Barry Church became a well-recognized figure in northwest Ohio for the last four years while excelling on the gridiron at the University of Toledo.

So, when an interview with Church was published on profootballweekly.com Monday in which he's quoted as saying Toledo is "kind of run-down" and that he "won't be coming back," it came as a surprise to many. Those sentiments from Church seemed out of character for a normally mild-mannered, kind, and easygoing individual.

Yesterday, when given the chance to set the record straight in a phone interview with The Blade, Church said the comments were taken out of context.

"When I first heard about it, I was hanging out with my friends and they're like, 'So you hate Toledo?' And I'm like, "What? What do you mean?'•" Church said. "It was taken way out of context."

In the transcript from a wide-ranging question-and-answer session, Pro Football Weekly senior editor Eric Edholm asks Church, "What's there to do for fun in Toledo?" and he comments that he doesn't remember the city "being the prettiest place on Earth."

Church responds by saying, "It's not the prettiest place at all. It's kind of run-down. I mean, there's not much to do around here but work out, go to class, and just hang out. Other than that, it's not a real big city, so there's not much to do."

Edholm then asks a follow-up question, saying, "So you won't be building a mansion there after signing your first pro contract?"

To which Church replies, "Oh, no, I won't be coming back to Toledo. Maybe for a game or an alumni thing or something."

Church yesterday denied making the disparaging remarks about the city.

"What I said was there wasn't much to do around Toledo, but I made the best of it by hanging out with my friends and enjoyed my time there a lot," Church said. "I'm going to miss the city. All my friends are there and all my memories are there. There's no way I hate the city or anything like that or have any bad feelings about Toledo."

Edholm did not respond to a message seeking comment.

Church, a four-time All-Mid-American Conference first-team honoree, is projected as a third-to-sixth round draft pick in next week's NFL Draft.

Said Church: "I'm glad this whole [ordeal] is in the past now."

Contact Zach Silka at:

zsilka@theblade.com

or 419-724-6084.

First Published April 16, 2010, 9:06 a.m.