This week, Rob Bentley speaks with Assistant Football Coach Brian Rock, Head Volleyball Coach Tia Brandel-Wilhelm, and Head Soccer Coach Greg Henson, about last weekend’s games.
Football
Rob first interviews the assistant coach of Ferris State Football, Brian Rock. In their second home matchup, the team faced off against Ashland in a heated contest. The game closed with a 43-3 victory for the bulldogs. With quarterback Carson Gulker injured in the home opener, Trinidad Chambliss played a full game effort to lead the bulldogs to victory. Rock attributed the weekend’s success to a great transition from their win against Lake Erie.
Rob and Rock covered the ins and outs of the game as well. Rock describes that the defense was one of the main highlights of the game. Many black jerseys surrounded the ball and refused to give Ashlund an inch of space. Special teams were also important for the bulldogs. A touchdown was scored in the opening kickoff on a 90-yard run. Rock says that he was proud that there were a multitude of players that were instrumental in the victory. Around five or six different players were credited to touchdowns.
The bulldogs will have an off week this week and they will attempt to focus on taking a rest but keep their heads in the game. Rock describes that most players use the bye week to try to progress and practice for games later in the season. The team will head out on the road to play American International next week. Their opponent has a new coach so there is much to see from the game. It looks to be a fun trip for the team, but they will be sure to put their heads toward business
Womens Volleyball
Next on the agenda was a meeting with the head coach of Ferris State Volleyball, Tia Brandel-Wilhelm. The team has been surrounded by a long run of road games and travel. Brandel-Wilhelm likes the challenge, and the team has gained multiple wins on the road. On their road stretch against West Texas, Texas A&M Int’l, and West Virginia State, the bulldogs pulled away with victories in all three games. Brandel-Wilhelm says that they wanted to model their first couple weeks by their trip to Spain over the summer. She says that the trip was great for the team to grow closer, and she wanted that same experience for the new players at the start of the season.
Womens Soccer
In a recent interview with Host Rob, Head Soccer Coach Greg Henson shared insights about the Ferris State University women’s soccer team, reflecting on their recent matches and the significance of their 25th-anniversary celebration. This milestone not only commemorated the program’s inception in 1999 but also provided a wonderful opportunity to reunite former players and coaches. It served as a reminder of the incredible advancements in resources and equipment that have propelled the team’s growth over the years.
On September 13th, the team faced off against Findlay, resulting in a hard-fought tie. Coach Henson praised the players for their solid defensive efforts but acknowledged that there’s still work to be done on their offensive strategies. Just two days later, on September 15th, the team played against Ashland but unfortunately came away with a loss. Although it wasn’t the most successful weekend for the Bulldogs, Coach Henson emphasized the positives, highlighting how the team learned valuable lessons and continued to grow together.
He also pointed out several highlights from the matches, underscoring the resilience and determination of the players. This weekend also marked the beginning of promising careers for the team’s freshmen, who are stepping into their roles and gaining invaluable experience. Overall, despite the challenges faced, the focus remains on teamwork and development as the Bulldogs continue their season.