COMMUNITY PIGSKIN PREVIEW SET FOR AUGUST 20

Popular Annual Event Provides Opportunity To Meet The 2004 Teams

The 10th annual Community Pigskin Preview, which will recognize both the 2004 editions of the Ferris State University and Big Rapids High School football teams, will be conducted Friday, August 20, at FSU’s Top Taggart Field in Big Rapids. The event will start around 7:30 p.m. (EDT) preceeded by a Bulldog football team scrimmage at 5 p.m. (EDT).

Senior guard-long snapper Matt Desmarais and his Ferris State teammates will be introduced at the Community Pigskin Preview.

The Community Pigskin Preview, which is open to the public free of charge and sponsored by the Ferris State Gridiron Club, will feature introductions of the respective 2004 Ferris State and Big Rapids High School team members along with the coaching staffs and cheerleaders. Complimentary hot dogs and refreshments will be served prior to the respective team introductions. Numerous raffle prizes will be given away throughout the event. Both Ferris State Athletics Department staff and FSU Gridiron Club members will be in attendance to distribute schedule cards, posters and brochures. For more information about the Community Pigskin Preview, contact Brian Kegler at (231) 591-2970 or via e-mail at keglerb@ferris.edu.

Ferris State embarks on its 96th season of varsity competition this fall, beginning with the 2004 season opener Saturday, Aug. 28, against its archrivals and the defending two-time (2002-03) NCAA Division II National Champion Grand Valley State Lakers. Opening kickoff for the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) opening contest is set for 7 p.m. (EDT) at Top Taggart Field. A number of pre-game festivities are scheduled as part of the Ferris Football Frenzy event with the traditional fireworks display to be held immediately following the game’s conclusion. The 11-game regular season schedule features five home outings, including the season finale (Nov. 6) against 2003 GLIAC Champion the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals. The Bulldogs will also go up against the 2003 NCAA-II National Champion runner-up North Dakota Fighting Sioux Oct. 9 in a non-conference road encounter.

The Big Rapids High School Varsity and Junior Varsity football teams will kickoff their 2004 nine-game schedule versus the Ludington Orioles. The Cardinals’ Junior Varsity squad hosts Ludington Thursday, Aug. 26, in a 6:30 p.m. (EDT) contest at FSU's Top Taggart Field while the varsity squad visits the Orioles Friday, Aug. 27, in its season opener. A 7 p.m. (EDT) start time is scheduled for the contest. A week later (Sept. 2), the Cardinals’ varsity team hosts the Spring Lake Lakers in their season home opener.

All of the Cardinals' Junior Varsity and Varsity football home games this season will be held at Top Taggart Field on the Ferris State University campus.