 TOLEDOROCKETS.NETYour source for information on Rocket Football! |
TOLEDOROCKETS.NETYour source for information on Rocket Football! |
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By Brian Nowicki The Kansas Jayhawks will be in town Friday night for a game to be televised nationally on ESPN2. Kansas, out of the Big 12 conference, is 2-0 on the season and coming off an impressive 42-13 blow out win in last year's Fort Worth Bowl. The game will be the home opener for the Rockets. Former Rocket legend Chuck Ealey will be on hand, as he and his former teammates will be honored for the great 35 game winning streak from 1969-1971. 2006 marks the 35th anniversary of the final season of that great run of three straight undefeated seasons and three straight Tangerine Bowl victories. Gametime is scheduled for 8:00pm EST. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN2. Dave Pasch will have the play by play with Trevor Matich and Rod Gilmore doing color analyst, and Heather Cox on the sideline. The game can also be heard on WSPD AM1370 with Mark Beier doing the play-by-play, former UT quarterback AJ Sager as color analyst, and Brad Fanning on the sidelines. Kansas Game Comments Toledo Mayor Carleton S Finkbeiner: On filling the Glass Bowl Friday Night - "I encourage everyone in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan to show their pride and come on out and fill the Glass Bowl." On showing community support for UT football - "I have asked downtown businesses to keep their lights on Friday night to light up the city. I encourage people to hang signs in their places of business in support of the Rockets. Even something as simple as a Go Rockets sign hanging on the window. This is more than a football game. This should be a community event." Coach Amstutz: On playing Kansas - "Kansas is a Big 12 opponent with skill down the board on offense and defense. They have some young players, just like we do. They are coming in here 2-0 with a lot of confidence. They had a tremendous bowl win last year. This is a football team that is used to winning. It's going to be a huge challenge for us. It's going to be really exciting to have the opportunity to show our players on national television on ESPN2 and have a great crowd at the Glass Bowl." On what stands out about Kansas - "Very well coached. The University of Kansas have a lot of confidence in their coach as they just gave him a $1.5 million contract. They have a good, very young quarterback that can run the ball and pass it. Defensively they have great athletes that can really swarm all over the field. We'll have our hands full and we will have to play our best just to stay close with them." On what a nationally televised game does for the program - "It is very good for our program. It gives us exposure and allows our recruits to take a look at our program. They players dream about playing on national television when they are younger and now they get to be a part of something like that." On SS Barry Church not playing like a true freshman - "Barry Church is a special football player. That's what NFL players look like when they are freshman....just like Barry Church." On RB Jalen Parmele - "He (Jalen Parmele) had over 100 yards, we was the bright spot in that game." On RB DaJuane Collins - "DaJuane got in the last series (against WMU) and got his first college football experience. Hopefully he will continue to get opportunities to get in the game." On whether or not WR Nick Moore will play this Friday - "We still aren't sure. He's back practicing with us. We'll have to see how quickly he is ready to go." On whether or not the 2004 loss to Kansas is motivation - "No, we really focus on this team this year and what we have to do as a football team to improve. We have a lot of improving to do." On getting the Glass Bowl packed Friday night - "This will be the greatest show in the city. This will be a perfect time to come out and watch the Rockets. There will be fireworks during the game, there will be fireworks at halftime, and it should be a lot of fun. Get your signs ready for ESPN2 and show them how great Toledo is." QB Clint Cochran: On TE Chris Hopkins becoming his primary target - "He is an amazing player with amazing skills. He's a great player and we are doing some routes for him. If he gets open then I am gonna get the ball to him." On playing Kansas - "They are gonna be a tough Big 12 opponent coming into hopefully a packed house at the Glass Bowl. We're excited about the game and we're gonna be ready to go and get back out on the field." On the Kansas defense - "They like to play zone coverage, kind of similar to Iowa State. They have some good players that can run to the football hard. It all comes back to the Toledo offense and executing our plays. If we execute and do the things we are supposed to do, we can have a successful night." LB Mike Alston: On playing Kansas - "It's gonna be a tough challenge. They are a great team with a powerful offense and defense, but we love playing at home in front of our fans." On the Kansas offense - "They have a nice, solid running back and the quarterback's pretty confident and successful. They also have a receiving core that pretty good, so there is not just one guy you can just key on." On the motivation of the 2004 Kansas loss - "Yeah, I can't wait to play Kansas." RB Jalen Parmele: On his performance last week - "I could have done a lot better. The offensive line did their job of blocking real well and that helped open up the run game." On finally playing at home - "We practice on this turf and have a good feeling for playing on it and we like playing at home." On excitment from the students for this game - "I know they are looking forward to this game. This is a big game for us, it's the Big 12." On whether or not the loss to Kansas in 2004 is motivation - "It really is. We had our backs against the wall in that game. We want to show ourselves that we are better than that (2004 game)." Have a question or comment for Brian? Email |