Valdosta State University Football: A Legacy of Champions
The Valdosta State Blazers football program represents Valdosta State University in American football. As a member of the Gulf South Conference (GSC) in NCAA Division II, the Blazers have established themselves as a dominant force in collegiate football. Valdosta State University has had a football team since 1982. Their home games are played at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium in Valdosta, Georgia, a stadium they share with the historical Valdosta High School Wildcats. The stadium has a capacity of 11,249.
The Genesis of a Football Program
Despite student demand, Valdosta State University, then Valdosta State College, didn't initially have a football team. The push to create a team came in 1981 when Bama Adams announced its formation. VSU president Hugh C. Bailey quickly organized a meeting with VP for Business Sam Brooks, Athletic Director Billy Grant, and coach Dave Waples to expedite the process of fielding a varsity team. A majority of VSU students voted in favor of the team and a corresponding increase in student fees.
Early Years and Breakthrough Success
The Valdosta State College football program achieved its first winning season in 1986, posting a 9-2 record under head coach Mike Cavan, with leadership from All-American Jessie Tuggle. The nucleus of the 1986 Valdosta State football team included players such as Cary Cody, Greg Hoven, Keith Bonnell, Clay NeSmith, Bryan Banks, John Norris, Ray Lloyd, Bill Wilhelm, R.D. Swain, Bert Gelis, Buddy Ratledge, Jimmy Brooks, Ben Reaves, Jimmy Brookins, Darrien Teals, Chuck Cutchen, Mark Dace, Terry Mallory, Max Vickers, and Arthur Webb.
In 1994, under coach Mumme, the Blazers achieved a school-record 11 victories and made their first national tournament appearance, led by quarterback Chris Hatcher, who also won the Harlon Hill Trophy that year. Mumme's tenure at Valdosta State, from 1992, resulted in a 40-17-1 record. In 1996, with quarterback Lance Funderburk, the Blazers spent a week ranked No.
The Hatcher Era: National Prominence
Chris Hatcher took over as head coach in 2000, ushering in an era of unprecedented success. In 2001 and 2002, the Blazers were GSC Champions for the third year in a row, going undefeated during the regular season and setting a GSC record with 35 consecutive regular-season victories. In 2002, the Blazers reached their first national championship game, losing to Grand Valley State 31-24.
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In 2004, Hatcher led the Blazers to their second national championship appearance, where they defeated Pittsburg State 36-31 to claim the national title. The 2005 season marked the first time the Blazers began the season ranked No. 1 in the polls.
The Dean Machine: Continuing the Championship Tradition
David Dean was appointed head coach in 2007 after Chris Hatcher's departure. In 2007, the "Dean Machine" started the season with five straight wins and later secured another national championship title by defeating Northwest Missouri State 25-20. David Dean became only the second head coach to win a national championship in his first season.
Subsequent Seasons and Playoff Appearances
In 2008, the Blazers reached the second round of the playoffs, finishing the season with a 9-3 record. In 2010, Valdosta State posted an 8-3 record but lost in the first round of the playoffs. The Blazers rose to No. 7 in the AFCA coaches poll before finishing the regular season ranked No. In 2009 and 2011, the Blazers had 6-4 seasons and missed the Division II playoffs, finishing third and fourth in the Gulf South Conference, respectively.
The 2012 Championship
In 2012, the Blazers, with a 12-2 record, triumphed over Winston-Salem State 35-7 in the NCAA Division II National Football Championship in Florence, Alabama.
The Kerwin Bell Years
Kerwin Bell was named head coach on January 22, 2016. In his first season, the Blazers finished 8-3, losing in the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs to UNC Pembroke 24-21 and ending the season ranked No. In 2017, the Blazers finished 5-4 overall, placing 5th in the conference.
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An Undefeated Season and Another National Title
The 2018 season was a historic one for the Blazers. They went undefeated at 14-0, securing their seventh GSC championship and fourth national championship with a 49-47 victory over Ferris State in the national championship game in McKinney, Texas. The Blazers were the highest-scoring team in Division II, averaging 52 points per game.
The Gary Goff Era
On January 25, 2019, VSU announced Gary Goff as the tenth head coach in program history. Goff, a former Blazer captain and 1996 graduate, led the Blazers to an undefeated regular season and a second consecutive GSC championship in his first season, extending their winning streak to 25 games before being upset in the second round of the playoffs by West Florida. His first season got his era off to a great start with them starting off ranked No.
Championship Appearances and Gulf South Conference Titles
Valdosta State has competed in seven NCAA Division II National Football Championships, winning four (2004, 2007, 2012, 2018) and losing in 2002, 2021, and 2024. The Blazers have also won 9 Gulf South Conference football championships (1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2010, 2018, 2019, 2021*).
Notable Alumni
Two notable alumni are Jessie Tuggle, a linebacker who played his entire career in the National Football League with the Atlanta Falcons from 1987 to 2000, and Chris Hatcher, who was the quarterback for the program's first national football tournament in 1994 and that year's Harlon Hill Trophy winner.
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tags: #valdosta #state #university #football #history
