Victory Bell To Be Unveiled Against Ferris State, Saturday, Sept. 22 at Noon

Mercyhurst Game Postponed
In honoring the rescue and clean-up efforts in New York City, Washington and Pennsylvania, in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on September 11, the Wayne State University Administration decided to postpone the Warriors’ 2001 home season opener last Saturday, Sept. 15 against Mercyhurst College.

The game is likely cancelled, because of scheduling conflicts for both institutions and the NCAA. Wayne State does not have a bye for the remainder of the season. WSU’s last regular season contest is against Northwood at home Nov. 10.

The following week the NCAA begins its Division II play-offs. The champion of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference must be determined by Nov. 11 for selection consideration by the Division II football committee.

The Grand Valley State-Northwood contest was also postponed last Saturday, while four GLIAC games were held. The GLIAC has not announced how the postponed/cancelled games will affect the 2001 championship race.

This marks the first time since the 1943 and 1944 seasons that a Wayne State game has likely been cancelled. During those two seasons several Tartar games were cancelled due to travel restrictions imposed during World War II. Wayne played only three games in 1943, finishing 0-3-0 overall, and in 1944 Wayne split its only two games played. Both of Wayne’s homecoming games in 1943-44 were cancelled.

Wayne Named GLIAC Player-Of-The-Week
Wayne State won its 2001 GLIAC opener 19-16 at Ashland Saturday, Sept. 8, when freshman kicker Stephen Wayne (Farmington, MI) booted a 33-yard field goal as time expired. For this exploit, Wayne was named the Great Lakes Conference Special Teams Player-Of-The-Week. It was his first selection ever, and the Warriors first in 2001.

The victory evened Wayne State’s overall record to 1-1. Last season the Warriors were at .500 overall twice, but their last start at .500 came in 1995, when they also dropped their season-opener but won their second game.

Wayne also kicked a 20-yard field goal earlier in the game.

Harlon Hill Candidate Brown Shines At Ashland
Senior wide receiver Pierre Brown (West Bloomfield, MI) scored his second and third TD receptions of the season against Ashland, adding to his Warrior career record, now at 29.

With 179 net yards caught against Ashland, Brown is 225 yards from becoming the Warriors’ all-time leading receiver. Brown has 2,431 career net receiving yards, second to Ray Ponder’s (1989-92) all-time record of 2,655 yards.

Victory Bell To Be Unveiled Against Ferris State
In a ceremony during the Ferris State game, the Warriors’ new Victory Bell will be introduced. A Revere-replica bell, it will be permanently displayed at Wayne State Stadium, and rung after every Warrior score and victory. National City is the proud sponsor of the Wayne State Warrior Victory Bell. National City will distribute several hundred mini-bells prior to the game.

NASCAR Day Sponsored by Riverside Ford
The Wayne State-Ferris State game this Saturday at Wayne State Stadium is also NASCAR Day sponsored by Riverside Ford.

Riverside Ford will have both the 2000 Winston Cup Champion Dale Jarrett UPS Show Car and Simulator Car on display at Wayne State Stadium, as well as on campus for six hours Friday, Sept. 21.

The UPS Ford Taurus is a replica of Dale Jarrett’s NASCAR Winston Cup stock car. The car’s exterior sports the same colors and decals as the one driven on the Winston Cup Series racetracks. Inside, practically all the equipment required by NASCAR for safety and speed is still in place including padded roll bars, steel encased rubber gas tank and braced Lexan windows. However, the driver’s side door has been modified to allow easy access for guests.

The Ferris State Game
In order to ring the Victory Bell after the game, WSU needs to change its recent history against Ferris State. Although in 39 previous meetings Wayne State has won 19 times and Ferris State 20, the Bulldogs have won eight of the last nine contests in the series. The Warriors’ lone win came in the 1997 season, with WSU upsetting Ferris 30-26 in Big Rapids, Mich.

Last season at Ferris State the Bulldogs won 51-30. Senior receiver Pierre Brown had his first career 100-yard receiving game, finishing with 138 net yards on five catches and one touchdown.

Last Saturday at Saginaw Valley State, the Bulldogs fell to 1-2 overall and 1-1 in the conference, losing to host SVSU 33-20 after holding a 20-6 lead midway through the second quarter. Ferris State senior receiver Clarence Coleman caught touchdown passes of four- and 17-yards, and redshirt freshman quarterback Tom Marsan ran for a two-yard score with 7:18 remaining in the first half to put FSU up by 14 points. The Cardinals then scored 27 unanswered points for the win.

Ferris State was hurt by three interceptions, all which resulted in Saginaw Valley State touchdowns, including its first returned for 99 yards by Demons Bryan with 11:16 remaining in the first quarter.

FSU out gained the Cardinals 287 to 274 yards in total net offense, and the Bulldogs had 21 total first downs to SVSU’s 15.

In its three games Coleman has caught 33 passes for 534 net yards and six touchdowns. Sophomore tailback Derek Fudge is the team’s leading rusher with 292 net yards on 62 carries.

Senior Kyle Park has started all three game at quarterback, but after throwing three interceptions against Saginaw Valley State, redshirt freshman Tom Marsan finished the game. Park has an overall efficiency rating of 140.32.

Senior linebacker Charlie Pierson leads the Bulldog defense. He has 25 total tackles and 14 solos, two tackles for 12 yards in losses, and two forced fumbles.

Upcoming
Wayne State returns to the road for its third night game of four in 2001. The University of Findlay hosts Wayne State Saturday, Sept. 29 at 6 p.m. EDT in Findlay, Ohio.