Sept. 29, 2001

Recap| Final Stats| Notes

Head Coach Tom Amstutz:

"I said before the game Northern Illinois is an excellent team and I really respect them. We're going to battle every week. We had a real gut check and I'm real proud of our players with how they responded. They fought through it. They kept battling and did what was needed to win. That's what a championship team does. Our seniors showed good leadership in working through a tight situation."

On Northern Illinois:

"They have a good defense, and I give them all the credit. Northern Illinois is going to win a lot of football games this year. We tried to key on their running back, Thomas Hammock, and practice on the plays that he hurt us with last year."

On being ranked in the Top 25:

"We're going to get each team's best game every time out, but they're going to get ours also. I trust our seniors to keep providing the leadership they have been giving us."

Senior LB Corey Morris

"We fought hard all game, it was really tough. Antwon McCray came on and helped us move the ball when we needed it the most."

"Chester is a premier player, but everyone is key and that showed tonight."

Senior QB Tavares Bolden

"Northern Illinois came out aggressive and played us tough. They keyed in on Chester and did a great job up front."

"Being in the Top 25, teams are going to treat us as a Big Ten school. We're going to have to come out ready to play every week"

Junior WR Donta Greene

"Northern's defense was fast flowing. They played the safeties over the top. All I tried to do was feel the holes and get open."

"Being in the Top 25 there is pressure every week. We have to treat every game like a championship game."

Northern Illinois Head Coach Joe Novak

"It came down to Toledo hitting all the critical plays and we didn't. Toledo has 11 seniors returning and eight are fifth-year veterans on the team. It is the best football team we've played this year. I don't know who is going to beat them down the road. I think Toledo is a Top 15 team."

"Toledo's tailback (Chester Taylor) and quarterback (Tavares Bolden) are a good duo. They complement each other very well."