UT and BGSU presidents wager on rivalry

Bowling Green State University President Mary Ellen Mazey and University of Toledo President Sharon L. Gaber will have more than bragging rights on the line when the Falcons and the Rockets take the field for the Battle of I-75 on Tuesday, Nov. 17.

This year, the losing team’s president will be serving up some humble pie to the winner.

Friends and former Auburn University colleagues, Gaber and Mazey decided to make this year’s contest a little more interesting: the losing team’s president will serve lunch to the winning president, Student Government president and Graduate Student Association president in the winning president’s office — while wearing the winning school’s T-shirt.

“Mary Ellen is a good friend of mine and it is wonderful to be able to work with her to collaborate and advance education and research in northwest Ohio,” Gaber said. “I look forward to seeing her at the game and in my office for lunch.”

“While we’re fierce rivals on the athletic fields and courts, UT and BGSU have a long history of academic collaboration benefiting the region,” Mazey said. “It’s great to have Sharon in northwest Ohio. I’ve picked out a great BGSU T-shirt for her to wear to lunch.”

Through nine games, the Rockets are 8-1 and 5-1 in the Mid-American Conference West Division. In ten games, the Falcons are 8-2 and 6-0 in the MAC.