Nov. 22, 2003

Recap| Final Stats| Notes

Toledo vs. Western Michigan (Nov. 22, 2003) Post-Game Quotes

Toledo Head Coach Tom Amstutz

(On the defenses dominating for both teams)

"I think Western did a real nice job. Their defense was good and they have very good personnel. (Jason) Babin was all over the field and he's a very good football player. They have a good solid football team. It was tough going out there and we had to hang in there and keep battling. I was proud of our defense and the big plays they came up with. We were able to get to their quarterback a couple of times and that was a good sign."

(on Jason Babin)

"He's a great football player. I wanted to get a saddle and throw it on his back and ride him. He gets my vote as the Defensive Player of the Year. He was a handful for us all night and we had to make notes of where he was."

(on the team's progress since the start of the season)

"I said at the beginning of the season that this team could do some special things. We've already done some special things by winning eight games and beating two nationally-ranked teams and Marshall on the road. We've had players step up, develop and improve and we've improved as a football team. That's what a coach looks for."

(on the upcoming Bowling Green game)

"There's only one thing to look at now and that's our last game against Bowling Green. We're going to dedicate it to our seniors and we're going to put our best effort on that field and let it all fly and see what happens."

"Bowling Green is a nationally-ranked team that is very gifted and has outstanding personnel. We're going to be on the road and we have a great challenge ahead of us. It's also a great opportunity and we're going to go out there and lay it all on the line."

"This type of game is what you coach for. We try to get our players to that game where they can put the ball out there and let them play their hearts out and go for a championship."

Western Michigan Head Coach Gary Darnell

General Comments
We came into tonight with the intent of playing hard and our team certainly did not hang it up because this was the last game of the season. I think our seniors really put a lot of heart and soul into this game. But the flip side, Toledo virtually did the same thing. The credit has to go to them, because they played very well themselves.

Difference Between Western Michigan and Toledo
The biggest difference between us and Toledo was that every time something significant would happen for us, Toledo was able to answer back in some other way. Toledo did more things better than we did and that is why they won the football game tonight.

Comments on Toledo's Passing Game
Toledo completes over 80 percent of their passes. We would be in position to stop them, but they were able to create some match-ups and take advantage of them. Bruce (Gradkowski) does a great job getting the ball to his receivers and after they make the catch, they make people miss.

Toledo is the absolute classic of having the running game set up the pass. You have to have yourself spread out to cover their passing game. Teams must find a way to match up and take something away. Toledo does not give you the luxury of just taking a single thing away. If you take a single thing away, they have an answer for it. Playing them is like a chess game. Sometimes you have to show that you have the run stopped, but you really have to work to get the pass stopped.

Toledo Junior Wide Receiver Lance Moore General Comments
Tonight our offense started out real slow, but we knew our defense came to play today. We knew we needed to score. I think after the first possession we scored on, we got the confidence and started getting everything rolling again. I think that set the tone for the rest of the game.

Comments Heading into Bowling Green Week
I think we are right where we want to be. A couple of weeks ago, Coach Amstutz told us we had a four game season. We are now 3-0 with the biggest game of the year coming back next weekend at Bowling Green. We know if we win that game, we win the MAC West.

Sophomore Running Back Trinity Dawson Comments on Not Being Able to Run the Ball and in the First Half, but were very successful in the Second Half
I have to give the coaches a lot of credit. They recognized what they are doing and made the necessary adjustments at halftime. Also our offensive line did a good job and allowed us to run the ball better in the second half.

We wanted to try and establish a rhythm in the first half. We had a hard time doing that. In the second half, we tried our best to finally get that rhythm started.

Sophomore Quarterback Bruce Gradkowki Comments about Tonight's Game
I felt the emotion was sometimes there and sometimes it wasn't. We have to have it there the whole game. I thought our defense played a great game and that is the reason we won.

Comments about Jason Babin
He is a great football player. He is probably the best player we have played against all year. We tried to put a game plan in around him. He comes down that line so fast and hard. I got the catch to meet him a few times tonight.

Comments on the Season so far
We have fought hard to get to this point. You have to give our team a lot of credit. We have come away this year with some tough wins. Now we get the chance to look forward to Bowling Green. It is going to be a great game and a great atmosphere.

Junior Whip Michael Broussard
Comments on the Interception and Returning it for a Touchdown I didn't feel the defense needed to score but I felt we did need to make some big plays. We showed blitz and he (Jon Drach) tipped his hand and I made the read and made the play.