Valdosta State Blazers football
Encyclopedia
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, and are currently a top 10 team. 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 2 National Championship titles(2004,2007).
, 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).
Two notable alumni are Jessie Tuggle, National Football League linebacker from 1987-2000 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 years Harlon Hill Trophy winner. Hatcher was also Valdosta State's head football coach from 2000–2006 and amassed a 68-10 record with one national championship and four conference crowns during his six-year tenure at Valdosta State.
David Dean, former VSU offensive coordinator, is the current football head coach at Valdosta State University.
in 1992. Mumme’s record at Valdosta State was 40-17-1. In both 1994 and 1996 he led the team to the NCAA Division II playoff quarterfinals; Valdosta State had never made the playoffs previously.
In 1994 the Blazer won a school record 11 victories and Quarterback Chris Hatcher
won the Harlon Hill Award as player of the year in NCAA Division II football.
The team was consistently ranked in the Division II top 20 and was ranked #1 in the nation in Division II for part of the 1996 season when they won their first Gulf South Conference
championship.
was named the Head Coach of the Blazers in 2000. The "Hatch-Attack" completed its first season 10-2, and were Gulf South Conference
Champions with an 8-1 conference record , a dramatic improvement from their previous 4-7 season.
In 2001 and 2002, the Blazers went undefeated during the regular season, and were GSC Champions for the third year in a row. The two seasons were a part of a GSC record 35 straight regular season victories. In 2002 VSU made its first National Championship appearance with a 31-24 loss to Grand Valley State University.
In 2003, the Blazers finished the season with a 10-2 record and an NCAA playoff berth.
In 2004, Hatcher led the Blazers to their second National Championship appearance with and a 36-31 win over Pittsburg State University
for the National title. The Blazers were also GSC Champions in 2004 after a 11-1 regular season.
The 2005 season saw the first time the Blazers started the season ranked No. 1 in the polls. The Blazers started the season ranked No. 1 for four weeks but finished with a 9-3 record and their fifth straight playoff berth.
To recognize the 25th anniversary of the VSU football program, the Blazers wore silver helmets and pants in 2006. That year the Blazers missed the playoffs for the first time in the Chris Hatcher Era, despite an 8-2 record and a top-ten ranking.
Hatcher left VSU after the 2006 season to be the head football coach at Georgia Southern University
, he left Valdosta State with a 76-12 overall record, a .864 winning percentage, and was the winningest coach in Blazer history.
was named Head Coach of the Blazers in 2007 after Chris Hatcher took the head coaching job at Georgia Southern University
. Dean was previously the Offense Coordinator for the Blazers.
In 2007, the "Dean Machine" started the season with five straight wins. Delta State University
defeated the Blazers 35-31, despite being down 28 points at the beginning of the second half. 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
, 25-20. This was the third straight championship appearance by the Bearcats, also the third straight time the Bearcats have lost the National Championship game.
David Dean is only the second head coach to lead his team to a National Championship in his first season. Earle Solomonson accomplished this at North Dakota State University
in 1985.
2008 and 2010 were the only years VSU has made it to the NCAA Division II playoffs since the 2007 National Championship season. 2008 saw the Blazers make it to the second round of the playoffs and a 9-3 season. Valdosta posted a 8-3 record in 2010 and lost in the first round of the playoffs. After beginning the year unranked, the Blazers rose as high as No. 7 in the AFCA coaches poll, before finishing the regular season ranked No. 17. In 2010 the VSU team tied with Delta State and Henderson State
for the Gulf South Conference Championship, the only one in Dean's five years as head coach.
In 2009 and 2011 the Blazers had 6-4 seasons and missed the Division II playoffs. In 2009 VSU finished in 3rd in the Gulf South Conference and 4th in 2011. Valdosta had been ranked as high as No. 4 in the AFCA poll in the first weeks of the 2011 season.
Valdosta State University
Valdosta State University, also referred to as VSU, or Valdosta State, is an American public university and is one of the two regional universities in the University System of Georgia. Valdosta State is located on a campus at the heart of the city of Valdosta...
in football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
. The Blazers are a member of the Gulf South Conference
Gulf South Conference
The Gulf South Conference is a College Athletic Conference which operates in the southeastern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division II.-History:...
(GSC) in NCAA Division II, and are currently a top 10 team. Valdosta State University has had a football team since 1981. The Blazers play in Bazemore–Hyder Stadium in Valdosta, Georgia
Valdosta, Georgia
Valdosta is the county seat of Lowndes County, Georgia, United States. It is the principal city of the Valdosta Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of 54,518. The Valdosta metropolitan area, according to the 2010 estimate, has a population of 139,588...
, which has a capacity of 11,249. The Stadium is also the home of the historical Valdosta High School
Valdosta High School
Valdosta High School is a public high school located in Valdosta, Georgia, United States. The school colors are gold and black. The school mascot is the "Wildcat".-School:Valdosta High School serves grades 9-12 in the Valdosta City School District...
Wildcats, known as "the winningest high school football team in the country". The Blazers have won 2 National Championship titles(2004,2007).
History
Despite the demands for a team, Valdosta State UniversityValdosta State University
Valdosta State University, also referred to as VSU, or Valdosta State, is an American public university and is one of the two regional universities in the University System of Georgia. Valdosta State is located on a campus at the heart of the city of Valdosta...
, 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
Pittsburg State University
Pittsburg State University, also called Pitt State or PSU, is a public university with approximately 7,100 students located in Pittsburg, Kansas, United States. A large percentage of the student population consists of residents within the Pittsburg region; the gender proportion is relatively equal...
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
Northwest Missouri State University
Northwest Missouri State University is a state university in Maryville, Missouri. Founded in 1905 as a teachers college, it offers both undergraduate and graduate programs. The campus, based on the design for Forest Park at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, is the official Missouri State Arboretum....
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).
Two notable alumni are Jessie Tuggle, National Football League linebacker from 1987-2000 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 years Harlon Hill Trophy winner. Hatcher was also Valdosta State's head football coach from 2000–2006 and amassed a 68-10 record with one national championship and four conference crowns during his six-year tenure at Valdosta State.
David Dean, former VSU offensive coordinator, is the current football head coach at Valdosta State University.
Head coaches
- Records are through the end of the 2010 Season
cellpadding="1" border="1" cellspacing="0" width="80%" class="wikitable sortable"> Tenure Coach Years Record Pct. 1982–1984 Jim Goodman 3 15–17–1 .470 1985 Jim Berryman 1 5–6–0 .455 1986–1991 Mike Cavan Mike Cavan-External links:...
6 37–22–2 .623 1992–1996 Hal Mumme Hal MummeHal Clay Mumme is an American college football coach. He is currently the head coach at McMurry University.- Playing career :...
5 40–17–1 .698 1997–1999 Mike Kelly Mike Kelly (Canadian football)Mike Kelly is a professional football coach who most notably served as head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League for one season in 2009.-Playing Career:...
3 15–16–0 .484 1999 Mark Nelson 1 0–2–0 .000 2000–2006 Chris Hatcher Chris HatcherChris Hatcher is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head coach at Murray State University, a position he has held since the 2010 season. Previsouly, Hatcher served as the head coach at Valdosta State University from 2000 to 2006 and at Georgia Southern University...
7 76–12–0 .864 2007–present David Dean David DeanDavid Dean is the football coach of Valdosta State University and won a NCAA Division II Football Championship in 2007, his first year as a head coach.-Playing career:...
5 42–15–0 .736 Totals 8 coaches 29 seasons 230–107–4 .680
Hal Mumme Era: 1992-1996
Mumme took over as head coach at Valdosta State UniversityValdosta State University
Valdosta State University, also referred to as VSU, or Valdosta State, is an American public university and is one of the two regional universities in the University System of Georgia. Valdosta State is located on a campus at the heart of the city of Valdosta...
in 1992. Mumme’s record at Valdosta State was 40-17-1. In both 1994 and 1996 he led the team to the NCAA Division II playoff quarterfinals; Valdosta State had never made the playoffs previously.
In 1994 the Blazer won a school record 11 victories and Quarterback Chris Hatcher
Chris Hatcher
Chris Hatcher is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head coach at Murray State University, a position he has held since the 2010 season. Previsouly, Hatcher served as the head coach at Valdosta State University from 2000 to 2006 and at Georgia Southern University...
won the Harlon Hill Award as player of the year in NCAA Division II football.
The team was consistently ranked in the Division II top 20 and was ranked #1 in the nation in Division II for part of the 1996 season when they won their first Gulf South Conference
Gulf South Conference
The Gulf South Conference is a College Athletic Conference which operates in the southeastern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division II.-History:...
championship.
Chris Hatcher Era: 2000-2006
Chris HatcherChris Hatcher
Chris Hatcher is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head coach at Murray State University, a position he has held since the 2010 season. Previsouly, Hatcher served as the head coach at Valdosta State University from 2000 to 2006 and at Georgia Southern University...
was named the Head Coach of the Blazers in 2000. The "Hatch-Attack" completed its first season 10-2, and were Gulf South Conference
Gulf South Conference
The Gulf South Conference is a College Athletic Conference which operates in the southeastern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division II.-History:...
Champions with an 8-1 conference record , a dramatic improvement from their previous 4-7 season.
In 2001 and 2002, the Blazers went undefeated during the regular season, and were GSC Champions for the third year in a row. The two seasons were a part of a GSC record 35 straight regular season victories. In 2002 VSU made its first National Championship appearance with a 31-24 loss to Grand Valley State University.
In 2003, the Blazers finished the season with a 10-2 record and an NCAA playoff berth.
In 2004, Hatcher led the Blazers to their second National Championship appearance with and a 36-31 win over Pittsburg State University
Pittsburg State University
Pittsburg State University, also called Pitt State or PSU, is a public university with approximately 7,100 students located in Pittsburg, Kansas, United States. A large percentage of the student population consists of residents within the Pittsburg region; the gender proportion is relatively equal...
for the National title. The Blazers were also GSC Champions in 2004 after a 11-1 regular season.
The 2005 season saw the first time the Blazers started the season ranked No. 1 in the polls. The Blazers started the season ranked No. 1 for four weeks but finished with a 9-3 record and their fifth straight playoff berth.
To recognize the 25th anniversary of the VSU football program, the Blazers wore silver helmets and pants in 2006. That year the Blazers missed the playoffs for the first time in the Chris Hatcher Era, despite an 8-2 record and a top-ten ranking.
Hatcher left VSU after the 2006 season to be the head football coach at Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University is a national public university located on a campus in Statesboro, Georgia, USA. Founded in 1906, it is part of the University System of Georgia and is the largest center of higher education in the southern half of Georgia offering 117 academic majors in a comprehensive...
, he left Valdosta State with a 76-12 overall record, a .864 winning percentage, and was the winningest coach in Blazer history.
David Dean Era: 2007-present
David DeanDavid Dean
David Dean is the football coach of Valdosta State University and won a NCAA Division II Football Championship in 2007, his first year as a head coach.-Playing career:...
was named Head Coach of the Blazers in 2007 after Chris Hatcher took the head coaching job at Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University is a national public university located on a campus in Statesboro, Georgia, USA. Founded in 1906, it is part of the University System of Georgia and is the largest center of higher education in the southern half of Georgia offering 117 academic majors in a comprehensive...
. Dean was previously the Offense Coordinator for the Blazers.
In 2007, the "Dean Machine" started the season with five straight wins. Delta State University
Delta State University
Delta State University, also known as DSU, is a regional public university located in Cleveland, Mississippi, United States, in the heart of the Mississippi Delta...
defeated the Blazers 35-31, despite being down 28 points at the beginning of the second half. 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
Northwest Missouri State University
Northwest Missouri State University is a state university in Maryville, Missouri. Founded in 1905 as a teachers college, it offers both undergraduate and graduate programs. The campus, based on the design for Forest Park at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, is the official Missouri State Arboretum....
, 25-20. This was the third straight championship appearance by the Bearcats, also the third straight time the Bearcats have lost the National Championship game.
David Dean is only the second head coach to lead his team to a National Championship in his first season. Earle Solomonson accomplished this at North Dakota State University
North Dakota State University
North Dakota State University of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, more commonly known as North Dakota State University , is a public university in Fargo, North Dakota. NDSU has about 14,000 students and it is the largest university in North Dakota based on full time students and land size...
in 1985.
2008 and 2010 were the only years VSU has made it to the NCAA Division II playoffs since the 2007 National Championship season. 2008 saw the Blazers make it to the second round of the playoffs and a 9-3 season. Valdosta posted a 8-3 record in 2010 and lost in the first round of the playoffs. After beginning the year unranked, the Blazers rose as high as No. 7 in the AFCA coaches poll, before finishing the regular season ranked No. 17. In 2010 the VSU team tied with Delta State and Henderson State
Henderson State University
Henderson State University, founded in 1890 as Arkadelphia Methodist College, is a four-year public liberal arts university located in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, United States. It is Arkansas's only member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges...
for the Gulf South Conference Championship, the only one in Dean's five years as head coach.
In 2009 and 2011 the Blazers had 6-4 seasons and missed the Division II playoffs. In 2009 VSU finished in 3rd in the Gulf South Conference and 4th in 2011. Valdosta had been ranked as high as No. 4 in the AFCA poll in the first weeks of the 2011 season.