With the loss, Ferris drops to 2-7 on the season overall while the Screaming Eagles improve to 11-2.
The Bulldogs were led by Tricia Principe (pictured) who had 14 points and four rebounds. No other Bulldog player reached double digits, but Becci Houdek added nine points and seven rebounds while seven points were scored by Lindsey Pettit and Kelsey DeNoyelles.
Ferris committed 39 turnovers in the game and that helped allow the Screaming Eagles to record 19 more field-goal attempts in the non-conference contest.The FSU Athl
etics Department has put together a quadruple-header of basketball action that features men's and women's college games between Ferris and Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference rival Saginaw Valley State University and boys and girls prep games featuring local Mecosta County rivals Big Rapids High School and Chippewa Hills High School. The action begins at 1 p.m. with the Cardinals and Chippewas facing off in the prep girls game. At 3 p.m. the Ferris women are in action against SVSU and the men's game tips off at 5 p.m. between the Bulldogs and Saginaw Valley. At 7 p.m., the action concludes with a boys prep showdown between Chippewa Hills and Big Rapids.
The four games will be a great opportunity for all of Mecosta County to come together and experience prep and college basketball action on one day in one venue. The games originally were scheduled to be played at Chippewa Hills High School, on the east side of Mecosta County, but have been moved to Ferris to help make this event a success.
"We're excited to team up with Chippewa Hills High School to bring the community a full day of entertaining basketball," Ferris Associate Athletics Director Jon Coles (pictured) said. "Any time we can use athletics to bring the community and surrounding areas onto campus, it's a positive for the institution.
"The FSU Athletics Department has worked hard to build the bridge with the community and I believe these types of events only strengthen that relationship," he added.
Here is the schedule for the Basketball Bonanza:
1 p.m. - High School Girls: Big Rapids vs. Chippewa Hills
3 p.m. - College Women: FSU vs. Saginaw Valley State
5 p.m. - College Men: FSU vs. Saginaw Valley State
7 p.m. - High School Boys: Big Rapids vs. Chippewa Hills
For more information, check out the official press release from Ferris Athletics Communications:
http://www.ferrisstatebulldogs.com/sports/mbkb/2009-10/releases/bball-bonanza
Southern Indiana: Southern Indiana is 10-2 and has won nine consecutive games heading into its meeting with FSU and is a perfect 6-0 at home this campaign. Last year, Southern Indiana finished 14-13 overall (6-11 GLVC) and was just one win shy of qualifying for the league's post-season tournament, despite having just three upperclassmen on the roster. The game against FSU is part of a six-game homestand for the Screaming Eagles, who are guided by Rick Stein. Junior guard Ellen Young (a Division I transfer from Southern Illinois-Carbondale) leads two players in double-figure scoring with a team-high 15.3 points per game average to date this year.Winter break schedule
Oakland City: Oakland City is currently 3-7 overall. They are 3-3 at home this year. Head coach Jessica Mehringer has led the “Lady Oaks” to back-to-back third place finishes in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Women’s Division I National Championship Tournament. They will wrap up their own six-game homestand versus the Bulldogs. Junior guard Samantha Stahl is averaging a team-best 16.4 points per contest.
Ferris State University (4-4)Ferris and Gannon, it would appear, should be on a collision course. But, both the Bulldogs and the Golden Knights need to take care of business in the first round to set the stage for the game that a lot of people want to see for the tournament's finale. In recent years, Gannon has been a team that has been a factor on the national scene with success during the last two years in the NCAA Tournament. Ferris needs a good start against Taylor to see if it can continue the magic that has allowed it to win four of its first five games in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action. That good play is the product of suffocating defense that leads to transition scoring opportunities.
Roster
G - 10 Austin Randel 6-4 200 Sr. Lake City, Mich. / McBain 8.3 1.7
G - 11 Darien Gay 5-10 160 Jr. Detroit, Mich. / Henry Ford 11.1 2.9
G - 24 Josh Young 6-2 190 Sr. Ypsilanti, Mich. / Ypsilanti 8.4 4.5
F - 34 Daniel Sutherlin 6-4 185 Fr. Detroit, Mich. / Renaissance 4.8 3.6
F - 40 Justin Keenan 6-6 240 Jr. Grand Rapids, Mich. / Ottawa Hills 19.3 5.9
G - 23 Jon Yeazel 6-2 205 Sr. Middleville, Mich. / Thronapple-Kellogg 10.3 6.4
G - 5 Matt DeHart 6-3 185 Jr. Greenville, Mich. / Greenville 4.8 1.6
G - 1 Dontae Molden 5-11 180 So. Detroit, Mich. / Pershing 4.6 2.4
F - 21 Lou Williams 6-6 200 Jr. Muskegon Heights, Mich. / Musk. Hgts. 2.7 3.1
Head Coach: Bill Sall (110-112, 8th year; 110-112, 8th year)
Gannon University (3-3)
Roster
G - 5 Filmore Bouldes 5-9 155 Fr. Romulus, Mich. / Romulus 4.0 1.8
G - 10 George Johnson 6-3 190 Jr. Arlington, Va. / Wakefield 22.7 4.3
F - 12 Mark Demski 6-5 195 Sr. Erie, Pa. / Cathedral Prep 7.0 7.5
F - 30 Alfonso Scandrett 6-5 220 Sr. Greensboro, N.C. / Northwest Guilford 4.0 2.8
F - 42 Travis Brannen 6-6 240 Jr. Elmira, N.Y. / Elmira Free Academy 12.3 7.0
G - 33 Preston Harris 6-4 210 Jr. Erie, Pa. / Cathedral Prep 7.3 2.2
G - 20 Danard Crouch 6-0 180 Jr. Syracuse, N.Y. / Anthony Henninger 5.8 1.0
G - 32 Daren Dexter 6-6 190 Jr. Sarasota, Fla. / Riverview 5.7 3.0
F - 21 Tanner Furno 6-9 200 Fr. Columbus, Ohio / Whetstone 2.3 1.8
Head Coach: John T. Reilly (80-44, 5th year; 312-189, 17th year)
Taylor (8-6)
Roster
G - 13 Kyle Hanaway 6-2 So. Crown Point, Ind. / Crown Point 2.9 3.2
G - 15 Casey Coons 6-0 Fr. Indianapolis, Ind. / Franklin Central 15.4 2.2
G - 21 Tommy Peller 6-2 Fr. Chesterton, Ind. / Chesterton 13.5 3.8
F - 25 Brock Woodward 6-7 Fr. Markle, Ind. / Bluffton 7.6 4.8
F - 41 Nate Kasper 6-9 Fr. Valparaiso, Ind. / Wheeler 8.6 3.5
C - 33 Jake Burkholder 6-9 So. Crown Point, Ind. / Crown Point 9.5 3.9
G - 31 Drew Tower 6-4 Jr. New Castle, Ind. / New Castle 6.7 3.1
F - 43 Justin Goeglein 6-5 Sr. Fort Wayne, Ind. / Concordia 6.5 3.3
Head Coach: Paul Patterson (676-324, 31st year; 676-324, 31st year)
Seton Hill (3-3)
Roster
G - 3 Chris Giles 6-5 173 So. West Mifflin, Pa. / West Mifflin 19.7 5.2
G - 20 Justin McCoy 5-10 172 Fr. Columbia, Md. / (Coppin State) 11.8 3.8
G - 22 Emmanuel Jackson 6-2 198 Sr. Norfolk, Va. / Booker T. Washington 10.5 4.2
F - 34 Cody Boone 6-9 230 Sr. Howard, Pa. / Bald Eagle Area 8.3 8.8
F - 35 Ivan Cosovic 6-7 212 Jr. Uzice, Serbia / (Mid-Continent Univ.) 5.5 5.2
G - 32 Kellen Holmes 6-3 207 So. Monessen, Pa. / Ringgold 16.0 1.7
F - 31 Ozren Bjelogrlic 6-6 216 So. Ploce, Croatia / (State Fair CC) 5.7 4.5
G - 24 Conor Tilow 6-5 168 So. Cleveland, Ohio / St. Edwards 4.3 1.5
Head Coach: Tony Morocco (97-71, 6th year; 97-71, 6th year)
36th Annual Porreco CupFor more details about the game, check out: http://www.gannonsports.com/documents/2009/12/23/2009GannonPorrecoCupMBBGameNotes.pdf?id=429
Tuesday, Dec. 29
Ferris State vs. Taylor (Ind.) 6 p.m.
Gannon vs. Seton Hill (Pa.) 8 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 30
Consolation Game 6 p.m.
Championship Game 8 p.m.
BIG RAPIDS - It's time for the Ferris State University men's basketball team to get back to work this week as it heads out east to the home of an old rival: former Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference member Gannon University.There will be no local FSU broadcast coverage. GU will provide live Internet statistics for all games. Additionally, they will have live audio along with a live video Web cast for any games involving Gannon. Complete links will be available via FSU’s Athletics Website at www.ferrisstatebulldogs.com - click on the “upcoming events” tab for links.
Think for a second about the ticket prices of major Division I college basketball games. Now, think of what you would imagine (or know) of prices for men's basketball games vs. the prices for the women's contests. Imagine (or know of) a discrepancy in the amount for tickets to men's games for tickets to men's games. This is a topic that was explored in an article published by The Chronicle of Higher Education.
"Ticket Office Sexism: The Gender Gap in Pricing for NCAA Division I Basketball.
Here is an excerpt from the NCAA blog:
According to the report published by the Wellesley Centers for Women at Wellesley College, among the top 25 men's and women's teams, college charged nearly three times as much, on average, for single-game seats for men's games. Additionally, the average highest-priced season ticket package came in at $233 for women as opposed to $2,500 for men.
In the report authors Laura Pappano and Allison J. Tracy claim athletic departments are engaging in "institutional discrimination that is camouflaged as sensible economic practice" by charging significantly less for women's competition.
My thought is that if there is more of a demand for men's sports, and more money can be made off ticket prices, then why not charge more? Also, if lowering the prices help expose more fans to the women's game then that makes a lot more sense to me. Maybe in a perfect world there would be the same level of demand for women's basketball as there is for men's basketball at the major Division I level. But, truth be told, there largely is not the same type of demand.
The NBA can charge more for tickets than the WNBA because there simply is more of a demand for tickets.
It's important to get fans exposed to women's sports. While some of us (like me) enjoy women's college basketball, not everyone feels the same way.
It's important to keep access (through reasonable ticket prices) more open to fans who might grow to appreciate the women's version of basketball.
Double-A Zone:
http://www.doubleazone.com/2009/10/is_gender_equality_in_ticket_pricing_worth_the_risk.php
Inside College Hockey recently released its All-CCHA team for the first half of the college hockey season.
Two Ferris State University players, defenseman Zach Redmond and forward Blair Riley, were named as members of the team. Riley is off to a particularly-hot goal-scoring start this season on a dynamite line that includes Cody Chupp and Casey Haines. Redmond, an NHL draft pick of the Atlanta Thrashers, also is off to a great start this year leading a much-improved group of FSU defensemen.
Here is the Inside College Hockey team:
INCH’s FIRST HALF ALL-CCHA TEAM
G-Cody Reichard, Miami: Reichard bounced back from the immense disappointment of last year’s national championship game with consistently outstanding performances throughout the first half of the season.
D-Zach Redmond, Ferris State: Redmond, an Atlanta Thrashers’ draft pick, has earned high marks since entering the league and continues to anchor a solid Ferris State defense with 20 blocked shots and a plus-minus rating of plus-7. The junior isn’t a slouch on the offensive side of the game either, notching 15 points in 18 games.
D-Jeff Petry, Michigan State: Petry, one of the Spartans’ captains, has played a major role in Michigan State’s success as one of the league’s most reliable defenders (+3) and adding in 16 points on two goals and 14 assists.
F-Corey Tropp, Michigan State: Coming off a suspension that ended his sophomore year in January, it was hard to know what to expect of Tropp this year, but the junior has been a catalyst for Michigan State’s revival, leading the nation with 16 goals—four of which were game-winners—and 27 points.
F-Blair Riley, Ferris State: Riley has finally brought together his game the way coach Bob Daniels had hoped he would throughout his career. The senior has a great grasp of his strengths and weaknesses, using that self-awareness to fashion a 14-goal, seven-assist performance in the first half.
F-Mark Olver, Northern Michigan: Olver is one of the most exciting players in the CCHA and he hasn’t disappointed during the first half of this year. The junior has shown the ability to score and set teammates up while compiling a 10-11—21 line and plus-minus rating of plus-5.
Check out the full mid-season report from INCH.
BIG RAPIDS - This season got off to a rough start right off the bat for Ferris State University's women's basketball team with a season-ending injury suffered by starting center Andrea Clancy in the team's first action (an exhibition contest in Rochester against Oakland University).
f experience and the ability to lead the team. Houdek is averaging 9.8 points and just under four assists per game. Houdek has had some injury issues in the past, but is taking on the challenge of playing major minutes and being a leader on the floor. Kelsey DeNoyelles is another key guard for the Bulldogs. DeNoyelles had a rough preseason with some illness that limited her, but she has bounced back and is averaging 8.6 points and getting sharper by the game. Tricia Principe, (pictured left) a sophomore like DeNoyelles, is playing very good basketball this season averaging 9.6 points. Lindsey Pettit, another sophomore guard, is averaging 5.3 points and shooting 48.6 percent from the floor (pretty good percentage for a guard). Kylie Muntz, a freshman, is playing 13.6 minutes a game and has served Ferris well as a backup point guard who is a very good 3-point shooter. The Bulldogs, unfortunately, have had to play without guard Stephanie DeNoyelles, one of the team leaders, who is out with an injury.
er athleticism and relentless hustle have helped her become a dependable player that any team in the league now would like to have on its roster. Her scoring numbers jump out, but you also have to like her rebounding (six per game) and the fact that she has 11 steals and five blocked shots. Amy Joostberns (pictured left) is a key player on the wing and up front for Ferris with her versatile skill, ability to run the floor and willingness to battle in the paint. Joostberns is averaging 6.6 points and six rebounds a contest for Ferris. She is a hard-nosed player and gives the Bulldogs a nice dose of toughness. Ashley Huntey, a member of the Ferris volleyball team, has joined the basketball squad and already is paying dividends as she has found her comfort level after those initial few games. Huntey, a local product of Morley Stanwood High School, is an athletic player who can run the floor and get on the boards and battle for rebounds.
drea Clancy out of the lineup, the door was open for young players like Katy Fox and Leah Kebler (pictured left) to step in and prove themselves this season. Fox is averaging 4.1 points and 2.3 rebounds while Kebler is coming on of late and now is averaging 4.5 points and 2.8 rebounds for FSU. The potential for the two players, as they gain more experience, is tremendous. Clancy's injury, however, has forced both Fox and Kebler to have to deliver a little sooner on that promise than perhaps anyone would have thought a few months ago. I see only upside for Fox and Kebler as this season continues and they grow more accustomed to the physical play of the GLIAC, their guards learn when and where to get them the ball and they use offensive rebounding as an alternate way of putting points on the scoreboard. The best days are ahead for these two young Bulldog post players.
orow is one of the longest-tenured coaches in the GLIAC and has had a lot of success during her time in Big Rapids. In the off season, Dorow lost assistant coach Crystal Harris to a Division I coaching opportunity back in California. Since that time, however, Dorow (pictured left) has added Mark DeNoyelles (father of FSU players Stephanie DeNoyelles and Kelsey DeNoyelles) to the coaching staff. The staff includes Dorow's father, Hall-of-Fame coach Rick Bloodworth and student assistant coach Rachel Folcik, who was an All-American center/forward for the Bulldogs during her career as a collegiate player. The staff has had to make some adjustments with some of the new faces coming in a little bit late in the process. The thing that made it easy was the familiarity that Mark DeNoyelles and Rachel Folcik had already had with the program.
) is the opposite with two guards and one versatile forward/center.On Nikki Arner:It's a early-signed recruiting class and it certainly is a class that will give Ferris even more versatility on the perimeter and even in the post.
"We saw Nikki play against one of our current players in Lindsey Pettit during the state quarterfinals when Nikki was a sophomore and we thought she had so much potential. She has very solid perimeter skills and a real soft touch around the basket. We were comparing her to our All-American Rachel Folcik even at that age and she has continued to improve each year.
“Her injuries have set her back a little, but she’s bouncing back well and eager to compete this year. Nikki was pursued by a number of Division I programs, but she seemed like a natural fit in our program and was comfortable with our players and staff. I think she could also envision what we are trying to build here - a team that vies for championships – and we expect her to make a major impact during her time at FSU.”
On Ashley Rando:
"The first time I saw Ashley play with her AAU team I was impressed. She’s such a strong player around the basket, but can also step out and nail the trey as well as attack the basket to score or create opportunities for teammates. Plus, she's a lefty, which makes her even more difficult to defend.
“Ashley is also a relentless competitor. She’s so physical and works hard every single possession and that is the trademark of a winner. Her excitement about becoming a Bulldog is still evident today and I believe she’ll shine at Ferris both on and off the basketball court.”
On Sarah DeShone:
“Sarah played AAU basketball with current post player Katy Fox and came to camp at FSU going into her junior year where she earned our MVP award because she made everyone on her team better. She reminds me a lot of former Bulldog standout Kristin Reinhart with exceptional three-point range, a deadly pull-up jumper and the ability to find ways to get to the basket and score or draw fouls.
“Her biggest weakness is that she’s too unselfish, which coming into a collegiate program could be a strength. With Becci Houdek going into her final year next season, we knew we needed to recruit a point guard who could learn the ropes quickly and be ready to take control on the floor. Sarah’s that type of player and is preparing well to make the transition to Ferris.”
ho can be a great distributor of the basketball and has improved in his ability to shoot the ball from the perimeter. Molden has been coming off the bench of late with freshman forward Daniel Sutherlin having moved into the starting lineup (he has three starts in eight games and is averaging 4.8 points and 3.6 rebounds). But, Molden clearly remains a starter-caliber player who the Bulldogs will desperately need late in the season to run the show. Darien Gay has been superb with his shooting and scoring and he also has been solid when he has had to run the team as a point guard. Gay continues to shoot the lights out from the perimeter (hitting 51.5 percent from 3-point land) and has added the ability to score off the dribble to complement that sweet outside-shooting touch. Gay ranks second on the team in scoring averaging 11.1 per contest. Josh Young remains a flat-out scorer who can hurt opponents from a number of different areas on the court. Quietly, Young has had some solid performances this season. His ability to create shots (one on one) has give the Bulldogs a nice dimension. In the off-season period, Ferris lost Bryan Pasciak, who transferred to Cornerstone University. The Bulldogs have survived that surprise loss and been able to manage with other guys stepping forward.
r the Bulldogs. Known as mainly a shooter, Randel has proven to be a better all-around player than he is often credited as by some observers. He passes the ball well and has improved as a defender. Ferris has gotten good production from the two and three positions on the basketball court with the emergence of Jon Yeazel (pictured above in an exhibition game at Calvin College) and steady long-range shooting of Matt DeHart. Yeazel, averaging 10.3 points and 6.4 rebounds, has had a few particularly big games as he has proven effective with his ability to create shots one on one and to play above the rim with a few highlight plays this season. Yeazel, even at just about 6-foot-2, has been a strong rebounder for the Bulldogs as well. DeHart, shooting 54.5 percent from outside the three-point arc (12-of-22) continues to provide some much-needed perimeter shooting to help loosen up defenses collapsing on big man Justin Keenan and to capitalize on transition scoring chances. Sutherlin has been a great addition to this team with his athleticism, ability to play and finish above the rim and his maturity. Lou Williams also remains an explosive option who is capable of making highlight-reel plays when he is on his game. Williams, a gifted athlete at 6-foot-6, continues to work on improving his shooting from the perimeter and as his consistency improves his production and playing time likely will do the same.
't get any better in the low post, in the GLIAC, than Justin Keenan (pictured at left), the 6-foot-6 center continues to deliver the goods. Keenan is averaging 19.3 points and 5.9 rebounds this season for the Bulldogs. Keenan is shooting 55 percent from the floor which shows that he is making good decisions about when to shoot the basketball. Jim Boylan, backing up Keenan, has provided some solid relief minutes for Sall's squad. Boylan, at about 6-foot-10, continues to make strides toward being a guy who should continue to get increased minutes. Ferris does not have a ton of size to go to on its front line, but Boylan is a young guy who could be important for Ferris as this season goes on and into the future of this program. Last year Ferris had Verdell Billingsley, but not having him this year has opened the door for a player like Boylan to garner more playing time.
entered the season with an experienced coaching staff that included top assistant Cory Anderson and veteran Bill Killian. Former assistant Dave Schlump stepped aside and became the head coach at Muskegon Community College. Andy Bronkema is another solid young coach on the Ferris staff. That opened up a slot for one of the legendary names in small-college coaches in West Michigan: Ed Douma. Douma has been a tremendous addition to the FSU staff. It's hard to imagine many better staffs in the GLIAC, the region or maybe even the nation at the Division II level. The big question will be whether or not this staff can continue to punch all the right buttons and keep the Bulldogs defending at a high level and pushing the ball up the floor to create high-percentage scoring opportunities.
BIG RAPIDS - Ferris State University has been making headlines around the college hockey world with its blazing-hot start to the 2009-10 campaign.
re off of any one guy to carry the scoring burden. The chemistry of this senior line has been tremendous this season. Matthew Kirzinger is one of several newcomers off to a fast start this campaign as he already has 10 points (six goals and four assists). Fellow newcomer Travis Ouellette (six goals and two assists) and veteran Aaron Lewicki (five goals and four assists) are also among forwards who have been able to handle the puck efficiently and put it in the net often when opportunities present themselves. Ferris' depth at the forward position has given opponents fits this season. On the rare nights when the top line has not produced a ton of points, the depth of FSU at forward generally has filled the void (with different guys getting it done). If Riley can continue his particularly great start to the season and Ferris can continue to get production from all of its lines then that should bode well for the team against what will be a brutally-tough January schedule.
lost in the conversation: Ferris' tough defense. While Ferris has scored 62 goals this season, opponents have totaled just 31 in 18 games. We know a lot about Redmond (pictured left) and he is having another fine season as one of the top blueliners in the CCHA and the nation. But, one of the quiet but important additions to this Ferris squad has been sophomore Brett Wysopal, who has helped to solidify the defense. It's hard to discount what Wysopal has brought to the club this year as an addition who had to wait his turn after transferring in from Colorado College (he had to sit out the 2008-09 season as a transfer). He is fifth on the team in scoring with 12 points on two goals with 10 assists, but truly has made his mark on defense. Matt Case, Scott Wietecha and Chad Billins are also among the guys who help make Ferris a tough-as-nails defensive club. Ferris has a veteran group of defensemen that also are relentless and well conditioned (physically) to stay tough for a full three periods of college hockey action.
the Ferris with a high-quality duo to use between the pipes. Nelson (9-1-1) has started 10 games this season with a 1.72 goals against average and a saves percentage of .937. Nagle has been sharp to with a 1.59 goals against average and a .940 saves percentage as part of his 4-2-1 record. The two netminders are playing just as you would expect with CCHA experience to their credit. The two goalies, both of him came in highly touted, are showing why they were so highly thought of prior to their arrival in Big Rapids. FSU's third goalie, Jordan Barber, saw some action this season as he played one period and made six saves with no goals allowed against Ohio State University (Nov. 20) during an 8-1 Ferris rout of the visiting Buckeyes.
eason (the best campaign in school history). Whether or not Daniels will win National Coach of the Year remains to be seen. One thing is for certain, however, and that is that Daniels is pushing all of the right buttons right now. He, associate head coach Drew Famulak and assistant coach Mark Kaufman are on their game right now and have recruited and developed a very focus hockey squad that is playing a dynamite brand of hockey. The addition of Wysopal, the development of that senior line of (Chupp, Haines and Riley), the strong commitment to team conditioning and chemistry are among the reasons Ferris is looking very much like a team that wants a great second half to this season to complement all of the good things that happened in the first half.
about this special opportunity.Jones, who is leaving his position as head football coach at Central Michigan University, inked a five-year deal to take over where Brian Kelly left off as he was recently announced as the new head football coach at the University of Notre Dame. The Ferris graduate, who led CMU to two Mid-American Conference championships, was all smiles as he was introduced to Cincinnati and to local media at a press conference (Dec. 16).
"It's very rare to have the opportunity to come in and take over a two-time defending champion and the No. 3 team in the country," Jones said to the media as quoted in a story published by ESPN from the Associated Press.
The opportunity, for Jones, simply was too good to pass up. He will have a sweet opportunity to build on what Kelly left at UC (a football team ranked No. 3 in the nation and all set to play in a BCS bowl game). The Bearcats are a program that is successful in the present and well positioned to be successful in the future.
The Chippewas are 11-2 this season and finished their MAC schedule with a perfect record of 8-0 and ranked 25th in the nation (AP). CMU is set to play Troy University Jan. 6, 2010 in the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, Ala.
"Butch Jones has proven himself to be a championship-caliber football coach," said UC Athletic Director Mike Thomas said. "I am impressed by the qualities he brings to the table, his knowledge of the BIG EAST Conference, and his desire to succeed. We're proud to welcome him to the UC family."
University of Cincinnati Press Release:
http://www.gobearcats.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/121609aaa.html
ESPN:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4748993
BUTCH JONES AT A GLANCE
Date of Birth: Jan. 17, 1968 in Saugatuck
High School: Saugatuck
Education: Ferris State University (1990)
Wife: Barb
Children: Alex, Adam, Andrew
COACHING EXPERIENCE
| Years | Position | Team |
| 1987-89 | Intern | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| 1990-92 | Graduate Assistant | Rutgers |
| 1993-94 | Offensive Coordinator | Wilkes |
| 1995 | Running Backs | Ferris State |
| 1996-97 | Offensive Coordinator | Ferris State |
| 1998 | Tight Ends | Central Michigan |
| 1999 | Wide Receivers | Central Michigan |
| 2000 | Running Backs | Central Michigan |
| 2001-03 | Offensive Coordinator | Central Michigan |
| 2004 | Running Backs | Central Michigan |
| 2005-06 | Wide Receivers | West Virginia |
| 2007-09 | Head Coach | Central Michigan |
| 2009- | Head Coach | Cincinnati |
HEAD COACH YEAR-BY-YEAR RECORD
| Year | School | Overall | Conference |
| 2007 | Central Michigan | 8-6 | 6-1 MAC Champions, Motor City Bowl |
| 2008 | Central Michigan | 8-5 | 6-2 Motor City Bowl |
| 2009 | Central Michigan | 11-2 | 8-0 MAC Champions, Motor City Bowl |
| TOTALS | 27-13 | 20-3 |
BIG RAPIDS - Ferris State University softball head coach Keri Becker was looking to strengthen her outfield and add versatility on the infield.
ivision II National Champions, pounded Ferris State University (3-4 overall, 3-1 GLIAC) last night 90-62 in Croy Gymnasium. The win extended the Oilers home winning streak to 78 straight regular-season games (much to the satisfaction of a lot of people wearing orange and black in Ohio).There are two more things about the Bulldogs that make me smile. First is that they’re leading the nation in penalty minutes, averaging 22 per game. This bolsters my theory that some teams need to play with passion to win, like the RedHawks did last weekend in two home shutout wins over Notre Dame last weekend,
two games in which Miami amassed 83 penalty minutes.
Butch Jones began his collegiate football career at Ferris State University where he lettered twice with the team. Interestingly Jones was already in the coaching profession track even before graduating from the university. From 1987-1989 Jones served in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers organization as an intern. Not sure if that means he was waxing Vinny Testaverde's back or just rubbing the feet of the overall #1 pick for the Bucs in '87. Regardless, he was around big time football, while he played college football. Pretty clear this is his passion.
f the bright spots with his prowess as a top linebacker for the Bulldogs and a solid one in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.It's been a long road for Matt Ryan.
The Howell native headed to Big Rapids five years ago to play football for Ferris State. Injuries to both knees, however, slowed him considerably.
You wouldn't have known it this season, though.
The weak-side linebacker was voted the Bulldogs' most valuable player this season by his teammates in his first full season as a starter.
"It means a lot," Ryan said of the award, "especially because it's voted on by the team. It's pretty special that the team thought of me as their MVP."
Nelson is emerging as one of the top goaltenders in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.