NCAA lights up D-II coach with restriction for title stogies

Tony Annese, the football coach for ruling Department II champion Ferris State, has actually been provided a one-game playoff suspension by the NCAA after two of his players lit stogies in a smoke-free locker space after winning the national title in December.Annese, 62, need to serve

the suspension whenever the Bulldogs next reach the Division II playoffs. The NCAA did not identify the 2 players who lit the stogies inside McKinney ISD Stadium– a high school facility outside of Dallas that does not enable tobacco on its grounds. “I understand the issues raised by the NCAA. Right away after the game, while I was in the postgame interview, the two issues mentioned by the NCAA were attended to by my coaching staff,”Annese said in a statement Thursday.” As a training staff, every day leading up to the national championship game, we had actually reminded our players that smoking stogies in celebration would not be permitted. My team was fully mindful that the actions of the two players were inappropriate.Editor’s Picks”No matter how minor the actions might appear, youths need to understand that there are consequences for their actions. We will deal with these issues and continue to have a strong, positive football program that represents Ferris State University on and off the field.”Ferris State players likewise lit cigars inside the arena after winning the school’s very first nationwide title in 2021, which resulted in a fine and warning to not do it again.”The unsuitable conduct associated with this action will not be tolerated at any NCAA Department II championship, “Mountain East Conference commissioner Reid Amos said in a statement.The university’s appeal of the suspension for Annese, who is entering his 12th season at the Michigan college in 2023, was rejected by the NCAA.Ferris State also was fined $2,500 by the NCAA and charged$15,383 by the McKinney ISD for cleansing and repairs to the locker space after the victory over Colorado School of Mines. “I continue to be proud of the Ferris State University Football program and Coach Annese,”athletic director Steve Brockelbank stated in a declaration. “I comprehend the issues raised by the NCAA and we accept the

duty for our actions and we will work to guarantee this does not take place once again in the future.”