GRAND VALLEY STATE

An autopsy found that chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE — a disease caused by concussions and repeated blows to the head — was a contributing factor in Finnerty’s death. Following a three-week trial that included testimony from outgoing NCAA president Mark Emmert and several medical experts, the jury agreed with the NCAA’s arguments and found that it was not responsible for Cullen Finnerty’s death. The NCAA has maintained for years that it is not legally responsible for the health and safety of college athletes. “The Association was not negligent, and the lawsuit was not supported by medical science linking Mr. Finnerty’s death to college football,” NCAA general counsel Scott Bearby said Wednesday in a statement. She argued that the NCAA failed to protect him from repeated head trauma that led to his death.

Grand Valley State has a new head football coach and it did not have to look far. On Saturday, GVSU athletic director Keri Becker announced at a team function that Scott Wooster will be the eighth head football coach in program history. Wooster spent the last three seasons as the Lakers’ offensive line/tight end coach and run game coordinator.

The second-winningest coach in Grand Valley State football history is heading to Wisconsin to join Luke Fickell’s new staff with the Badgers. GVSU announced Sunday the resignation of head football coach Matt Mitchell, who spent the last 19 years with the Lakers, including 13 atop the program.

Former Notre Dame, Cincinnati, Central Michigan and Grand Valley State coach Brian Kelly will lead LSU into a Citrus Bowl matchup against Purdue. LSU and Purdue meet at 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 2, with LSU taking a No. Fans interested in attending the game in person can purchase tickets in a number of ways. The Citrus Bowl has partnered with Ticketmaster, with the cheapest as of Thursday afternoon listed at $68. MOREMichigan vs. TCU tickets: How to get them for College Football Playoff at Fiesta Bowl

Three key takeaways from the state’s football scene this past weekend -- and a glimpse at what’s to come next week.

Three key takeaways from the state’s football scene this past weekend -- and a glimpse at what’s to come next week.

Ferris State (11-1) will get a chance at revenge in the regional championship game, as they travel to take on GLIAC rival Grand Valley State on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 1 p.m. from Lubbers Stadium in Allendale. The Lakers defeated the Bulldogs 22-21 in their regular-season meeting, which was the first league loss for Ferris State since 2017. Pittsburg State answered right before the half when Brandon Mlekus intercepted a Ferris State pas attempt and raced 18 yards for a defensive touchdown to spark the Gorillas’ comeback attempt. The Ferris State offense had 387 yards of total offense, but five turnovers, including three lost fumbles, helped keep Pittsburg State within striking distance throughout the contest. For more information on Ferris State University athletics, click here.

Ferris State University women’s soccer team has advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight after winning its first regional title. The Bulldogs, 12-5-6, defeated two-time defending national champion Grand Valley State on penalty kicks following a 0-0 overtime tie at Chet Anderson Stadium in Bemidji, Minn., Friday. Ferris and Grand Valley tied in its first two games before the Lakers posted a 3-0 win in the GLIAC Tournament semifinals. Ferris State outshot Grand Valley in the first overtime and was outshot by one in the second half and two in the first. Ferris State was led in shots by Zamborini’s eight, while no Laker player had more than four.

EAST LANSING – Michigan State knows what it’s like to lose a home exhibition game to Grand Valley State. Michigan State lost a double-overtime exhibition game to Grand Valley State in 2007, leading Tom Izzo to lock his team out of its newly renovated locker room. Michigan State allowed Grand Valley State to shoot better than 50 percent from the field in the first half and lost the rebounding battle. But Michigan State cranked up its defensive intensity in the final 20 minutes and found some easier offense as it pulled away for a comfortable win. Hoggard scored 14 points, 12 of which came in the second half, to pace Michigan State.

Michigan State played a closed scrimmage against Tennessee on Oct. 23. • Tuesday will mark the seventh exhibition meeting between Michigan State and Grand Valley State. • Grand Valley State has played two exhibitions this season: a 92-76 loss to Oakland and a 85-69 loss to Eastern Michigan. PRE-GAME LINKSThe five biggest questions facing Michigan State in 2022-23What Michigan State learned from its closed scrimmage vs. TennesseeA.J. Hoggard had a breakout March for Michigan State, but Tom Izzo wants to see moreGo big or go small?

YPSILANTI – More than 2,000 people were on hand to watch Emoni Bates and the new-look Eastern Michigan men’s basketball team take on Grand Valley State in an exhibition game to start the season on Thursday. 1 overall high school recruit and Memphis transfer scored a game-high 27 points in his debut with the Eagles to help them roll to an 85-69 win. During his time at Memphis, Bates averaged 9.7 points on 38% shooting in 18 games played. Prior to joining Memphis, Bates was ranked as the No. He spent his final high school season at Ypsi Prep Academy, a school created by his father, Elgin.

Ferris State improves to 6-1 overall and 2-1 in GLIAC play, while Michigan Tech falls to 3-5 overall and 2-3 in GLIAC play. The win for Ferris State was the 10th consecutive victory in the all-time series against the Huskies. Ferris State finished with 405 yards of total offense, including 242 yards passing, while holding Michigan Tech to 271 yards of total offense and -26 yards rushing on 14 attempts. 1 Ferris State football prepares for road challenge from No. 1 Ferris State football passes early stress test against Central Washington5 Things to watch as Ferris State football prepares for 2022 season openerFormer Ferris State QB Jared Bernhardt, a one-time lacrosse star, makes Falcons’ roster

Three key takeaways from the state’s football scene this weekend.

The girls golf state golf tournaments in all four divisions will be held Friday and Saturday Oct. 14-15 at various sites around the state. She won the individual state title in 2020, was third as a freshman and tied for fourth place last year. Tapp is South Lyon’s top player and has finished among the top six at the state tournament the last three years. Macomb Lutheran North, led by Timpf, was the team that beat Cranbrook Kingswood in the regional tournament at the Flint Elks Club. The Cougars have all five starters back from last year’s team and won the regional tournament by a whopping 59 strokes.

Saginaw Valley started quickly in Saturday night’s game at Grand Valley State in Allendale. But that was not a sign of things to come in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener for both teams. Grand Valley stormed back to defeat Saginaw 29-10 in a game that pitted the No. Peterson was 11-of-16 for 164 yards, while Usma-Harper led the ground attack with 59 yards on seven carries. Isaiah Malcome led Saginaw with 74 yards on nine carries, and Brito finished 17-of-33 for 120 yards.

The Grand Valley and Colorado School of Mines football teams will have a great idea how they stand among the nation’s best come Friday morning. Grand Valley is ranked fifth in the nation while Mines is ranked third in one poll (D2football.com) and fourth (AFCA) in another. Grand Valley, 10-2 in 2021, returns 18 starters, while Mines (12-2) has 33 seniors, including five players who are ranked in D2football.com’s Elite Watchlist 100. “Those guys are very skilled, and they have perfected their craft and been there for a long time,” said Grand Valley linebacker Abe Swanson, who led the Lakers in tackles with 96 last year. Grand Valley defeated Mines 35-13 in the first round of the NCAA playoffs in 2010.

Follow Josh VanDyke on TwitterGrand Valley State players take the field during the college football game between Ferris State and Grand Valley State in Allendale on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021. (Annie Barker | MLive.com) Annie Barker | abarker@mlive.comALLENDALE – The Grand Valley State University football team held its annual media day event Monday from Lubbers Stadium in Allendale and several players and coaches took the time to answer questions about the upcoming 2022 season for the No. “We’ve always had the mantra of iron sharpens iron and we’ve got a bunch of returners on both sides of the ball this year, especially in the trenches,” said Grand Valley State head coach Matt Mitchell. He’s going to be an electric player at that position.”---GVSU head football coach Matt Mitchell looks on during opening day of practice for Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan on Monday, August 9, 2021. At the same time, we understand that the most important thing for us is whether or not Grand Valley State is playing at a high enough level to compete in those games against top competition.

The swarm of commitments from the state’s 2023 high school football class has subsided. Ohio State, Penn State, Cincinnati and Pitt join Michigan State in Thompson’s top five. Dante Moore, QB, Detroit Martin Luther King (Oregon)2. Tim Kloska, RB, Grand Rapids West Catholic (Air Force)34. Rasean Randall, ATH, Detroit Cass Tech (Northern Illinois)37.

JACKSON -- Lumen Christi senior Conor Smith announced his plans to continue his football career at Grand Valley State next season. Smith has seen action all over the field for the Titans, from fullback to defensive line to tight end and, occasionally, linebacker.

Western Michigan University introduced Stephens as its new men’s basketball head coach earlier this month, and a day later, Grand Valley State welcomed Mann as its new leader atop the Lakers’ program. Grand Valley State men's basketball coach Cornell Mann poses for a photo with GVSU athletic director Keri Becker during an introductory press conference for the new head coach. “There was not very much room to play, but we’d play 1-on-1 all day, and the battles were real,” Mann said. “It’s like, ‘OK, if you leave and get Western, and I don’t get Grand Valley State, maybe I can go to Michigan State. If I can’t go to Michigan State, maybe I can come work for you at Western Michigan,’ and vice versa.

The 2022 boys golf season has begun, with Saginaw-area golfers ready to make a run at the state tournament. The state finals are June 10-11, with tournaments at Ferris State (Division 1), Grand Valley State (Division 2), The Fortress in Frankenmuth (Division 3) and Michigan State’s Forest Akers West (Division 4).

Ferris State University’s men’s and women’s basketball teams will participate in NCAA Division II Midwest Regional action this weekend. Ditto for the Grand Valley State women and Davenport men basketball teams. The Ferris and Grand Valley women will compete in the regional at Ashland University while the Ferris and Davenport men are headed to Canton, Ohio. 7:30 PM – Walsh/Davenport winner vs. Truman/Missouri-St. Louis winner. 7:30 PM – Ashland/Ferris winner vs. Walsh/Southern Indiana winner.

Some futurists depict Michigan and the Great Lakes as “climate havens” that will lure people and businesses weary of worsening drought, wildfire, hurricanes and other disasters. Not so fast, skeptics say.

Search crews scoured East Lansing again on Sunday looking for 18-year-old Grand Valley State University student Brendan Santo.

Ferris State and Grand Valley State players fight for the ball during the college football game between Ferris State and Grand Valley State in Allendale on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021. (Annie Barker | MLive.com) Annie Barker | abarker@mlive.com

At the end of a soccer camp before her sophomore year in high school, Ava Cook just wasn’t impressing anyone. The coach at Grand Valley State even said there was “no chance” she could play collegiately for the Lakers. A year later, after the same camp before Cook’s junior year, the same coach changed his tune.

Here are three things we learned about Michigan State in its exhibition win over Grand Valley State:Michigan State has a set rotation but still some options

EAST LANSING – Ready or not, the regular season is coming for Michigan State. The Spartans closed the preseason with a 83-60 win over Grand Valley State on Thursday night at the Breslin Center. The next time we see Michigan State will be in Madison Square Garden, where it faces No. Those games showcased mostly good and a little bad for a new-look Michigan State team. Bingham added seven rebounds and six blocks as part of a 10-block effort for the Spartans.

Fourteen years ago, Grand Valley State came to the Breslin Center for an exhibition game and walked away with a double-overtime win. Michigan State beat Ferris State, 92-58, in its exhibition opener last Wednesday. • Grand Valley State was picked to finish third in the GLIAC after going 12-7 overall last season. • Gabe Brown led Michigan State with 19 points in its win over Ferris State, followed by Max Christie with 17 points. PRE-GAME LINKSMeet Michigan State’s new walk-ons, including two veteran transfersWith new-look staff, Michigan State hopes to get back to its rootsTyson Walker gets first start, but Michigan State’s PG position will be two-man showWhat we learned about Michigan State in its exhibition win over Ferris State

EAST LANSING – In Michigan State’s second of two exhibitions on Thursday night, Tom Izzo is hoping everything will be a bit closer to what his team can expect in the regular season. Hoggard, center Julius Marble and guard Jaden Akins were Michigan State’s next three in terms of minutes against Ferris State. He hasn’t forgotten that the Lakers beat Michigan State in an exhibition game 14 years ago. Whitens out for seasonWhile Michigan State’s scholarship players have remained healthy throughout the season, one of its new walk-ons wasn’t so fortunate. Jason Whitens, a walk-on transfer from Western Michigan, tore his ACL during Michigan State’s exhibition opener against Ferris State, Izzo said.

Ferris State University’s 35-28 win over Grand Valley State Saturday night has catapulted the Bulldogs to the top of this week’s American Football Coaches Association Division II Poll. 1 in 2015 by D2Football.com along with the Division II Power Rankings but has never been first in the current coaches poll. Ferris State was ranked first for two weeks back in 1996 when the NCAA Football Committee produced the weekly rankings prior to the creation of the head coaches’ poll thru the AFCA. Valdosta State is ranked second, followed by Colorado Mines, West Georgia and California (Pa.) in the national top-five this week. Ferris State will travel to Michigan Tech on Saturday (Oct. 23) to face the Huskies at Sherman Field in Houghton.

It’s hard to argue that Mel Tucker has done a tremendous job in guiding Michigan State to a 7-0 start, but it’s equally hard to argue that such success usually comes at a price.

ALLENDALE, MI -- The atmosphere for the Division II showdown between Grand Valley State and Ferris State was a good one Saturday night. The photos in the above gallery show the scene with images of the fans in the stands, cheerleaders, band and football teams. Scroll through to get a sense of the game’s atmosphere pitting teams ranked in the top 10 nationally in Division II.

Huddle up! Here’s a look back at this weekend on the gridiron, with three key takeaways from the state’s football scene.

ALLENDALE, MI – The newest addition to the Grand Valley Police Department walks on all fours and loves doggie chicken strips. Koda, a 2-year-old black Labrador Retriever, joined the university’s police force as a K-9 explosives dog this summer, according to a GVSU news release. The police dog is scheduled to work her first Laker football game on Sept. 2 at GVSU’s home opener. Koda, GVSU's new K-9 explosives dog, conducts a stadium sweep. (Photo provided by Kendra Stanley-Mills | GVSU University Communications)Koda will help the police department engage and build relationships with the campus community, said GVPD Police Chief Brandon DeHaan.

He will leave Holland Public Schools as the third longest-serving superintendent in the district’s 164-year history after having served the district for 21 years. These are the candidates scheduled interview times for Monday, May 24:5-5:50 p.m.: Carlos de la Barrera, principal at Grand Rapids Public Schools . Reeves has been superintendent at Shelby for three years, and previously was a principal at Hamilton Community Schools for two years and Kelloggsville Public Schools for 10 years, according to superintendent of Shelby Public Schools. Before that, she was superintendent of Kalkaska Public Schools for four years and superintendent of Boyne Falls Public Schools for four years, according to her resume. These are the candidates scheduled for interviews Thursday, May 27:4:30-5:20 p.m.: Michael Pascoe, assistant superintendent of instruction at Portage Public Schools.

Gracyn Segard was on the verge of becoming Grand Valley State’s first diver to sweep the 1 and 3-meter dives at nationals. Cloud State’s Madison Brinkman by 48.75 points heading into the last dive, and she scored a 50.4 to win her second national championship in two days. The sophomore from Grandville performed an inward 1.5 somersault pike on the dive, which is right in her wheelhouse. I’m very happy.”Segard won the 1-meter dive title Thursday, and she was one of three Grand Valley divers to crack the top-four. Grand Valley placed two divers in the top-five Friday.

Harmon DeVries (Concordia College), Jimmy Downs (Grand Valley State), Jett Gott (Wheaton College), Alex Thole (Tarleton State) and Connor Webb (Concordia College) sealed their college football futures Wednesday by signing their letters of intent at a National Signing Day ceremony inside Schoolcraft High School. “It’s awesome man to be able to do this with them, especially with the guys as close-knit as we are,” he said. “We really support each other, we really love each other as brothers, so to see all these guys, it’s just an awesome feeling. “I mean, we’re going off to college now, so we’re not little kids anymore. We definitely have to grow up and stuff and kind of go our separate ways, but I love these guys to death.

MUSKEGON – As soon as the 2019 Michigan high school football season ended, Division I football offers began to pile up for Amari Crowley and Tyreese Oakes, then-juniors at Muskegon High School. “Everybody’s got the dreams of D-I, but I’m going Division II. Maybe it does a little bit more when you get to college, but when you’re in high school stars don’t matter at all. It sure would be interesting to see how that played out, but he’ll be in great hands at Ferris State and he is thrilled about the opportunity. How did that happen?’” Muskegon coach Shane Fairfield said on the topic of Crowley and Oakes going Division II.

Wednesday marked National Signing Day 2021, and this year, eight local student-athletes put pen to paper and made their college choices official. Schoolcraft's Jett Gott (7) celebrates the win during a MHSAA Division 7 high school football regional final at Portage Central High School on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. - Paw Paw's Connor Hindenach pressures the pocket during a football game against Detroit Country Day on Saturday, Oct. 17 at Falan Field in Paw Paw. - Paw Paw's Kolby Hindenach lines up for the Star Spangled Banner before a football game against Detroit Country Day on Saturday, Oct. 17 at Falan Field in Paw Paw. He also capped his Paw Paw career as the school’s all-time rushing leader at 2,905 yards.

Grand Valley State men’s basketball coach Ric Wesley only signed one player during the November NCAA signing period. Parker Day, a 6-foot-6 wing from Saginaw Heritage, signed with Grand Valley State, picking the Lakers over Central Michigan University, Northwood University, Saginaw Valley State and Lake Superior State. But when it came time for Parker, our entire staff said it was a go.”✍️ Help us welcome Parker Day to the Laker family! And he has good basketball skills to go along with that. It makes me feel good to get a player from Saginaw.”MORESaginaw Heritage’s Parker Day finds safe place on basketball courtMLive’s Top 10 boys basketball recruits for Class of 2021