FERRIS STATE ANNOUNCES 2003 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Bulldogs To Play Four Evening Contests; Open Season With Consecutive Road Outings

Senior placekicker Tom Perez and rest of the Bulldogs will kickoff their 2003 regular-season schedule Sept. 6 at Hillsdale.

The 2003 Ferris State University football schedule will include five home contests and the Bulldogs will face the same opponents as a season ago as this fall’s gridiron slate was announced today by FSU Athletics Director Tom Kirinovic.

“I believe this is going to be an exciting season for Bulldog football fans because of the experience returning and the team’s committment to achieving success,” said Ferris State head coach Jeff Pierce, who will begin his ninth year at FSU this fall. “We have a challenging schedule once again and will be tested right out of the opening gate with games at Hillsdale and Grand Valley State. We play our traditional rival Grand Valley State in our conference opener which will give us a good indication of where we’re at from a competitive standpoint.

“Our conference (GLIAC) is rapidly becoming one of the top conferences in (NCAA) Division II as indicated by Grand Valley State playing in the national championship game the last two seasons and winning the national championship last year,” added Pierce.

Ferris State opens its 95th season of varsity competition with back-to-back road evening contests versus Hillsdale (Sept. 6) and Grand Valley State (Sept.13), respectively. The season opener against the Hillsdale Chargers is a non-conference encounter with opening kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. (EDT) at HC’s Frank “Muddy” Waters Stadium in Hillsdale, Mich. The Bulldogs begin their 10-game Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) slate a week later against 2002 NCAA Division II National Champion and archrival Grand Valley State. Starting time is 7 p.m. (EDT) at GVSU’s Arend Lubbers Stadium in Allendale, Mich. The last time FSU opened a season with consecutive road outings was in 2000 when the Bulldogs squared off against Indiana, Pa. (Sept. 2) before facing Findlay (Sept. 9) in the conference opener.

Ferris begins the home portion of its schedule Sept. 20 as the Bulldogs host Northern Michigan in a 7 p.m. (EDT) matchup at FSU’s Top Taggart Field in Big Rapids, Mich. The home-opening contest will represent the fourth annual FSU Bulldog Hall of Fame Game and be featured as part of the annual Fireworks Night festivities. Following the game’s conclusion, the traditional post-game fireworks display near the stadium will be held.

The Bulldogs’ remaining home schedule includes contests against Northwood (Oct. 4), Mercyhurst (Oct. 18), Findlay (Nov. 1) and the regular-season finale versus Indianapolis (Nov. 15). Mercyhurst will serve as the Bulldogs’ homecoming opponent for the second time in the last four seasons as Ferris will be celebrating its 77th year of the event.

Following its two season-opening away encounters, Ferris takes to the road for GLIAC matchups versus Wayne State (Sept. 27), Michigan Tech (Oct. 11), Saginaw Valley State (Oct. 25), and Ashland (Nov. 8). The first three conference road games listed above are all 12 p.m. (EDT) starts.

“I’m glad we’re playing an 11-game schedule for the third straight year and also pleased with football being reinstated at Michigan Tech. They’ve always been a competitive program with quality people and are an asset to our conference,” Pierce said. The Bulldogs are a combined 137-150-14 (.478 winning pct.) all-time against this season’s opponents. Ferris State’s opposition in 2003 combined to register a 64-60-0 (.516) mark last season.

Ferris State concluded the 2002 season with a 5-5 overall record, which included a sixth-place 4-5 GLIAC mark. The Bulldogs were 4-1 at home and 1-4 in away contests last fall.

2003 Ferris State Football Schedule

Sept. 6 at Hillsdale, 7 p.m.
Sept. 13 at Grand Valley State*, 7 p.m.
Sept. 20 Northern Michigan* (Hall of Fame/Fireworks Night), 7 p.m.
Sept. 27 at Wayne State*, 12 p.m.
Oct. 4 Northwood* (Community Night), 7 p.m.
Oct. 11 at Michigan Tech*, 1 p.m.
Oct. 18 Mercyhurst* (Homecoming), 2 p.m.
Oct. 25 at Saginaw Valley State*, 12 p.m.
Nov. 1 Findlay* (Youth Day), 1:30 p.m.
Nov. 8 at Ashland*, 1:25 p.m.
Nov. 15 Indianapolis* (Senior Day), 1:30 p.m.

All times are Eastern; *Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) game
All home games are in bold and will be played at Top Taggart Field