Ferris State Honored As D2 National Champion At AFCA Annual Convention In Texas

Big Rapids, Mich. - The National Champion Ferris State University football squad received more hardware this week after a historic season as the Bulldogs and head coach Tony Annese were honored during the annual American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Annual Convention in San Antonio, Texas.

In front of more than 1,500 coaches at the AFCA Annual Convention, the National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame presented the NFF divisional national championship trophies to the coaches of the 2021 winning teams. In addition, Coach Annese was also presented with the AFCA's Coaches Trophy.

"Each year at the AFCA convention, the NFF presents the championship trophies to the coaches who have taken their teams to the pinnacle of success," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "It is fitting that we present the trophies in front of their peers, the very people who know the commitment, dedication and effort that goes into winning a national championship. We are extremely proud to join with AFCA Executive Director Todd Berry to continue this tradition of honoring the nation's most successful coaches each year at the convention."

As the NCAA Division II National Champion, the Bulldogs received the Asa S. Bushnell Trophy from the National Football Foundation where Coach Annese joined other divisional winners of the NFF"s respective national championship awards.

Head coach Tony Annese and No. 1 Ferris State (14-0) etched their names in history Dec. 18 with a 58-17 win over No. 2 Valdosta State [GA] (12-2) in the NCAA Division II National Championship game at McKinney ISD Stadium in Texas. The win marked the school's first football national title, and Coach Annese, in his ninth season with the Bulldogs, has tallied a 41-2 record during the past three seasons. The win marked the largest margin of victory since 1997 in a national title game on the D2 level and the Bulldogs' 58 points landed just five off the title game scoring record.

Along with Ferris State, also honored were head coaches from fellow national championship teams North Dakota State (FCS), Mary Hardin-Baylor (D3) and Morningside (NAIA).