BLOG 7: Bulldogs making progress looking toward first spring scrimmage

Ferris State University quarterback Tom Schneider tries to escape the grasp of a tackler during practice this week at Top Taggart Field in Big Rapids. (Photo/Sandy Gholston)

By Sandy Gholston

Big Rapids - - The first quiz of the spring practice season is just about upon the Ferris State University football team.

It’s not exactly a pop quiz, but it’s a football quiz-of-sorts nonetheless for Ferris’ players. The squad is set to hit the turf at Top Taggart Field for its first spring scrimmage Saturday starting at 11 a.m. The coaches eagerly look forward to making some of their initial spring evaluations. The team hopes to improve on last fall’s fourth-place finish in the standings of the ultra-competitive Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference standings and a lot of that improvement has to take place in the spring as guys continue to fine tune in preparation for fall training camp in August.

“We’re making good progress and I think it’s going to be fun to see us in that first scrimmage situation to see where we are, as a team, and to see where a lot of our players are, individually, with the things that we’ve been working on so far,” said head coach Jeff Pierce, who's had to juggle some of his in-practice duties to fill in for former assistant coach Ted Egger, who recently accepted a job on the coaching staff of GLIAC rival Northwood. The change has Pierce doing more work with the defensive unit these days since the offensive staff has remained intact. “It’s always a fun time when you’re getting ready for that first scrimmage of the spring.”

The early portion of spring was designed to get the players learning the basics – almost as if it’s the first day of football – focusing on solidifying fundamentals and perfecting technique. As time has progressed, however, the emphasis of the coaches has been on more specific team concepts. With the prospect of breaking in a new quarterback, there is a lot of work to be done on offense. Plus, there are always new wrinkles the team likes to work on in the spring as a test for the fall.

“We’re still installing things right now and we know that’s something that’s going to take a little time for us to become comfortable with, but that’s what the spring is for,” Pierce said. “I think as time has gone on, and we’ve had more practices, we’re starting to get a better feel for what some of our younger guys can do and that’s something we need to get out of this spring.

“We know what our veteran guys can do,” he added, “and that’s one of the reasons we spend so much time working with our younger kids to develop them because those are the guys who are going to be our key players in the future. This is their time.”

Ferris State University running back Tim Hogue carries the ball during drill work on Tuesday in practice at Top Taggart Field in Big Rapids (Photo/Sandy Gholston)

With the pads strapped on, the Bulldogs also have turned up the physical nature of practices to be prepared for what will take place on the field Saturday in the first scrimmage of the spring.

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