Ferris State, with plenty of local talent, looks to compete for another Division 2 title

BIG RAPIDS–Other coaches look at heights, weights, 40-yard dash times and star ratings from sketchy “recruiting experts.”

Tony Annese looks for winners.

That distinction, as much as anything, explains the incredible success that Annese has enjoyed in his 10 years at Ferris State University – accentuated by back-to-back Division II national championships the past two years.

“The expectation here is to be a dog and work to be your best,” said Annese on July 31 at the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Media Day in Grand Rapids, where the Bulldogs were picked to win the conference title.

“We believe the best is yet to come, which is weird to say when you’re back-to-back champs, but that’s how we roll.”

Ferris State head football coach Tony Annese (Photo/Ferris State University Athletics)

Ferris has become the top Division II football program in the country under Annese, who is 115-17 (87 percent) in 10 years as head coach. The Bulldogs have qualified for the playoffs eight straight years and have made it at least to the national semifinals the last four years, including three appearances in the national championship game and titles the past two seasons.

Annese rose to statewide prominence as a coach during his nine years at Muskegon High from 2000 to 2008, compiling a 92-15 record (86 percent) and winning Division 2 state titles in three of his final five seasons – 2004, 2006 and 2008.

He admits that he fell in love with the Muskegon area during those years, and especially the blue-collar work ethic, and his current Ferris roster is dotted with former Muskegon-area players and coaches.

The most noteworthy is former Mona Shores quarterback Brady Rose, who won the Associated Press state player of the year award as a senior and led the Sailors to back-to-back Division 2 state titles, but wasn’t highly recruited because of his size (5-7, 170).

Annese saw the heart, smarts and skills beyond Rose’s small stature, and any doubts he may have had were erased when he attended the Sailors’ 21-14 victory at Muskegon’s Hackley Stadium on Sept. 25, 2020.

“Never in my whole career had I ever seen anything like Brady Rose – it was magical,” said Annese, who offered Rose a scholarship after the game. “Brady had about four shoestring tackles to prevent touchdowns and he was just all over the field. I had never seen anything like it.”

Rose, now a 5-8, 175-pound sophomore who starts at slotback and almost every special team, has continued his amazing play at the college level. In last year’s 41-14 win over Colorado School of Mines in the national title game, Rose caught five passes for 83 yards, rushed five times for 39 yards and completed a 48-yard pass.

“Ferris runs a very similar offense to what we did at Mona Shores, with a lot of motion stuff, so that made the transition easier,” said Rose, who plans to major in finance and construction management. “It’s been great up here, on the field and off. Coach Annese is a player’s coach and we love to play for him.”

Former Muskegon Big Red wide receiver CJ Jefferson (Photo by LSJ photographer Joe Washington)

The other starting slotback for Ferris this fall is senior CJ Jefferson (6-2, 180) from Muskegon High. Jefferson was the Bulldogs’ leading receiver last year with 58 catches for 710 yards, along with 380 rushing yards.

Among the other local players expected to vie for a starting position this fall are sophomore linebacker Brennan Schwarz (6-3, 215) from Montague and sophomore tight end Jake Plamondon (6-3, 290) from Ludington.

Coaches on the Ferris staff with Muskegon-area ties include Ryan Hodges (defensive coordinator), Sam Parker (offensive line) and Jack Schugars (special teams). Schugars, who has been with Annese during his entire 10-year run in Big Rapids, won a Muskegon-area record 262 games in 32 years as head coach at Oakridge.

“The main reason that I coach with Tony (Annese) is his loyalty,” said Schugars, 77. “He has a great love of Muskegon, just like I do. He also has a great love of all of the guys who have coached for him.”

Ferris, which begins its quest for a three-peat at home on Aug. 31 against Mercyhurst (Penn.), is favored in a strong GLIAC, which also features Grand Valley, Saginaw Valley, Davenport and Michigan Tech.

“There’s two ways to go when you’re on the top,” explained Annese, who took 23 of his players to visit the White House in June. “One is to continue to fight and climb and the other is to become complacent. These guys have chosen the first way.”