Tom Amstutz Quotations

There are young guys with a lot of talent, but we have to determine who the playmakers are. We're watching to see who gets the best feel of the quarterback and who runs the most precise routes.

Obviously, there's going to be more than one opinion. It's kind of a controversial situation. But when I look at everything, I think about helping people first. To me, no matter what someone says, it's still worth helping a young man.

I was pleased with our defense at times, especially with the turnovers we created early in the game. We want to keep offenses out of sync and off balance. That helps you make big plays.

I don't care about all that stuff. I don't believe in voodoo or jinxes or the curse of the Bambino. Quite frankly, Ball State has outplayed us. Our mental attitude has not been quite right and they've played hard. We need to make sure we're emotionally ready. We called on our seniors this week to make sure our preparation is done right and that we execute and play with emotion in the game.

I expect to see great competition this spring, and I expect to see all our quarterbacks grow and improve. I'm sure the competition will go through spring ball and extend into the summer before we know who our quarterback is going to be.

He had a nice practice last night, and all indications are he should be able to play this week.

We've done this three other times before, actually. Remember, we had to teach Tavares Bolden a whole new offense in 2001. Our staff is experienced at it. We know it's a process you have to go through. Patience is required of us to give a guy a chance to develop and become a good quarterback.

I would say it's among the most challenging schedules a Toledo team has ever played. We have two Big 12 teams and a team from the Big East. It's a challenge and a real stretch for our program.

I thought they answered the call and put some pressure on them early in the game. Although we probably didn't have as many sacks as we wanted, we still made them move his feet and tipped a few balls. I think were going in the right direction with pressure the quarterback. Especially with a good quarterback and receivers like that, you got to make them uncomfortable back there.

Our program, and our conference because of its great reputation for developing players to their highest potential, attracts quality quarterbacks and receivers. These young guys are good and they're ready to step up.

Our players were aware, sure, but they didn't focus on any of that. We prepared well and we executed well. I was proud of the way our team went about its business.

I thought it was pretty interesting that old Notre Dame, known for power football for years, spread the football around a little bit.

That will be a huge game for us against a very talented team, probably one of the top 15 teams in the country. It's a great opportunity to play a team of that caliber and see how we measure up.

I was proud of our defense causing turnovers, and our special teams made big plays. That's a good sign that the attitude of your team is good because the special teams is playing hard.

We are better because of having Bruce as a leader. He has a rare work ethic and a rare positive attitude. He's the whole team's quarterback. Everybody believes in him.

We have a good core group back from a championship team and they understand what it takes to win. Those guys have the guts to lead and they set the bar on how everybody else works. When you have that, you have a program with continuity.

We played our style of football. It may be a little different than what they (UTEP) are used to seeing. We tried to establish a little bit of a run. Once we got the run going, using different formations, then we used our passing.

We came out sharp tonight, and I really can't ask for too much more than what they did in the first five series. The execution was sound and we had a good of mix of runs and passes. Bruce did a nice job of executing the offense and we had other players make players for us. We just have to keep it going.

You have those fumbles right before halftime and give a team like that a short field, and that's going to hurt. We have to rebound and get our focus back together and raise our whole level of football before next game.

There have been some good quarterbacks to come through here. Bruce, as far as his college career goes, can match any of them. And he does have potential to play at the next level.

We thought Bruce had a lot of talent and had a good high school experience. But, he has gone beyond what we expected from him. He has gone way beyond what we thought we were getting.

What stands out? To me, it's the attitude he brings to practice everyday. He's always excited, always ready and there's a contagious aspect to that. Our receivers, for example, know they can't run sloppy routes in practice because Bruce expects more.

Both coaches did a good job for us, helping us win a MAC championship, win two MAC West titles and go to two bowl games. We wish them good luck in their new jobs.

Both. A good system will feature a talented quarterback and help him be in position to make plays. And a good quarterback gets the job done. It goes hand in hand.

I spent time this winter working and talking about leadership with our team. Once we get back out on the football field we will see the leadership develop. It's important that when a group of seniors leave, a new group of leaders emerges.

I sleep better knowing the type of leader and competitor we have at quarterback.

You might need a calculator to figure out all these points they're scoring.

They're all showing good progress in our new defense.

It's a good teaching day, a fundamentals day, and an evaluation day. And there's a lot to evaluate. We have eight defensive starters back, but we have a new system, so we're looking for the guys with the athletic ability to help out there. We're sorting personnel, getting to know the freshmen, and figuring out where players can best fit in the program.

It's always good to have the core of your offensive line returning. Experience counts at that position. We have four starters back and some other guys who have played. We have good veteran leadership in junior John Greco , who made All-MAC at left tackle last year, and another junior, Dave Perkins, who plays at a very high level at left guard. This will be their third year together as starters, which is very important.

It's important in our system that we have a group of running backs that we can rotate so we always have a fresh back in there.

Ohio had a really strong senior class this year, and we're fortunate to sign a lot of the best players. I feel really good about these kids. I feel like I know them, know their character. I'm very excited to add these young men to our program.

I have to be honest. I thought he'd have a chance to be a good player. But never did I dream he could be a three-year starter and play at the level he has.

Clint Cochran is the guy with the best grasp of the offense right now. He has a good arm, he can run the offense and he has the most experience. So obviously he will have the early advantage.

(Hopkins) making all-conference was a tribute to his hard work, but also maybe a tribute to our tight ends as a group. He sort of represented the group with that honor.

He's willing to do anything to help the university and the football team look good, and it's all honest and genuine with him.

I don't see it that way. I know how we have played and I know what we do. That's all that I look at.