TOLEDO, Ohio — WTOL 11 has obtained emails between the athletic directors of Bowling Green State University and the University of Toledo regarding the Rockets' controversial decision to not have the Falcon Marching Band perform at the halftime of the Battle of I-75 football game, a tradition of the storied rivalry.
BGSU Athletic Director Derek Van Der Merwe emailed UToledo Athletic Director Bryan Blair on Sept. 9, formally requesting permission for the FMB to perform at the Oct. 26 game at the Glass Bowl Stadium.
Van Der Merwe's email says the formal request is per Mid-American Conference policy, and that FMB Director Jon Waters had been in touch with UToledo "to discuss preliminary details."
The next day, Blair told Van Der Merwe he "will circle back shortly with an answer" and noted that UToledo would be honoring its annual Hall of Fame class during halftime.
UToledo in a statement earlier this week said it "clearly communicated" to BGSU that it was obligated to celebrate the inductees and have the Rockets Marching Band perform during halftime and that the decision was not a "surprise," which BGSU President Rodney Rogers called it in an email to his university.
Blair did not circle back to Van Der Merwe with an answer until a month later. However, his email says both universities' presidents "have spoken at length."
It is unclear at this time when the two presidents spoke. WTOL 11 has requested those communications.
Blair's Oct. 10 email says UToledo will not be able to accommodate FMB performing at halftime due to the Hall of Fame program and RMB performance.
"I hate that we couldn't accommodate you this year, but we will try to avoid this gameday conflict in the future," the email states.
The email also notes that BGSU's band will have 518 seats reserved at the Glass Bowl Stadium, but that "band members typically take up 1.5-2 seats per member, but given the outstanding ticket demand for this game, we are unable to expand this footprint."
"We look forward to an amazing day. This rivalry being played on a Saturday is incredible for our community, institutions, and both fanbases."
The emails between Blair and Van Der Merwe can be read below:
Rogers informed the university about UToledo's decision on Oct. 14, four days after Blair told Van Der Merwe, saying the tradition of the visiting team's band performing at halftime had been broken.
Rogers' letter also said BGSU did not know why the decision was made and that it "came as a surprise to BGSU just weeks before the game, directly impacting our band members' student experience as one of our two planned away game halftime performances this season."
He also said BGSU would still welcome UToledo's band to perform at the Doyt Perry Stadium when the two schools match up.
FMB alum Lexie Beamer told WTOL 11 that Rogers' email was infuriating.
"It's not really a competition if both people aren't participating, and not that the bands are competing, but it feels unfair and unjust to have one band there supporting their people," Beamer said.
"I think that no matter who's playing where, having your own band there to support your own football team is such an important part of the experience," she added. "I don't think it really matters whose home turf it's on.