BLOG 82: Football team playing at Fifth Third is a great opportunity

By Sandy Gholston

BIG RAPIDS – Most people tend to be huge fans of unique events or traditional events in unique settings.

The Ferris football team is going to attempt to do something that is way off the beaten path of a traditional college football season in Fall 2009. Ferris is taking its Oct. 3 game against Michigan Tech a short trip down U.S. 131 to Comstock Park. The Bulldogs and Huskies will have a gridiron battle in Fifth Third Park under the lights with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.

The game is being dubbed “Battle At The Ballpark” as the two Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference rivals will hit the turf inside of the baseball stadium just north of Grand Rapids that is home to the West Michigan Whitecaps, a Class A minor-league affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. This event is a great opportunity for Ferris to host a game in this great venue that will generate enthusiasm and publicity inside the Grand Rapids-area market (and maybe beyond). Ferris alumni throughout West Michigan, and elsewhere, will have an opportunity to come out and support their Bulldogs in this intriguing event against a traditionally-strong opponent.

Likewise, Michigan Tech will be able to welcome its alumni to this great contest and we can hope the Huskies travel well (maybe they will even bring their band – we could have two strong bands, with Ferris’ enthusiastic and talented band, performing during the event) from Houghton and elsewhere to Comstock Park.

This is an exciting opportunity for Ferris, Tech and the GLIAC. This is potentially a signature-type event that could be a win-win situation for all parties.

Said Ferris head coach Jeff Pierce, as the University made the announcement: “We’re excited about the opportunity to showcase Division II football in an outstanding facility such as Fifth Third Ballpark while helping our program at the same time. It will be a great environment for the fans and feature good competition between Ferris and Michigan Tech while highlighting the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.”

For more on the event, visit:
http://www.ferris.edu/sports/football/08news/ballparkgame.htm

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