FERRIS STATE READY TO BEGIN SPRING FOOTBALL DRILLS

Spring Practice Starts Next Tuesday; Annual Spring Game Set For April 23

Ferris State University will conduct the first of 15 spring football practice sessions, starting Tuesday, March 30, which begins a four-week preparation period for the 2004 gridiron season. All practices are open to the public and fans are encouraged to attend.

Over 90 individuals are expected to participate in spring drills. For the Bulldogs, spring practice continues to serve as an integral part in the program’s preparation for each upcoming fall football season.

“This provides an opportunity to evaluate our personnel,” said Pierce. “We give all of the guys a chance to compete at their respective positions and competition is criticial for success. Having a large number for spring ball allows us to analyze our depth while creating real good competition amongst themselves.

“We also have time to evaluate schemes, experiment with new ideas, and work in improving areas of deficiency. One of our primary goals this spring is to develop greater consistency within our offense,” Pierce added.

The Bulldogs are coached by Jeff Pierce, who enters his 10th season this fall as Ferris State’s head coach and is one victory shy of becoming the program’s all-time winningest coach in its 95-year history. Pierce has compiled a current 60-39 coaching mark at FSU.

FSU returns 14 starters from a season ago, seven apiece on both sides of the football. Headlining the list of returnees are a pair of All-Americans and All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) First-Team selections in senior outside linebacker Kevin Myers and senior defensive tackle Whitney Bell. Senior defensive end John Hazle, a 2003 second-team all-conference performer, is also back in the fold. Junior flanker Carlton Brewster, who garnered All-GLIAC Second-Team kudos both as a receiver and a returner on specialty teams a season ago, leads list of offensive returnees along with senior quarterback Tom Marsan, who will vie for his third year as a starter.

The Bulldogs will conduct practices on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday each week in April from 3:30-5:30 p.m. (EDT) at Top Taggart Field and will move to the FSU South Campus practice fields if field conditions permit.

Ferris will also hold two scrimmages (April 9 and 17) before concluding spring drills Friday, April 23, with its annual Crimson and Gold Spring Game at Top Taggart Field, which will begin at 6 p.m. (EDT). The April 9th scrimmage is scheduled for an 11 a.m. (EDT) start at Top Taggart Field, but could possibly be moved to the South Campus practice field starting at 11 a.m. (EDT) if field conditions permit. The April 17th scrimmage is also slated for an 11 a.m. (EDT) start time.

Following the Crimson and Gold Spring Game, the fourth annual FSU Gridiron Club Spring Tailgate reception will take place at The Scoreboard Bar and Grill, which is open to the public and free of charge.

Ferris State concluded the 2003 campaign with a 6-5 overall record, which included a fourth-place tying 5-5 GLIAC mark. The Bulldogs will kickoff their 96th season of varsity competition and their 11-game regular-season slate Saturday, August 28, against conference archrival and two-time defending NCAA Division II National Champion Grand Valley State. A 7 p.m. (EDT) opening kickoff is scheduled for the 2004 season opener at Top Taggart Field.