BIG RAPIDS, Mich. — Tony Annese, the head football coach at Ferris State University, is receiving an eight-day suspension after being investigated for an incident involving several players.
According to the university, the suspension was prompted by an unspecified incident in the Ferris State locker room during halftime of the the Oct. 26 game at Michigan Tech.
Sources tell FOX 17’s Steve Amorose that the incident was a physical altercation between Annese and several defensive players in the locker room. According to the sources supportive of the coach, Annese was trying to motivate his team which was down at halftime by slapping shoulder pads and other parts of players’ bodies. Others say that Annese went too far with his physical actions toward some of the defensive players.
“Tony Annese will serve an eight-day suspension effective today and including the team’s road game on Saturday, Nov. 9 at Northwood University in Midland, Mich.,” a statement from the university said.
During Annese’s suspension, Assistant Head Coach Rob Zeitman will step in. Zeitman also serves as the offensive line coach.
Annese was previously head coach at Muskegon High School and Grand Rapids Community College before accepting the position at Ferris State in 2011.
