RECAP: 32nd Annual Ferris State Football Golf Outing Deemed A Big Success
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Big Rapids, Mich. - The defending Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Champion Ferris State University football program, which is also the preseason #2 team in the country heading into the 2015 season, recently welcomed a large contingent of family, friends, supporters and alumni for the 32nd annual Bulldog Football Golf Outing at Clear Lake Golf Club in June.
The event was deemed a big success with more than 140 total golfers on hand, making it the largest attended event in more than a decade and it came on the heels of recent strong turnouts for the annual fundraising event.
At least 80 former players and alumni comepted in the four-person shotgun golf scramble, which is hosted by the FSU Gridiron Club in conjunction with the Bulldog Athletic Association (BAA) and serves as one of the Ferris State football program's primary fundraising events.
Those taking part in this year's event not only had an opportunity to play the 18-hole round, but were also treated to lunch prior to play, dinner after the event along with a banquet that featured raffle and auction prizes. A postgame gathering took place at the alumni-owned Buffalo Wild Wings location in Big Rapids. More than 32 teams and over 140 golfers were on hand for this year's outing.
One of the day's highlights came in the Player's Cup Division, where the quartet of alumni Bill Scheible, John Baylis, Steve Duchon and Mark Sarver reclaimed the trophy awarded annually to the top team consisting of former Bulldog Football players.
The overall championship was won by the group of former assistant coach Roger Elford, Randy Leach and Bob Leach, who was the head coach of FSU's first-ever unbeaten squad in 1968.
Bulldog football head coach Tony Annese and his staff, along with a number of current student-athletes and returning starters, were on hand or competed throughout the event. Those who took part also had an opportunity to have their photo taken with hardware won by the Bulldogs last fall, including the GLIAC Championship, Harlon Hill and Anchor-Bone Trophies.
"It was a tremendous day for the 32nd annual event and we're thrilled so many former players came back to be part of the Bulldog family and share in our championship success," said Annese. "The alumni and supporters involved are a huge reason for the success of the Ferris State football program and we thank them, along with our sponsors and the course, for all the support once again."
The Bulldogs will begin their 107th season of varsity competition this coming fall with their sights set on repeating as GLIAC Champions and making a return trip to the NCAA Division II Playoffs following a historic season in 2014 that saw the Bulldogs finish with their first conference title in 15 years and first trip to the postseason in 18 seasons. FSU posted the school's first 11-0 regular-season in the 106-year history of Ferris State football last fall.
In 2014, FSU head coach Tony Annese led the Bulldogs to an 11-1 overall record, which was the school's best in 19 seasons. A total of 10 FSU standouts earned some form of All-America honors, the Bulldogs had 16 all-conference honorees and quarterback Jason Vander Laan was tabbed as the Harlon Hill Trophy Award winner given to the NCAA Division II Player of the Year, the best of more than 10,000 players at the level in the nation.
Annese, who was named the GLIAC and American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Regional Coach of the Year, recently inked yet another stellar recruiting class on National Signing Day in February with FSU adding upwards of 30 incoming prep recruits, including a GLIAC-best 26 from the state of Michigan.
More than 50 letterwinners are slated to return this coming fall for the Bulldogs with upwards of 20 players with significant starting experience eligible to be back for the 2015 campaign. Fall camp will begin in early August for Ferris State, which is the preseason #2 team in the country according to the Sporting News.
Below are winners from this year's golf outing:
Women's Champs – Julie Thompson, Lori Zenner and Jackie Warner
Mixed Champs – Bill Taylor, Ruth Hicks, Jim Niskanen and Laurie Niskanen
Overall Champs – Roger Elford, Bob Leach and Randy Leach
Players Cup – Class of 1976 – Steve Duchon, Mark Sarver, Bill Scheible, John Baylis