Special Format & Honorary Coaches-Captains Announced For Saturday's Spring Football Game

Click Here For Official Spring Game Rosters (PDF)

Big Rapids, Mich. - A special offense versus defense format will be used and honorary coaches and captains have been named as the Ferris State University football team prepares to host its annual Crimson & Gold Spring Game on Saturday (April 18) at FSU's Top Taggart Field.

Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. (ET) and admission is FREE with the "Bulldog Nation" invited and encouraged to attend as the defending Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Champions wrap up their annual spring drills.

This year, the Bulldogs' offensive players will don the red jerseys with the defense wearing white and a specialized scoring format will be used. Along with traditional points for touchdowns, field goals and extra points, the offensive will also have an opportunity to pick up points on big plays or for recording two-straight first downs. Meanwhile, the defensive unit will earn points for touchdowns, turnovers, sacks, three-and-out situations along with tackles for loss.

A total of four, 12-minute quarters will be held with a running clock at the discretion of head coach Tony Annese. Additional time will also be sent on special teams situations with the timing and format subject to change.

Former Ferris State football alums and longtime supporters Jeff and Brian Carmody of Buffalo Wild Wings will serve as the game's honorary coaches. In addition, Ferris State's GLIAC Championship volleyball and men's basketball squads from this past year will also be honored as the captains for the spring game.

Saturday's game will also coincide with the "The Big Event AFTER The Big Event". Students and members of the FSU community will take part in the "Big Event", an annual community-wide cleanup and service effort in Big Rapids on Saturday morning. Following the important civic initiative which ranks as the state's largest student-led community service event, participants are invited to the post-event celebration, which will take place in conjunction with the spring game.

The "Big Event AFTER The Big Event" will feature games such as corn hole, spike ball and more for a chance to win prizes, free hot dogs for those wearing "Big Event" shirts, pictures with Harlon Hill Trophy winner Jason Vander Laan next to the victory bell after the game and more.

The Bulldogs will also be holding a "Spring Game Potluck & Pizza" 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" on facebook.

The annual Crimson & Gold Spring Game will also be broadcasted live on the Bulldog Sports Network and local flagship station Sunny 97.3 FM with Rob Bentley and Sandy Gholston on the call starting with pregame coverage at 11:30 a.m. It will be streamed online at FerrisStateBulldogs.com. 

Along with the live radio coverage and audio broadcast, a FREE video feed will also be provided thru FSU's multimedia portal at FerrisStateBulldogs.com. Fans can also follow live scoring updates by following @FerrisFootball on twitter.

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 20 and the slate includes a total of 15 workouts per NCAA regulations.

Following spring drills, the Bulldogs will also hold a special GLIAC Championship Ring Ceremony in conjunction with the annual football Lift-A-Thon fundraising event on Friday, April 24, at 6 p.m. (ET) inside FSU's Jim Wink Arena.