[14] The Blazers were the highest scoring team in Division II, totaling 728 points for an average of 52 points per game. Quarterback Rogan Wells was runner-up in the voting for the Harlon Hill Trophy. 25 Feb/23. [8] The men's team has nine conference championships (1996, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011), tied with the University of West Florida women's team for the most conference championships in the GSC. ); : The official 2022 Football Roster for the University of West Georgia Wolves. 3Y; ); : 3 Blazers host sliding Statesmen Saturday", "No. Since Hill came to VSU the Lady Blazers have had nine straight winning seasons, ten trips to the Gulf South Conference tournament, three East Division titles, six 20-win seasons and six trips to the Division II national tournament. The 2004 Valdosta State Blazers football team was an American football team that represented Valdosta State University as a member of the Gulf South Conference (GSC) during the 2004 NCAA Division II football season. The golf course plays 7,781 yards long from the championship tees and features five sets of tees for professionals, men, women and juniors. Valdosta State University, 1996. 4 in the AFCA poll[10] in the first weeks of the 2011 season. (); : X-C was revived for the 1982 season, with a women's team added later. The courts were renovated during the 200001 season and again in 2008. He is credited with being a part of the team that laid the foundation for the schools great history of winning. The Blazers also won the 2012 NCAA Division II National Football Championship beating Winston-Salem State University 357. The Valdosta State Blazers are the athletic teams that represent the Valdosta State University, located in Valdosta, Georgia, in intercollegiate sports at the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). In 2009 VSU finished in 3rd in the Gulf South Conference and 4th in 2011. Oct 7 (Sat) Valdosta, GA. TBA We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Kerwin Bell was named head coach of the Blazers on January 22, 2016. On January 25, 2019, VSU announced former Tiffin head coach Gary Goff as the tenth head coach in program history. Yevette Sparks led the Lady Blazers for the 2000 season and Kiley Hill took over in 2001. Abstract: The positive reputation of Valdosta State University athletics has grown by leaps and bounds in the 12-plus years Herb Reinhard has been in charge of the 11-sport Division II program. Three games were broadcast on ESPN3, as part of the Gulf South Conference Game of the Week. Delta State University defeated the Blazers 3531, despite being down 28 points at the beginning of the second half. Visit ESPN to view the latest Valdosta State Blazers news, scores, stats, standings, rumors, and more . David Dean was named head coach of the Blazers in 2007 after Chris Hatcher took the head coaching job at Georgia Southern University. (); : [21], In 2010 after the Lady Blazers won the GSC East Championship VSU head coach Kiley Hill was recognized as the GSC East Coach of the Year. Also in 1984, Cooper's team reached the NCAA Division II Final Four. [1], The Blazers finished the 2019 season 101, 80 in Gulf South Conference (GSC) play, to finish first in the conference standings. Abstract: The 2007 Valdosta State Football Media Guide is a publication of the Valdosta State University Sports Information Office. 2023 Conference USA college football . (); : 1 for four weeks but finished with a 93 record and their fifth straight playoff berth. Hatcher left VSU after the 2006 season to be the head football coach at Georgia Southern University, he left Valdosta State with a 7612 overall record, a .864 winning percentage, and was the winningest coach in Blazer history. [30] Soccer was the 12th intercollegiate sport sponsored by Valdosta State, and the sixth women's team. The Valdosta State University football team, the NCAA Division II second ranked team in the nation, defeated Keiser University, an NAIA program, 36-21 in the season opener for the host. VSC had its first winning season in 1986 with a 92 record led by All-American Jessie Tuggle. While at Valdosta State, Taylor played under head coaches Chris Hatcher and David Dean. In 1968, coach Jimmy Melvin took over with continued success at VSC. The official 2022 Football schedule for the Shorter University Hawks . David Dean is only the second head coach to lead his team to a National Championship in his first season. [12] David Dean is the only football coach in Valdosta State history to win two national championships. 3Y; The official 2022 Football Roster for the Valdosta State University Blazers Among his coaching stops were UAB, Tulane, SMU, East Tennessee State, Valdosta State, Livingston, New Mexico and Troy. The stadium is also the home of the historical Valdosta High School Wildcats. In 2004, the Blazers returned to the National Championship, this time defeating Pittsburg State University 3631. Blazers . (); : The first athlete from the VSC football team to play professional football was Jesse Tuggle. The Blazers are a member of the Gulf South Conference (GSC) in NCAA Division II. The Blazers then capped off the season with an eight-game winning streak and their second National Championship title win against Northwest Missouri State University, 2520. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. All three have the tools, the talent and the experience, and all three were instrumental in Blazer victories in 1984. Redshirt Freshman Valdosta, GA Lowndes County. Russ Callaway. The stadium is shared with, A 5,355-seat, 105,600 square feet (9,810m. The Blazer baseball team plays at Billy Grant Field located on the Valdosta State North Campus. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. The Valdosta State cross country team was initiated in 1972, with Dave Waples as the coach. Matt Dunigan, former offensive coordinator at VSU and ex-CFL player and current TSN sports commentator ); The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. In 2009 and 2011 the Blazers had 64 seasons and missed the Division II playoffs. Valdosta State University's Women's Tennis Team were the Gulf South Conference champions in 2005, 2008, and 2010. vs Keiser University. The win gave VSU its third Division II National title in eight years. In 2012 the Blazers posted a 122 record for the year and beat Winston-Salem State University 357 in the NCAA Division II National Football Championship in Florence, Alabama. Valdosta posted an 83 record in 2010 and lost in the first round of the playoffs. The Valdosta state football program began in 1981 and has been led by eight head coaches. The Blazers also have won 9 Gulf South Conference football championships (1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2010, 2018, 2019, 2021*). Skip To Main Content Pause All Rotators . In 2004, Hatcher led the Blazers to their second National Championship appearance with and a 3631 win over Pittsburg State University for the National title. Kerwin Bell, former Florida Gator quarterback, led the Valdosta State team that won the 2018 Division II National Championship. Earle Solomonson accomplished this at North Dakota State University in 1985. Walter Cottingham was the Valdosta State basketball coach and led the team until 1958. Lyndal Worth was the first coach of the new team. 2 Ferris State, Blazer Head Coach Kerwin Bell Accepts Offensive Coordinator Position at South Florida, Former Blazer Gary Goff Named Valdosta State Head Football Coach, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Valdosta_State_Blazers_football&oldid=1142718779, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2010, 2018, 2019, 2021, NCAA Division II Team Playoff Participants, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, This page was last edited on 4 March 2023, at 00:38. Valdosta State College Bulletin, February 1989, Vol.77 No.1, Alumni Relations Office, VSC, Valdosta Ga. 31698, List of Valdosta State Blazers football seasons, NCAA Division II National Football Championship, "The Official Site of Valdosta State Blazers Athletics", "Twice is nice Valdosta Daily Times: Sports", "Wins, losses in Winnersville in '06 Valdosta Daily Times: Sports", "Valdosta State Blazers Athletics Blazers Claim Fifth Consecutive GSC Championship", "Valdosta State Blazers Athletics Tennis Garners Multiple GSC Awards", https://web.archive.org/web/20110717013219/http://www.vstateblazers.com/staff-profile.php?staff_id=13, "Blazers win national championship Valdosta Daily Times: Home", "Gulf South Conference Official Site Valdosta State Wins First National Softball Championship in School, GSC History", "Valdosta State Blazers Athletics Blazers Split with Delta State to Finish Regular Season", "Gulf South Conference Official Site DSU's Davis and VSU's Johnson Named GSC Commissioner's Trophy Winners", "Valdosta State Blazers Athletics 2011 Softball Coaching Staff", "VSU softball wins record fifth straight GSC championship Valdosta Daily Times: Local Sports", "National softball champions' coach Macera hired by VSU Valdosta Daily Times: Sports", "Record win for Macera Valdosta Daily Times: Local Sports", "Gulf South Conference Official Site Macera and Staff Tabbed Nation's Best", https://web.archive.org/web/20111002130153/http://www.vstateblazers.com/wbasketball/publications/FullWBBMG0910.pdf, "Valdosta State Blazers Athletics Lady Blazer Success Through the Years", "Soccer kicks off at VSU: Spring 2010 - VSU Voice", "Valdosta State Blazers Athletics Melissa Heinz Named Soccer Coach", "Valdosta State Blazers Athletics 2015 Women's Soccer Schedule", "Valdosta State Blazers Athletics VSU Cheer and Dance Does it Again", "Valdosta State Blazers Athletics Cheer", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Valdosta_State_Blazers&oldid=1142718488, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, The stadium is the home field of the VSU football program. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. [3] Teams that opt-in to compete would have to schedule on their own. [26], Lady Blazer volleyball was restarted in 1995 after a 15-year hiatus. The Blazers competed for the 2021 NCAA Division II Football Championship Game against Ferris State. The sport was dropped at the conclusion of the 1978 season, with Waples tabbed to help begin an intercollegiate football team for VSU. In 2001 and 2002, the Blazers went undefeated during the regular season, and were GSC Champions for the third year in a row. The first coach was Walter Cottingham, and the college was first a member of the Georgia Conference. Valdosta State's 2018 regular season football schedule consisted of five home games, four away games, and one neutral site game. The Valdosta State football team represents Valdosta State University in football. The 2018 season saw the Blazers go the campaign unbeaten at 140, earning the seventh GSC championship in program history and a fourth national championship by defeating Ferris State University 4947 in the National Championship Game in McKinney, Texas. Consistency is the key. The Blazers lost to Grand Valley State University 3124 in the 2002 NCAA Division II national championship. (cite VSC Cross-Country History, 197278). VSU won the 2007 national championship by defeating Northwest Missouri State University 2520, with coach David Dean, being only the second head coach to lead his team to a national championship in his first season (2007). University of West Alabama. Two notable alumni are Jessie Tuggle, National Football League linebacker from 19872000 playing his entire career with the Atlanta Falcons, and Chris Hatcher was quarterback in the programs first national football tournament in 1994 and was that year's Harlon Hill Trophy winner. In 2007, the "Dean Machine" started the season with five straight wins. He was a part of the 2004 and 2007 Valdosta State teams that captured the NCAA Division II national championship. Visit ESPN to view the Valdosta State Blazers team schedule for the current and previous seasons. Skip To Main Content Pause All Rotators Skip . [2] A few months later in November, the conference announced that there will be no spring conference competition in football. The Blazers played their home games at BazemoreHyder Stadium in Valdosta, Georgia. Callaway joined the Gators in 2022 after spending the 2021 season with the New York Giants, serving as an offensive assistant, and the 2020 season as a senior offensive assistant and analyst at LSU. Both Valdosta State's men's and women's cross country squads placed in the top 10 in the NCAA Southeast Regional Cross Country Championships in 2009. The stadium is also the home of the historical Valdosta High School Wildcats. [2] The Blazers also have won 9 Gulf South Conference football championships (1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2010, 2018, 2019, 2021*). Gary Colson took over as coach in 1959, that same year VSC began playing in the GIAC. - Delta State's bats kept up with Valdosta State's for most of Friday's game, but the timely hitting of the Blazers gave them the win in Delta State's conference home-opener. In 1996, with quarterback Lance Funderburk, the blazers spent a week ranked No. The official 2022 Football Roster for the University of West Georgia Wolves. Under Williamson the Valdosta State team were the Gulf South Conference East Division Champions in 1995 and 1997, and runner-up in 1999. Blazers . College football's 100 best games of 2019: 60-41. The official 2022 Football Roster for the Fort Valley State University Wildcats. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, and tennis; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball. 1 in the polls. The Blazers have won a total of four Division II National Championship titles (2004, 2007, 2012 and 2018).[2]. Heinz had also been the inaugural coach of Division I Winthrop University. [32], The Valdosta State cheerleading squad won the co-ed national championship in 2009 and 2010[33] and the national title in the All Girl division in 2011 at the NCA/NDA Collegiate Cheer and Dance National Championships in Daytona Beach, Florida.[32]. The Valdosta state football program began in 1981 and has been led by eight head coaches. Special thanks to Assistant Sports Information Director Jessica Steadman, Debbie Wisenbaker, Mary Frances Hightower and Becky Korotie . [6] This was the third straight championship appearance by the Bearcats, also the third straight time the Bearcats have lost the National Championship game. Valdosta State University. The men's Basketball Team at Valdosta State, was formed and played its first season in 1955 as the 'Rebels'. The team opened its first season September 1, 2011 against Georgia Southwestern State University. [16], Valdosta State is the only softball team in the Gulf South Conference to win five consecutive championships (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013). [8] In 2010, the VSU team tied with Delta State and Henderson State for the Gulf South Conference Championship,[9] the only one in Dean's five years as head coach. (); : The Blazers played their home games at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium in Valdosta, Georgia . Visit ESPN to view the latest Valdosta State Blazers news, scores, stats, standings, rumors, and more . Faculty reaction to the founding of the football program can be found in the AAUP papers (UA 23/1). ); The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. In the Blazers first season, under the direction of Head Coach Jim Goodman, the team finished with a 551 record. [2], Two Valdosta player were honored by the Associated Press on its 2004 Little All-America team: kicker Will Rhody (first team) and offensive lineman Torry Howard (third team). 7 in the AFCA coaches poll, before finishing the regular season ranked No. The team has appeared in the NCAA Championship 11 times, and Briny Baird was the NCAA Champion in 1994 and 1995. The Blazers won the 2018 NCAA Division II National Football Championship beating the Ferris State Bulldogs 4947. [4], Valdosta State University's men's tennis team won the 2011 NCAA Division II national championship with a 52 win over Barry University in Altamonte Springs, Florida. The official 2022 Football schedule for the University of West Georgia Wolves 2022 Football Schedule - UWG Wolves | Athletic Programs | Official Athletics Site Skip To Main Content Pause All Rotators Skip To Main Content UWG Wolves | Athletic Programs | Official Athletics Site Scoreboard Schedule Upcoming The VSC/VSU Football program began in 1982, and its first coach was Jim Goodman. The Blazers did not compete in the 2020 season and opted out of spring competition.[4]. The Blazers have primarily competed in the Gulf South Conference since the 198182 academic year. (); : [18] Macera became the winningest coach in Valdosta State softball history in 2012 passing Durante's record of 303 wins. [25], The VSU Golf program began in 1984. After beginning the year unranked, the Blazers rose as high as No. 3 Valdosta State football cruises past Delta State in 55-0 shutout", "Roaring Back: No. The Blazers hosted GSC foes Delta State, North Greenville, Shorter, and West Georgia, and traveled to Florida Tech, Mississippi College, West Alabama, and West Florida. SportsCenter visited each city in July, and fan voting July 2327 determined the winner. Valdosta State competes in twelve intercollegiate varsity sports. ); Copyright © 2018 Shorter University Athletics. TICKETS: Tickets can be purchased prior to arrival on GoFan. : The 2004 Valdosta State Blazers football team was an American football team that represented Valdosta State University as a member of the Gulf South Conference (GSC) during the 2004 NCAA Division II football season. The official 2022 Football schedule for the Shorter University Hawks. (); : jim martin death couples massage class san diego beaver falls football valdosta high school basketball roster. [12][13] The VSU softball team also set the GSC record with a 36 consecutive game winning streak. [3] Other key players included quarterback Fabian Walker and running back Vincent Brown.[4]. In both 1994 and 1996 he led the team to the NCAA Division II playoff quarterfinals; Valdosta State had never made the playoffs previously. The Blazers have also made the Gulf South Conference Championships in 1994, 1996, 1999, and 2000, and to GSC Individual Championships in 1989, 1990, 1992, 1994, and 2007. The official 2023 Football schedule for the Delta State University Statesmen. Valdosta State University has had a football team since 1981. In their fifth year under head coach Chris Hatcher, the team compiled a 131 record (90 against conference opponents) and won the GSC championship. Coaching for seven seasons Heinz was named NCAA Division I Coach of the Year for first year programs by the National Soccer Coaches Association after leading her 2003 team to a 7121 record in 2003.[29]. Gulf South NCAA, Division II. Football Schedules and Miscellaneous Publications, Welcome to Archives & Special Collections, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Harley Langdale, Jr. College of Business Administration, James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services, University Advising & Student Transitions, 2022 Valdosta State University A Comprehensive University of the University System of Georgia.