Valdosta State Blazers football

NCAAFootballSchool
TeamName = Valdosta State Blazers Football
CurrentSeason =


ImageSize =
HeadCoachDisplay = David Dean
HeadCoachLink = David Dean
HeadCoachYear = 2nd
HCWins = 13
HCLosses = 1
HCTies = 0
Stadium = Bazemore-Hyder Stadium
StadiumBuilt = 1922
StadCapacity = 11,249
StadSurface = Sprinturf
Location = Valdosta, Georgia
ConferenceDisplay= Gulf South
ConferenceLink = Gulf South Conference
ConfDivision = Eastern
FirstYear = 1980
AthlDirectorLink = Herb Reinhard
AthlDirectorDisp = Herb Reinhard
WebsiteName = vstateblazers.com
WebsiteURL = http://www.vstateblazers.com/
ATWins =
ATLosses =
ATTies =
ATPercentage =
BowlWins = 0
BowlLosses = 0
BowlTies = 0
NatlTitles = 2
ConfTitles =
DivTitles =
Color1 = Red
Color1Hex = D60022
Color2 = Black
Color2Hex = 000000
MascotDisplay = Blaze
MarchingBand = Blazin Brigade Marching Band

The Valdosta State football team represents Valdosta State University in football. The Blazers are a member of the Gulf South Conference (GSC) and are currently a top 10 team. Valdosta State University has had a football team since 1980. 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).

History

Despite the demands for a team, Valdosta State University did not form a football team until 1980. 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 17-10. In 2007, the Blazers defeated Northwest Missouri State University 25-20 for their second National Championship title.

Chris Hatcher Era: 2000-2006

Chris Hatcher was named the Head Coach of the Blazers in 2000. Hatcher was the winningest coach in Blazer history. The "Hatch-Attack" completed its first season 10-2 (8-1 in GSC), a dramatic improvement from their previous 4-7 season.

In 2001 and 2002, the Blazers went undefeated during the regular season, which was a part of a Gulf South Conference record 35 straight regular season victories.

In 2003, the Blazers finished the season with a 10-2 record and another NCAA playoff berth.

In 2004, Hatcher led the Blazers to their second National Champional appearance (their first a 31-24 loss to Grand Valley State University in 2002) 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.

In 2006 the Blazers missed the playoffs for the first time in the Chris Hatcher Era, despite an 8-2 record and a top-ten ranking.

Chris Hatcher left Valdosta State with a 76-12 overall record with a .864 winning percentage.

David Dean Era: 2007-present

David Dean 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.