FERRIS STATE WRAPS UP SPRING FOOTBALL DRILLS THIS WEEK

Crimson and Gold Spring Game Set For This Friday at Top Taggart Field

The Ferris State University football team will close out the spring portion of its 2004 campaign this Friday (April 23) with its annual Crimson and Gold Spring Game at FSU's Top Taggart Field in Big Rapids, Mich.

Game time is set for 6 p.m. (EDT) and the event is open to the public at no cost. Following the contest, the fourth annual FSU Gridiron Club Spring Tailgate reception will take place at The Scoreboard Bar and Grill, which is also open to the public and free of charge.

“We’re excited about this spring event (Crimson and Gold Spring Game) and I believe our fans who attend will be too,” said FSU head coach Jeff Pierce, who enters his 10th year at Ferris State this fall and is one victory away of becoming the program’s all-time winningest coach. “This is a good opportunity for our guys to compete more in a fun-type atmosphere compared to a normal scrimmage. So far, we’ve made a lot of progress with our younger players which gives us the necessary depth to be successful this fall.”

The spring game will feature players divided up on both squads through a draft conducted by the senior class team members. The Crimson squad (dark jerseys) will be coached by Duane Wilson, Ken Conlin, Kyle Park, Vito Ciaramellano and Kirk Long. The Gold team (white jerseys) will be directed by Matt McCarthy, Joe Curry, Amp Campbell, Rick Williams, Andy Szatkowski, and Doug Wing.

The annual spring game signifies the conclusion of 15 NCAA-allowable practice sessions over a four-week period which began March 30. Fall camp is schedule to begin the first week of August. Ferris State will kickoff the 2004 season and its 96th year of varsity competition Saturday, August 28, against the two-time defending NCAA Division II National Champion Grand Valley State Lakers. A 7 p.m. (EDT) opening kickoff is scheduled for the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) opener at Top Taggart Field on the FSU campus.

Tickets for Ferris’ five home contests this season will go on sale around July 1 and can be purchased by contacting the FSU Athletics Ticket Office at (231) 591-2888 or charging by phone at 1-800-585-3737 via Star Tickets Plus. Tickets will also be available for purchase online at www.starticketsplus.com.