Tony Annese, the football coach for ruling Department II champ Ferris State, has actually been provided a one-game playoff suspension by the NCAA after 2 of his gamers lit stogies in a smoke-free locker space after winning the nationwide title in December.
Annese, 62, should serve the suspension whenever the Bulldogs next reach the Department II playoffs. The NCAA did not recognize the 2 gamers who lit the stogies inside McKinney ISD Arena– a high school center beyond Dallas that does not permit tobacco on its premises.
” I comprehend the issues raised by the NCAA. Instantly after the video game, while I remained in the postgame interview, the 2 problems pointed out by the NCAA were dealt with by my training personnel,” Annese stated in a declaration Thursday. “As a training personnel, every day leading up to the championship game video game, we had actually advised our gamers that cigarette smoking stogies in event would not be permitted. My group was totally conscious that the actions of the 2 gamers were improper.
” No matter how small the actions might appear, youths require to comprehend that there are effects for their actions. We will deal with these issues and continue to have a strong, favorable football program that represents Ferris State University on and off the field.”
Ferris State gamers likewise lit stogies inside the arena after winning the school’s very first nationwide title in 2021, which led to a fine and alerting to refrain from doing it once again.
” The improper conduct related to this action will not be endured at any NCAA Department II champion,” Mountain East Conference commissioner Reid Amos stated in a declaration.
The university’s appeal of the suspension for Annese, who is entering his 12th season at the Michigan college in 2023, was rejected by the NCAA.
Ferris State likewise was fined $2,500 by the NCAA and charged $15,383 by the McKinney ISD for cleansing and repair work to the locker space after the triumph over Colorado School of Mines.
” I continue to take pride in the Ferris State University Football program and Coach Annese,” athletic director Steve Brockelbank stated in a declaration. “I comprehend the issues raised by the NCAA and we accept the obligation for our actions and we will work to guarantee this does not take place once again in the future.”