Sept. 23, 1999

Toledo, OH - An already banged-up University of Toledo football team got more bad news this week when Coach Gary Pinkel announced that senior tight end Mike Bilik and sophomore center Nick Otterbacher probably would not play against UMass on Saturday.

Bilik, a two-time All-MAC selection, played with a bad back vs. Ball State but is "very doubtful" to play against UMass, said Pinkel. Sophomore Jason Spiece will move into Bilik's spot at tight end. Spiece missed the Ball State game with a thigh contusion, but is expected to be okay for UMass. Otterbacher is listed as doubtful for UMass.

Bilik and Otterbacher join a long list of injured Rockets. The list includes:sophomore free safety Andy Boyd (dislocated shoulder-out), sophomore defensive lineman Sameer Hamood (sprained left elbow-out), senior wide receiver Jason Turner (broken ankle-out), freshman wide receiver Manny Johnson (broken collarbone-out).