BLOG 81: Visser to join a legendary list of Bulldogs to compete in Cactus Bowl

By Sandy Gholston

Bulldog seniors Jake Visser (top) and Kevin Noe (bottom) were named to the 2008 Don Hansen's Football Gazette All-Region First Team

BIG RAPIDS – Some of the greatest players to wear the crimson and gold colors of Ferris State University football program have gone on to compete in the Cactus Bowl.

The preeminent NCAA Division II football all-star game for seniors, the 2009 Valero Cactus Bowl this year will be played in Kingsville, Texas at Javelina Stadium on Jan. 9 with kickoff set for 7:35 p.m. Jake Visser, a senior All-American defensive tackle for the Bulldogs, capped his senior season with 105 tackles and 16 sacks. His dominance on the defensive line has been part of a rock of stability for the Bulldog defense from the minute Visser arrived from the small West Michigan community of Coopersville.

Visser (who along with fellow senior linebacker Kevin Noe was named to the 2008 Don Hansen’s Football Gazette All-Super Region Three First Team) will have familiar company in the game as he is one of several senior players from the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference who will compete in the game. The GLIAC has long been considered one of the premier athletic conferences in the nation – particularly in football with the national championship success of Grand Valley State University.

Visser is not the first player from Ferris to compete in this event. Previous Bulldogs selected to play in the game include Rich Eash, 1994; Ed Philion, 1994; Chadd Richard, 1995; Jerry Prys, 1996; Doc Proctor, 1999; Dennis Strey, 1999; Dave Zuiderveen, 2000; Clarence Coleman, 2001; DeRen Ellis, 2003; Matt McCoy (who did not play in the game due to an injury), 2004; Kevin Myers, 2005; Whitney Bell, 2005; Carlton Brewster, 2006; Bill Bourdlais, 2008; and Kurt Hout, 2008.

For more on the game, visit:
http://www.ferris.edu/sports/football/08news/08visser-cactusbowl.htm

For more on All-Super Region Team:
http://www.ferris.edu/sports/football/08news/08gazetteallregion.htm

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