VU walk-on Ferry takes on a thankless role
by Mark Lazerus, Post-Tribune
Originally appeared on July 10, 2008
Here’s what Andrew Ferry has to look forward to this year—and potentially the three years that follow. Long, grueling practices. Endless weight-lifting sessions and diet restrictions. Countless hours on a bus. Curfews, a cramped social life, lost weekends. And a $30,000 bill to pay.
‘It’s just kind of my dream,’ he said.
Ah, the life of a walk-on. This is the path Ferry—a 6 foot, 155-pound guard out of Milwaukee—chose when he took Homer Drew up on his invitation to be a walk-on at Valparaiso.
Ferry, a 3-point specialist who set school records from beyond the arc and averaged more than 18 points per game as a senior, had offers from Division II and Division III schools—but he wanted to play Division I basketball. Always has. And his only option was to pay his own way, and hopefully earn his way into a scholarship. Read the rest of this entry »
Drew finally captures win No. 600
Crusaders dominate Loyola for fourth Horizon League win
This article originally appeared in the Northwest Indiana Times. View the original here.
PAUL JANKOWSKI
Times Correspondent | Posted: Saturday, February 14, 2009 12:00 am
VALPARAISO | After a three-week wait, Valparaiso finally came through Friday night to give coach Homer Drew his 600th career victory.
The Crusaders put together their most dominant performance of the season, drilling Loyola 71-47 before 3,196 at the Athletics-Recreation Center who chanted, “Homer, Homer,” as the final seconds ticked away.
“Six hundred is just a number,” Drew told the crowd after the game. “I’m just happy for these guys because we still have a chance to host a first-round conference tournament game.” Read the rest of this entry »
Ferry Comes through when it counts
Freshman walk-on has earned more minutes for VU’s men’s hoops team
This article originally appeared in the Northwest Indiana Times. See it here.
PAUL JANKOWSKI
Times Correspondent | Posted: Sunday, February 15, 2009 12:00 am
VALPARAISO | After every home game, Valparaiso freshman walk-on Andrew Ferry is always the last to leave the gym.
Ferry is one of a handful of players who practice shooting on the Athletics-Recreation Center floor after the crowd has filed out. One could joke that it’s the only time Ferry sees the court on game night, but that wasn’t the case Friday.
Head coach Homer Drew called Ferry’s number early in the first half of a 71-47 victory over Loyola. Ferry entered the game at the 15:54 mark, replacing Erik Buggs in a spot of the rotation normally reserved for Logan Jones. Read the rest of this entry »
Ferry the Crusader keeps up the fight
by David Robb
Northwest Indiana Times Columnist | Posted: Friday, October 3, 2008 12:00 am
This story originally appeared in the Northwest Indiana Times. View original story here.
At first, Andrew Ferry thought it was just a cold. And then his tongue turned white, his muscles cramped up and his thirst became unquenchable.
As a walk-on freshman with the Valparaiso University men’s basketball team, Ferry isn’t just fighting for playing time. He’s constantly fighting a disease that affects 23.6 million Americans, or nearly 8 percent of the population.
Ferry was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 16. The bad news came smack dab in the middle of basketball season — Jan. 1, 2006. Read the rest of this entry »
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