 TOLEDOROCKETS.NETYour source for information on Rocket Football! |
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By Brian Nowicki After a tough 45-43 triple overtime loss at Iowa State, the Rockets travel to Kalamazoo, MI to open the conference season against the Western Michigan Broncos. Sophomore quarterback Clint Cochran was 39 of 49 passing for 367 yards (2nd highest single game mark in school history) and three touchdowns against Iowa State last week. Last week Western Michigan gave up 259 yards passing and 39 points in a 39-20 loss to Indiana. Toledo leads the all-time series 36-24. The Rockets have won five straight, and eleven of the last twelve games in the series against Western Michigan. Western Michigan senior starting quarterback Ryan Cubit suffered in injury in the opener at Indiana and will be sidelined for this game. Replacing Cubit at quarterback will be junior college transfer Thomas Peregrin. Peregrin is a 6-3 and 185 pound junior from Sparks, NV. Bill Cubit is the head coach of Western Michigan. He is in his second season as the coach of the Broncos. Last year he led them to a 7-4 record and was named MAC Coach of the Year. Gametime is scheduled for 7:00pm EST. No television will be available in the Toledo area, but the game can be heard on WSPD AM1370 with Mark Beier doing the play-by-play and former Rocket QB Chuck Ealey as color analyst. Iowa State Game Comments Coach Amstutz: On effort against Iowa State - "That's a great question, because I thought the effort was oustanding. I was a proud coach after the game because of the effort and the character I saw in our team. All you can do is ask the team to come out and play and put their hearts on the line and we did that. We play to win and winning is important at Toledo, but we failed to do that. We have some things to work on, but I was proud of our effort and the character of our team." On guys that played their first collegiate games - "We had about 25 different players play on defense. We had about 8 or 9 freshman play. One freshman started and led us in tackles, Barry Church. We had Steigerwald, who is a true freshman who made a couple of really crucial extra points in overtime. Archie Donald at linebacker, who will probably start next week for us, did a great job." One the defensive play against Iowa State - "I thought our defense was sound, but yet we have areas that we can improve on. I expect us to work hard this week and improve and get better in certain areas on defense." On the running game - "We want to be able to run the ball well, however I give Iowa State a lot of credit for that. A year ago they were in the top 15 teams in the nation against the run, in giving up only 102 yard a game against the run. They did a good job against us, and we're gonna have to be a better team in that area." QB Clint Cochran: On team's performance against Iowa State - "I think that the biggest thing our team showed was a lot of heart. We didn't come away with the W and it's still kind of getting at everybody, but we have to forget about that because we have a big game this week." On TE Chris Hopkin's performance - "Super human! Chris made two amazing catches. Chris is an amazing player and he is going to have a great season for us." On cramping up in the 3rd overtime - "It definitely was a fatigue thing with playing three overtimes. You try to stay hydrated on the sideline. I was chugging everything I could to keep myself from cramping up. It happened to me when I went down and then went to get back up." TE Chris Hopkins: On his performance against Iowa State - "I feel that I did good. I just wanted to come out and perform hard and play hard for my team. But right now I am over that and I am focused on Western Michigan." On QB Clint Cochran's performance - "Clint is showing a glimpse of being a great guy. I really noticed a lot in him last year, even though he played behind Bruce. Clint is a really intelligent guy, and he is a really intelligent guy in the pocket and he makes the right decisions. If he keeps working hard he is going to be great." SS Barry Church: On the Iowa State game - "It was a great game. Both teams played real well, we just came a little short." On his performance against Iowa State - "I was nervous at first. At the first hit I really got into the game and really surprised myself. That forced fumble got me a little motivated and pumped." Western Michigan Game Comments Coach Amstutz: On playing Western Michigan - "It's going to be a big game. It's our first league game. We have to come back and get really focused and understand what kind of battle we are going to have on the road against a team that is really hungry. I consider them last year's most improved team from the first game until the last game. We are gonna have to go down there and play better than we did last week to come away with a win." On playing against another good passing team this weekend - "I thought our defense was sound, but yet we have areas that we can improve on. I expect us to work hard this week and improve and get better in certain areas on defense." QB Clint Cochran: On playing Western Michigan - "They are going to be a tough opponent. They had a great season last year and they are one of the up and coming teams in the MAC. They do some different things on defense and we have to be ready to play against a defense as good as Western Michigan." TE Chris Hopkins: On playing Western Michigan - "It's going to be an exciting game, it's a championship game. Western Michigan is a good team. I'm just excited and I can't wait to get practicing out here in preparation of this game." On his own expectations against Western Michigan - "Right now I am focused on Western Michigan. I'm ready to come out tomorrow and give a championship effort at practice to get ready for a championship game. I am just excited about it." On playing Championship games - "I take every game as a championship game. We're gonna come out here with championship effort. We come out and practice hard, and it is our reward to come out on Saturdays and play every game like it is a championship game. Hopefully we get our W's." SS Barry Church: On Western Michigan - "We will go over the film tomorrow." On game day preparations - "I tape my wrist up on both arms. On this arm, my left arm, I put "dad and mom" and on this arm (right) I put "dreams" because I am my dad and mom's dreams." Have a question or comment for Brian? Email |