Ferris State head coach Tony Annese will miss his team's Division II playoff opener as he serves a one-game suspension he received after two of his players lit up celebratory cigars in the locker room after last year's national title victory.
The NCAA handed down the punishment in March. In addition to Annese's one-game ban, Ferris State had to pay a $2,500 fine along with $15,383 to the McKinney (Texas) Independent School District for cleaning and repairs to the locker room.
Beyond the cigar smoking, which occurred in a tobacco-free area, the Detroit News' Tony Paul reported at the time the NCAA also disciplined Annese and the school because some Bulldogs players had removed team stickers from the walls of the locker room.