FIRST-EVER FERRIS BASKETBALL FAN FEST SLATED TO BE HELD

Bulldogs To Unveil New Basketball Student Section On Opening Night Tuesday, Nov. 16

As part of the Fan Fest activities, the athletics department will also unveil its new student section in the west end of the 2,400-seat facility dubbed the “Ferris Fanatics.” The first 500 FSU students entering the contest at the student entrance will receive official group t-shirts. The Bulldog women’s basketball team tips off their 2004-05 campaign versus Lewis (Ill.) at 6 p.m. (EST) with the men’s season-opening encounter against West Michigan counterpart Cornerstone to follow at approximately 8 p.m. (EST). Both games are non-conference outings.

“We’re excited to kick off another year of Bulldog basketball,” said FSU Assistant Athletics Director Brian Kegler. “Since we’re coming off both successful men’s and women’s seasons from last year, we decided to ride the momentum by involving the community and our student body in supporting the programs.

“We’re hopeful the new student section will become a factor in establishing a true home court advantage for our teams.”

The FSU Alumni Relations Office, in addition to helping sponsor the “Ferris Fanatics” t-shirts, has provided over 1,000 free tickets to local alumni and will have an alumni section while the Ferris Student Leadership and Activities Department will offer contests along with prizes throughout the evening for campus students involved in greek organizations, club sports and those living in residence halls. FSU students will be admitted free to both games by showing their student identification card and free pizza will be offered to them between games while supplies last courtesy of Papa John’s.

“We’ve developed a tremendous working relationship with other campus departments including the alumni office, student activities and residence life,” Kegler said. “They’ve all played an instrumental role in bringing this activity together.”

The Bulldog men’s basketball team, which returns three starters and eight letterwinners this season, claimed the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) North Division Championship in 2003-04. Ferris State finished the 2003-04 campaign with a 14-14 overall record and a 14-4 league mark. FSU, which has won more GLIAC championships (10) than any other league member, posted its best overall record in 2003-04 since compiling a 21-12 ledger during the 1997-98 season.

The FSU women’s basketball team registered a 21-10 overall record and a second-place 14-4 GLIAC North Division mark while reaching the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional Tournament for the second time in school history a year ago. The 2003-04 campaign marked the eighth consecutive year the Bulldogs had won 10 or more games and their second 20-win campaign in the last five seasons. Ferris welcomes back three starters and eight letterwinners from last season.

“We’re expecting a large alumni crowd for the Fan Fest,” said FSU Alumni Relations Program Coordinator Ira Childress. “Fans will have an opportunity to help revitalize the advantage of playing at home for the Bulldog basketball programs and it should be an entertaining evening.”

The Lewis women’s basketball team capped off one of its most successful seasons ever with a 16-12 overall record and a fourth-place (13-7) finish in the Great Lakes Valley Conference last season. It was the Flyers’ highest league finish in four years. Meanwhile, the Cornerstone men’s team advanced to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) National Tournament for the fourth consecutive year in 2003-04 and posted a 27-win campaign. The program has been one of West Michigan’s most successful over the last five seasons as the Golden Eagles won a national championship in 1999 and advanced to the NAIA Final Four three consecutive seasons from 2001-03.

Individual game tickets to all FSU home basketball games can be obtained at the door or by calling the Bulldog Athletics Ticket Office at (231) 591-2888. Adult tickets are $7 and student tickets are $5. A family pass of two adult and youth tickets apiece can be purchased for $15. Ferris State faculty/staff ticket prices are $5. FSU students are admitted free of charge to all contests by showing their student identification card.

For more information on the Ferris Basketball Fan Fest, please contact the FSU Athletics Department at (231) 591-2860.