Page 45 - Toledo Football Media Guide - 2012

THE COACHES 45

The results were immediate, as Toledo’s ofense was consistently among the most productive in the nation in Campbell’s three seasons as ofensive coordinator. In 2009, Campbell helped guide UT to the No. 16-ranked ofense in the country (437.9 yards per game), despite losing senior quarterback AaronOpelt to injury midway through the season. The Rockets also ranked No. 1 in fourth-down conversions (80.0 percent) and No. 18 in passing yards (278.1). Three Rockets earned All-MAC honors on ofense, while Eric Page led the na-tion in receptions by a freshman and was named frst-team Freshman All-America by Phil Steele Magazine and the College Football News.

Toledo’s ofensive resurgence continued in 2010, a season that saw the Rockets go 8-5 and make their frst bowl appearance in fve years. The Rockets ranked third in the Mid-American Conference in both scoring and total ofense. UT also featured two of the most exciting players in the league, Page and running back Adonis Thomas.

Page was third in the MAC in receptions with 99, and earned numerous All-America honors as a kick-of returner. Thomas rushed for 1,098 yards and led the conference with 6.3 yards per carry. Campbell also mentored a very efective ofensive line, including ju-nior tackle Mike VanDerMeulen, a third-team All-MAC

selection.

In 2011, Toledo (9-4, 7-1 MAC) ranked eighth nationally and frst in theMAC in scoring ofense (42.2), and 10th in the country and frst in the MAC in total ofense (481.3). The Rockets also ranked eighth in the nation and frst in the league in passing efciency (160.4) and 18th in the country and fourth in the MAC in rushing ofense (213.6). The Rockets’ ofensive line was tied for sixth in the country and frst in the MAC in fewest sacks allowed (10). A big key for the team’s success was its ability to protect the foot-ball. UT ranked third in the nation in turnover margin (+1.2) and tied for sixth in fewest turnovers (14). The Rockets’ ofense gained the national spotlight when it scored more than 60 points in consecutive games for the frst time in school history: 60 points vs. Northern Illinois on Nov. 1 and 66 vs. Western Michi-gan on Nov. 8. Page continued his rampage through the record books, fnishing second in the country with 125 receptions and was one of four fnalists for the Paul Hornung Award as the nation’s most versatile player. Page was one of four Rockets to earn All-MAC on ofense. VanDerMeulen and Thomas repeated as all-

oach Matt Campbell

Campbell has been a part of fve national champi-ons as a player and coach, and has participated in fve bowl games as a coach.

Matt Campbell and the Rockets came away with the hardware in his frst game as head coach, a 42-41 victory over Air Force at the 2011 Military Bowl.