Posted: Dec 12, 2021
PREVIEW: Ferris State Football Faces Valdosta State In 2021 NCAA D2 National Championship Game
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This Week's Action
Click Here For Gameday Information
Click Here For Complete Game Notes (PDF)
This Week's Action
The Ferris State University Bulldogs will square off against the Valdosta State Blazers in the 2021 NCAA Division II National Championship Game on Saturday (Dec. 18) in McKinney, Texas. Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. (ET) at the McKinney ISD Stadium. FSU will be making its second-ever national championship game appearance with the two D2 powers squaring off in a rematch of the 2018 title game won by the Blazers 49-47 in Texas.
The Matchup
The Bulldogs are currently 13-0 overall and won a third-straight outright GLIAC Championship this fall with a perfect 7-0 league mark. Meanwhile, the Blazers are currently 12-1 this season and posted a 6-1 mark in the Gulf South Conference (GSC) . It will represent the second-ever series' matchup between the two schools.
Media Coverage
Saturday's game will be carried live nationally by ESPNU and the WatchESPN app while also being aired locally by the Bulldog Sports Network and Sunny 97.3 FM with the veteran broadcast team of Rob Bentley (play-by-play) and Sandy Gholston (color) calling the action. Pregame coverage gets underway at 8 p.m. (ET). The contest will also be streamed with FREE live audio online at FerrisStateBulldogs.com. Visit FerrisStateBulldogs.com for a complete listing of links.
Ticket Information
Tickets are currently available for purchase online and each team has access to 2,000 reserved and general admission tickets. FSU will be on the home sideline for the game. Reserved tickets are $25 each for chairback seats with general admission bench seating $20 per ticket. Children ages two and younger will be admitted free of charge. Additional ticket info and links can be found at FerrisStateBulldogs.com.
Third-Straight GLIAC Title
Ferris State secured the program's 12th GLIAC Championship in 2021. The Bulldogs went unbeaten in conference action for the fifth time in the last seven seasons. The Bulldogs claimed the outright league championship by beating Grand Valley State in the regular-seson finale in 2019. FSU has won its last 31 GLIAC games in a row dating back to 2017.
Seventh-Straight Playoff Berth
The Bulldogs, who are in their 112th season of varsity competition this fall, are making their seventh consecutive trip appearance in the NCAA Division II Playoffs. FSU has now made five-straight NCAA Division II National Quarterfinal appearances and is currently one of only four teams in all of college football to win at least 11 games each of the previous seven years (not counting the 2020 COVID season). The Bulldogs along with Northwest Missouri State are the only programs in Division II football to make the playoffs each of the past seven seasons.
Great Bulldog Stretch
The Bulldogs reached the NCAA Division II National Championship game for the first time in school history in 2018, matching an all-time NCAA record with 15 victories (15-1). Over the two seasons of action in 2018 and 2019, not counting 2020 in which FSU did not play due to COVID-19, the Bulldogs were a combined 27-2 overall. FSU is now 40-2 in the last three seasons on the field.
Memorable Bulldog Run
Over the last seven seasons at Ferris State, the Bulldogs have now compiled a 85-9 overall record and claimed five conference championships, posted five unbeaten regular-seasons, captured four regional titles and reached the national quarterfinals five times. Ferris State has also accumulated three Harlon Hill National Player of the Year trophies, twice had a student-athlete tabbed as the nation's National Scholar-Athlete of the Year and won 15 postseason games in addition to an appearance in the 2018 and 2021 NCAA D2 National Championship Games.
National Power & State's Best
Now in the ninth season under head coach Tony Annese, the Bulldogs have become a national power on the Division II level. FSU has posted a 100-16 overall mark in his tenure and the Bulldogs have also posted the best winning percentage of all 21 collegiate programs in the state of Michigan along with the GLIAC since his arrival. Overall, Annese has won 86% of his games as a head coach on the collegiate and prep levels and owns 325 wins to date, which is the most of any current GLIAC member head coach at all levels.
Current National Rankings
Ferris State concluded the regular season ranked #1 nationally in the D2Football.com national poll along with #1 in the AFCA Coaches poll. FSU was also #1 in the NCAA.com D2 Power Rankings and was first in the CompughterRatings.com online poll along with third nationally in the Massey Ratings.
The Head Coaches
Ferris State – Tony Annese (Alma, 1983), 9th season, 100-16-0 (.862) – 0-1 vs Valdosta State). Annese recorded a 195-41 (.826) mark as a head coach in four stops at the high school level before totaling a 30-4 (.882) record in three years as the head coach at Grand Rapids Community College. His overall career mark at all levels is 325-61 (.842) to date and includes three prep state championships and two national JUCO crowns. He claimed his 300th win in 2018 with the national semifinal victory at Minnesota State.
Valdosta State - Gary Goff (Valdosta State, 1996), 11th season overall, 60-52 (.536), 3rd season at Valdosta, 22-2 (.916). Goff is in his third season at Valdosta State and previously served as the head coach for nine years at Tiffin University. He played for VSU during his collegiate career and has also had stints at Princeton, West Virginia Wesleyan, New Mexico State, Iowa Welseyan and Southeastern Louisiana during his collegiate coaching career.
Second-Ever Matchup
Saturday's game will represent the second-ever series' meeting against Valdosta State and it is also only the second matchup for FSU versus a team from Georgia. The Bulldogs had never played a current Gulf South Conference member prior to the 2018 national title game setback to VSU, but did face a former league institution and current NCAA Division I member North Alabama in the 1995 NCAA Division II National Semifinals.
Semifinal Victory
The Bulldogs rolled to a decisive 55-7 playoff win over Shepherd (W.Va.) in the D2 National Semifinals this past Saturday (Dec. 11). Senior quarterback Jared Bernhardt returned to the lineup in a big way, rushing for more than 200 yards and scoring five first-half TD's in the triumph. The Bulldogs built a 35-7 halftime edge and cruised to the national TV victory.
Fifth National Semifinal
This year represented the Bulldogs' fifth all-time NCAA Division II National Semifinal appearance, including the program's third-straight and fourth in five seasons on the field (not counting the 2020 COVID cancelled season). FSU fell at North Alabama in the semis in 1995 and at Northwest Missouri State in 2016. The Bulldogs won their national semi on the road at Minnesota State in 2018 before falling to eventual national champion West Florida in the school's first home semifinal in '19. This past Saturday marked the second-ever home semifinal played in Big Rapids.
NCAA Super Region Three Champions
Ferris State claimed a third-straight NCAA Super Region Three Championship with the Dec. 4 win over Northwest Missouri State. FSU also earned the top seed for the semifinal round as the four remaining teams were reseeded following quarterfinal-round action. Valdosta State (Ga.) was seeeded second and beat third-seeded Colorado Mines in the first semifinal on Saturday at home by a 34-31 score. FSU and Valdosta State met in the 2018 finale with the Blazers capturing a 49-47 win in McKinney.
Gene Upshaw Award Winner
Senior offensive tackle Dylan Pasquali (Trenton) was named the recipient of the 2021 Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award presented by the Manheim Touchdown Club. The Upshaw Award is presented annually to the top NCAA D2 senior offensive or defensive lineman in the nation. Pasquali will receive a trophy in the likeness of Upshaw and recognition at the Manheim Touchdown Club's annual banquet in May. Pasquali also will get the chance to compete in a postseason bowl. Pasquali becomes the second consecutive winner of the award from Ferris State following Austin Edwards, who is currently with the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs, in 2019.
Fifth Consecutive Quarterfinal
FSU continued two impressive streaks this season. The Bulldogs have now made the national quarterfinals five consecutive years, which is the longest such streak in Division II football, and the Bulldogs have now also won 11 games or more seven-straight years. FSU was one of only four teams in all of college football to accomplish the feat over the six-year stretch prior to the 2020 COVID season along with Ohio State, North Dakota State and Alabama.
One Win Away From 100
Ferris State head coach Tony Annese enters Saturday's game with a 99-16 (.861) mark in his ninth season at Ferris State and is one win shy of notching his 100th victory. Annese currently ranks as NCAA Division II's winningest active head coach, based on a minimum of four seasons.
Fan Travel Information
Bulldog fans are encouraged to visit FerrisStateBulldogs.com/Texas throughout the week for pertinent travel details and information in advance of Saturday's D2 National Championship game. Ferris State University has a fan package available for students and fans who wish to travel by bus to Texas for the title game. In addition, a list of lodging options is also available in addition to a ticket link and info. Visit FerrisStateBulldogs.com for complete details.
Pregame & Postgame Functions
The NCAA will hold a National Championship Pep Rally/Fan Fest on Friday evening from 6-9 pm (CT) at Tupps Brewery (721 Anderson) in McKinney, which will include live music, a program, food and more. Additionally, the FSU Alumni Association will hold a special pregame celebration for alumni, family and friends on Saturday at the Courtyard by Marriott Dalls Allen at the Event Center in McKinney at 210 E Stacy Road from 4-6:30 p.m. (CT).
About The Title Game
The Lone Star Conference along with the McKinney Independent School District, the City of McKinney, the McKinney Chamber of Commerce, and the McKinney Convention & Visitors Bureau will host the 2021 NCAA Division II Football Championship game at the 12,000-seat McKinney ISD Stadium and Community Event Center on Saturday.
About The Stadium
The McKinney ISD Stadium opened in August 2018 and is a $70 million venue that seats 12,000 fans. Voters approved the project in 2016 as part of a $220 million bond package and the stadium ranks as one of the most expensive high school facilities in the country.
We Meet Again
While the Bulldogs have never faced Valdosta State with the Blazers' head coach Gary Goff at the helm, he did square off against Tony Annese and the Bulldogs three times while serving as the head coach at Tiffin University, which was a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) at the time. The Bulldogs beat Goff's Dragons 68-20 in Big Rapids in 2014 (10/11) and by a score of 56-21 in 2015 (10/10) in Tiffin, Ohio. FSU also captured a 13-3 decision in 2017 (10/7/17).
All-Region Honorees
Four Ferris State standouts have been chosen to the 2021 Division II Conference Commissioner's Association (D2CCA) All-Super Region Three squad. The Bulldogs had three first-team All-Super Region Three honorees along with a second-team selection in voting by the region's sports information directors. Ferris State's first-team choices included senior offensive tackle Dylan Pasquali (Trenton) along with sophomore defensive end Caleb Murphy (Dowagiac) and junior safety Jamil Thomas (Tampa, Fla.). Additionally, FSU also had a second-team honoree in senior linebacker John Higgins (Williams Bay, Wis.).
100th Win For Coach Annese At FSU
Ferris State head coach Tony Annese notched his 100th victory at the Bulldog helm with this past week's 55-7 national semifinal win over Shepherd. Annese is midst his ninth season with the Bulldogs and owns a 100-16 (..862) record, making him the nation's winningest active NCAA coach regardless of level.
AFCA First Team All-American
Ferris State senior offensive tackle Dylan Pasquali was named to the 2021 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-America First Team as announced by the national coaches organization. It marks the seventh consecutive year the Bulldogs have had at least one AFCA All-America selection, which is the longest active streak in the country. A total of 20 Ferris State players have now been named to the AFCA All-America team a combined 24 times, which is tied for the third-most all-time among NCAA Division II schools.
Number One AFCA Ranking
Ferris State was #1 in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II final regular-season poll after climbing to the top for the first time in program history following a regular-season win over Grand Valley State. Previously, FSU was ranked as high as 1st nationally in 2015 by D2Football.com along with the Division II Power Rankings, but had never been #1 in the current coaches poll until the recent stretch. Ferris State was ranked #1 for two weeks back in 1996 when the NCAA Football Committee produced the weekly rankings prior to the creation of the head coaches' poll thru the AFCA. The Bulldogs' previous best in the AFCA poll was #2 at various stages with the first coming late in the 2015 regular season. FSU was also second early in the 2017 campaign along with different points in both 2018 and 2019.
All-GLIAC Honorees
The Bulldogs claimed four of the league's seven major awards and had a total of 21 student-athletes earn all-conference recognition in voting by the league's member head coaches, including 12 first-team honorees on the All-GLIAC squad announced recently. FSU senior quarterback Jared Bernhardt (Longwood, Fla.) was tabbed as the GLIAC's Player of the Year while senior offensive tackle Dylan Pasquali (Trenton) earned the GLIAC Offensive Lineman of the Year Award. FSU also had the league's defensive lineman of the year in sophomore end Caleb Murphy (Dowagiac) in addition to the Coach of the Year in FSU head coach Tony Annese.
School Record Streak
Following a 35-13 home win over Wayne State in the regular-season finale on Nov. 13, FSU has currently won 38 consecutive regular-season games, which is a school record. The Bulldogs had won 28-straight from 2013-16. Ferris State has also presently won 21 consecutive games played on the road and not at a neutral site. FSU's last true "road" & regular-season loss was a 20-3 setback at Ashland back in 2017 (9/23). The road stretch includes three road wins in the NCAA Division II Playoffs.
Five-Time League Winner
FSU senior quarterback Jared Bernhardt was chosen as the GLIAC's Offensive Player of the Week for the fifth time this season following the Bulldogs' win over Wayne State in the regular-season finale. Bernhardt has now played in nine games to date this year and was recognized as the league's offensive honoree five different times.
School Record Performance
Ferris State sophomore quarterback Mylik Mitchell earned the GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week after he threw for a school-record 508 passing yards and six touchdowns in the Bulldogs' 67-25 road win at Northwood (Oct. 2). He topped both FSU's all-time single game passing and total offense marks, completing 29-of-39 (74.4%) throws and added three yards on the ground. The FSU signal caller helped the Bulldogs generate 693 total yards in the game and became the eighth different starting QB under head coach Tony Annese to register five or more touchdowns in a single game. Both his passing yardage and total offense totals rank fourth all-time in GLIAC single game history.
Five Touchdowns Plus
Every starting quarterback under FSU head coach Tony Annese has accounted for five touchdowns or more in a single game after Mylik Mitchell became the eighth QB to do so at Northwood (Oct. 2). Ferris State junior QB Evan Cummins earned the start against Saginaw Valley State the week before in place of the injured Jared Bernhardt and accounted for six TD's in the win over SVSU. Bernhardt totaled seven TD's in this year's season-opening win over Findlay.
Road Win Streak
Ferris State is currently riding a school all-time best 21-game winning streak on the road dating back to its last true road loss at Ashland in September of 2017. FSU closed its 2017 campaign by winning its last four road tilts, including a playoff win at Fort Hays State, and won seven games on the road in 2018 along with five in 2019 and four thus far this year. In 2018, FSU also posted a decisive neutral site win over Michigan Tech in the "Battle At The Ballpark" played at the home field of Minor League Baseball's West Michigan Whitecaps at Fifth Third Ballpark in Comstock Park. FSU's only setback away from home since 2017 came in the 2018 D2 National Champiosnhip game when the Bulldogs fell to Valdosta State in a neutral site tilt in McKinney, Texas.
Nation's Top Coach
Bulldog head coach Tony Annese is currently the winningest (.862) active coach among all FBS, FCS & D2 schools in the country, according to the NCAA based on a minimum of six years as a coach, topping names such as Dabo Swinney, Nick Saban & Jimbo Fisher. Overall, among all levels including NCAA Division III, he's listed fourth among active coaches at all NCAA levels in winning percentage (.862) for more than five years and second among those who have been a head coach for more than seven years. Those listed ahead of him are all D3 coaches.
Bulldog Graduates On The Field
The Bulldogs have a total of 10 student-athletes who are included in a group of collegiate standouts announced by the National Football Foundation (NFF) who have already completed their degree requirements and are playing as graduates this fall on the college football level. The list of Bulldog graduates includes:
Brandon Childress (grad transfer)
Marouf Hamade (grad transfer)
Jared Bernhardt (grad transfer)
Harlon Hill Trophy Nominee
FSU senior quarterback Jared Bernhardt (Longwood, Fla.) was tabbed as a nominee for the 2021 Harlon Hill Trophy as the NCAA Division II College Football Player of the Year. Bernhardt was among 36 student-athletes from across the country nominated for the prestigious honor. FSU is one of only three schools in the country to have won the award a nation-leading three times along with Texas A&M-Kingsville and Valdosta State. Former Ferris State University quarterback Jason Vander Laan was a two-time Harlon Hill Trophy recipient as the country's top player in both 2014 and 2015 and FSU quarterback Jayru Campbell claimed the distinction in 2018.
Preseason Honors
Several Bulldog players received preseason recognition. Lindy's Sports tabbed a pair of Bulldogs as Preseason All-Americans, including senior offensive tackle Dylan Pasquali (Trenton) as a first-team honoree and junior wide receiver Sy Barnett (Willamston) as a second-team choice. Pasquali was also chosen to the 2021 College Football America Division II Starting Lineup as a Preseason First-Team pick along with senior back Marvin Campbell (Detroit), who was featured as the headliner of the team. Bulldog junior Mohammed Amen (Dearborn Heights) has earned recognition as one of the country's top 20 long snappers going into the fall by various sources.
The 100th Game Under Annese
FSU's Nov. 9, 2019, win over Grand Valley State represented the Bulldogs' 100th game under head coach Tony Annese dating back to his initial season in 2012. Prior to Annese's tenure, the Bulldogs had went 35-45 (.438 ) in their previous 80 contests, but they have now registered a 100-16 (.862) mark since his arrival. The Bulldogs currently have won 31-straight conference games and 38 consecutive regular-season games overall dating back to the 2017 campaign. Overall, FSU is 49-3 (.942) in its last 52 outings to date counting playoff action.
Keeping The Streaks Alive
The Bulldogs' win over Wayne State on Nov. 13 was the 38th-straight regular season victory for the Bulldogs along with FSU's 31st consecutive GLIAC triumph. The Bulldogs are currently the only remaining unbeaten team left in NCAA Division II this year. The Bulldogs finished unbeaten in conference action for the fifth time in the last seven seasons this year.
300 Plus Career Victories
Ferris State head coach Tony Annese notched his 300th career victory at all levels with FSU's 2018 NCAA Semifinal win over Minnesota State. Annese took over the Bulldog program following three impressive years as the head coach at Grand Rapids Community College, which came on the heels of a highly successful 25-season stint at the prep level. Annese has won championships at every level, including three high school state championships and two national titles on the junior college level. He is 325-61 (.842) at all levels in his head coaching career.
Great Road Record
In nine seasons under head coach Tony Annese, the Bulldogs have been a dominant road team. Presently, the Bulldogs are 48-7 (.873) under his direction in games played away from Top Taggart Field over the course of his seven seasons at the helm. Ferris State's mark is even better outside of his first two seasons as the Bulldogs own a 39-4 mark since the start of the 2014 season away from Big Rapids.
Latest Home Game Ever
FSU's home game against West Florida in the 2019 NCAA Division II National Semifinals (12/14/19) represented the latest home game ever for the Bulldogs. FSU closed the 2017 season at home against Harding (Ark.) in the NCAA National Quarterfinals at Top Taggart Field, falling 16-14 on a game-ending field goal by the Bisons on Dec. 2, 2017. The game represented the first-ever home football playoff game in the month of December and the latest home game ever for FSU at the time. The Bulldogs also hosted quarterfinal-round playoff action in 1994, 1995 and 1996, but those games were played in late November. In 2018, the Bulldogs won their first two playoff games at home in November before winning two-straight on the road en route to the title game.
FSU Keeps The Anchor-Bone
With the win over rival Grand Valley State in the regular-season this year, Ferris State held onto the Anchor Bone Trophy awarded annually to the winner of the Ferris State-GVSU football game. The trophy debuted in 2002 and GVSU won the first nine matchups before FSU maintained possession of the trophy four consecutive years from 2012-15. The Lakers reclaimed the trophy in the regular-season in 2016, but the Bulldogs have now won the last four regular-season matchups. Head Coach Tony Annese improved to 10-2 versus GVSU with this year's playoff win and is also 5-1 against the Lakers on the road at Lubbers Stadium.
Best In The Country
Since the start of the 2014 season, the Bulldogs have the most wins of any NCAA Division II team in the country. The Bulldogs recorded back-to-back 11-1 seasons in 2014 and 2015 before a 12-3 mark in 2016 followed by an 11-2 showing in 2017 and a 15-1 mark in 2018 along with a 12-1 record in 2019 for a cumulative 85-9 record counting this year. Under head coach Tony Annese, the Bulldogs have lost only three regular-season games over the past eight years dating back to mid-October of 2013. The Bulldogs now own a 76-3 (.962) regular-season mark since closing the 2013 season by winning their final four games.
Only Team In The Nation
The Bulldogs are the nation's only team to reach the NCAA Division II National Quarterfinals each of the past five seasons. Ferris State claimed the Super Region Championship in 2016 with a decisive road win at rival Grand Valley State in the quarterfinals to reach the national semifinals for the second time in school history. In 2017, the Bulldogs also made it back to the national quarterfinals, but fell to Harding on a game-ending field goal at home in Big Rapids. FSU reached the national title game in 2018 and the national semifinals in 2019 before falling at home to eventual national champion West Florida.
Big Win Seasons
The 2021 season marks only the ninth time in school history in which the Bulldogs have won at least 11 games in a campaign, but also the seventh year in a row. In 2016, FSU matched the school-record of 12 wins set in 1995 (12-1) and the Bulldogs topped the feat in 2018 (15-1). The last seven years on the field marks the first time FSU has won 11 games in a row for seven-straight years.
Michigan's Best Team
Ferris State was chosen by SB Nation as the state of Michigan's best college football team each of the past two seasons, regardless of division. It came on the heels of a similar recognition in 2017 by Hero Sports as the state of Michigan's best college football team, regardless of division. Hero Sports unveiled its top team from every state, regardless of division, and the Bulldogs were chosen tops among the 21 collegiate programs in Michigan. The award is the result of an equation created to level the playing field across all divisions of college football using specialized criteria.
Big Home Stretch
The Bulldogs have now won 50 of their last 56 home games overall at Top Taggart Field dating back to the 2013 season. In 2018, the Bulldogs went a perfect 7-0 at home in Big Rapids. In each of the previous five years, the Bulldogs lost a single game on their home field, posting records of 4-1 (2013), 5-1 (2014), 6-1 (2015), 7-1 (2016) and 6-1 (2017) including regular-season and playoff action. FSU finished 7-1 at home in 2019.
Did You Know?
This year marks the fifth time in the past six years (not counting 2020) the Bulldogs were tabbed as one of the country's top three teams in at least one preseason national ranking.
GLIAC Preseason Poll
The Bulldogs were picked again to finish at the top of the league as the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) unveiled its 2021 GLIAC Football Preseason Poll with the Bulldogs first overall. Ferris State picked up 49 total points and seven of a possible eight first-place votes. Behind FSU was Grand Valley State in second place with 43 points and the other first-place mention.
Did You Know?
Ferris State has now been the last GLIAC school standing in the NCAA Division II Playoffs each of the past five seasons. The Bulldogs reached the national semifinals in 2016 and the quarterfinals in 2017. In 2018, FSU avenged a setback to Harding in the 2017 Super Region Three Championship Game by beating the Bisons 21-19 at home in round one of the postseason on Nov. 17. FSU eventually went on to reach the national championship game for the first time in school history. The Bulldogs were the lone GLIAC school to make the field in 2019.
FSU Matches School Record
With a national semifinal win at Minnesota State in 2018, FSU tied the school-record of 15 consecutive victories, which was also recorded in 2013 and 2014. The Bulldogs won their final four games in 2013 under head coach Tony Annese before reeling off a perfect 11-0 regular-season in 2014 prior to a playoff setback. FSU's 15-game streak in 2018 represented the longest streak inside of a single-season in school history. The Bulldogs had a 28-game regular-season winning streak from 2013-16 and owned a 42-game regular-season unbeaten (40-0-2) streak from 1992-96 prior to their current regular-season unbeaten stretch.
Former Bulldogs In The NFL
The Bulldogs had a total of seven different players in a NFL Preseason Camp this summer, which was the most of any D2 school in the country. The 'Dawgs who took part in NFL camps this summer includes former DB Tavierre Thomas (Houston), DL Zach Sieler (Miami), DT Justin Zimmer (Buffalo), WR Jake Lampman (New Orleans), WR Malik Taylor (Green Bay), DL Austin Edwards (Kansas City) and DT Chris Okoye (LA Rams). Four made NFL 53-man opening day rosters, including Thomas, Sieler, Zimmer and Taylor, tops among all D2 schools.
Last season, a total of six Ferris State alums saw action in at least one NFL regular-season game and eight were with various NFL franchises, which were the most of any NCAA Division II school in the country and topped many current NCAA Division I institutions. The Bulldog alums in the NFL have also included former linebacker Brady Sheldon and former two-time Harlon Hill Trophy winner Jason Vander Laan. Eight of the alums have played in at least one NFL regular-season game over the past four years. Three former Bulldogs were part of team's that made the NFL Conference Championship Games a year ago in Taylor, Zimmer and Edwards. Sieler became FSU's first-ever NFL Draft pick when he was chosen by the Ravens in 2018 in the seventh round.
Nation's Winningest Active Coach
Ferris State head coach Tony Annese currently ranks as NCAA Division II's winningest active head coach, based on a minimum of four seasons, with a 100-16 (.862) overall record in eight plus years. His current mark tops Lenoir-Rhyne's Mike Jacobs, who is in second according to the NCAA
Consensus Top Team In the Country
Ferris State was a consensus top three team in the country in every Division II preseason poll, including as high as #1 in the current Massey Online Computer Ratings and the CompughterRatings.com rankings. FSU was also picked third in the preaseson by Linday's Sports, D2football.com and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).
Awesome Run
Under head coach Tony Annese, the Bulldogs have lost only three regular-season games over the past eight years on the field dating back to mid-October of 2013. Two of the setbacks came in 2016 when the Bulldogs eventually made their deepest postseason run at the time with a trip to the NCAA-II National Semifinals. Since the middle part of the 2013 season, FSU has only lost once to Grand Valley State and twice to Ashland in regular-season action. The Bulldogs own a 76-3 (.962) regular-season mark since closing the 2013 season by winning their final four games.
Best Stretch In School History
Ferris State's 85 wins in the last seven years (2014-21) marks the Bulldogs' best stretch in school history. In addition, the 91 wins in the past eight seasons (91-11) from 2013-21 tops the 1991-97 era for the most wins over the span in program history. FSU went 52-8-2 while capturing five-straight Michigan Intercollegiate Football Conference (MIFC) crowns from '92-96.
The 112th Season
The 2021 campaign represents the Bulldogs' 112th season of varsity competition. The program actually began in 1900, but no football was played in 1908-09, 1917-18, 1932 and from 1942-45 for various reasons in addition to 2020. Additionally, no scores are available from either the 1912 or 1916 seasons. Ferris has an all-time mark of 478-445-40.
GLIAC Players Of The Week
The Bulldogs had nine players combine to win a GLIAC Player of the Week Award a total of 13 times in the 2021 campaign. FSU's list of honorees incldued a five-time winner in senior quarterback Jared Bernhardt in addition to senior cornerback Sidney McCloud (Miramar, Fla.), senior nickel back Cyntell Williams, sophomore QB Mylik Mitchell, senior cornerback Alex Thomas, junior wide receiver/specialist Sy Barnett, junior slot receiver Marcus Taylor, and senior linebacker Liam Daly. Bernhardt, who sparkled in his collegiate football debut in week one, was the NCAA Division I National Lacrosse Player of the Year at Maryland last spring. He accounted for seven touchdowns in his first college football game and also won the D2Football National Offensive Player of the Week honor.
NCAA Playoff Berth
This season marks Ferris State's 12th all-time NCAA Division II Playoff appearance and the school's seventh in a row after previously not making the field since 1996 prior to the 2014 season. Overall, FSU has compiled a 20-11 all-time playoff record with five consecutive national quarterfinal or better finishes. In 2016, the Bulldogs made their second-ever trip to the national semifinals and matched the 1995 squad, which fell on the road at North Alabama, for the highest finish in school history before reaching the national title game for the first time in 2018. Along with making the playoffs in both 2014 and 2015, the Bulldogs also captured back-to-back GLIAC Championships and completed the feat again in 2018 and 2019. Before the recent stretch, FSU had not won a league title since 1999. The 2014 outright title was the school's first since 1996. Overall, the 2021 season represented the 12th conference title in Bulldog football history and fifth in seven years.
Follow On Twitter
In addition to radio and internet coverage, Bulldog fans can also follow Saturday's contest with live scoring updates on several official social media platforms. Visit www.twitter.com/FerrisFootball to follow the tweet-by-tweet coverage with periodic scoring updates or visit www.facebook.com/FerrisFootball.