BLOG 31: National ranking is great for the Bulldogs, but ...

By Sandy Gholston

Ferris State University defensive back Kyle Williams scrambles for a loose ball during a team scrimmage during fall practice at Top Taggart Field (Photo/Sandy Gholston)

BIG RAPIDS – Ferris State University entered the national rankings this week in the American Football Coaches Association Division II National Poll.

Currently, the Bulldogs are ranked 24th in the nation.

What it all means is the ranking is only as good as the team’s next opponent – No. 2 Grand Valley State University.

If the Bulldogs, who garnered 56 points in the national Division II poll, are to hang onto that national ranking or stay in the picture, past Saturday night, they will need to perform well against the Lakers.

Ferris and Grand Valley were the only two GLIAC teams ranked in the poll and will battle Saturday evening at 7 p.m. in Lubbers Stadium in Allendale during the annual Anchor-Bone Classic.

This national ranking is the first for the Bulldogs, in a Division II poll, since it was 18th in the 2007 Lindy’s College Football Preview Division II Preseason Top 25 Poll. Ferris was ranked 17th nationally in Don Hansen’s Football Gazette’s final Division II Top 40 poll and 22nd in the D2Football.com’s final Top 25 poll back in 2006.

If you have any questions, ideas or comments feel free to contact Sandy Gholston at sgholston2@netzero.com