PHOTO: Ferris State coach Tony Annese at the American Football Coaches Association conference.
This is the press release from the National Football Foundation. As an NFF member, I’m proud to post on my website an honor for Tony Annese at Ferris State, my hometown’s college.
IRVING, Texas (Jan. 11, 2022) – In front of more than 1,500 coaches at the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Annual Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, the National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame presented the NFF divisional national championship trophies to the coaches of the 2022 winning teams on Jan. 9.
“Each year at the AFCA convention, the NFF presents the championship trophies to the coaches who have taken their teams to the pinnacle of success,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “It is fitting that we present the trophies in front of their peers, the very people who know the commitment, dedication and effort that goes into winning a national championship. We are extremely pleased to join with AFCA Executive Director Todd Berry to continue this tradition of honoring the nation’s most successful coaches each year at the convention.”
NCAA Football Championship Subdivision – John F. Kennedy Trophy
South Dakota State University – Coach John Stiegelmeier
Head Coach John Stiegelmeier led No. 1 South Dakota State (14-1) to its first FCS national championship in school history with a 45-21 victory over No. 3 North Dakota State (12-3) Jan. 8 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. Stiegelmeier, who has coached the Jackrabbits for 26 seasons, orchestrated an offensive effort that saw the Jackrabbits score on six of their first seven offensive possessions. The defense caused three turnovers. Running backs Amar Johnson rushed for 126 yards and Isaiah Davis for another 119 yards. Both rushed for touchdowns. Quarterback Mark Gronowski threw for 283 yards and three touchdowns, claiming game MVP honors. Linebacker Jason Freeman led the Jackrabbit defense with 10 tackles and an interception.
NCAA Division II – Asa S. Bushnell Trophy
Ferris State University (MI) – Coach Tony Annese
Head coach Tony Annese and No. 1 Ferris State (14-1) notched back-to-back national titles Dec. 17 with a 41-14 win over No. 2 Colorado School of Mines (13-3) in the NCAA Division II National Championship game at McKinney ISD Stadium in Texas. The win marked the school’s second football national title, and Annese, heading the Bulldogs for 11 seasons, has tallied an overall record of 115-17, including 55-3 during the past four seasons. The Bulldogs totaled 432 yards of offense in the game while holding one of the nation’s highest scoring offensive units to only 212 total yards. Quarterback Carson Gulker notched three rushing touchdowns, and quarterback Mylik Mitchell completed 14-of-18 throws for 170 total yards. Slot wide receiver Marcus Taylor led the Bulldogs on the ground with 103 yards rushing on 13 carries. On defense, safety Cyntell Williams had six tackles while defensive tackle Jordan Jones had five stops, including two sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss.
NCAA Division III – Amos Alonzo Stagg Trophy
North Central College (IL) – Coach Brad Spencer
Head Coach Brad Spencer led North Central College [IL] (15-0) to the team’s second Division III national title in three seasons with a 28-21 Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl victory over Mount Union [OH] (14-1) Dec. 17 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis [MD]. In his first season as head coach, Spencer guided the Cardinals to the school’s first undefeated season while al
PHOTO (L-R): Matt McCarty, Northwestern College, 1-A; Brad Spencer, North Central College, Tony Annese, Ferris State; and John Steigelmeier.
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I invite you to follow me on Twitter @shanny4055.
I tell untold stories about college football integration focused but not limited to Michigan State’s 1960s leadership under College Football Hall of Fame coach Duffy Daugherty. However, I learned from writing “Raye of Light” presenting the facts is not enough. Myths and fiction distorting the role of Alabama coach Bear Bryant and the 1970 USC-Alabama game have been entrenched into college football lore at the expense of the true pioneers, North and South. My story exposing Bear Bryant as a segregationist coach attempting to manipulate a backdoor entry into the 1962 Rose Bowl was awarded first place for Enterprise in the Football Writers Association of America’s 30th annual contest for the 2021 season. First Place for Enterprise story.
Click here to order Raye of Light from August Publications.
Now that @MSU_WGolf freshmen Brooke Biermann and Katie Lu have finished their first season, they did some #NIL work for me before returning home. They discussed their summer reading list. @MSU_Football #True1960sPioneers pic.twitter.com/mNd9bZwRGb— Tom Shanahan (@Shanny4055) May 12, 2022
Now that @MSU_WGolf freshmen Brooke Biermann and Katie Lu have finished their first season, they did some #NIL work for me before returning home. They discussed their summer reading list. @MSU_Football #True1960sPioneers pic.twitter.com/mNd9bZwRGb— Tom Shanahan (@Shanny4055) May 12, 2022
RAYE of LIGHT story of Duffy Daugherty and southern Black high school coaches, most prominently Bubba Smith’s father Willie Ray Smith, laying tracks to college football’s first fully integrated rosters. This was tipping point — don’t believe Bear Bryant/USC revisionist history. pic.twitter.com/3D8RqjMixO— Tom Shanahan (@Shanny4055) June 8, 2021
