BIG RAPIDS- The Kings of Division 2 college football are back in action, as Ferris State held their first practice for fall camp today.
“I feel like we didn’t lose a step. Since since the spring. We just came back where we were left off, so I think we felt we looked good” (Brady Rose, Senior receiver).
The Bulldogs lost their first game of the season last year, and went on to win the next 14 straight and take home the Division 2 national championship. It’s their third national title in the last four seasons, but the Bulldogs aren’t satiated just yet.
“Well, I think we’ve got, you know, whether we won a national championship or not, you know, this program has a hungry mindset, you know, for a long time. You know, the standard can’t be did we win a national championship? Oh, yeah. Therefore we’re hungry. Because we’re hungry regardless. And that’s just the way our culture has been. And so we’re just trying to be the best version of us try to put things together, not, not overreact to negative things” (Annese).
Head coach Tony Annese has turned Ferris State into the most feared team in Division two. In the 14 years he’s been at the helm, they’ve reached the NCAA playoffs for ten straight seasons now, with the most total wins in Division 2 during that time, and hold the best record of all collegiate programs in Michigan since he arrived at Ferris with 137 wins and 21 losses.
The work towards another dominant season began today.
“A lot of energy. Great attitude. You know what you expect from a championship team? A team that, you know, knows what it takes to be successful. So, very excited about it. I felt like it was a really good first day.
The practice structure, the way we practice I think is a big force and why we’re successful, people come here and they’re like, whoa, what a practice that was. It’s a whirlwind, right?" (Annese).
Ferris has been ranked the preseason number one team in the country by Lindy’s Sports, and were picked to finish atop the GLIAC yet again.
They’ll get a rematch of their only loss of last year to open the new season, but the focus remains internal, no matter who the opponent
“The only team that can beat Ferris State is Ferris State. And so, you know, we beat ourselves on that day. We all know it. And we just got to continue to be at our best. And, you know, if we’re at our best, we’ll be, we’ll be a hard team to beat” (Annese).
Ferris will host Pittsburg State to open the year on August 28th at 6 p.m.