The Rockets ended the non-conference schedule Dec. 31 with a 69-60 loss at home to Marquette.

Senior guard Courtney Ingersoll led Toledo (7-5) with a game-high 19 points as she made 5-of-6 three-pointers with four rebounds and two assists. Junior center Yolanda Richardson had a double-double with 14 points and a game-high 10 rebounds as UT held a 39-32 edge in rebounds. Richardson also had two blocks, two steals and two assists.

Marquette (9-5) had four players score in double figures and converted 19 UT turnovers into 24 points. Toledo held Marquette to 24 points on 10-of-32 shooting in the first half but allowed 45 points on 16-of-26 shooting in the second half.

Marquette opened the game on an 8-2 run with two baskets each from guard Gabi Minix and forward Katherine Plouffe.

Courtney Ingersoll

The Rockets answered back with a 7-0 run capped with a layup from sophomore center Brianna Jones to take a 14-13 lead with 10:40 remaining. Sophomore guard Andola Dortch hit a jumper with 35 seconds remaining to keep a one-point lead at 25-24 heading into halftime.

Ingersoll hit one of her five triples to cap another 7-0 run for a 40-33 lead 6:56 into the second half. Marquette took control of the game from there with a 23-4 run to take a 58-46 lead with 6:08 remaining.

Ingersoll broke the run with a three-pointer, but Toledo couldn’t get any closer than eight points for the rest of the game.

The Rockets open the Mid-American Conference season Jan. 5 at 7 p.m. at Western Michigan (3-9).

The opening scenes of “Super 8” follow an accident at a steel mill in the fictional town of Lillian, Ohio. A boy is left without a mom, a father without a wife. This is all before the alien comes and wreaks havoc on the town.
George Clooney’s latest film, “The Descendants,” surrounds a man in Hawaii whose wife is in a comatose state after a boating accident. And the doctors are not giving much hope to the family.
The independent film “Beginners” has lead character Oliver Fields, played by Ewan McGregor, picking up the pieces of his life after his father passes away.
These three movies are some of the best of the year and for me, they hit home.
Before this year, I may have called them good, but maybe not the best of 2011.

In March, my mother passed away unexpectedly at the age of 51. Her brother, my uncle, 63, passed away at the end of June after a tough battle with cancer. My grandfather, my father’s father, 81, passed away in September after multiple health complications.
I am still reeling from the effects of the first death, let alone the others.
With each film I see where a parent has died or is dying, the bandage is ripped off once more, my composure gone.
The hand of death has touched my life. And the reminders are haunting.
There is a scene in “Super 8” where Joel’s Courtney’s character Joe Lamb is watching old movies featuring him and his mom together.
“It’s so weird watching her like this, like she’s still here,” he says about his mom to Alice Dainard, played by Elle Fanning. “She used to look at me this way, like really look. And I just knew I was there. That I existed.”
2011 has been a tough year, but mainly it has been a year of life. The phrase “c’est la vie” comes to mind. That’s life. I can’t help but think that death and traumatic experiences make us stronger, even though they are incredibly painful.
Film portrays life. And when it does so accurately, I now understand why the films create such a cathartic, emotional response.
Not every critic may agree that these films are the best of the year. One thing I have learned as a reviewer is that everyone brings his or her own perspective to a movie. And no review is right or wrong. It’s an opinion. Everyone brings something else to the table: life experience, a story of love, loss or overcoming all odds.
“Beginners” is based on the interactions between director Mike Mills and his father. It is an extremely personal tale where McGregor’s character, Oliver, is struggling with his father’s declining health and eventual death.
The opening shots of the film show Oliver sifting through his father’s possessions, some clothes and items going out to the trash, others to keep and some to donate.
As mundane a task as this might seem, I lived this. I remember the pain of going through every item. Nothing in life prepares you for such a mental exercise, typically done in a zombie-eque fashion with tearful eyes and memories attached to every item.
I’ve seen myself in all three of these films. Been there, done that, in some sort of way. They are some of the best movies of the year and will land somewhere on my Top 10 list for the year.
I never before remembered movies to be such a cathartic experience. Sure, I would cry during some films, but until this year, I’ve never felt so connected to the characters on screen. I’ve also learned that the phrase, “it was like out of a movie” can also be applied to one’s life.
That’s film portraying life, portraying film.

Toledo Free Press Lead Designer James A. Molnar blogs about all things Oscar at TheGoldKnight.com.

This year we wrote nearly 40,000 words of advice and shared our knowledge in 51 different columns for our readers in Toledo Free Press. The goal each week has been to help our readers become better educated on how to become financially self-reliant.

Some of our favorite columns shared what was going on in our lives — Mark told about his fantasy baseball camp with The Detroit Tigers. I, Nolan, enjoyed writing about how I, along with other adult volunteers, helped the Cub Scouts in Pack 101 in Waterville put in more than 180 hours to collect 426 bags of groceries for our local food bank.
As we wrap up another year, these are the top 10 quotes from our columns this year that investors should remember as they head into 2012.

• “Cut debt. Cut fees and expenses. Cut taxes. Avoid losing money safely and/or not having an exit plan with risky investments. Grow productivity by increasing the yield using dividends and interest.” (“Put your money to work,” May 20)
• “In 2012, my recommendation will be to come out of the market again because I think that we are going to get a big hit. We just don’t have the time anymore to watch these things go down. I’d rather come out and miss it and go back in it than stay in and watch it go down another 50 or 60 percent like it did before,” Suze Orman. (“Suze Orman Interview: Boomers, seniors need to re-educate themselves about cash,” March 10)
• “Being too nostalgic can be dangerous. If all we do is long for the past we will not be able to enjoy the present. We will not be able to pay attention to things that need to be addressed now like planning for and enjoying retirement.” (“These are the good old days,” March 25)
• “A general rule of thumb is to use a 3 to 6 percent withdrawal rate when it comes to looking at what the personal savings will provide in retirement time.” (“Retirement essentials,” July 1)
• “Here is an idea: leverage. The definition of leverage is to improve or enhance, the power to accomplish something, a strategic advantage or to add as a supplement to what seems insufficient.” (“Use leverage to protect your assets and family,” Sept. 4)
• “A common mistake we see many investors making in our opinion is still having too many eggs in one basket. How do you know if this is happening to you? Well, if you feel your personal savings go up and down just like the overall stock market all the time, it could be a good sign you may not have what we consider a properly diversified plan and could be a victim of the next unknown that knocks down Wall Street.” (“Be prepared for the unknowns,” Sept. 11)
• “The first thing everyone should consider is creating a will.” (“Is probate bad?” Sept. 19)
• “Building an all-weather portfolio means looking at the investments from a whole new standpoint. It means creating a plan that is based upon what the individual is comfortable with and not worrying too much about everyone else.” (“Learn how to build an all-weather portfolio,” Oct. 7)
• “It is the Democrats and Republicans who have both lost touch with reality and the 99 percent. It is the government that is to blame, yet we as individuals need to take personal responsibility for our own actions.” (“Occupy the voting booth, not Wall Street,” Oct. 14)
• “The Retirement Guys Formula for Success is nothing different than the principles that we have been sharing with our clients for years. Sometimes, it is all in how you communicate. Inspiration — are you inspired? If you are not inspired, chances are you will not act. Knowledge — do you have the critical information you need? If not, The Retirement Guys can share with you what we know. Action — get off the couch!” (“Want success? Read this,” Oct. 21)

For more information about The Retirement Guys, tune in every Saturday at 1 p.m. on 1370 WSPD or visit www.retirementguysradio.com. Securities and Investment Advisory Services are offered through NEXT Financial Group Inc., Member FINRA / SIPC. NEXT Financial Group, Inc. does not provide tax or legal advice.  The Retirement Guys are not an affiliate of NEXT Financial Group. The office is at 1700 Woodlands Drive, Suite 100, Maumee, OH 43537. (419) 842-0550.

Big-band music and the city of Toledo lost a legend in 2011 when Johnny Knorr died Aug. 28 at the age of 90. Knorr founded the Johnny Knorr Orchestra in 1960 and was the musical director for 50 years before retiring last year.
“He’s been a mainstay,” said Jerry Knorr, Johnny’s son and the current musical director of the Johnny Knorr Orchestra. “He was underrated by not being flashy and outspoken about things. He was always conservative in his approach. Therefore, many times people didn’t know what all the involvement was. In his absence, it will be more known what his value really was to the community.”

Johnny and Jerry Knorr

Jerry officially became musical director at the beginning of the year, although he had been helping his father perform the duties for the past couple of years.
“He’s been my mentor all along,” Jerry said. “It was an unusual relationship for a father and son, but I always looked up to him for guidance, especially with playing and everything else.”
For the first time in 26 years, the orchestra will not host its New Year’s Eve gala, featured annually at Stranahan Theater’s Great Hall.
“Stranahan, the Great Hall where we’ve had the event for many years, they rented the hall to someone else,” Jerry said.
Jerry attempted to book another venue, but there was nothing available that could accommodate the party.
“I’m very depressed about it,” he said. “After you’ve done something for 26 years, it’s quite a letdown. Sometimes I feel it’s my fault and I’ve let everybody down by not putting it together. But if I couldn’t put it together in the manner and fashion to which we’ve become accustomed, that wouldn’t be good, either. There are a lot of people disappointed, but none more than I.”
Along with bringing back the New Year’s Eve party in 2012, the orchestra will continue playing the “Dancing Under the Stars” programs at Centennial Terrace. Jerry said there are also plans for a new dance party series and a memorial concert in tribute to his father.
Jerry has been with the band since the beginning; he started playing saxophone with the orchestra at age 18. The Johnny Knorr Orchestra debuted as a 10-piece band at the El Rancho Ballroom on Dec. 10, 1960.
Johnny began playing violin at age 9, but he learned the saxophone while attending Libbey High School so he could join the marching band. Johnny was well respected across the music industry. Johnny Desmond, a vocalist with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, once told him, “You play tenor sax the way I like to hear it.”
“I would match him with any saxophone player in the music business,” said Michael Drew Shaw, a friend of Johnny who wrote and produced a documentary about the orchestra. “He put his special touch on everything he played.”

Nearly 36,000 patrons have visited the Toledo Museum of Art’s special extended exhibit “The Egypt Experience: Secrets of the Tomb” during its run so far.
“[Visitors] really like the approach we’ve taken. There’s a true storytelling aspect to this exhibition,” said Teri Sharp, public relations manager at the Toledo Museum of Art (TMA).
The exhibit, which opened Oct. 29, 2010, and will close Jan. 8, features 150 ancient objects on loan from the likes of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and the Field Museum in Chicago. Objects from TMA’s permanent collection, including two mummies, are also on display. The objects cover 3,000 years of Egyptian culture.
The exhibit teaches patrons about the relationship between the living and the deceased in ancient Egyptian culture and also tells the stories of real-life Egyptians like Amunhotep, King Rameses II’s physician and scribe.

The space was specially constructed for the exhibit and designed to be tour-friendly, Sharp said. TMA also built tomb and chapel spaces to display artifacts and created an introductory film for the exhibit.
“It was somewhat experimental,” Sharp said of the exhibit. “We used storytelling and tried to humanize the exhibit.”
The museum also features several hands-on learning experiences in conjunction with the exhibit, she said. On Jan. 6 from 7-9 p.m. at the Libbey Court, guests will have the chance to create their own amulets, mini-mummies and write their names in hieroglyphics.
Several speakers and presenters also visited the museum as part of the exhibit. Sharp said one popular speaker was Bob Brier, aka “Mr. Mummy,” who presented May 13 at the Peristyle Theater. Brier, a renowned Egyptologist famous for mummifying a body using ancient Egyptian techniques, discussed mummification methods while his wife Pat Remler taught the crowd about religion’s role in mummification.
Part of the long-term exhibit’s success could be attributed to the world’s fascination with Egyptian culture, Sharp said.
“I think Toledoans love Egypt,” she said. “There is something about Egyptian culture that has fascinated people pretty much forever; it’s a great culture.”
Once the exhibit ends, the space will close so TMA can reinstall its Classic Court, which will feature antiquities, including items from “The Egypt Experience.” The space will reopen in spring.
The museum will use some of the more hands-on, visitor-friendly techniques that proved successful for “The Egypt Experience” in the Classic Court, Sharp said.
Those who haven’t yet made it to “The Egypt Experience” still have time.
“We would encourage everyone who hasn’t seen the exhibit to do so soon,” Sharp said.
The exhibit was sponsored by members of TMA, Taylor Cadillac, Ohio Arts Council and Buckeye Cable Systems. Visitors who want to take Egypt home can purchase “Egypt in Toledo: The Ancient Egyptian Collection at the Toledo Museum of Art,” by William H. Peck with Sandra E. Knudsen and Paula Reich for $24.95 at the museum store.
TMA members and children younger than 6 can attend “The Egypt Experience” for free. General admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $5 for students.
Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and noon-6 p.m.  Sundays. The exhibit is located in the Lower Level Egyptian Gallery of the main museum. TMA is closed Mondays and New Year’s Day. Visit www.toledomuseum.org to learn more.

It’s been a busy 2011 for the Toledo Fire Department (TFD) including merging with the Ottawa Hills Fire Department, transitioning to a new chief and battling a higher number of arsons.
“We’ve had a lot of things to deal with between the fires and the budget, and now we’re in negotiations,” Toledo Fire Chief Luis Santiago said. “It doesn’t seem like there’s ever a dull moment. I knew that going into this.”
Santiago replaced his mentor Michael Wolever as fire chief July 2 after serving four years as his assistant chief.

Retired TFD Chief Michael Wolever, left and new Chief Luis Santiago.

“Chief Wolever, if you would consider what a fire chief was, he was truly a fire chief,” said Toledo Mayor Mike Bell, who as the former fire chief worked with Wolever and Santiago. “He was very strategy-oriented and he had a very good command presence at emergency scenes. That’s what he did, and he was very good at it.”
Bell also spoke highly of Santiago, who joined the department when he was 20.
“He’s come through the ranks, so he has a pretty good knowledge of each position,” Bell said. “He’s very well-balanced, very stable [and] doesn’t panic in emergency situations.”
Santiago is proud of the performance of the department in his first six months on the job.
“I have a lot of good help,” he said. “I have many dedicated men and women serving as my firefighters and officers, and I have a great administrative staff that helps me run the business part. I’m very fortunate to have those support structures in place.”
Santiago gained 10 new firefighters Jan. 21 from Ottawa Hills when TFD and the Ottawa Hills fire and rescue operations merged. The merger is part of a 20-year deal through which Ottawa Hills will pay Toledo $430,000 per year to provide fire service. The merger included shifting equipment and adding life and rescue squads to the Ottawa Hills station.
“I believe the merger has gone pretty well,” Santiago said. “We get constant feedback from Ottawa Hills and continue to analyze the moves that we have made. They seem to be working out well.”
The merger has been put to the test with 207 arsons reported in Toledo in 2011.
“There’s not anything we can really pin it to,” Santiago said. “The arsons happen for various reasons. We’re not able to pinpoint why there may be an increase.”
Of the 207 arsons, 143 involved vacant buildings. Some of the vacant buildings were made more dangerous by sabotage such as holes cut in the floor.
“Some of the structural compromises we see aren’t just to trap or sabotage firefighters but also to aid the spreading of the fire,” Santiago said. “Our firefighters are trained to look at certain things and be aware of certain things in the structure. We take great caution when we do that. I’m very proud of our firefighters for doing what they do every day.”

As Facebook unveils its new Timeline feature, I am further convinced that it is the modern-day family journal. As we reflect upon the year that was, there is perhaps nothing more telling of our daily ups and downs than our year in status:

“https://www.facebook.com/szyperski/posts/1845498987167” February 25
Don’t teach your child his or her name at the same time you teach her the President’s name. Lucy seems to think her name is Lucille Obama Szyperski.

“https://www.facebook.com/szyperski/posts/1873094517038” March 12
Jack went off and chatted in the corner at the family dance with a couple of girls from school. When Mike asked him what they talked about, he said he told them all about the tsunami and the possible nuclear meltdown. My boy really knows how to woo the ladies!

“https://www.facebook.com/szyperski/posts/1953872496437” April 19

Oh, the trials of a 2-year-old. Sometimes what looks like a chocolate cake jackpot is really just mud all over the floor (and you don’t know the difference until you pop some in your mouth).

“https://www.facebook.com/szyperski/timeline/story?ut=64&wstart=1304233200&wend=1306911599&hash=-4115127036993984068” May 10
I just left a very professional-sounding message, right up until Laney ran up to me and screamed, “Lucy threw the duck in the toilet!”

“https://www.facebook.com/szyperski/posts/2051801184593” June 2
Tonight’s bedtime buster? Elaine was too excited to sleep because she is so excited for her birthday party, which will likely be sometime around her birthday, which is October 28th.

“https://www.facebook.com/szyperski/posts/2071734082903” June 11
Laney: “Mom, my tummy’s so full that I have to adjust how I walk.”

“https://www.facebook.com/szyperski/posts/2186015299862” July 4
Elaine: “Is today God’s birthday?”
Me: “No, today is America’s birthday. No one knows when God’s birthday is.”
Jack: “Well, don’t you think his wife at least knows?”

“https://www.facebook.com/szyperski/posts/2201998739438” July 11
You know that book called “Who Moved My Cheese?” There could be a book about Lucy called “Who Put This Cheese Here?” Today’s Special: shredded sharp cheddar sprinkled around the toilet.

“https://www.facebook.com/szyperski/posts/2211179648955” July 14
Just when I think her antics can no longer shock me, Lucy repeatedly tries to climb the casket at a funeral home visitation.

“https://www.facebook.com/szyperski/posts/2246837780386” July 29
Jack: “Mom, I asked who thought you were the best Mommy in the whole world and everyone raised their hands! Then I asked if you were the worst Mommy in the whole world and no one raised their hand! Well, Lucy did, but I told her (yelling), ‘Put your hand down!’”

“https://www.facebook.com/szyperski/posts/2307335172783” August 22
I kind of wish Jack’s soccer program’s teams weren’t named with colors. I’m thinking people might be getting the wrong idea when he loudly references “the black people” and “the white people” out in public.

“https://www.facebook.com/szyperski/posts/2424060570845” September 26
Elaine (excitedly): “Oh, mom! I think I forgot to show you (showing me her right thumb). I think my thumb is getting bigger!”

“https://www.facebook.com/szyperski/posts/2517283981372” October 22
While reading “Pinkalicious” last night, which is about a little girl who turns pink after eating too many pink cupcakes and has to eat a lot of green things to be herself again, Elaine offered the following observation and declaration:
“Mom, I can tell this book is just trying to get kids to eat more healthy foods. They’re not going to get me.”

“https://www.facebook.com/szyperski/posts/2675065845820” November 23
Jack just told me that if he had three wishes from a genie he would wish for a big cake, a dog, and a Michael Vick jersey. The last two seem contradictory.

“https://www.facebook.com/szyperski/posts/2720740507658” November 30
Elaine, while waiting by the front door for school cloaked in her coat, hat, scarf, and boots, declared with exasperation, “Ah! I forgot to get dressed again!” Sure enough, PJs underneath.

“https://www.facebook.com/szyperski/posts/2848509781810” December 16
Bedtime Story, First Line: “Once upon a time there lived a poor Dutch baker. He never had enough money to buy food.”

Jack (immediately): “What?! That makes no sense. He’s a baker, so he’s the one making food. Seriously, that makes no sense!” And this is why the Szyperskis struggle to be a family that enjoys reading – line by line critiquing, questioning, and/or rewriting of every story, every night, by every child in the room.

Shannon and her husband Michael are raising three children in Sylvania. E-mail her at letters@toledofreepress.com.

UT players celebrate with the Military Bowl trophy along with Toledo Mayor Mike Bell, left, and Washington, D.C. Mayor Vince Gray.

WASHINGTON, D.C.-In a tightly-contested game, the Rockets outlasted Air Force 42-41 in the Military Bowl on Dec. 28, winning their first bowl game since 2005.
“I couldn’t be prouder of the 105 Rockets that came to Washington D.C.,” UT Head Coach Matt Campbell said. “This football team has been through a lot this year. This team is resilient and we have had our backs against the wall all year. I’m so proud of our kids and what they demanded we accomplish.”
After trailing 21-7, the Falcons (7-6, 3-4 Mountain West) tied the game three times before the Rockets (9-4, 7-1 Mid-American Conference) grabbed a 42-35 lead with just five minutes remaining. Air Force drove down the field and scored on a 33-yard pass with just 52 seconds remaining on a blown coverage, appearing to send the game to overtime.
Air Force, however, faked the extra point and went for the win, watching their holder fumble the ball before he could option pass it to the trailing kicker. The ball rolled out of bounds and sealed the Rockets victory 42-41.
“We talked about [a possible fake],” Campbell said. “They’ve faked some extra points and some field goals. I give credit to our staff because we were in a defensive call, not a block formation. Our kids executed with great precision.”
Just one game into his coaching career, Toledo’s Matt Campbell did what former head coach Tim Beckman’s teams struggled to do over and over again — win an important game down the stretch.
In failed opportunities against Ohio State, Syracuse and Northern Illinois this year, the Rockets couldn’t hold leads or struggled to make the clutch play to seal a win. Combined with a bowl loss to FIU and the team failing to show up in a rout against NIU in 2010, as well as the team going 1-4 in its final five games failing to become bowl eligible in 2009, the Rockets never seemed to be able to get over the hump.
“This is special because we broke the trend of Coach Beckman and his first two senior classes he had while he was going here,” said UT senior running back Adonis Thomas, who rushed for a game high 108 yards and one touchdown in his final game at Toledo. “Coach Campbell takes over and instills something new in us, a resiliency not to give up or be defeated. It just feels special to break the trend.”
“I just think sometimes it’s timing,” Campbell said. “What you are proud of is these kids. For these kids to fight back and win a game like this they deserve this.”
UT sophomore receiver Bernard Reedy received the game’s MVP honors after catching four passes for 126 yards and three touchdowns.
“Bernard has taken advantage of his opportunities,” Campbell said. “He demanded after the season was over to get himself in a situation that when he had the opportunity to make plays he was going to do it.”
Wideout Eric Page finished with 13 catches for 59 yards, tying the MAC all-time career receptions record at 306. He finishes his junior season just 44 catches short of breaking Oklahoma’s Ryan Broyles’ all-time record for career receptions of 349, which he set this year.
“With Eric it seems like he breaks a new record every week,” Campbell said. “That‘s a tribute to Eric Page and what he brings to this football program. He is first class in everything he does. He deserves everything he has got.”
UT sophomore quarterback Terrance Owens received his first start in two seasons in which he and junior Austin Dantin were both healthy. Owens completed 19-of-24 passes for 210 yards and three touchdowns. Dantin passed for just six yards on three attempts, one of which was an interception.
Toledo also played with some injuries. The Rockets lost both of their starting defensive tackles to right leg injuries on the same play in the second quarter. Senior Jonnie Roberts returned briefly to the game, while classmate Jonathan Lamb broke his leg. Toledo also lost sophomore Dan Molls to a suspected concussion.
“We pride ourselves on recruiting,” Campbell said. “I think the depth we have on the defensive line is outstanding. If you look at our interior you can see the depth we have had all year. These guys rose up and really did a great job.”
The Rockets took the first possession down the field but freshman kicker J.T. Detmer missed on a 47-yard field goal. On the same possession, wideout Bernard Reedy dropped a sure 60-yard touchdown.
After stopping Air Force on a three-and-out on its first possession, UT drove down the field again and Reedy made up for his mistake catching a wide open 17-yard touchdown from Owens to give the Rockets the match up’s first seven points.
Air Force fumbled the following kickoff and Thomas took advantage taking the first play 41 yards to the end zone for a 14-0 advantage.
After a 22-yard Air Force touchdown from quarterback Tim Jefferson on a drive including a fourth down conversion, UT standout Page immediately answered the score with an 87-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, boosting the lead to 21-7 with 2:17 remaining.
Down two touchdowns, the Falcons scored in just 34 seconds after a 60-yard rush by senior Jonathan Warzeka set up a three-yard rush from fullback Mike DeWitt to cut the lead to 21-14.
After a three-and out from the Rockets, Air Force capped off a 79-yard drive with a one-yard score by senior Asher Clark on 4th and goal on the one to tie the game at 21.
On the next possession, Owens completed a 49-yard strike down the middle of the field to Reedy, who outran both Falcons safeties to retake the lead 28-21.
The Rockets took over after a failed fourth down conversion from Air Force but couldn’t take advantage. Reedy caught a 27-yard pass but fumbled, giving the Falcons the ball at UT’s 44. Air Force scored on a 37-yard completion a few plays later to tie it at 28, which remained the score at the half.
After both teams failed to score on their first possession, Toledo safety Jermaine Robinson picked off Jefferson and returned it 37 yards to put the Rockets back ahead 35-28.
Air Force again answered the Rockets putting together a 50-yard drive ending in a two-yard rush by DeWitt to tie it at 35.
The Rockets took their final lead of the game with just five minutes remaining with Reedy’s third touchdown of the contest from 33 yards out after spinning around a defender and weaving through traffic to get to the end zone.
Air Force would have the ability to tie the game at the end but passed it up for their failed two-point opportunity.

One of the memorable moments from Toledo in 2011 came from the world of sports where the Rockets faced one of the most bizarre situations in college football.
With Toledo on the road at Syracuse, UT held the lead until the Orange threw an 18-yard touchdown to take a 29-27 lead with 2:07 remaining in the game. Syracuse then kicked the extra point, which went wide to the left of the goal post. Unfortunately for the Rockets, not only did the official rule it good, but the play went to the review booth where the replay officials upheld the call despite video evidence proving otherwise. Down three points, Toledo drove down and kicked a game-tying field goal as time expired, one that would have given UT a 30-29 victory without the botched call. The Rockets ended up falling in overtime 33-30.

Tim Beckman

Following the game Sept. 24, Big East Director of Communications Chuck Sullivan released a statement claiming that the replay official “mistakenly focused his attention on a sideline angle, which proved to be distorted” and that he was “confident that our officiating staff will learn from this situation in order to prevent a reoccurrence.”
UT head coach Tim Beckman followed that announcement with an email to Sullivan asking what plans the conference had for correcting the situation.
“This is an incorrect call, so what is getting done about it?” Beckman wrote. “Admitting is one thing, correcting is another. I believe in the end of the regulation, the score 30-29 is the right call.”
Although Toledo appealed the decision, citing special circumstances since the Rockets’ field goal was kicked as time expired in regulation, their request for a reversed outcome was not granted. Mid-American Conference Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher released a statement Sept. 26 claiming that NCAA rules say a game’s outcome cannot be changed once the game is deemed officially over.
“Since the conclusion of the Toledo-Syracuse game, I have been in communication with Big East Commissioner, John Marinatto, along with Rogers Redding, Secretary-Rules Editor of the NCAA Football Rules Committee,” Steinbrecher wrote. “By rule, once the game is declared over the score is final and there is no recourse to reverse an outcome. (Rule 1, Section 1, Article 3, Paragraph b of the 2011 NCAA Football Rules and Interpretations.)
“I share the frustration and regret with our Toledo coaches, student-athletes, administration and supporters of the Rockets football program.”
Toledo Athletic Director Mike O’Brien released a statement later that day, that said while UT still feels like the officiating error cost them a victory, the school has accepted the ruling that the game’s outcome cannot be changed.
“While we are obviously disappointed for the student-athletes, coaches and fans that an officiating error played a role in the outcome of our football game at Syracuse, we accept the ruling from the Big East and the NCAA Football Rules Committee that the final outcome of the game cannot be reversed,” O’Brien said. “We appreciate the efforts of those who looked into this matter. We consider the matter closed.”
“I give them credit for standing up,” Syracuse head coach Doug Marrone said. “In this game there is human error. Coaches know it as well as anyone. Everyone that is involved in this game I feel awful for them. I know how much they must be hurting.”
The Rockets finished the season at 8-4 and earned a bid to play Air Force in the Military Bowl in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 28.

2011 proved to be another diverse year for the comic industry, bringing with it numerous series that made their mark on discerning readers’ hearts and wallets. In recent years, companies seemed to have made a conscious effort to diversify their offerings with stories and characters that fall outside the standards of the medium — 2011 continued that grand experiment.
Monarch Cards & Comics’ Ed Katschke said that, despite the industry’s still-sagging sales, the Toledo shop is ringing in the new year with a profitable 2011. He credits several series that ran throughout the year with helping to fuel those sales, as well as pleasing him on a personal level.
“Fables” (Vertigo/DC) — by Bill Willingham and Mark Buckingham

“Long before television picked up the idea of using storybook characters in a modern setting — ‘Once Upon A Time,’ ‘Grimm’ — DC Comics’ Vertigo imprint had been doing just fine with their Eisner Award-winning comic ‘Fables.’ Willingham has done a great job at taking traditional fairy tale characters and updating them to a modern interpretation while simultaneously keeping things fresh, interesting and lively. Buckingham’s pencils at once invoke modern comic greats like Jack Kirby while also managing to suggest classic children’s books illustrations with his charming border doodles.”
“Uncanny X-Force” (Marvel) — by Rick Remender, Jerome Opeña, et al.
“One of the best recent efforts by the Marvel X-titles, ‘Uncanny X-Force’ deals with a secret black ops mutant strike force led by Wolverine to identify and eliminate threats to the world in general and mutant-kind in specific. Writer Remender has crafted a terrifically suspenseful series of stories, alternating grim and gut-busting funny in equal turns while also still finding the time to illuminate his characters’ deep moral ambiguity and internal crises. Opeña’s moody and expressive artwork round out the package and bring a depth to the material that one does not always experience in superhero comics.”
“Locke & Key” (IDW) — by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez
“Set in a fictional East Coast hamlet, Hill and Rodriguez’s ‘Locke & Key’ chronicles the trials and travails of the Locke family, particularly their three children, and their move from California to Lovecraft, Mass. after the murder of their father. They become embroiled in the mystery of a Gothic family mansion with its many rooms and numerous keys, not of all which merely open doors. A great spooky story punctuated by horrific violence and leavened with remarkably compassionate human drama. Hill is clearly at the height of his craft with the narrative and Rodriguez’s art is by turns cartoon-like and expressive.”
“The Boys” (Dynamite) — by Garth Ennis, Russ Braun and Darick Robertson
“Garth Ennis is not a writer known for pulling his punches and ‘The Boys’ is no exception to that general rule. He’s crafted a dark and perverse world where the superhuman population is more scumbag than hero and was created and maintained by shadowy government bureaucrats and evil private corporations for reasons both economic and political. The Boys represent a group of independent and powered individuals whose job is to smack down, both figuratively and literally, any superhuman who crosses over a very thin line into depravity. Ennis and his artistic collaborators have often gone way over the line themselves in terms of violence and gore, but they have also crafted a compelling narrative about the effects of power on the human psyche and the consequences of vengeance.”
“Action Comics” (DC) — by Grant Morrison, Rags Morales, et al.
“There’s already been a lot of talk about the various titles comprising DC’s ‘The New 52’ promotion, but the one that I think encapsulates the changeover best is Morrison’s ‘Action Comics.’ By going all the way back to the beginning and showing us a brash, impulsive and not nearly so invulnerable Superman, Morrison has tapped deeply into the very things that have made Superman such an endearing and enduring character. Morrison’s fresh ‘back-to-basics’ approach to the material is aided greatly by his superior story construction and great ear for comic character dialogue. Morales delivers the goods with some of his most striking and detailed comics work to date. Out of all of ‘The New 52,’ this one was my favorite and the best representation of the high bar DC has set.