On Deck, with Marcus Espinoza

This past Monday I was given the chance to interview our very own Head football coach, Tim Beckman about why he came to Toledo and what he plans on doing for this program and our community.

Marcus: I wanted to start things off a little differently here coach. I know you’ve answered a lot of questions about last weeks game but I wanted to give our readers more knowledge about you. I believe it’s important for our readers to get to know you better to become excited about the program once again. What was attractive about Toledo and why did you seize this opportunity?

Coach: Well first and foremost, I’m an Ohio guy. I was born in Akron, Ohio, and my father was with the Cleveland Browns and I went to high school here. I’ve been a lot of places because I was a coach’s son. But, just to be back, my wife’s from Findlay, to have an opportunity to come back and especially to a school that has a deep tradition that Toledo has, is just a chance in a lifetime. Toledo’s known for winning and they’re a great program. When Michael Brian called me up and asked me if I was interested, there was no question.

Marcus: No hesitation?

Coach: No hesitation. I get to be home. My family still lives in Strongsville, Ohio. My mother-in-law lives in Findlay, and my son is now attending Findlay University as well. We’re all home, and there’s something special about being home.

Marcus: Yes, its always good to come back home.

Marcus: One thing you may have noticed is that Tom Amstuz (former UT head coach) was a huge figure in Toledo. This community liked him a lot. Knowing that Toledo can have so much appreciation for someone, does that excite you? It seems like if you do your job, Toledo is going to have more then enough acceptance for you.

Coach: Oh no question. And what Tom Amstuz did for Toledo in being a player and a coach here, he’s won a bunch of games as a head coach and as a defensive coordinator. We butted heads with one another for seven years, I know a lot about this program just from the fact that I happened to coach at the rival school. And have the understanding that I knew this was a great program and was well aware that coach Amstuz made it a great program.

Marcus: One thing I’ve experienced, is I relate a lot of things in my personal life to what’s going on in sports. For example, I’ve just moved into my first place and I’ve got this great sense of ownership and I can set it up however I’d want. It can be clean or, if I get lazy, its going to get dirty. Did you get a sense of ownership and a feeling of a clean slate, knowing that you had full reigns over a new program and you could shape your house to be however you want it to be?

Coach: Oh no question. I think that we’ve made some changes, but we’ve kept the tradition rich with things going on. I’ve got the higher grade staff that’s been involved in nineteen national title games, either played in them or coached in them. I think we’re young, I think we’re energetic, we’ve been out in the community quite a bit. The players have taken heed on what I believe is important in the word student athlete, not just athlete. I think our academics have become tremendously better than what they were prior to, and we need to see that transplant onto the football field.

Marcus: And that’s one thing I think is really important, having the important people in place. Is that something you preach, that being a better person is going to translate onto the field?

Coach: No question. And, I’ve been lucky because I’ve been with coach Meyer (Florida head coach), coach Tressel (Ohio State head coach), and coach Gundy. They all have that similar thing, that it’s not all about winning. Winning’s important of course, but it’s about building a man. Those are the things that anybody that comes to our program from seventeen to twenty-three, twenty-four years old, however old they end up being, they’re going to learn how to do things right and portray the proper image and the Toledo name is upheld.

Marcus: One thing I’ve noticed in your press conferences, but not in a selfish way, is that you guys are determined to get back on a winning track. Your players said they would do whatever it takes to win. You even said yourself, we’ll throw it a hundred times if that’s what it takes to win. It really seems like they’ve bought into your message. That’s one thing that I noticed last year, the students’ lack of interest in the football team. Do you think your message is going to bring the students back in?

Coach: I hope so! I’ll tell you I’ll do whatever I can to bring the students in here. You know that.

Marcus: Even crazy promotions?

Coach: Yes, any crazy promotions, anything that I need to do. I’ve already spoken to the fraternity council, I’ve been to student government as well. The places that I’ve been have been so supported by the student body that it really becomes your twelfth man. And when we win a football game, we’re going to celebrate with our fans. It’s not like when we win were going to run into the locker room and we’re going to go hide somewhere. Because, we know it wasn’t just won by us, it was won by the tradition that has been here and the student body and the fans we have here.

And what a great opportunity, we’re playing Colorado in the Glass Bowl on ESPN at 9′o clock and no one else is on the TV but us. We can show what this university is about, to show the rest of the nation that in this hard economic time, hey we’re still supporting what we believe in and that’s the educational process here and the opportunity that a college brings to you.

Marcus: With your first three games you guys have Purdue, Colorado and Ohio State. It’s not exactly a friendly schedule. Do you think that is going to gear you up for the MAC?

Coach: I hope so. We’re playing against people that are well known teams in their leagues. Purdue you know, two years prior to now they were a pretty good team. Colorado was really good two years ago, and of course we all know about Ohio State. It just gets our players prepared to play really two road games, to play on the road on the MAC and at home against such a great program.

What would you like to ask coach Beckman? Leave a comment below and I’ll be sure to ask him next Monday. Go Rockets!

Boram Lee. Marguerite Johnson. Erica Rivard. Michelle Hui. Emily Hardcastle. Amy Ninlawong. Kayla Groves. Ángela Ibarra. Georgina Hunt. Luisa Bromberger. 

Those are the ten names that fill up the roster on the Toledo Rockets women’s golf team. Study them, remember them, embrace them. Because those ten people deserve your recognition, deserve your praise, and deserve your time. This past Wednesday I was given the opportunity of being able to interview the above mentioned and in my short career as a sports journalist (I use that term loosely) this was by far the best and most enjoyable thing I have ever done. I was able to get a first hand look into a world many of us don’t know. This is the world of women’s golf and I hope you packed a suitcase because we are no longer on planet earth. 

They’re a young team, very young in fact with only one senior on the team this year. But for what they lack in youth they gain through unity. These ten ladies are not just a team, they are a family and just like the Jefferson’s they’re moving on up. Throughout the interview I couldn’t help but notice what a great family this group of ladies had become. They were joking with one another having a good time and simply enjoying one another’s presence. When asked if they hung out outside of the golf course I got a resounding yes back. They informed me that they hangout at school, study together and even go bowling as a team. And although they couldn’t tell me who was the best bowler, team captain Marguerite Johnson made it very clear of her ability to make multiple strikes.

Things aren’t always fun and games for the women’s golf team. They do play golf, and they play it well. They were champions of three tournaments this year including taking first at the Falcon Invitational. After a few minutes I became curious, just what is it like to play a whole golf tournament in the NCAA? If it’s a tournament far away (Arizona for example) they have to fly the day before then quickly get to bed and rest up. The following day they have to play a whole round of practice golf then after they return to the hotel, do some homework, rest up and get ready for the next day. The following morning is when the competition really begins. If they’re playing a 36 hole day (which they often do) they have to wake up at 5:30 in the morning, get ready and tee off by 8:00 A.M. After I was informed of this requirement I quickly came to the conclusion that I will not be playing any level of collegiate golf in my life, ever.  After the first 36 holes are finished they still have another 18 to play the following day to finish up the tournament. Who said golf was for lazy people.

My hope in this article is to educate the general public on the life of not just a female athlete but an entire team and to understand and better realize the amount of time and effort they dedicate to their sport. They take their studies with them on the road, wake up before the sun, and play golf until their arms fall off. And on top of all of that they still mange to enjoy each other and just have fun with the sport they love. Everyone works hard at something and everyone likes to be recognized for their efforts even if they don’t admit it. Well I’ll tell you this much ladies, you have my attention you have my praise and you certainly have my respect. 

News flash Toledo: we do have a women’s golf team here at the University and not only are they’re good at what they do they’re fantastic people in the game of life. They treated me as if I was apart of their team and after this interview I very much feel like I am. So as I sign off I want to thank the entire team for giving me this opportunity as it is something I will never forget.

If you didn’t know about the Toledo Rockets women’s golf team before you do now. No more excuses Toledo, time to recognize.

(Video of the interview to be posted shortly)

On deck this week ladies and gentlemen: A job opportunity!

Kinda…Okay so here’s the deal Toledo. This year I was blessed enough to serve as the Sports Director for the student radio station on campus, 88.3 WXUT and in doing so I was able to get a small team together and with the help of Mason Lowry and our station manager Allison Dow (in addition to many other people at the station) we were able to broadcast all home football games. We even traveled up to Michigan when our Rockets upset the Wolverines! It was one of the most amazing moments of my life and something I will always remember. In addition to doing the football games, I also did play by play for our basketball team with lots of help from Josh Bloomfield and Mason Lowry, Mason also did the entire season of the Women’s basketball games. And if it weren’t for Mason and Josh many of the games would have gone uncovered because of the small size of our team. And this is where you come in, Toledo! 

Due to our small broadcasting team size we were always scrambling to find someone to board opt (someone in the studio to actually put us on the air) and finding a co-broadcaster wasn’t cake either. We are looking for as many aspiring sports broadcasters as possible, experience is appreciated but is not necessary! In addition to broadcasters we would also love anyone that would like to join the radio station in general as it is a great place to hangout at and is a great life experience. Some positions, such as the board operator will be paid positions as your work will not go unnoticed.

I want our program to cover all of our sports next year and especially away games and this is only going to be possible with a large broadcast team. We can’t do it without you Toledo! So please, if you need experience in this field, or even if you just want to have some fun and maybe even travel a bit you should contact me immediately. I will leave my information below to reach me at and will provide more details upon request. Again, we need as many people as possible to make the sports department at Toledo as great as it should be. Thank you and hope to see you soon, go Rockets!

Email: marcus.espinoza@utoledo.edu

On deck this week: A spring preview of the 2009 Toledo Rockets football team.

“Everything is going to be a competition”.

Those were one of the first words that came out of first year head coach, Tim Beckman. In his first spring media day earlier last month coach Beckman was preaching competition and he was preaching it as if we were there for a sermon and not an interview. Either way, he’s made me a believer. He said that everything was going to be a competition, from the drills they do in practice to the classes they take in school. If you do well you get rewarded, you know kind of like when you tell a dog to sit he gets a treat? Same concept, bigger treat. And for some the reward will be in being able to keep your stating position because there are no sacred cows with Coach Beckman. He has a system in place where he has divided up the entire roster into eight different “teams” and each team will compete with various events on and off the field and awards will be given at the end of April for all places from first to eighth. First place for example would get a nice new attire of clothing while the losers would get some shoe strings.

The Rockets need competition like Plaxico Burress needs a good lawyer. Without competition players tend to get lackadaisical and careless about things. If you’re trying to train a dog to sit don’t give him a treat while he’s standing. If you plan on getting playing time on this football team you’re going to have to perform and perform well.

I once bumped into coach Beckman in a hallway and introduced myself, shook his hand and immediately knew that the rockets were going to be in good shape. His hand shake was firm like a well tightened bolt. My dad once told me that you can tell a lot about a man from his hand shake and has always preached to me about the importance of this and what it can tell about a person. A well placed hand shake will indicate three things to me: One, that the person has confidence in himself. Two, he has respect for the people he meets even if its a random introduction in a hallway to a first year student at the University. And three, that when you turn around and begin to take your first steps in the opposite direction an impression has been left with you and thoughts of how well that man carried himself will linger. Coach Beckman has left me with an everlasting impression that has been set in concrete, placed in a bullet proof case and set behind infrared lasers.

So what can you expect when the 2009 football season begins for these Rockets? You can expect yourself to begin investing in concrete, bullet proof cases, and infrared lasers because coach Tim Beckman will leave you with an impression you won’t be able to shake.

I believe an introduction is in order. Hello Toledo! My name is Marcus Raymon Luis Espinoza (yes, I really have two middle names) and I am a freshman here at the University of Toledo and am also the Sports Director at the student radio station right here on campus, 88.3 WXUT.

First off, I would like to thank you for making that left click on your mouse and opening up my web page. If you haven’t guessed it from my blog title, sports are here and by that I mean they now have a rightful place in the world of UT bloggers. I believe that too often in our community the line between athlete and student is drawn far too distinctly. I want to erase that line; I want to bring the world of UT athletics a world so rich in history and so bright in its future together with the outstanding world of Academia that is within this University. From basketball player to political science major I believe that we can find a common ground in the world of sports as they have always brought enjoyment to my life, and I hope to share that with all of you and show you the side of the athlete from a student’s perspective. This is key as I believe that in being a student it will allow me a better sense of the athletic community and more importantly be able to parlay this fresh perspective onto my readers.

So once again thank you for reading my first post and hope you continue to read on throughout the year. My next blog will be up shortly and will be a spring preview of the new and improved Rocket football team!