Limited tickets remain for the Ferris State University Bulldog Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony, which will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 30, on the FSU campus.
Seven former standout student-athletes representing six different sports programs comprise the star-studded Ferris State University Bulldog Athletics Hall of Fame Class, which was originally voted in back in 2020 before COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the event.
The 2023 class, which will represent the school's 13th class of inductees, includes: Jeff Blashill (Hockey, 1994-98), Lucy (DeMartin) Prior (Women's Basketball, 2000-04), Dannie Hayes (Men's Basketball, 1991-95), Tianna Kirkland (Women's Basketball/Track & Field, 1997-01), Brad Morris (Wrestling, 1985-89), Jason Vander Laan (Football, 2012-15) and the late Gideon Smith (Football, 1910-11), who is likely to be represented by his grandson John Belcher.
The Bulldog Athletics Hall of Fame Selection Committee also selected longtime supporter and former administrator Carma Burcham as a recipient of the Athletics Special Service Award.
The Hall of Fame banquet will take place on Aug. 30 at the David L. Eisler Center ballroom on the Ferris State campus beginning with a reception at 5 p.m. (ET) followed by a welcome and dinner starting at 6 p.m. (ET). The program and induction ceremony will follow at approximately 7 p.m. (ET).
Tickets for the event are $75 per person and can be purchased online while availability remains at FerrisStateBulldogs.com/Tickets. For additional information, please contact Coordinator of Revenue Generation & Advancement Cedric Frierson via email at CedricFrierson@ferris.edu.
"We look forward to what should be an exceptional event honoring these standout former student-athletes," said FSU Athletics Director Steve Brockelbank. "This class of individuals is an outstanding group that deserves this recognition and the opportunity to be showcased in front of family, friends, former teammates and supporters. We hope to have a big turnout on this special night for this Hall of Fame ceremony."
Together, the class includes four individuals who earned All-America honors at FSU, including Prior, Kirkland, Vander Laan and Morris along with one of the top men's basketball scorers in school history in Hayes, a former head coach of the Detroit Red Wings and current Tampa Bay Lightning assistant coach in Blashill, a two-time Harlon Hill Trophy winner as the nation's top football standout in Vander Laan along with Smith, who was an early college football pioneer as one of the school's first African-American players and is currently on the ballot for the College Football Hall of Fame.
A 13-member Selection Committee comprised of faculty, staff, alumni and community members selected the 2020 inductees back in 2020 from a large group of initial nominees. The seven individuals will become the newest members of a current Bulldog Athletics Hall of Fame member group that presently includes 108 previous inductees along with one team. Vander Laan, who also played in the National Football League (NFL) and regarded as one of the top players in Division II football history, was chosen in the selection process after the mandatory 10-year waiting period was waived, becoming the first recipient ever chosen by FSU for early induction.
This year's Hall of Fame event will take place the night prior to the Bulldogs' 2023 football home opener against Mercyhurst, which takes place on Thursday, Aug. 31, at Top Taggart Field. The Hall of Fame inductees will also be recognized during the contest.
The Bulldog Athletics Hall of Fame, which inducted its Charter Class in 2000, was established to honor those student-athletes and coaches who have distinguished themselves in their sport or honorary members who made truly exceptional contributions to athletics.
Those who are inducted must first meet the following nomination criteria - Nominees must be departed from Ferris State University for at least 10 years; Nominees must have earned at least one varsity letter and must have distinguished themselves by exemplary performance in the field of athletics; Secondary consideration is given for the performance of meritorious service in behalf of Ferris State Athletics after leaving FSU, or a singular contribution to FSU's Athletics program, and Nominees must have demonstrated good citizenship and conducted exemplary professional/occupational careers which reflect credit on the individual and Ferris State University.