Monday, Jan. 12, marked the start of the 2026 spring semester, along with Bulldog Spirit Day, a celebration of the recent successes achieved by the football and volleyball teams.
The event brought students, faculty and staff together in the David L. Eisler Center to celebrate another historic year of athletic achievements while also setting the tone for the new semester. Attendees had the opportunity to engage with the student-athletes, take photos with the national championship trophy and hear from football and volleyball head coaches Tony Annese and Tia Brandel-Wilhelm.
Ferris State’s football team finished undefeated and won the NCAA Division II national championship, its fourth in five years, while the volleyball team captured the Midwest Regional title and reached the Elite Eight for the second consecutive year.
Annese credited athletic administrators and fellow coaches for fostering a connected environment, mentioning how the department’s unity has played a key role in the university’s broader success and visibility.
“I’ve been at six different places as a head coach,” Annese said. “I’ve never really been more connected with a coaching staff than I am here at Ferris.”
The emphasis on culture and connection was a recurring message throughout the celebration.
Brandel-Wilhelm echoed Annese’s sentiments, highlighting the sense of pride and purpose that comes with representing Ferris State athletics.
“Being a part of the Ferris State Athletic program is an honor and I say it’s like a coaching clinic every day,” Brandel-Wilhelm said. “Every coach here is so on top of their game, they are learners and always working to get better. They’re always trying to do things in just the right way.”
That sense of support and unity was also felt by the athletes the celebration was honoring. For the players, Bulldog Spirit Day was a reminder of how deeply supported they are by the Ferris State community.
Mechanical engineering senior and defensive lineman for the Bulldogs, Alefosio Saipaia, highlighted just how much the Ferris State community supports and motivates the team.
“When you get to know the community, you get out here and just see how much joy it brings people when we win,” Saipaia said. “There is a lot of love here, so Ferris is a special place. It just makes you want to play harder for them, too. These people really care and genuinely care about us as people, and that’s just an amazing feeling.”
Even with back-to-back national championships and coming off an undefeated season, the reality of what they accomplished hasn’t fully sunk in for Saipaia.
“It’s amazing. I mean, the amount of people out here, I’m not surprised, because they are the same people who came out and supported us all year and this is a great community,” Saipaia said. “I’m glad to be a part of it, and especially not being from Michigan, and coming here and just being welcomed in. It’s just so surreal.”
University leadership also weighed in on the event, focusing on its importance beyond athletics.
President Dr. Bill Pink described Bulldog Spirit Day as a way to reflect Ferris’ commitment to student success and community engagement.
“One of the nice things about today is that it’s a great way to celebrate the renewal of another semester, but it’s also a great thing to have that celebration right around the successes that our university has achieved,” Pink said. “The idea that we build champions around here isn’t just about volleyball, basketball, football, hockey; it’s about everything we do on this campus, all of our students are champions.”
This event provided a chance to recognize student-athletes for their achievements both on the field and in the classroom. He added that Bulldog Spirit Day also serves as a reminder of the shared pride and connection that unites the Ferris State community.
“I look forward to this semester of having more opportunities to bring our community together and celebrate and say, here’s what we’re all about. We’re all Bulldogs, we support each other and we do things that help each other be successful, and we celebrate each other,” Pink said. “That’s what being a Bulldog is all about.”
The excitement from the football and volleyball programs promises to carry throughout the coming months, both on campus and in the community. Fans and students can look forward to a celebration parade honoring the Bulldogs’ back-to-back national championships, set to take place in the spring, with an exact date still to be determined.