BGSU Men's Basketball plays host to the Toledo Rockets this Sunday, February 10.  Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. at venerable Anderson Arena on the BGSU Campus, and the game will be televised nationally on ESPNU.  In addition to serving as the latest edition of the Battle of I-75, the game will also feature the "BG-Toledo Mayoral Showdown" at halftime as part of the ongoing celebration of the City of Bowling Green's 175^th Anniversary.  With citywide pride on the line, John Quinn, the Mayor of Bowling Green, and Carty Finkbeiner, the Mayor of Toledo, will go head-to-head in a free throw shooting contest.  The winner will emerge with bragging rights, and the loser will fly the flag of the opposing school for the duration of the following week at his respective City Hall and provide photographic evidence of such to the other.

BGSU's Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing Brian Delehoy worked with members of the BG 175^th Planning Committee to make the showdown a reality.

"When the committee first entertained the idea of tying in the anniversary celebration with an athletic event or two, it seemed natural to target a BG-Toledo game, and fortunately the schedule early on in the calendar year provided us an option," said Delehoy.  "Mayor Quinn participated in a similar mayoral showdown during the football season, and was once again eager to play the role of the challenger."

Back on September 29, 2007, BGSU Football hosted Western Kentucky for Homecoming 2007 in what was tabbed the "Battle of the Bowling Greens".  Both schools are located in the City of Bowling Green, and given such, both BG Mayors agreed to a similar friendly wager.  BGSU would emerge victorious (41-21), and as a result, a Bowling Green Falcons flag flew outside of City Hall in Bowling Green, KY the following week.

An initial "challenge letter" was sent from Quinn to Finkbeiner back in December, and within days, the challenge was accepted by the Toledo Mayor.

Festivities for the day will also include an on-court presentation from BG Mayor John Quinn to BGSU President Dr. Sidney Ribeau.  A flag bearing one of the 175^th logos will be presented to the University, and will be flown at an on-campus location yet to be determined for the remainder of 2008.