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Quote:Popular Amstutz fueled Rockets’ rise to MAC title
Sunday, January 30, 2005
Mark Znidar
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
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UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO PHOTO&nbsp;
Toledo coach Tom Amstutz and quarterback Bruce Gradkowski celebrate beating Miami University in the MAC title game Dec. 2. Amstutz kept his team from panicking after two early blowout losses and led the Rockets to their second league title in four seasons.&nbsp;
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An important reason quarterback Bruce Gradkowski chose to attend college at Toledo was that coach Tom Amstutz was such a straight shooter.

That is, it had everything to do with Amstutz’s being a man of his word and nothing to do with the 10-point buck hanging on his office wall.

"Coach, he likes to shoot stuff down," Gradkowski said, laughing. "I’ve heard a lot of his hunting and fishing stories. He hasn’t asked me to join him, and I don’t think I would go if he asked. I’m not that type. But I know he really gets into it."

Amstutz’s love of the outdoors is a reflection of his competitiveness. Even during the season, he’ll wear a camouflage suit and tote a rifle in the wilderness for deer, ducks, geese or pheasant, or grab a pole and tackle box and fish on Lake Erie.

A room in his basement is devoted to a collection of antique fishing lures, fishing lure boxes and duck decoys.

"A fishing boat captain will call me on the spur of the moment and tell me that he has a group going out on Lake Erie and that he wants me for entertainment," Amstutz said. "I’ve gotten a lot of free or low-cost trips that way. I’ll tell the group funny football stories or just about great football games."

There will be plenty of stories for Amstutz to tell from the 2004 season. He was voted The Dispatch Ohio College Football Coach of the Year for leading the Rockets from one of their worst starts in history to the Mid-American Conference championship, the Motor City Bowl and a 9-4 record.

Toledo opened with a 63-21 loss to Minnesota. The following week, the Rockets lost 63-14 at Kansas.

Reporters asked Amstutz how many lineup changes he would make. There would be none.

"Coach was so positive, and that rubbed off on the team," Gradkowski said. "He knew what kind of team we had, and he didn’t rant and rave or put us down. There were no changes. What he told us was that we had a lot of great individuals, but that we had to work as a team. He was so upbeat."

The Rockets went on to win the MAC West championship and beat Miami University 35-27 in the conference title game.

A 39-10 loss to Connecticut in the Motor City Bowl largely was a result of injuries: Gradkowski’s two broken bones in his throwing hand, receiver Lance Moore’s separated shoulder and tailback Scooter McDougle’s knee injury.

"It was one of the most rewarding seasons," said Amstutz, who has won two conference championships and three division titles in four seasons. "That team never gave up on itself after being one of our worst statistically after the first two games. We had great leadership, and we kept getting better and better."

Toledo didn’t need a spectacular season for Amstutz, 49, to become popular with fans, students and alumni. He was born in Toledo and has spent 24 years as a student and coach at the university.

"Coach is so loved around here by the players and fans," associate athletics director Paul Helgren said. "He’s a Toledo guy. He’s one of them. He’ll do anything to help the university or the team. He’ll never be accused of being tightly wound. He’s fun to play for and fun to work with. But he is serious about what he does."

Amstutz said there’s a reason for his style, which is a mixture of fun and intensity.

"College football should be fun. It’s not pro football," he said. "The kids want to work hard, yes, but they should go out there and smile and enjoy the experience. I don’t want football to be boring.

"I like what I do. This is definitely my dream job."


mznidar@dispatch.com

Tom A. deserves every bit of this award.Congrats "Ohio College Football
Coach of the Year".You do UT proud!!!

I especially like the last comment that this is his "dream job." Congrats Coach Stutz

Congrats Stutz!

Congrats to Toledo Tom!

Tom is always overlooked, he deserved this more than anyone!

a genuinely nice guy--congrats toledo tom!

Congrats to Toledo Tom, anybody smile when the saw Tress' name at the bottom? :ownd:

I enjoyed that as well :D

Likewise on Tress! :D :D :D

also have another former UT coach on that list...didn't he win this a couple years ago?

The Coach And his staff are most deservedly worthy of the award. I mention staff because he would probably mention the same. He is all about Team, therefore staff.

Too bad Tressell even received the vote that he did!! What would Tom do with that talent? Let's all collectively pray that we never find out, unless of course, it is with the midnight blue and gold.

Go Rockets and waiting for LOI

Congrads Toledo Tom!!! Go Rockets!!!!!

The best part of the poll is that it's voted on by the coaches themselves. If voted on by fans, or perhaps even the media, Tressel would have run away with it on the strength of beating Michigan and winning the bowl game.

Nice to have the respect of your peers.