A Look Back: National Semifinal Finish For The 1995 Bulldogs

Note: This fall marks the 25th anniversary of the Bulldogs' historic 1995 squad. This is the third part of a series celebrating the accomplishments and remembering the 1995 Ferris State University football squad that reached the NCAA Division II National Semifinals for the first time in school history. Visit These Links For Part One & Part Two.

Big Rapids, Mich. - Two teams with perfect records placed their unblemished marks on the line in a 1995 NCAA Division II National Championship Playoff Semifinal-Round contest played Dec. 2 at North Alabama's Braly Stadium in Florence, Ala.

The Ferris State Bulldogs and North Alabama Lions each brought in identical 12-0 records into a game which represented Ferris' highest finish ever in school history at the time.

The contest featured two of the most successful Division II teams over the last four years and two of the nation's premier players in Ferris State quarterback Bill Love and North Alabama linebacker Ronald McKinnon, who both were among the top three vote getters for the Harlon Hill Trophy as the nation's top player in Division II football.

Both schools made their fourth consecutive appearance in the Division II playoffs as Ferris State's seniors had produced a 42-5-2 record while North Alabama's senior group had compiled a 46-5-1 mark.

North Alabama, the two-time (2003 and 2004) national champions, played impressively as the number-one ranked Lions posted a 45-7 victory over the third-ranked Bulldogs before 7,866 fans. UNA never trailed in the game, jumping out to a 21-7 halftime advantage and then reeling off the contest's final 24 points in the second half.

Ferris' lone score occurred in the second quarter on tailback Chris Pulliams' 10-yard run followed by kicker Jason Lipke's extra-point kick. 

Despite the setback, the 1995 campaign is remembered as one of the best in school history.

All season long, FSU rallied behind one phrase – Every player, every play. That philosophy laid the foundation for the program's success in those years.

The concept proved instrumental throughout the campaign as the Bulldogs set or tied an impressive 51 school records.

On the sidelines, first-year head coach Jeff Pierce made the most of his head coaching debut by being selected as the MIFC's Coach-of-the-Year.

The 13-week fall journey in 1995 will be remembered forever as the embodiment of Ferris State football program's winning tradition.