2010 FSU Football Lift-A-Thon Event Recap

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University football program concluded its winter conditioning program by holding its 28th annual Bulldog Lift-A Thon fundraising event Friday (March 26) evening at FSU's Jim Wink Arena in Big Rapids, Mich.

The event included all current team members and a new format was unveiled with the debut of the "Bulldog Challenge" this year.

The "Bulldog Challenge" consisted of a competition between team position groups.  The events included the bench press, pro shuttle run, 20-yard sprint, tug of war along with a talent and entertainment show.  A points system determined the winning group.

"Overall, it was a great evening and we had a lot of competition," said FSU head coach Jeff Pierce. "Tonight gave our guys an opportunity to show what they did in the off-season and it also let them grow a little closer together as a football team.

"We're excited with the results and excited to get going with spring ball," he added.

The entire team competed in the bench press with selected individuals taking part and representing various position groups in the other events.  The representatives for the pro shuttle and sprint events were determined based on winter testing results this past week.

This year's overall winning position group consisted of the tight ends, quarterbacks, fullbacks and kickers.  Senior offensive lineman Scott Shattuck turned out a team-best 30 reps at 225 pounds in the bench press.

In the overall points race, the offensive unit defeated the defensive unit 135 points to 85.5 points on the night.  The talent contest was claimed by the defensive line while junior receiver Damien Miller was the individual winner in terms of dollars raised ($875) during the lift-a-thon portion of the event.

Winners were also determined by groups in the bench press, pro shuttle and 20-yard sprint events. 

Group pairings included the wide receivers/tailbacks versus the defensive backs, the TE/QB/FB/K against the linebackers along with the offensive line taking on the defensive line.

A nice crowd of fans, alumni, parents and friends turned out for the event with this year's lift-a-thon being sponsored by Buffalo Wild Wings.

The FSU Football Lift-A-Thon serves as the primary fund raiser for the Ferris State football program. The funds raised from the event have a direct influence in maintaining the essential elements necessary for the Bulldogs to operate a competitive NCAA Division II football program in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC), which is regarded as one of the nation’s top conferences. Proceeds from the Lift-A-Thon go towards maintaining current student-athlete scholarships, recruitment of new student-athletes, improvement within the weight training facilities, and assistance in the financing of both spring drills and early fall practice camp.

The Lift-A-Thon, which was developed in 1982, operates under the FSU Gridiron Club and every dollar contributed to the Lift-A-Thon goes directly to benefit the Bulldog football program through the Gridiron Club. Each player collected pledges either on a per-pound basis or on a flat dollar rate donation based upon how much weight they could successfully lift.

Ferris State will start preparations for this upcoming season this Tuesday, March 30, as the Bulldogs begin their spring practice drills.