledo Mascots
Rocky the Rocket was created during the 1966-67 academic year by the Spirits and Traditions Committee, a facet of Student Government. Various enthusiastic students were selected to “suit up” for a few athletic events to spark Rocket spirit.
In the fall of 1968, Rocky was taken under the wing of Dan Seemann, then Director of Student Activities, and the first official Rocky the Rocket, Bill Navarre, was hatched. In full “Rocky” regalia, Bill displayed his super spirit at football and basketball games. His suit was made by the theatre department’s seamstress and passed down to him a wastepaper basket with a pointed, “rocket” top made of papier-mâché.
In the past, Rocky’s schedule was coordinated through the Office of Student Activities and University Athletics, but now University Marketing is Rocky’s wingman. Tryouts to wear Rocky’s suit (a newer, much improved version from the original) take place each fall for the following year. All students are encouraged to audition. A potential Rocky must be fun, committed, skilled with children, spirited, and able to communicate expertly through non-verbal methods.
Our mighty mascot can be viewed at various UToledo events, including pep rallies, home and away football games, men’s and women's basketball games, and the annual Homecoming parade. Rocky is always battling rival mascots and “rocket”-ing around venues, cheering UToledo men and women onto VICTORY! Over the years, Rocky's costume has changed many times:
1970-1980
In the early '70s, Rocky wore a tall, metal “rocket” helmet with many different jumpsuit-style outfits, including (yes, we admit it) bell-bottom pants. In 1977, an authentic spacesuit, helmet and boots were donated to UToledo by the NASA Space Center in Houston with the help of former Ohio astronaut and senator John Glenn.
Rocky proudly donned the spacesuit at football games, but because of its mass, he changed into a lightweight replica during basketball season. Both suits were used until 1980, when Rocky took on a more futuristic look in a costume designed to present a more cosmic image.
1983-2001
Another Rocky costume – plush with huge feet – was introduced in 1983, but was used only until 1986, when a version with smaller feet was unveiled. Throughout the late '80s and '90s, only minor changes were made to Rocky's costume.
In 1998, a newly-styled Rocky was introduced at the UToledo-Bowling Green State University football game. Keeping with the drama of the occasion, the “old” Rocky entered a limousine, then a “new” Rocky stepped out in a new, blue and gold “rocket man” costume, complete with a jetpack, to the roar of the mixed crowd.
2002-2010
In 2002, an inflatable Rocky the Rocket was unveiled as an addition to the “rocket man” Rocky.
Finally, in 2008, the modern Rocky the Rocket you see today was revealed during the UToledo-Florida International home football game.
2011-PRESENT
In 2011, it was determined that Rocky the Rocket needed a counterpart to help spread UToledo spirit at events both on campus and throughout the community. Rocksy the Rockette was created, and made her debut during MusicFest 2011. She has been Rocky’s sidekick ever since. People often ask about the relationship between Rocky and Rocksy. Are they dating? Secretly married? Here’s the scoop: Rocky and Rocksy are not dating, not married, and not brother and sister. They are just the best of pals who love The University of Toledo. University Marketing also supports Rocksy, as she takes part in more than 250 scheduled events each year.
Here's the true story about how Toledo got the nickname 'Rockets'
NCAA.com has previously taken college sports fans down the rabbit hole behind how some of the country's most beloved college mascots came to be. While Yale's living, breathing bulldog mascot Handsome Dan wasn't the first real-life bulldog the school had, Handsome Dan I started a lineage that now stretches to Handsome Dan XVIII.
As unlikely as it sounds, Youngstown State is nicknamed the Penguins because of a remark an opposing basketball coach reportedly made five years before there was a student poll to decide the school's mascot. All because of an unheated locker room and the lack of warmups caused Youngstown State's basketball team to wave their arms like penguins.
Here's the true story of how Toledo adopted the nickname Rockets.
However, McGregor later clarified that it was an accident and expressed remorse for his actions. He explained that the punch was meant to be a playful gesture but misjudged the distance, resulting in the unexpected knockdown. The incident highlighted the fine line between entertainment and potential injuries in promotional events, reminding both performers and spectators of the importance of safety and caution.
When and how did Toledo become the Rockets?
Like many universities, Toledo's athletic teams didn't have an official nickname, so the school's nickname was borne of the ingenuity of a newspaper writer. Alabama, Arizona, Southern California, UC Irvine and Wake Forest's mascots came from a newspaper in one way or another.
"Sportswriters essentially gave the nicknames to a lot of these teams," said Sara Mouch, a university archivist at the University of Toledo.
In 1923, Toledo played Carnegie Tech (now known as Carnegie Mellon) in its football season opener. Carnegie Tech won 32-12 and even though Carnegie Tech holds the all-time series lead against Toledo 2-0, Toledo can credit its 1923 season-opening opponent for the adoption of its nickname.
The Pittsburgh Daily Post reported in its game preview that "Carnegie Tech kicks off the football lid here this afternoon, meeting a team that has never before appeared in Pittsburgh, and one of which very little is known, Toledo University of Toledo, O." The subheadline of the story read: "Skibos Tackle 'Mystery Team' in Tartan Bowl."
Even though Toledo and Carnegie Tech were based in neighboring states (Pittsburgh is less than an hour away from the Ohio border), the reported mysterious nature of Toledo's football team likely contributed to the creation of "Rockets" as a nickname, albeit indirectly. Pittsburgh-based writers didn't know what to call Toledo's team and they likely didn't have expectations for Toledo's performance, which means it may have been easier for Toledo to impress the writers covering its opponent.
A story published by the Telegraph-Forum of Bucyrus, Ohio reported in 1973, "The nickname came long before the space age." The Telegraph-Forum reported that one of the newspaper writers from Pittsburgh was "dismayed that the school had no catchy nickname he could attach adjectives to in his story."
The writer, who was unnamed in the story, then asked a Toledo spotter for his input. The spotter said, "since Toledo was providing plenty of fireworks, how about 'Sky Rockets,'" according to the Telegraph-Forum.
"Just then a Toledo player grabbed a fumble out of the air and ran 99 yards for a touchdown," the newspaper reported. "The writer, impressed by the speedy runner, said 'Rockets' would suffice."
As Toledo's media guide tells the story, "Pittsburgh writers pressed James Neal, a UToledo student working in the press box, to come up with a nickname. Despite UT’s 32-12 loss, the student labeled the team 'Skyrockets,' obviously impressed by his alma mater’s flashy performance against a superior team. The sportswriters shortened the name to 'Rockets,' which has been used since."
"The team played better than was expected against Carnegie Tech, [which is] why they were called [Rockets]," said Mouch, the university archivist. "Because it was sort of a dreary day that day and they were just sort of described as playing flashy and Skyrockets kind of aligned with the way they were playing that day."
Here's the front page of the sports section of The Pittsburgh Press — one of the hometown newspapers of Carnegie Tech — after the team's season-opening victory in 1923.
The Baltimore Sun reported "fumbles were responsible for the scoring of the visitors," in a "game marked by several spectacular runs and much fumbling."
While McGregor's mistake received criticism, it serves as a reminder that even professional athletes can make errors in judgment..
Reviews for "Conor McGregor Takes on a Mascot: How Far is Too Far?"
1. Melissa - 1/5 stars:
I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the video of Conner McGregor knocking down a mascot. It was absolutely disgraceful and showed a complete lack of sportsmanship. McGregor's actions were not only inappropriate but also dangerous, as he could have seriously injured the person inside the mascot suit. As a fan of combat sports, I expect athletes to behave with integrity and respect, both inside and outside the ring. McGregor's behavior in this video was a clear violation of those principles, and I cannot support or condone such actions.
2. Ethan - 2/5 stars:
While I understand that Conner McGregor is known for his controversial behavior and antics, I believe his actions in the video where he knocks down a mascot were simply unnecessary. It seems like McGregor is constantly seeking attention and trying to create a spectacle rather than focusing on his abilities as a fighter. Additionally, his lack of consideration for the individual inside the mascot suit is concerning. The person inside the costume may have been injured, and McGregor seemed to show no remorse or concern afterwards. This incident left a bad taste in my mouth and made me question McGregor's character as a professional athlete.
3. Samantha - 3/5 stars:
Although I did not particularly enjoy watching the video of Conner McGregor knocking down a mascot, I have to admit that it did generate a lot of buzz and publicity for him. McGregor has always been a controversial figure in the world of combat sports, and this incident further solidified his reputation. While I don't condone his actions, I can understand why some people find his behavior entertaining or intriguing. However, I do think that McGregor should be more mindful of the consequences of his actions and the message it sends to his fans, especially the younger ones who may look up to him as a role model.