Valdosta State Blazers football
| Valdosta State Blazers Football | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
|||
 |
|||
| First season | 1982 | ||
| Athletic director | Herb Reinhard | ||
| Head coach |
Kerwin Bell 1st year, 8–3 (.727) |
||
| Stadium | Bazemore–Hyder Stadium | ||
| Year built | 1922 | ||
| Seating capacity | 11,249 | ||
| Field surface | Sprinturf | ||
| Location | Valdosta, Georgia | ||
| Conference | Gulf South | ||
| Division | Eastern | ||
| All-time record | 248–113–4 (.685) | ||
| Claimed nat'l titles | 3 | ||
| Conference titles | 6 | ||
| Colors | Red and Black |
||
| Mascot | Blaze | ||
| Marching band | Blazin' Brigade Marching Band | ||
| Website | vstateblazers.com | ||
The Valdosta State football team represents Valdosta State University in football. The Blazers are a member of the Gulf South Conference (GSC) in NCAA Division II. Valdosta State University has had a football team since 1981. The Blazers play in Bazemore–Hyder Stadium in Valdosta, Georgia, which has a capacity of 11,249. The Stadium is also the home of the historical Valdosta High School Wildcats, known as "the winningest high school football team in the country". The Blazers have won a total of three Division II National Championship titles (2004, 2007 and 2012).
Despite the demands for a team, Valdosta State University, then Valdosta State College, did not form a football team until 1982. The program began under Valdosta State president Hugh C. Bailey and a majority vote by the VSC student body. In the Blazers first season, under the direction of Head Coach Jim Goodman, the team finished with a 5-5-1 record.
VSC had its first winning season in 1986 with a 9-2 record led by All-American Jessie Tuggle. In 1994 the Blazer won a school record 11 victories, and with quarterback Chris Hatcher, played in the programs first national football tournament. Hatcher was the 1994 Harlon Hill Trophy winner. In 1996, with quarterback Lance Funderburk, the blazers spent a week ranked No. 1 in the country in Division II and were the Gulf South Conference Champions for the first time in School history.
In 2002, the Blazers went to their first National Championship game against Grand Valley State, losing 31-24. In 2004, the Blazers returned to the National Championship, this time defeating Pittsburg State University 36-31. For the 2006 Season the Blazers wore silver helmets to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the VSU football program. In 2007, the Blazers defeated Northwest Missouri State University 25-20 for their second National Championship title. The Blazers also have won 6 Gulf South Conference football championships (1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2010).
...
Wikipedia