November 14, 2025

'TimBob' making a big impact on top-ranked Ferris State's 'Nasty' football team’s offensive line

Sometimes they are known as “TimBob,” and sometimes are part of the “Nasty Boys. But Tim and Bob Anderson are best known as key players on the offensive line of Ferris State University’s top-ranked football team.

Averaging a nation-leading 53.6 points, Ferris State remains top-ranked in NCAA Division II and was recently crowned as the 2025 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champion with a 10-0 record.

The Anderson brothers are imposing, both standing 6-feet-6-inches and weighing 300-plus pounds. Tim committed to the Bulldogs as a The Detroit News' All-Metro North Team selection, while Bob earned All-State honors from the Associated Press and The Detroit News during his high school career. Both are construction management majors.

"It's amazing being part of this offensive line group. It's nasty, and we love everything about being nasty," Tim said. "We're all there for each other, working out together, watching film, getting in extra film time. We're focused on doing the things we need to do to get better as a group. We're showing up at practice every day, willing to work on what we need to do to improve and get better."

Off the field the brothers, who go by “TimBob,” embrace their fun and outgoing personas.

Their popularity began to take off after their stirring speeches during the 2024 NCAA Division II National Championship parade. Their celebrity climbed another notch this fall after starring in a commercial for Schuberg's Bar and Grill in partnership with Ferris State Athletics.

"Honestly, that commercial was big as far as people recognizing us," Bob said. "Now it feels like everywhere we go, especially when we're in downtown Big Rapids, we run into people who will say something like, 'Hey, you're the guys from the commercial. You're TimBob."

The Andersons maintain focus on strong play on the gridiron by assisting with top-notch pass protection and helping to blow open running lanes for the multifaceted rushing attack, where the Bulldogs rank seventh nationally  at 282.9 rushing yards per game.

"We love running the ball. That's our motto, 'run the ball,'" Bob said during a preseason interview.

The group spends a lot of time in the office of new offensive line coach Drew Burton focused on film study, seeking additional coaching, and exerting that above-and-beyond effort to excel on the gridiron.

Burton and assistant head coach Brian Rock work a lot with the offensive line.

"Coach Burton is a technician with technique, and then you got Coach Rock, who's a mastermind," Tim said. "You get those two together and you get greatness."

Part of success is developing a strong mental game. Coming off a 2021 NCAA DII National Championship, the group maintained the same intensity by finishing 2022 as back-to-back national champions.

"The biggest improvement for us as an offensive line over the years is our mentality," Tim said. "Going into the 2022 season, we really knew that we wanted to get better, that we had to get nastier. We felt like we weren't playing as physically as we wanted to play. Over the years, we've all worked to keep getting better. We weren't playing as physically as we wanted.”

Although the Bulldogs were on the playoff hunt in 2023, the season ended abruptly following a loss to rival Grand Valley State University in the first round.

The Andersons say that's when the "Nasty" label was born.

"The Nasty Boys came after the 2023 season," Bob said. “Coach Rock came up with these BSN (honors that stand) for ‘Bulldog Society of Nasty’. Whoever was the nastiest in practice got them.

We had this play one day in practice, and me and Tim looked at each other and said, 'That was nasty',” Bob said. “(Former coach) Sam (Parker) showed us this video of the WWE tag team, The Nasty Boys. That was how our (offensive line) name became 'The Nasty Boys’.”

The offensive line is tested daily, frequently facing Ferris State's strong defensive line group.

"It's a blessing, man," Bob said. "You know that you're gonna get better every day going against those guys. You know you're not going to see much better competition than you see in practice because you know those guys are going to make us better."

On that point, the brothers agree.

"We know that's going to be the best line we're going to play against all year," Tim said. "We really believe iron sharpens iron. We push each other to get better. It's good for us and it's good for them."

“TimBob” has been pushed hard and coached well going back at least as far as high school.

The Bulldogs last month visited the Upper Peninsula to face Michigan Tech. Ferris State earned a 38-10 victory, but the game also had an additional meaning for the twin brothers.

The Andersons attended Rochester Adams High School in the Detroit suburbs. One of their coaches was Josh Heppner, a former Bulldog tight end, who was at the game and shared a moment with the Andersons.

"It was awesome seeing him," Bob said, smiling. "You know he's funny, he's energetic like us. He's hilarious, and I really appreciate seeing him. He has always supported us through college, and it was nice to get a chance to see him there."

"Oh, it was so good to see him,” Tim agreed. “We talked about our good old days from high school and all the other things we did. It was fun."

Moments like those help the brothers appreciate supporting each other as Bulldogs a little more.

"It's like having your best friend around all the time," Bob said. "You know you have someone there who's going to hold you fully accountable and who knows you're going to hold them accountable. It's awesome."

"It is fun being out there playing football with my brother,” Tim said. “He's somebody who has always been there and somebody I always know I can count on. We always know we've got each other's backs."

Ranked No. 1 in the latest Super Region Three rankings on Nov. 10, Ferris State is gearing up to close out regular season play in the Calder City Classic matchup at Davenport University (5-4, 4-2 GLIAC). Kickoff against the Panthers is at noon on Saturday, Nov. 15, at the Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex, 6125 68th St SE, in Caledonia.