BLOG 7: Bulldogs hope winter, spring toughens team for fall

Ferris State quarterback Tom Schneider fakes a handoff as he prepares to keep and roll out for a pass (Photo/Sandy Gholston)

By Sandy Gholston

BIG RAPIDS – Playing college football, regardless of the division level, largely is about toughness: mental and physical.

The coaching staff pushed players pretty hard during winter workouts to begin to develop a mental and physical toughness that will be important – the kind that pays off during a grueling Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference schedule. Head coach Jeff Pierce indicated he liked a lot of what he saw from the team during the winter workouts. That sentiment was echoed by some of his assistants, too.

Entering this spring, however, coaches hope to see some of that toughness on the field. The first two practices of the spring were pad-less, but that changes with the third practice (scheduled for today, April 3) session. Coaches are curious to see how players are going to approach the spring from a physicality standpoint.

It’s a balancing act between staying healthy and building the kind of mindset coaches believe will be vital for success – which is critical for intercollegiate athletics. Last season, Ferris had a tough defense led by a Jake Visser-anchored line and a trio of veteran linebackers (Jordan Moore, Jeff Hollandsworth and Kevin Noe). The offensive line will be looking to play tough football as Ferris seeks to run the football a little more next season.

With those graduations, the Bulldogs have some holes to fill, and the coaches know this spring is a proving ground for guys to show they can bring the kind of toughness that means everything during a GLIAC season.

If you have any questions, ideas or comments feel free to contact Sandy Gholston at sgholston2@netzero.com