VISSER, FOLCIK AND HOFFMAN NAMED BULLDOGS OF THE YEAR

Trio Chosen As 2007-08 Dean Davenport "Bulldog of the Year" Award Recipients

The award winners were selected by a FSU Athletics Department committee. Folcik was chosen as a recpient of the "Bulldog of the Year" Award for the second consecutive year.

The Dean Davenport “Bulldog of the Year” Award, which was reinstated in the 2002-03 season following a seven-year absence, is presented annually to the most outstanding Ferris State male and female student-athlete. Award criteria consists of strong athletic achievements (must be a letterwinner and achieve outstanding athletic accomplishment), strong individual character and academic achievement.

The award was renamed in honor of former Ferris State Athletics Director Dean Davenport, who served in the position from 1979-93. During his tenure at Ferris, Davenport was instrumental in the planning of the FSU Sports Complex, the growth of women's intercollegiate athletics, the emergence of Ferris' NCAA Division I men's ice hockey program and the development of the athletics scholarship program. He also led the athletics department to 14 consecutive Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) President's Cup Championships. Davenport founded the "Bulldog of the Year", "Pete Peterson Pride" and "Jimmy Swears Courage" Awards at Ferris State.

Visser capped off a memorable junior campaign in 2007 by earning first-team All-America recognition from D2football.com, the American Football Coaches Association and Don Hansen's Football Gazette. He was also named to both the Daktronics All-America Second Team squad and the Associated Press Little All-America Second Team. Additionally, Visser claimed ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America First Team honors in addition to being one of inaugural fall recipeints of the GLIAC Commissioner's Award for Athletics and Academic Excellence.

In 2007, Visser tallied the squad's second-highest tackles figure (106) and led the squad in tackles for loss with 14.5 for minus 62 yards, which ranked fifth in the conference. He also had a team-best nine quarterback hurries along with 5.5 sacks for a loss of 41 yards. In 34 career contests, Visser has compiled 290 tackles (154 solos) with five fumble recoveries, four forced fumbles and four pass deflections. He also has 38.5 tackles for loss resulting in a negative 165 yards. Visser is presently seventh on Ferris State's all-time pass sacks leaders list with 20.0 total for a negative 125 yards. The team Most Valuable Player Award recipient received 2007 first-team All-Northwest Region accolades for the second consecutive year and was tabbed as the GLIAC's Defensive Lineman of the Year after earning all-conference first team laurels for the second year in a row. Along with placing fifth among last season's league leaders in tackles for loss, Visser also ranked sixth in total tackles (9.6 tpg.).

A 2007-08 GLIAC Commissioner's Award winter recipient, Folcik picked up All-America Honorable Mention honors for the second consecutive year as she was named to both the NCAA Division II State Farm Coaches' and Women's Division II Basketball Bulletin Honorable Mention All-America Teams following the 2007-08 campaign. She was also both a Daktronics All-Great Lakes Region First Team selection along with being named to the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Region 4 First Team covering the Great Lakes Region this past season. Folcik was honored as an All-GLIAC North Division First Team pick and a GLIAC North Division All-Defensive Team selection for the second-straight year in her final campaign.

Folcik concluded her FSU career listed second in school history with 1,705 career points and was only 16 shy of tying Lucy DeMartin's school-record total of 1,721 points at FSU. The 6-1 Folcik, who was chosen as this past year’s GLIAC Preseason Player of the Year, posted a school-record 677 career made field goals and is listed second with 793 rebounds all-time at Ferris State. In 2007-08, Folcik was the squad's leading scorer (19.5 ppg) and rebounder (8.3 rpg) despite missing the last two regular-season games with an injury. She reached double-figure scoring in 25 of her 27 contests while posting 12 double-double (points & rebounds) efforts. The 2006-07 NCAA Division II Kodak/Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Honorable Mention All-American was named to the All-Great Lakes Region First Team in both of her final two collegiate campaigns. This year, she was chosen as an ESPN The Magazine College Division Academic All-America First Team pick.

Folcik finished the season ranked second in the GLIAC in scoring (19.5 ppg.) along with tied for second in free throw percentage (.833) and third in rebounding (8.3 rpg.). She totaled 81 double-figure scoring games in 113 career contests as a Bulldog player. Also, Folcik scored 20 points or more 12 times in 2007-08 with three games of 30 points or more.

A three-time (2004-05, 2006-07, and 2007-08) National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) All-America Honorable Mention selection, Hoffman averaged a team-leading 77.81 strokes per round (2,490 total strokes) in 32 rounds this season. Her stroke average this campaign represented the third-best all-time single-season performance in FSU women's golf history. Hoffman, a four-time (2004-08) All-GLIAC First-Team honoree and the 2007-08 GLIAC Women's Golf Athlete of the Year, produced 10 top-20 place finishes in the 2007-08 season with three being among the top five individuals. A two-time (2007-08) ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America College Division At-Large Second-Team honoree, Hoffman led or tied for top team lowest stroke total honors in six tournaments this season. The two-time (2006-07 and 2007-08) FSU Most Valuable Player Award recipient earned individual medalist honors at the 2008 GLIAC Championships (April 20-21) in Arlington, Ohio, as she carded a first-place tying 226 three-round stroke total in regulation and then won a first-hole playoff.

Hoffman concluded her four-year (2004-08) career as Ferris State's all-time leader with a career 78.31 stroke average (9,240 total strokes) in 118 rounds. Hoffman, who was a 2008 spring recipient of the GLIAC Commissioner's Award, accumulated 40 top-20 place finishes and produced 14 top-five place performances in her collegiate career. Hoffman was the 2004-05 GLIAC Women's Golf Freshman of the Year and holds the distinction of being only the second individual in Ferris State women's golf history to attain All-America honors at least three seasons. She also was named the team's Most Valuable Player Award winner the last two seasons (2006-07 and 2007-08) after attaining the 2004-05 squad's Bulldog Award recipient for displaying the most dedication and hard work.

Prior to this season, the only previous times three student-athletes were honored for this award were in the 1982-83, 1986-87 and 2006-07 seasons. Bruce Faccio (football), Monta Ware (women's basketball) and Linda Spicer (women's volleyball) were 1982-83 award winners while Brad Morris (wrestling), Patty Theis (women's volleyball) and Karen Kramer (women's basketball) were the award recipients for the 1986-87 season. In 2006-07, Folcik was joined by Mike Klobucher (football) and Kristie Smilanich (women's soccer) as award honorees.

Bulldog of the Year Recipients
2007-08 – Jake Visser (Football), Rachel Folcik (Women's Basketball), and Becky Hoffman (Women's Golf)
2006-07 – Mike Klobucher (Football), Rachel Folcik (Women's Basketball), and Kristie Smilanich (Women's Soccer)
2005-06 – Dennis Springs (Men's Basketball), Jenny Irwin (Women's Cross Country and Women's Track & Field)
2004-05 – Carlton Epps (Men's Basketball), Karla Fairbanks (Women's Volleyball)
2003-04 – Derek Fudge (Football), Lucy DeMartin (Women's Basketball)
2002-03 – Chris Kunitz (Men's Ice Hockey), Kathryn Bobbie (Women's Golf)
1995-96 – Bill Love (Football), Theresa Luciow (Softball)
1994-95 – Bill Love (Football), Shelli Gaul (Women’s Track & Field)
1993-94 – Ed Philion (Football), Kathy O’Connor (Women’s Volleyball & Women’s Basketball)
1992-93 – Monty Brown (Football), Jodi Raab (Women’s Basketball)
1991-92 – Dan Hutcheson (Wrestling), Monica Ferguson (Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field)
1990-91 – John DePourcq (Men’s Ice Hockey), Karen Volkers (Women’s Volleyball)
1989-90 – Paul Cochran (Men’s Track & Field/Football), Karen Volkers (Women’s Volleyball)
1988-89 – Jarvis Walker (Men’s Basketball), Penny Bailey (Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country)
1987-88 – Dave DenBraber (Football), Patty Theis (Women’s Volleyball)
1986-87 – Brad Morris (Wrestling), Patty Theis (Women's Volleyball) and Karen Kramer (Women’s Basketball)
1985-86 – Scott Kelly (Baseball), Patty Theis (Women’s Volleyball)
1984-85 – Paul Jungck (Wrestling), Sharon Sanders (Women’s Volleyball)
1983-84 – Terry Schumacher (Wrestling), Leigh Feenstra (Women’s Volleyball)
1982-83 – Bruce Faccio (Football), Monta Ware (Women’s Basketball) and Linda Spicer (Women's Volleyball)
1981-82 – Tim Smelser (Wrestling), Vicki Williams (Women’s Basketball)
1980-81 – Rick Baillergeon (Men's Basketball), Terri Fraser (Women’s Volleyball & Women's Basketball)
1979-80 – David Sall (Football), Roxanne Abramouski (Softball)
1978-79 – Tim Herman (Men's Basketball), Sharon Lipinski (Women’s Basketball)