Official Rosters Unveiled For 2014 Ferris State Football Spring Game
Big Rapids, Mich. - The matchup is set as the official team rosters have been announced for the Ferris State University football squad's 2014 Crimson and Gold Spring Game, which takes place on Friday (April 18) at Top Taggart Field.
Kickoff for the annual event is set for 12 p.m. (ET) and admission is free.
Players were divided by position into two respective teams with one squad wearing the Bulldogs' traditional red home jerseys and the other team donning the white road jerseys.
The red team will be guided by uarterbacks coach/offensive coordinator Ryan Brady, wide receivers coach Sparky McEwen along with defensive line coach Andy Tevlin, defensive backs coach Ryan Hodges and special teams coordinator Jack Schugars.
Meanwhile, the white team will be led by assistant head coach Rob Zeitman, defensive coordinator Lou Esposito, running backs coach Brad Corpe and slots coach Steve Annese.
Returning two-year starter Jason Vander Laan is among three quarterback on the white team roster with three others listed for the red squad, including a returning signal caller who saw limited action last fall in Trevor Bermingham.
Complete rosters for both teams can be found at this link:
2014 Spring Game Rosters (PDF)
Ferris State will begin its traditional "Bulldog Walk" at 11:10 a.m. (ET) with warmups starting for the spring game at 11:15 a.m. at Top Taggart Field. The coin toss will be held at noon.
The Crimson & Gold Spring Game will wrap up FSU's official spring practice drills under head coach Tony Annese. The Bulldogs opened the spring workouts on March 21 and the slate includes a total of 15 workouts per NCAA regulations.
Friday's contest will provide fans with an opportunity to watch the Bulldogs for the first time since last fall in a game-like situation under Head Coach Tony Annese and his staff.
The Bulldogs will also be holding a team picnic following the contest in the multipurpose room of the Ewigleben Sports Complex. The event is open to all parents, coaches, players and staff with donations and/or a dish to pass accepted. For more information or details, please visit "Ferris State Tailgaters 2014" on facebook.
The spring game will feature a modified scoring format with turnovers couting as three points and a first down garnering one point in addition to traditional scoring by touchdown (six points), field goal (three points), two-point conversion (two points) and extra point (one point).
Special teams action will not be live and the ball will be placed at the 25-yard line on kickoffs or the spot received on fair catch punts as part of the modified format. The contest will feature four 20-minute running clock quarters along with an eight-minute halftime. FSU head coach Tony Annese will reserve the right to make any clock or scoring adjustments as necessary during the scrimmage.
Ferris State wrapped up a successful 2013 campaign and the second season under Annese's direction last fall with a 8-3 overall record along with a second-place 8-2 finish in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) North Division standings. FSU narrowly missed receiving the school's first playoff bid in 17 years.
The Bulldogs' eight-win campaign last fall was the school's first since 2006 and only the second in the program's last 16 seasons. Additionally, Ferris State's eight league wins in 2013 were also its most since 1996.
Ferris State's eight league wins in 2013 were also its most since 1996 and the Bulldogs beat rival Grand Valley State for the second consecutive year to hold onto possession of the Anchor-Bone Trophy.
Recently, FSU also inked a highly-regarded 35-member recruiting class on National Signing Day in February. The talented class of 33 prepsters and two Division I transfers came on the heels of a stellar class a year ago that was labeled as the best in the nation.
The Bulldogs will begin their 106th season of varsity competition this coming fall with their sights set on competing for a potential GLIAC Championship and a NCAA Division II Playoff berth after posting only the program's second eight-win season in the last 16 years during the 2013 campaign.