Liberty and Toledo fans prepare for Boca Raton Bowl with Pep Rally

On the Eve of the 2022 RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl, which will pit the Liberty University Flames against the University of Toledo Rockets, fans of both sides were treated to a pep rally at the Mizner Park Amphitheatre on Dec. 19.

Each school performed in ensembles comprised of bands, spirit squads, and cheerleaders. With Liberty boasting 250 bandmembers and Toledo touting a sizable 120-man band of its own, excitement surrounded the crowd as the schools played their fight songs in addition to other melodies. School mascots Sparky the Eagle and Rocky the Rocket also joined in the festivities to pump up the crowd.

Fans filled the amphitheater to cheer their respective squads. Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer welcomed the crowd to Boca Raton.

“On behalf of the entire city, 100,000 residents and 13,000 businesses, it is our pleasure to welcome two of the best universities in the nation and two of the most outstanding football teams to play in our city in the RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl for the Howard Schnellenberger trophy,” Singer said.

Singer also used the opportunity to highlight the amenities of the town and encourage students and graduates to relocate to the area.

Athletic directors from both schools addressed the fans and expressed gratitude at the opportunity to compete for the Howard Schnellenberger Trophy, named after the college coach who led the football program for Florida Atlantic University as well as for the Universities of Miami and Louisville in addition to assistant coaching positions at various levels of competition.

“The hospitality put on by the bowl committee has been absolutely first class… I’m looking forward to looking up at the stands at FAU stadium and seeing a lot of red. (The) Flames are going to be going for our fourth straight bowl win,” Liberty Athletic Director Ian McCaw said.

McCaw also noted the significance of this bowl for the Flames because the team could not compete for a conference championship due to being an FBS Independent. Liberty will transfer to Conference USA beginning with the 2023 season and will then be eligible to win the conference championship.

The Flames finished the regular season 8-4, with three straight losses to close out play.

Toledo finished its regular season as the victor of the MAC Conference for the 2022 season with an overall record of 8-5.

Following messages from university personnel, both squads took turns on stage once again entertaining the audience.

“(Flames Football is) an awesome team. We want to let them know that we represent them and that we love them, and we support them,” said Barbara Gill, whose husband works in Liberty’s procurement and contract administration, in addition to being a Flames Club member.

Following the pep rally, many of Liberty’s supporters made the short trek from the Amphitheatre to Yard House, a local restaurant. The Liberty Flames Club provided complementary appetizers for all fans who attended the post-pep rally “Flames Bowl Bash” at Yard House. The Liberty Band also followed the crowd to the restaurant and briefly performed outside the building.

Liberty enters this game having won its last three bowl matchups: twice at the Cure Bowl and once at the LendingTree Bowl. According to McCaw, Liberty is one of only five teams to win its respective bowl games in at least the last three seasons with the other four teams being Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky, and Louisiana. With last season’s victory, Liberty joined Appalachian State as the only schools to win bowl games in their first three seasons of FBS play.

However, Toledo is no stranger to bowl games, having qualified for them in 13 straight seasons. The Rockets lost the 2021 Bahamas Bowl to current Conference USA and a future conference opponent for the Flames, the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders.

Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 20 for the 2022 RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl in FAU Stadium as the Liberty Flames take on the Toledo Rockets and aim to defend their perfect 3-0 bowl record.

The Boca Raton Bowl will be broadcast on ESPN. Listen Live on the Liberty Flames Sports Network.

View more bowl game information at LibertyFlames.com.