Ferris State University, in conjunction with the city of Big Rapids and the Downtown Business Association, will hold a special "National Championship Parade & Celebration" honoring the Bulldogs' 2022 NCAA Division II Football National Championship team this Saturday, March 18, in downtown Big Rapids.
All Bulldog fans, supporters and community members are invited to come out and celebrate FSU's second consecutive NCAA Division II National Championship with the Bulldog team and university community.
The parade will begin in downtown Big Rapids on Michigan Avenue at 12 p.m. (ET) and run from the South to North, starting at the Big Rapids Public Library and ending near city hall. Members of FSU's national championship team will be featured in the parade along with other FSU student-athletes and teams, local fire and police vehicles, the FSU dance team, cheer team and more.
Near the end of the parade route, a special recognition and proclamation ceremony will take place in front of Horizon Bank in downtown Big Rapids featuring special speakers such as Big Rapids Mayor Fred Guenther, FSU President Dr. Bill Pink, Athletic Director Steve Brockelbank, head coach Tony Annese and others.
The festivities will continue following the parade until 2 p.m. (ET) and the general public will have an opportunity to greet the national championship team, get autographs, take photos with the national championship trophy and more in the lot near city hall on North Michigan Avenue. The downtown area from Maple Street to Pine Street will be blocked off until the event concludes and local business restaurants and establishments are expected to be open for dining and retail shopping.
All FSU students and campus faculty and staff along with the general public, community members and supporters are invited to attend the parade and celebration to help honor the Bulldogs' back-to-back NCAA Division II National Championship team and staff.
The Bulldogs capped off a second-straight national championship with a decisive 41-14 win over the Colorado School of Mines on Dec. 17 in McKinney, Texas, finishing the year with a 14-1 overall record.
