Sept. 25, 2001
FSU Athletics to Raise Money in Former Player's Name
Athletic Department Will Hold "Blanket Toss" at Saturday's Football Game
The Ferris State University Athletics Department is joining forces with Linwood (Kan.) Middle School to raise money to donate to the American Red Cross on behalf of former Bulldog football player Eric Bennett (1989-92), who has been missing since the Sept. 11 attack on the World Trade Center in New York City.
As part of the effort, the athletics department will hold a "blanket toss" during Saturday's (Sept. 29) Bulldog football contest against Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) rival Northwood. During the toss, athletics department personnel will walk through the stadium with a blanket and encourage fans to toss in a donation. Kickoff at Top Taggart Field is slated for 7 p.m. (EDT).
"It is an opportunity for us to help the relief efforts," said Tom Kirinovic, FSU Athletics Director. "To be able to do this in Eric's name is a great thing for us. Our hearts and prayers continue to go out to Eric Bennett and his family. We would like to encourage those coming out to the game on Saturday to be a part of this as well."
According to Kirinovic, money collected from the toss will be added to a fundraising project being organized by Linwood Middle School. Officials at the Kansas school came in contact with Kirinovic through a teacher, who is the girlfriend of another former Bulldog football player. The entire donation will be presented to the American Red Cross in Bennett's name at a later FSU home game.
A two-year starter at center, Bennett served as Executive Vice President of the Alliance Consulting Group, which was located on the 102nd floor of the first World Trade Center Tower struck by terrorists in the attack. Bennett, who had lived and worked in the New York area for nearly eight years, was last heard from while attempting to evacuate the building.
The 6-1, 185-pound Bennett helped Ferris State finish 10-3 overall and win the Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference (MIFC) Championship during the 1992 campaign after joining the program as a walk-on. A three-year letterwinner, Bennett earned 1992 All-MIFC Honorable Mention honors before graduating from the Ferris State University College of Business in 1993 with a degree in computer information systems. Prior to his arrival at Ferris State, the 29-year-old Bennett was an all-conference standout at Kearsley High School in Flint, Mich.
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