FERRIS TO SPONSOR ALUMNI EVENT WITH GRAND RAPIDS RAMPAGE GAME

Former Bulldog Standouts Sparky McEwen and Clarence Coleman To Be Featured Guests

Ferris State Alumni and friends are invited to attend the event, which will begin with a pre-game dinner reception at The B.O.B.-Dr. Grin’s from 5 to 7 p.m. (EST). Following the reception, participants will be issued a ticket to the Rampage’s game versus the Austin (Texas) Wranglers with a 7:30 p.m. (EST) opening kickoff scheduled. All game seating will be either in the Grand Suites or Corporate Cages.

Sparky McEwen is in his initial year as Grand Rapids' head coach/director of football operations.

Tickets for the event are $35 per person, which includes the pre-game dinner reception and Rampage game tickets. Tickets for the event are limited and payment must accompany the reservation.

The pre-game dinner reception will feature presentations from Grand Rapids Rampage first-year head coach/director of football operations Sparky McEwen and outside specialist Clarence Coleman, who both played collegiately at Ferris State. The reception will also feature current Bulldogs' head coach Jeff Pierce, who embarks on his 11th season at FSU this fall and holds the distinction of being the school’s all-time winningest coach. Pierce will discuss the program’s recent recruiting class and Ferris State’s prospects for the 2005 season. Numerous Ferris State merchandise and apparel items will also be given away at the event.

McEwen became the Grand Rapids Rampage’s fourth head coach in August 2004 and served as the Rampage’s offensive coordinator during the team’s best three seasons (2001-03), which included winning ArenaBowlXV in his first season. Prior to his current position, McEwen was the assistant head coach/offensive coordinator for the Oklahoma City (Okla.) Yard Dawgz of the ArenaFootball2 League. As a player, he was a quarterback during the Rampage’s inaugural campaign in 1998. McEwen played football at Ferris State from 1986-90 but was redshirted for the 1987 campaign. He quarterbacked the Bulldogs for two seasons (1988-89) and was switched to wide receiver for his senior year in 1990. He currently ranks 10th among the school’s all-time passing leaders with 2,183 career yards and 17 TD’s on 155-of-297 attempts (52.2% completion pct.). McEwen’s best season was in 1988 when he threw for 1,386 yards and nine TD’s while completing 49.8% of his aerial attempts (100-201). As a senior, he had 18 receptions for 259 yards and one TD.

Two-time Bulldog All-American Clarence Coleman is presently midst his first season with the Rampage.

Coleman joins the Rampage this year after spending the 2003 season with the National Football League’s Buffalo Bills. The two-time (2000-01) Ferris State All-American had eight catches for 69 yards in 14 2003 outings after being sidelined the entire previous campaign due to a mini-camp injury. Coleman closed out his prolific FSU career as the NCAA Division II’s all-time leader in career pass receptions (323) and receiving yards (4,983). He was twice (2000-01) an All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) First-Team honoree and the Bulldogs’ Most Valuable Player in 2001 after leading the nation in all-purpose yards (2,618) and ranking third nationally in receiving yardage (122.4 ypg.). Coleman, who played at Ferris from 1998-01, finished fifth in the final balloting for the 2001 Harlon Hill Trophy as the NCAA-II’s top player. He was also chosen as the Most Valuable Back in the 2002 Whataburger Cactus Bowl Division II All-Star Game.

“We’re excited to be in Grand Rapids working in conjunction with the Rampage,” said FSU Program Coordinator for Alumni Relations Ira Childress. “Both Sparky and Clarence have meant a great deal to Ferris’ football program over the years and we want to show our support in return. This is a great opportunity for Ferris Alumni to interact with these outstanding role models and capitalize on this unique event.”

For more information, contact the FSU Alumni Office at (231) 591-2345 or (888) 378-3647. Interested individuals may also visit the FSU Alumni Office’s website at www.ferrisalumni.org. The official Grand Rapids Rampage website is at www.rampagefootball.com.