Rockets, Falcons Join Forces Oct. 19 for Annual 'Ruck the Ball' to Promote Veterans Suicide Awareness

Student Veterans of America groups at The University of Toledo and Bowling Green State University will come together to deliver the game ball in their "Ruck the Ball" march leading up to the annual Battle of I-75 football matchup between the Rockets and the Falcons.

Chapter leaders and members from both schools will leave Bowling Green State University at 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, and march 22.5 miles to The University of Toledo to deliver a game ball replica for the Saturday, Oct. 26, matchup at Glass Bowl Stadium, with kickoff time to be announced. The march aims to bring attention to the issue of the high suicide rate among our nation's veterans.

"The 2nd annual Ruck the Ball event is even bigger and better this year," said Eric Buetikofer, UToledo director of military and veteran affairs. "In a change from last year, all of our rest stops along the route will be sponsored by a different Veteran Service Organization to include American Legion Posts and VFWs. The intent this year is to raise awareness of veteran suicide, to that end we will also have mental health support services such as the Red Cross, Toledo Vet Center, NAMI [National Alliance on Mental Illness] and Harbor co-located with the Veteran Service Organizations at each rest stop.

"In addition to all this we will host a grill out at the end of the march at the Koester Alumni Pavilion next to the Glass Bowl for those who finish the march as well as those who partnered with us."

The march will begin at 7 a.m. in Bowling Green outside of Doyt Perry Stadium and continue up into Perrysburg and Maumee, finally ending at Glass Bowl Stadium. The ruck march is scheduled to conclude at 5 p.m. at the William and Carol Koester Alumni Pavilion next to the Glass Bowl. Participants will follow and be followed by support vehicles carrying water, food and medical supplies.

Veterans, active-duty members, those with ties to the military, ROTC students, University students and fitness fanatics of all ages are invited to join the march.

For more information on the second annual Ruck the Ball and to register, visit the event's website.

Tickets for the Battle of I-75 can be purchased online at UTRockets.com/tix, by phone at 419-530-GOLD (4653) or at the Rocket Ticket Office in Savage Arena. UToledo students receive free admission with their student ID. UToledo faculty and staff can purchase up to two tickets at half price.