University of Toledo Athletics

Toledo Head Coach Jason Candle

Opening Comments
"This was a great team victory for us. That's a good team we just played. I'm really proud of our effort to stay the course for 60 minutes. I thought it was huge for us to come out in the third quarter the way we did after a tough first 30 minutes. To be able to score points off turnovers was a big deal."

Comments on team overcoming offensive line injuries
“Three of our five offensive linemen were new. Brant (Weiss) got the start at right tackle, Nate (Jeppesen) started at right guard and Yazeed (Atariwa) came in and played when Paul (Perschon) got injured. That is a testament to our depth and to Offensive Line Coach Mike Hallett. Our crew prepared well as they have done each game week. Hopefully we get our injured players back in the near future. We have a tough stretch of opponents coming up.”

Comments on play of team's defense
“They are a well-coached unit. I thought we were a little more multiple today and did a good job pressuring the quarterback. Our front four did a great job getting to their spots and blitzing. They are a prideful unit. I was very proud of their efforts against a very good team and a very talented quarterback.

Comments on connection between Logan Woodside and Cody Thompson
“I think Logan has a great connection with all of his receivers. Last week, we were talking about Michael Roberts’ three touchdown catches against Bowling Green and next week we could be talking about someone else. Their preparation throughout the week is a direct reflection of how they play on Saturdays. I appreciate their preparation.”

Logan Woodside on the changes made at halftime
“We started making plays. We shot ourselves in the foot in the first half and we didn’t do that in the second half. Against a good team like Central Michigan you can’t be in third and long and expect to convert.”
Woodside on his connection with Cody Thompson
“We come in each day and work hard. We’re good friends and we try to go out and make each other better and it works out for us.”
Woodside on the defensive performance
“The defense was lights out. Central Michigan has a good offense and a really good quarterback. For them to be held to zero in the first half was big for us.”
 
Cody Thompson on connection with Logan Woodside
“We put in a lot of hours over the summer and we’re good friends. I’m not the only guy that has scored a couple touchdowns in one game. He has a connection with all the receivers.”

Thompson on his four touchdown performance
“I guess it was just my day today. Central Michigan has a great defense and it was just a good day for us out there.”
 
Connery Swift on his interception
“They motioned to a formation and we had to check. Thanks to pressure from the defensive line and other defensive backs in coverage, I was able to get my hands on the ball.”
 
Swift on preparing for Central Michigan
“They have a great quarterback but our approach to every week is the same. We respect their players and have to account for them but our approach is the same.”
 
DeJuan Rogers on preparation for Central Michigan
“We knew it was going to be physical and we needed to come out and play hard. Our main goal was to have everybody doing their job, that happened and it showed on defense.”

Rogers on the defensive performance
“It was good but not satisfying. We have to come back next week and do the same thing against another good team.”

  
Central Michigan Head Coach John Bonamego

(General Thoughts)
“It was a hard-fought game. Our guys showed a lot of fight, but in the end we made too many mistakes. We hurt ourselves with penalties, turnovers and we weren’t consistent enough stopping them in the second half. We weren’t consistent enough offensively all day in finishing out our drives.”

(on UT’s offense doing something different in the second half)
“Not really. I think we just got beat on a couple of plays and again the penalties came into play with field position. All those things came into play. They’re a good football team and I think we’re one also. We just have to pick up the pieces and go back to work tomorrow.”

(How big of a swing was fumble at UT’s one-yard line right before halftime)
“I think that was a big turnover in the game. We had a chance to go ahead 7-3 at the half and you never know what happens.”

(on team’s difficulty stopping Cody Thompson)
“He’s a good player. I think they found a matchup they liked. We didn’t have an answer for it from pass-rush standpoint. If you let a quarterback have time, he’s going to find the open person and I think Thompson’s a real good football player.”

(How goes is Toledo defensively)
“I think they’re a really good team across the board. They’re very well-built, well-coached and they play hard. They’re a good football team.”