1.   All three players credit Thompson with shaping their personal lives as well as their professional careers.

2.   All season, the players credited Mariucci for staying calm after the curtain-raising disaster in Tampa.

3.   Even the players credit general manager Brian Cashman and management for finding pieces that not only fit on the field, but also in the clubhouse.

4.   Many players credit him for rebuilding this franchise.

5.   Players credit new offensive coordinator Hue Jackson, who runs practices like a drill sergeant, for the improved physical condition of the Trojans.

6.   The players all credit Johnson for creating an atmosphere in which they can be loose and also focus on work.

7.   The players credit Scioscia, a Westlake Village resident, for that.

8.   The players credit their teamwork.

9.   The UMass players credit their practice sessions with fueling their intensity during games.

10.   The UMass players credited a team meeting Friday with the improved performance.