University of Toledo Athletics

Opening Statement from Head Coach Jason Candle:
“It was a big first game for us. We were really happy that our students came out the way they did, it was a great crowd tonight and very electric inside the Glass Bowl. To see that support was pretty awesome.”
“With any first game, there are a lot of things to correct after week one. I truly believe there is a great opportunity to have a lot of growth from week one to week two and that is what I expect from this team. This team is a pretty driven and focused team.”
“Success is day-to-day and it’s not a destination. So we have to continue to work and get better.”
Jason Candle on hetting In the Red Zone but coming away with three points
“I am really proud of our quarterback. When they (Elon) drop eight guys into pass coverage, there is a real temptation to force the ball and Logan didn’t do it. Obviously you want seven points, but the alternative there is to try and force the ball and you can make some really bad decisions and can cost your team.”
“We will get that corrected and do a better job next weekend of getting points on the board when we get in the red zone.”
Coach Candle on Diontae Johnson’s performance tonight vs. Elon
“You don’t know how much you miss a guy until you see him back out there. Sometimes when it gets down to crunch time it is about the player and not the plays or the schemes. And obviously a tremendous individual effort by Dionate tonight.”
Candle on Performance of the running game tonight vs. Elon:
“It was encouraging to see 239 rushing yards. That was another point of emphasis throughout preseason camp as we had to do a better job of running the football and I thought we did that tonight.” “It was great to see all of the running backs do well tonight. You want to be two or even three guys deep at that position and on any given night a guy can have a sensational game.”
Candle on the depth of the Toledo:
“It is easy to be tempted that your football team is solidified Week One. It was a good to get different guys into the football game at key times in the game. For the second and third units and even the first unit, there is competition. You can never have enough bodies and you can never have enough good players developed.
 
Ola Adeniyi, junior defensive end
On having depth along the defensive line
“It feels good. When you can throw anybody out there and still get the same outcome it feels pretty good. You get to keep guys fresh, keep the starters fresh. It’ll help us down the road when it’s week nine or so and guys are still fresh and ready to go.”
Diontae Johnson, sophomore wide receiver
On his 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown
“My teammates did a good job blocking and we all executed. I just did my job taking it to the house.”

Logan Woodside, senior quarterback
On the team’s performance in the red zone and if there’s room for improvement
“Definitely. I think when we get in the red zone we have to score touchdowns. That’s something that we’ll evaluate on film tomorrow and get into a game plan going into Reno next week.”
On getting back out on the field for the first game
“It feels good to be back. It was a long camp, but it’s great to be back in the Glass Bowl. I thought we had a great crowd out there tonight and I thought we played pretty well.”
 
Elon head coach Curt Cignetti’s opening statement
“I’m proud of our team. I thought our guys fought until the very end. Our defense fought with their backs against the wall. Toledo has some great skill players outside.”
Coach Cignetti on his team’s effort
“If we give this kind of effort we will improve this football team and we’re going to celebrate in the locker room this year.”
Coach Cignetti on playing Toledo
“I wanted to compete from beginning to the end. There is going to be a time here one day where we beat a team like Toledo and I told the team that in the locker room.”
Elon junior linebacker Matt Baker on the quarterback play
“They are only going to get better from here. It’s nerve wracking coming out in front of all these people. We have full faith in both quarterbacks that they can get the job done.”
 
Elon redshirt freshman running back Brelynd Cyphers on tonight’s game
“We had a mentality to come out strong and fight like we did. Our main focus was doing our job one play at a time.”
Cyphers on first career touchdown run
“It’s exciting to score my first touchdown. I know I practice hard so there is not too much excitement. Just doing my job and knowing that it will pay off.”
Cyphers on encouragement for the team after the game
“There are some things we did wrong that we can clean up. I feel like we can build on what we did tonight and take steps forward.”