Valdosta State to play for national title
Valdosta State’s football team will play unbeaten Winston-Salem State for the Division II National Championship Saturday afternoon in Florence, Ala.
Valdosta State's Regginald Lewis fights for yardage against Minnesota State-Mankato (AP photo)
Valdosta State (11-2) advanced by beating previously unbeaten Minnesota State-Mankato (13-1) 35-19 in a semifinal in Mankato, Minn. Austin Scott ran for 158 yards for the winners.
Winston-Salem State beat West Texas A&M 41-18 and improved to 14-0.
Saturday’s game will mark the fourth time that the Blazers have advanced to the Div. II national championship game. Valdosta State has won twice, in 2004 and 2007.
Meanwhile, Georgia Southern will play North Dakota State in the NCAA Division I (FCS) semifinals in Fargo, N.D., Friday night after beating Old Dominion 49-35 in Norfolk, Va.
North Dakota State (12-1), the defending national champion, will host the Eagles (10-3) in a rematch of a semifinal from last season. The Bison won that game 35-7
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102 comments Add your comment
ED
December 9th, 2012
6:19 pm
Congratulations to Valdosta St. and Georgia Southern!!!
George
December 9th, 2012
6:19 pm
Coach David Dean does a great job at VSU. Hope they win it all. He is also a very good guy.
football fan
December 9th, 2012
6:28 pm
Just think, if Georgia hadn’t choke on the 5 yr line and beaten bama, the state of ga could had 3 national champion D1, D2 & D3.
Blazerdawg
December 9th, 2012
6:39 pm
Go Blazers! Great football program and among the best university campuses in the south!
Tech Fan Since 1950
December 9th, 2012
6:43 pm
Congratulations from this Tech guy to both VSU and Georgia Southern. VSU has pioneered the wide open spread offense for many years that has been adopted by many SEC and ACC schools, etc., in recent years. Coach Dean deserves great credit for his role in building the VSU program. It is amazing the number of top notch college coaches that got their start on a VSU staff, including those on the defensive side as well like Kirby Smart and Will Muschamp. Go Blazers!
Mark L
December 9th, 2012
6:53 pm
Enter your comments here
THEX
December 9th, 2012
6:56 pm
GO BLAZERS!
Blazerdawg
December 9th, 2012
7:05 pm
Insightful and cool comments Tech 50. Hope the Jackets sting the Trojans!
Iluvnutella
December 9th, 2012
7:09 pm
I know Valdosta OR Statesboro arent in the AJC’s new wheelhouse, but a snipit 24 hours after the fact is pis*poor imho. So much for “Covering Dixie like the Dew”. grats to my Alma Mater and to the Eagles of Statesboro…..the only two football teams in Ga that know how to win NC’s……
The University of South Georgia
December 9th, 2012
7:16 pm
Blazers will need to score big in this one, and I believe they will. Go get that ring Blazers.
CPHIC
December 9th, 2012
7:53 pm
Congrats to Connell Maynor and the WSSU. Bring it home, homeboy. NC A&T MEAC champs 90,91, and 92. Spring line 89, 38 Strong Songs.
aon
December 9th, 2012
7:59 pm
The Eagles have a tough game ahead of them against North Dakota State, but I believe in them. To quote Coach Jeff Monken, “I’m just so proud to be a Georgia Southern Eagle.”
Tech alum
December 9th, 2012
8:03 pm
I hope Tech’s new athletics administration fires Paul Johnson and hires David Dean (who’s a Tech alum himself and former football letterman).
jlw
December 9th, 2012
9:04 pm
football fan,
No D3 involved. Valdosta State is D-II. Georgia Southern is FCS (I-AA).
Bruce
December 9th, 2012
9:59 pm
I have to say Georgia dropped the ball, by not giving Tyler Heineke a chance to play. He is a great QB.
AtlBlaze
December 9th, 2012
10:12 pm
As usual it take a National Championship shot to have AJC finally pay any attention to VSU. Great run getting to the National Championship game. GO BLAZERS!!!
Sense
December 9th, 2012
10:52 pm
Div. I should have this type of playoff.
EagleDawg
December 9th, 2012
11:03 pm
Good luck to GSU and VSU!!
EagleDawg
December 9th, 2012
11:04 pm
Good luck to GSU & VSU !!
Dum-Bass
December 10th, 2012
12:09 am
Georgia Southern, the REAL GSU, although the AJC seems to think otherwise. It may be Georgia State in Atlanta and North GA but all over the rest of the state and the nation GA Southern is known admirably as GSU!
SickAndTired
December 10th, 2012
6:02 am
Football fan. Georgia didn’t choke. They tried their best. Their best just wasn’t good enough against a rebuilding Alabama team. It will be another 30 years before they get that close to a Crystal football unless they visit Alabama and look at the trophy case. Or maybe they could go to Auburn or LSU or Florida.
Snarkysnake
December 10th, 2012
6:44 am
Go Blazers !
Question: It seems like Valdo has the support and competence to move to FCS. Is this even a possibility? They seem to run their athletics program like it should be done. Could we see them playing in a higher weight class some day soon?
JustMe
December 10th, 2012
6:45 am
Too bad Valdosta State remains stuck in Division 2. Its past time time they make the move up. Apparently their current AD holds them back and is no favorite around campus. Coach Dean is a
great coach, great guy. Hope they don’t lose him like the all the other greats that have passed through
because of the unwillingness to grow/move up.
VFP42
December 10th, 2012
6:56 am
All these little schools are getting there, so why can’t Georgia or Georgia Tech ever seem to make the semi-finals?
GT
December 10th, 2012
7:09 am
Valdosta is a great football town period. We should move the Jackets down there for a few games and see if it rubs off.
The Blazing_Eagle
December 10th, 2012
7:26 am
Well having attended Georgia Southern as a grad student and VSU for my undergrad…its great to be me right now. I wish VSU would move up, and the school administration discusses it about once every two or three years…I wish they would because it would bring some great exposure to our student athletes…but I’d hate to see my Blazers and my Eagles face off against each other.
LHSAlum33
December 10th, 2012
7:29 am
VFP42 Because the FBS doesn’t have a playoff system. If FCS and and Div II had a bowl system, Georgia Southern nor VSU would be in the championship game because they both had 2 loses and their were at least 2 undefeated teams
trueblueeagle
December 10th, 2012
7:41 am
GO EAGLES
Pirate Booty
December 10th, 2012
7:47 am
Amazing to me that Greg Reid is shooting for a national championship at FSU, gets booted from the team, lands at VSU and now stands to benefit from the punishment with a ring. Perhaps it will magically restore his ACL.
MAC7
December 10th, 2012
7:59 am
THE BIGGER THE GAME THE HOTTER THE FLAME!!!! GO BLAZERS!!!!
Ed Pilcher
December 10th, 2012
8:24 am
Ga. Southern will blow it. It will be just like last year, when N D State’s defense didn’t allow Southern anything in the last 3 quarters and shut down the option. Where’s ND State’s defense ranked this year? Why #1 again, of course. Face it, Ga Southern has choked every single year in the playoffs since Paul Johnson left. And the trend will continue this year.
Buckhead Benny
December 10th, 2012
8:27 am
The biggest knock on Valdosta State is the AD there. They play at Valdosta High School stadium, and the biggest problem there are a lot of alumni here in Atlanta and around the nation that want to contribute to a stadium fund like West Georgia did, but it has to be initiated from the administration to the board of regents which requires your president, athletic director, etc- from an alumni from VSU- they won’t even mention the word stadium when you ask about it now or will they ever even disclose future plans for it.
Very frustrating because when you have a campus that nice, and when you see the Wildcat logo’s all over the place you sit in amazement how an AD even keeps his job there especially when you have your rival in state school in the same conference that built a 25 million dollar stadium a few years ago West Georgia who doesn’t even have a fraction of the tradition of VSU or in my opinion the wealth that city of Valdosta has to support it.
That AD has the biggest napoloean complex- You have one of the best division 2 programs in the country with one of the worst stadiums in the country so go figure. It would be one thing if you had held a capital caimpaign but they won’t even do that which the interest is there from alumni so you sit in an amazement how someone is content with that facility without even inquiring from alumni about plans to build a new one.
AD wants to take all the credit for the success of the football program but that was Hatcher who I think will point out the lack of support from that AD, and David Dean. They are in one of the most fertile recruiting grounds in the whole country which defintely helps as well.
Hopefully another national championship will get the AD off his a** and the administration where they finally decide to show some initiative to build one.
ugadawg2005
December 10th, 2012
8:28 am
UGA was in the de facto national semi-final game, just as GA Southern is. GA Southern is an underdog this week just as UGA was against Bama. Chances are, they won’t make it past the semi’s either. I don’t understand why so many GA Southern fans are talking smack on UGA. If memory serves me correctly, UGA beat GA Southern pretty handily last month. Be proud of your school, but you don’t need this little brother jealousy syndrome that GA Tech has. You are supposed to be better than that.
With that said, Go Blazers! Bring another championship back to TitleTown/Winnersville USA.
peachy
December 10th, 2012
8:38 am
According to the Savannah Morning News, the Georgia Southern – ND State game will be on ESPN 2 at 8:00PM FRIDAY .
GATA Eagles!
JustMe
December 10th, 2012
8:47 am
BuckheadBenny, you are spot on about the AD. As an Alumni, Its time for a change!. He holds them back. Ask their Coaches. Now, the comments about the Stadium, its a great stadium, one of the best in the Nation but it belongs to the Valdosta High Wildcats.
Buckhead Benny
December 10th, 2012
9:09 am
JustMe- I have inquired to the president and the VP about their plans for a stadium and they won’t even address the topic which me goes to the AD and the adminstration- no AD in their right mind is going to allow a team to continue to play in that facility and the fact that they don’t even reach out to alumni to inquire about their interest in funding a new facility which is the first basic step in raising money is more problematic to me.
That speaks to someone being incompetent or lazy- Funny, they like to point out how proud they are of a 7 million dollar athletic facility that was paid for by students fees that were specifically allocated for guess what a stadium!
Problem with that scenario alumni and fans and students are not going to want to experience a game day enviroment in a high school stadium on a consistent basis- It would be no different than people driving to the Valdosta High school gymnasium to watch a basketball game eventually people are going to become disenchanted with that environment.
There is a fee that students still pay every quarter for that stadium but not one word is ever mentioned about a stadium and it has been being paid for over 10 years at like 20.00 a pop for each student times 13,000 students last I checked seems like a lot of money and a good way to fund a stadium, fyi.
I am proud of the VSU football team and coach not very proud of the AD and the adminstration there though to say the least. I think that AD gets a pass and I can’t understand why especially when he hasn’t even tried to raise the money with a capital caimpaign or set a strategic future plan for one. You have to have a plan at some point if you are going to build one seems like a very good basic starting point.
JustMe
December 10th, 2012
9:53 am
Buckhead: Wow, really disappointed to hear no cooperation or even listening by the Admin and/or AD. Keep up the pressure though. Its laziness…..they like to say why they cant do it, thus no plan, no effort to at least see if the capital could be raised. So many of their former peers have made it happen, and doing well. Troy, Jax State, Central Arkansas, just to name a few. Heck, even Georgia Southern, who started their football program at the same time.
Tired of their excuses and bureaucratic nonsense.
The teams, the coaches, the students, and the alumni deserve so much better!
Spread the word among Alumni. I can tell you there is a strong current of dissatisfaction for the AD. And they wonder why attendance is off?
Red Pepper
December 10th, 2012
10:01 am
If the AD is a problem at Valdosta State, so is attendance in a community where prep football rules. If VSU pulls in 5,000 for a game, it’s Rose Bowl attendance by comparison. Not many small college programs have to contend with that level of competition.
BlazerFanAlso
December 10th, 2012
10:08 am
Attendance is off this year, but has seen 8-10,000 in years past. Why? People are tired, not interested in Division 2 ball. Plus they dont have their own stadium, which is a joke. And, they will lose yet another great Coach if they dont take immediate steps to move the program up. Chris Hatcher wanted to stay, and move the program up, but got shot down. Guarantee you the fans and alumni would flock to see them move up, play teams like Ga Southern, Appalachian State, Georgia State, etc. People are football crazy in Southern Georgia and Northern Florida.
Buckhead Benny
December 10th, 2012
11:04 am
How about attendance at the University is also down 5 percent and West Georgia is up 2.3 percent and what I don’t get if I was the president of VSU or the adminstration I would think that a stadium for the college call me crazy would help attract students and maintain students at your campus and you would get your money back 10 fold. Similar investments by other institutions have proven this.
Theres a reason why Mercer, GA. State and Reinhardt college are building programs from scratch and building stadiums in a resession environment. They know its an important factor getting people to want to come to school but also reconnecting alumni.
The majority of alumni is here in Atlanta, when factoring in driving to VSU for a game do you really think we want to bring our spouse and kids to watch a collge game in a high school stadium? No. Its just a reality the game day experience is diminished because of it.
For example, if you had the Atlanta Falcons playing at the old launching pad still Atlanta Fulton County stadium and it was this decrepate stadium you not going to be packing the house like you would the Georgia Dome its just the nature of the game people want to feel comfortable where the spend their time. In fact, most people in Atlanta would be complaining so bad but that would never happened here only in Valdosta I assume.
West Georgia had zero people attending and they have seen a big difference in attendance and participation from students and fans- Its basic economics- If you want people to spend the time to come visit from your main city Atlanta are alumni and students to spend money do you really think they are going to want to go and travel 4hours for that? Probably not.
Its 2012 not 1992- The AD has been there 20 years lets give someone esle a shot that has the inititative to quit blaming alumni for not wanting to watch games in a high school stadium and finding a solution to the stadium issue that people can rally behind and get excited about.
The University of South Georgia
December 10th, 2012
11:08 am
Valdosta needs to move to the Big South Conference. West GA should join also.
Not just for football either, the Blazers have an awesome basketball facility (as does UWG) that really rocks when it is full. Unfortuantely the Blazers have recently chosen to play more schools like Edward Waters and Montevallo, rather than GA Southern or Florida State. Would be great if the Blazers had a chance to make the Big Dance with their peer institutions every March.
//
December 10th, 2012
11:30 am
congrats to Valdosta State always a winner UGA and Ga Southern
//
December 10th, 2012
11:31 am
to he!! with Ga Southern and UGA
peachy
December 10th, 2012
1:21 pm
Indeed, Valdosta should build stadium. It should have a capacity of 18,000 to 25,000 and be easily expandable. Move to division 1 FCS for now, BCS later.
Drop State from the university name and become Valdosta University. It worked for Auburn ( it use to be Alabama Polytechnic Institute or API) and Clemson and is working for Troy.
With the sole exception of USC ( Southern California) Universities with a direction in their name ( unless the state also has a direction in it’s name) tend to be thought of small time.
Unfortunately, Statesboro University doesn’t work very well.
BlazerFanAlso
December 10th, 2012
1:30 pm
Great posts here….Valdosta State has so much going for it. Beautiful Campus, solid Alumni base, great location, Football/Sports crazed area. Its time for a new, forward thinking, positive AD.
jlw
December 10th, 2012
2:49 pm
The student body at VSU voted to raise student fees to build a stadium. However, the students then voted to spend that money to build a new field house when the Old Gym was torn down to build the new Student Union. It isn’t like there haven’t been efforts made to build a stadium. There is also the question where the stadium would be built.
jlw
December 10th, 2012
2:54 pm
Also, as to the question of “moving up”, I know it was raised when I was a student there in the 1990s, and it has been raised several times since then. The kicker is always money. We don’t have enough of an athletic budget currently to make such a move. Furthermore, FCS only exists for football. I personally think we need a little longer for the other programs to continue to build their foundations.
BlazerFanAlso
December 10th, 2012
3:15 pm
Bull to JLW above. Put together a capital plan (including contributions, fees, etc). It can be done NOW. Stadium, moving up, etc. Plenty of sites around. All of the former VSU peers have done it/moved up. Excuses and Cant’s are no longer acceptable.
GaSouthernFan
December 10th, 2012
3:16 pm
As a Ga Southern fan, we just got rid of our AD because he was full of the same cants, wonts, excuses.
GaSouthernFan
December 10th, 2012
3:24 pm
If youre not growing, youre dying
hahira blazer
December 10th, 2012
7:39 pm
rollin thru the atl sat looking for some blazer fans to watch the game with any bar suggestions?
The University of South Georgia
December 10th, 2012
7:57 pm
Valdosta is a regional university that serves more of South Georgia and attracts more South Georgia students than any other institution. Valdosta’s peer schools are ALL in FCS, and a few are FBS.
For Valdosta I do not want more or less than what we are: The University of South Georgia, competing in FCS.
“directional” schools are hardly small time- U of South Florida, U of Central Florida, U of North Texas, East Carolina are all substantial universities.
University of South Georgia is appropriate now and a brand that can be developed nationally.
BlazerAlum
December 10th, 2012
9:22 pm
Glad to see this bubbling up….as an Alum who’s been successful, Im really frustrated that VSU hasnt even made an effort to put a plan together to move up. Its crazy. This AD, who I know, I do not like. He is holding the University back. I wont give a dime till this guy is gone and a plan is in place to move up!
Buckhead Benny
December 11th, 2012
12:47 pm
I heard yesterday that Mercer is going directly to 1-AA immediately- and that now every college almost in Georgia is starting football programs or has plans to and build staidiums and this includes Mercer, Lagrange College, Shorter, Reinhardt, and Berry College to name a few.
In addition, the mention of there being no land is a joke- Let me tell you why- They can build one right on the old practise field on baytree next to the gynasium and tear down the tennis courts great location and great parking too- you can build tennis courts anywhere
they also just purchased the land at Ashley Cinemas which would be a good location as well-
In addition, its not like real estate is expensive in Valdosta so even if you had to go buy it around town my gut is there would be a lot of people ready to sell somewhere.
The problem here is these guys are lazy period- they don’t get paid extra to put in more effort for something like this and this is a complex big project that requires a lot of time, effort and passion, and vision which clearly they lack.
If you have a good plan from up top people will want to contribute- no one is going to want to contribute if they don’t think the adminstration supports it, fyi.
Also, West Florida is starting a program from scratch- so what some people would want us to believe is that all of these schools are starting football programs from scratch and building stadiums during a recession but we can’t raise 10 million dollars for a stadium of our own with the history of our football program at our school and a school of 13,000 people? That is just absurd- With social media now you can connect with a lot of alumni and I think they would be pleasantly suprised the amount that could be raised if the right plan was put together, fyi
TitleTown Resident
December 11th, 2012
4:13 pm
The Valwood Valiants already won State and brung another title to titletown. Can Valdosta State bring in another? Those two schools has won titles in the same year in the past. Let’s do it again!!
2002 – Valdosta State Football played in the Title game!!
2004 – Valdosta State Football won the Title!!
2006 – Valdosta State Tennis team claimed the Title!!
2007 – Valdosta State Football won the Title!!
2010 – Valdosta State tennis and Softball lost in the Title game!!
2011 – Valdosta State Tennis team claimed the title!!
2012 – Valdosta State Softball team won the softball Title!!
2012 – ?????
Go Blazers!!
TitleTown Resident
December 11th, 2012
4:37 pm
All we do is WIN….
BlazerAlumAtl
December 12th, 2012
8:27 am
Its time for bigger and better things……D1 FCS, its Own Stadium, and a new AD
VSU Alumnus
December 12th, 2012
8:38 am
The problem with the move to 1-AA is you hurt all your non-football programs,because they must compete at 1-A level. Our softball national champs would have no chance against Texas and USC and our tennis program is tops in D-2.The stadium issue is $$$. Until the economy recovers and the state can help it won’t happen. Go Blazers !!!
HerbMustGo
December 13th, 2012
6:27 am
I know the AD doesnt let students sit behind the visiting team. He seems to want to control everthing with the program, yet not help/provide anything additional for the staff or teams. Find out who bought conference rings for the football team last time they won it and you will understand what kinda jacka$$ they are dealing with in Dosta. Herb must Go!
BlazerAlumAtl
December 13th, 2012
9:06 am
Totally Agree with Herb. Plenty of more stories about him too. He needs to go. REALLY holding back this University. Where is the President? Is he just another figure head, do nothing bureaucrat?
FormerVSUBaseball
December 13th, 2012
9:07 am
I could tell you plenty of stories as a former VSU Baseball player about the AD and the Athletic Department. It would sicken you.
BlazerGrad1990s
December 13th, 2012
9:31 am
It is time to move up! Put together a capital plan (including contributions, fees, etc). It can be done NOW. Stadium, moving up, etc. Plenty of sites around. All of the former VSU peers have done it/moved up. Why do we let this AD hold the school back? So much going for it….a lot more than Troy, Jax State, Central Arkansas did!
VSU Season Ticket holder
December 14th, 2012
2:25 am
This article is about a national companionship game not about your dislike of the AD at VSU. As far as VSU going to D1. You must draw more than 3,981 ( many of them free tickets to students) to a semi final game to be able to move to D1. Valdosta High fills the stadium on Fridays and its empty on Saturday when the blazers play and the stadium is on the VSU campus. Its not the stadium, its the support. I can’t understand why anyone would think that VSU should play FSU and GA Southern. The difference in talent is enormous. The money needed to move up to D1 is just too great. No AD can justify making the students pay for that just to make a few alums happy. VSU would become the doormat of the Southern Conference, If they could get in. Sorry but VSU needs to stay put and play where they are.
VSU Season Ticket holder
December 14th, 2012
2:33 am
One more thing. I drive to Valdosta from Atlanta to see the games. I bet you big fans that want VSU to go to D1 haven’t seen a game in person in years.
BlazerGrad1990s
December 14th, 2012
8:37 am
Bull, Season Ticket Holder. Im at EVERY game. People are not interested in going to D2 games against the same old teams. Get your head out of the sand. Admin and AD need to get off their butts and put together a Capital Plan and Stadium Plan. and the Alumni will step up big time. If this AD wont do it, then time for a new one.
BlazerGrad1990s
December 14th, 2012
8:39 am
Season Ticket Holder….u are clueless and miss the entire point/benefits to stepping up to D1 FCS series. Obviously you do not have an understanding of the FCS level.
vsuathleticdept
December 14th, 2012
8:44 am
the ad is a giant —-
ask around
BJ
December 14th, 2012
9:23 am
I can see Valdosta State going to Southern Conference if Georgia Southern goes to Sun Belt
VSUFan
December 14th, 2012
10:54 am
Southern Conference would be great for VSU. Check the enrollment of its current Members, VSU is twice as large as many of them. No reason why VSU cant make this happen.
VSU Season Ticket holder
December 14th, 2012
12:27 pm
Well Blazer grad 1990s, since you want to make this personal—- The programs listed as going to the D1 level from D2 sold out their stadiums on a regular basis. The only way VSU could do that would be to play all away games, especially in D1. Under 3,000 paid for a semi final game against an undefeated “new team”, disgraceful. I bet you sit in the cheap seats. If you actually went to the game,you would see the Frat boys having tailgate parties out side the stadium for the entire game. Why don’t you become involved in the program and support the team, follow them to Dallas. Start acting like a big time program and someday it could happen. I have spoken with and corresponded with The AD. While I’m not a great fan, he has done a lot for the school. What is surprising is that the teams have succeed without fan support. VSU has never been a big draw In any sport except basketball when they win. Stop blaming others and start doing something yourself. I call BULL to you. There are talkers and doers. So far all I see are talkers. Opps I almost forgot, GOOOOOOOOO Blazers.
VSUFan
December 14th, 2012
1:04 pm
The AD is jack –
Everyone knows it….inside the program and out, including Coaches. He is holding the University back…badly. A big reason Alumni and Fans dont jump in with both feet. As long as he’s there, nothing
will change. Low attendance, low Alumni and Student support, etc. Better face the facts.
Buckhead Benny
December 14th, 2012
1:51 pm
You can go suck it VSU season ticket holder and your redneck attitude- disgraceful is blaming students and alumni for wanting to spend their saturdays watching college football in a high school stadium so you keep sucking up to Herb and buying into this its everybody elses fault except ours- Nobody in their right mind is going to drive from Atlanta or a student and want to engage in that atmosphere if you really believe that you are crazy and that is the “Herb” mentality- You would never get anyone to come to the game in that crappy staidum and no other college asks people to do it.
forget about the D1 or 1-aa all were asking is to do what West Georgia did- Did you see West Georgia dogging their students and alumni like this and blaming the students and alumni this is why everyone has such issues with Herb he spreads this negativy and blame.
Looks like the attendance spiked up at West Georgia all of sudden didn’t it? How do you explain that? You think students and alumni enjoyed and should be held hostage for their saturday watching a college game in a high school stadium?
Furthermore, I have never heard of a school and I have friends that attended West Georgia they never once blamed students and alumni for not wanting to watch games there. In addition, you act like there is high interest levels in watching Edward Walters play? there isn’t. In addition, the football game you mentioned was the day of the SEC championship in Atlanta how in the hell are you going to ask people to come down and watch a college footballl game in a high school stadium during the SEC championship game that Georgia is playing in? Pure stupid comment and you should put your commments in context- that is what you compete against every weekend idiot.
Own it, and start a capital caimpaign and then you can blame alumni and students because we didn’t contribute- there is a reason students over 10 years ago voted to pay 20.00 a sememester of their student fees for this stadium and there is a reason alumni keep asking about it.
If you want to keep dogging students and alumni the “Herb” way- then, this is the backlash you get-
Last I checked we don’t owe it to anybody to sit for a couple of hours in a crappy a++ stadium watching college football games- Until you guys get that thru your stupid heads you will be better off.
Buckhead Benny
December 14th, 2012
2:06 pm
Question: Do you think playing in a high school stadium when your a college team negatively impacts the attendance for your game? YES-
Question : Do you think you are going to have many alumni and students come to watch your home playoff game during the same day as the SEC championship game when Georgia is Playing: NO
Question: Do you think your attendance would go up if you played in your own stadium and had your own colors on your field and bleachers? YES
I tried to simplify it for you VSU fan because you actually proved what you are competing against every weekend and its just that peoples time. The Georgia game won over the majority of the people- You would have a better chance of grabbing students and alumni’s time if they like potentially the environment they are going to be sitting in.
Basic marketing 101- Fyi, don’t put down your customer base annually otherwise you may pi++ them off and they decide to take their time elsewhere, i.e. (current situation)
Find an AD that has the vision for this and bridge the gap between alumni and students- find someone that people rally behind rather than someone looking to blame others.
BlazerGrad1990s
December 14th, 2012
2:36 pm
Amen Buckhead. Spot on. And your’e gonna lose yet another great Coach if the AD doesnt get replaced.
VSU Season Ticket holder
December 14th, 2012
3:19 pm
Well Buckhead Benny, Someone once said, “Great people speak of ideas small people talk about people.” I agree with you on one one point. Yes the VSU fans,such as you, would rather watch a game on TV rather than go to the VSU game. I guess you are actually a Bulldog. It has nothing to do with the stadium, it is the fan base. The AD and I have had many disagreements. I said before, I am no fan of his, but you now have a top tear athletic training facility for all sports. The tennis and baseball facility is tops also. A real recruiting edge. Valdosta High is talking of build a new campus stadium, much like the countys. The city owns the stadium not the school system. The City is in debt and may wish to unload the on campus stadium. Waiting is sometimes the best option. I too would like to see that stupid wild cat removed. Although is was so funny watching Fort Valley stomping on it in pregame warm ups. They did not have a clue who they were playing, It’s no wonder they got beat. I have seen several D2 stadiums and that one is not so bad. It could be remodeled and expanded. I can’t understand why it was built east west not north south. As far as not going to the games, I guess you would not go to spend Christmas with your parents because you are mad at your brother. Be a real fan. Buy season tickets. I am in row 16, 50 yard line. Spirited conversation is great, you can sit next to me I will love it. But please, no name calling it shows immaturity. I would love to do away with the apathy. I have not seen so much excitement about VSU football in the last several years, not since the the Hatcher era. I want to see 9,000 screaming nuts at every home game. Please join me. And Again GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Balzers.
PS: go look at the stats for WSSU. They match up very well against our Blazers and It should be a close game. I pick Blazers 42-37 in a battle to the finish.
AtlBlaze
December 14th, 2012
4:58 pm
Hahira Blazer, we have several VSU alums meeting at Wild Wing Cafe Marietta on Roswell Rd. They agreed to give us a big screen and center seating.
BlazerGrad1990s
December 14th, 2012
5:51 pm
Ole Season Ticket Holder pretty clueless. Blaming the “fan base”, huh? Might want to get up to speed a little more before commenting.
BlazerGrad1990s
December 14th, 2012
5:52 pm
And the City does NOT own the stadium. You are clueless.
The University of South Georgia
December 14th, 2012
5:58 pm
VSU typically averages 5,000 – 7,000 for home football games. Some years much more, some years a little less. This is comparable to many FCS schools, and we are doing it while playing Edward Waters, Newberry, Knoxville, Shorter and other schools that have 10% of Valdosta’s enrollment.
When we have played more substantial programs, from more comparable schools, interest and attendance interest and attendance have significantly increased.
Big ticket holder, you don’t believe that we can hang with Charleston Southern or Coastal Carolina in the Big South, or Western Carolina or Elon in the Southern, or Jacksonville St or UNO in the Southland?
We have beaten Central Florida, Troy, Florida Atlantic on the football field, always played GA Southern well, and have had success in other sports against other DI schools, including FSU.
Valdosta is one of only two regional universities in the system, with developing research, and 13,000 students and on the way to 15,000+. I don’t know any Blazer that wants a piece of FSU in football, but Mercer just whipped them in men’s bball, as we have in the past in women’s bball.
I would have never thought the athletic high point in profile, attendance, and prestige for Valdosta was almost 20 years ago when we were a state college with 5,000 students.
Regardless, Go Blazers!
AnotherBlazerAlum
December 14th, 2012
6:03 pm
I am so glad to see these comments here about VSU, the AD, No Stadium, and going D1 FCS.
Lets get an AD in here that is forward thinking, an optimist, respected by Students, Coaches and Alumni….. and not so stuck on his little short self. He is holding this great University back!
Go Blazers! Bring the Title home again
VSU Season Ticket holder
December 14th, 2012
7:47 pm
OK Blazer 90 grad. Who owns the stadium? Glad to see you can respond with out calling names. Oh excuse me you can’t. VSU had the chance to be in on the upgrades but decided not to. Hopefully to build one of their own. The original proposed site was behind the Basketball arena. After a site analysis it was found unacceptable because the site was unstable. The school system paid for part of the upgrades, therefore the big yellow cats paws. The 8,000 to 9,000 attendees are when FVSU, Albany State or others play. Their fans showed. Edward Waters was put on the schedule when the Arkansas schools walked. Look at North Alabama. They are thinking twice about their decision.
Yes we might be able to hang with Western Carolina and other bottom dwellers but do you want to compete for the bottom? No, I don’t think we can compete with GSU, App State, UTChatt and most of the others. A D1 football program cost what the entire Athletic budget is for VSU. Yes we beat Florida Atlantic in their first year in D1 but not now. I remember last year when the Gulf South Game of the week was in Valdosta and the TV crew moved the cameras to avoid showing an almost empty stadium. I enjoy VSU football and I will continue to support them, But one must be realistic. Why is it that when one disagrees with you you are so hateful and full of venom? You all sound like the Bulldog faithful after their coach lost two games last year. Remember we should be on the same side. Now, did any one but me be bother to look at WSSU? I was hoping to discuss the game. I hope some of you do watch it since the Bulldogs are not playing on TV. I know I won’t see you in Mussel Shoals.
VSU Season Ticket holder
December 14th, 2012
7:56 pm
opps, I forgot, Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Blazers.
Buckhead Benny
December 14th, 2012
8:21 pm
VSU Season Ticket Holder- We will agree to disagree- I do know Hatcher and he will be the first to tell you that the support was lacking from Herb to say the least-
I don’t think they should even think about going division 1AA until the solve the stadium issue, but what is more concerning is blaming fans for not showing up when the facility is one of the worst in the country.
When I look at places like Rhinehardt College, Mercer and more importantly West Georgia I am concerned by Herb’s lack of transparency there is no alumni committee or booster committee on the websites on the athletic website to my knowlege, and I think it is this that makes people feel left out and the lack of communication many feel we should have taken part in the 2004 joint facility and who was the AD then oh that’s right it was Herb.
I think if you go look at other top division 2 schools attendance is right on par with division 2 games- You have to admit when you see in my opinion an inferior progam such as West Georgia build a state of the art 25 million facility and no communication what so ever from Herb and the administration you allow this type of rhetoric to spread because people lack confidence in what they/we perceive as lack of effort or at the very least there is zero transparency which I don’t think anybody thinks is a good idea for raising possible funds to contribute for a stadium.
Also, many think that since they adminstration, athletic director, president don’t get paid extra to take on a signifcant project such as this that this will go the wayside until Herb retires since it appears from the outside not to be a sense of urgency about getting this done and he is past the 20 year mark now at VSU-
Also, that stadium fund has been being collected for 10 years at 20.00 x 12,000 plus students my math comes out to over 5 million dollars- so that athletic facility should be paid off soon- I think its the lack of transparency on those funds as well that have me concern because that is a permanent fee that has been and is being charged to each student at VSU- You want me to shut up? Then how about getting the adminstration to disclose how much is in that fund currently? How long has it been being charged? Seems like a logical question to another alumni and current and former students for someone that seems to be at the defense of Herb quickly- That seems like good collarteral to go to one of the local banks at the very least if you have a guaranteed source of income permanently being charged every student at the college twice a year?
A lot of stuff doesn’t add up, but hey prove me wrong. Would love to see it besides the same rhetoric of blaming alumni and students for not showing up as the reason this can’t be done. You see where that rhetoric has gotten Herb these last 10 years? Doesn’t seem to be very galvonizing for the Blazer spirit to say the least.
Be careful of trying to squash alumni’s big hopes and dreams its those types of dreamers that make things happen in this world and think outside the box otherwise I was there when we play Troy State- they could have said the exact things you are saying now and ran with the same negative rhetoric, and I know you will say its much more expensive now to go division 1, million dollar fee, blah blah, but my point is this is without a capital caimpaign you will never be able to tap into alumni wealth and you might be suprised some of the money that is out there amongst us alumni and what’s crazy it only takes a couple of really weatlhy to donors to stroke a check but usually they need to see that the people at the top back it and see the vision for it before stroking checks for it.
In addition, with social media now you can raise millions faster than you ever could via facebook, twitter, etc.
Just some thoughts for you as wel..
Go Blazers!
With fans like Season Ticket...
December 14th, 2012
8:22 pm
who needs opponents.
Buckhead Benny
December 14th, 2012
9:31 pm
VSU Season Ticket Holder-
You should digest from this blog passion that people are wanting to contribute to larger, better things for our University and are still typing about it after its been printed for almost a week- Its subjective and your’s and Herbs are on the Naysayers- always thinking of reasons to say no or to blame others-
You think since we want more for our football team and want to contribute to better facilities for our football that is venom and hate? I call that PASSION.
When you don’t have people pissed is when you need to be worried. You used the terms with Bulldogs and Blazers the fact you mention the two acting the same is a compliment- one has high expectations and the Blazers want more for our team- that’s a good thing not a bad thing- embrace it.
Buckhead Benny
December 14th, 2012
9:45 pm
You guys act like we don’t have inside information from former coaches and players that have played this is their feedback- If Chris Hatcher says Herb Reinhardt is sorry I am going to believe him- He is arguably the greatest player and coach to have ever played at VSU and the Harlon Hill award winner.
So going to be hard for you to trump that one and he is on record saying to others about Herb that is well known and I think you know that VSU season ticket holder-
I bet you live in Valdosta- If I didn’t live in Atlanta I would probaly make a few more games and most of your alumni is here in Atlanta as well. If your average 3k for the playoffs it triples with a new a stadium minimum no matter what game is being played on that Saturday and I submit it quadruples with the Atlanta base you increase and the current student body that is saying “nah lets go grill out for the Georgia game”
You know good and well Herb Reinhardt is not going to go out and start hustling for a stadium campaign these next 5 years – I know Herb not impressed and neither is anyone else that writes on these blogs we know he isn’t going to take more of his free time to go raise money for a complex project like this- he would rather blame students and alumni and keep cashing checks from VSU.
Thats a fact I submit-
VSU Season Ticket holder
December 14th, 2012
9:52 pm
Wow, thanks for a reasonable discussion. I think I like this. I also like Hatcher and was sorry to see him go. I think he would be the first to admit the vast difference between D1 and D2. VSU deserves a stadium of it’s own. It must be on campus. We can’t get the students to walk across the street to attend much less drive to the other side of the campus. Stating fact is not blaming anyone. West Georgia was playing in a high school stadium away from campus. They had to move. That is why the attendance went up. Not to go to the games because you want to send a message to the AD is foolish. I would go see the Blazers at the rec center if that is where they played. I started to watch D2 football when I became fed up with the way the athletes were treated at the big D1 schools (long time Tech season ticket holder). A friend had a daughter who was a cheerleader so I got free tickets if I wanted to drive 4 hours. I got hooked. I love seeing student athletes play for the love of the game. I love seeing the passion. I love the slogan “I chose D2″. Anyone can sit and complain. Most of the post were just whining and they have no idea what a D1 athletic program actually cost. Should VSU move up and not be successful they will scream that they are a bunch of losers. Seen it before. To move up you need student and alum support. Both financially and with attendance. The NCAA requires both. We need a strong Gulf South Conference to start. Build excellent training facilities. Build strong non football facilities. VSU now has a great basketball arena, and great non Football Facilities.That has been done. The Gulf South is again on the rise. I actually like the current Stadium. (Then again, I liked the old Grant Field.) The old style cozy seating, Lots of room to expand (both end zones and visitors section). Winning the toss and making the visitors look into the sun (east west stadium). The splost funds used to remodel it have not been enough to service the debt and upkeep. I think waiting to build a new stadium is worth the wait. The 7,000 reserve seating seats are very comfortable and the ticket price is a bargan. You may not like old Herb but one must admit VSU has done very well under his tenure. I hope to see you at a ballgame. Like I said, I love spirited debate, just not the silly name calling. Remember I’m in Row 16, 50 yard line.
GooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooBlazers
VSU Season Ticket holder
December 14th, 2012
10:14 pm
I’m sorry to hear that Hatcher is trashing his former AD. I would have thought more of him, especially with his current situation at Murray State, after being canned at GA Southern. Sorry Benny, I too live north of Atlanta. I have not defended Mr. Herb. You should see the nasty letter he wrote to me when I made a complaint to him. I’m just being realistic. Also give the VSU President a break, he just got there. Lastly, as my mom would say, ” a fowl mouth is a sign of a weak mind”. My, you people are too easy. I wish that passion would go to the games, or at least to more than one or two a season.
Blazerdawg
December 14th, 2012
10:34 pm
Don’t have a Dawg in the AD HR discussion, but I looked up a few schools to find out their annual athletics budget:
Georgia Southern University $7.9M
Coastal Carolina University $6.9M
Western Carolina University $6.8M
Nicholls State University $3.8M
Valdosta State University $3.9M
More than VSU, but not an insurmountable difference, particularly with additional revenue opportunities. I think the Big South would be a great fit. Lower budgets, some great potential rivalries with the SC schools, and we could compete on the filed/court right away.
Watch West Georgia, Kennesaw State, and even Georgia Regents – they will all be FCS within five years. Hope VHS builds a new stadium soon. You cannot beat the location of Cleveland Field, it just needs to be Blazerized!
On Saturday, VSU 41 WSSU 27
Go Blazers!!!!!!
VSU Season Ticket holder
December 14th, 2012
11:16 pm
Hot Dawg, Blazer Dawg. I do agree. Fans must remember, that is an annual expense not one that is paid by a rich alum giving one check. There is no big fat TV check to pay the difference. The other sports will suffer because only football is in D1 fcs. Remember womens’ sports. Schools often cut mens’ sports when they move because of title 9. Western is always at the bottom. I have friends who are former athletes at Western. Their excuse is “We don’t have the money to compete”. Blazerize Cleveland Field and change that name.
AnotherBlazerAlum
December 15th, 2012
7:26 am
Cleveland Field could be purchased Monday. Valdosta City Schools would sell it to them. Step up and make it happen. We already fumbled the ball big time back in 2003-04 when they were renovating it. Guess who the AD was?
BlazerGrad1990s
December 15th, 2012
7:30 am
Mr Season Ticket Holder…..the Stadium is owned by the Valdosta Board of Education-Valdosta City Schools. Look it up here: http://qpublic.net/ga/lowndes/
BlazerGrad1990s
December 15th, 2012
7:32 am
And Buckhead Benny is spot on….again.
This AD is worthless. Glad to see the light is finally being shined on him.
VSU deserves so much more.
Buckhead Benny
December 15th, 2012
7:50 am
http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/182691691.html
This is a link and probably representative of how most feel herb works- the d coordinator at vsu had to get some jackets for vsu not herb eventhough herb had a week and knew it was going to be cold- not saying he had to buy them but u could figure out a way to rent some for a day so ur whole team could have some rather than a few with the name grinell college on it that the d coordinators dad drove from Iowa-
I noticed u didn’t want to touch the stadium fee being collected and the amount to date and ask ur friend herb on that huh? That’s a significant fee being collected in addition to any money that would be raised as well that is forgotten in this discussion students have been paying for it I believe about 10 years?
So ur theory and I guess is herbs wait for Cleveland field to become available and then we buy it? That is one of the most laughable ideas that the historic valdosta high is going to let hallowed Cleveland go to to vsu since they have shown such a desire for so long.
Any other plans in the mix or is that it? Wouldn’t it be nice to know a 5-10 year plan for vsu stadium plans because this is a significant project that requires a significant amount of time and passion and I don’t think u even think herb is going to raise his hand and volunteer for it so why not find someone that will?
Also, vsu has 13000 students playing in a fertile recruiting base against teams that have a significant lower student body total and that’s fine I will give u wins and losses under herb but I won’t give him a pass on the stadium when it see his plan is to wait out valdosta high and hope they want to sell the stadium to vsu that seems like herb is content to ride out the clock into retirement and brag about his w’s while the best program on campus still doesn’t have it’s own facility.
I think the AD in my opinion can find a way to get jackets for his team and make sure they are there rather than defensive coordinator doing the ad’s job
I am a business owner here in atlanta anybody that fractures ur client base like this has to go- for example, you don’t give any credit to the coaches coaching at vsu and those coaches can still be there with a more energetic and positive AD, fyi
Gene
December 15th, 2012
8:37 am
First I’ve heard of it. Poor coverage, AJC.
BlazerGrad1990s
December 15th, 2012
9:21 am
Spot on again Buckhead Benny. And these kinds of incidents are reserved just for football….the other sports have it going on too. Sad. Where are the VSU Leaders? Got their heads buried in the sand??
This University could soar…
Todd Cunningham
December 15th, 2012
10:13 am
Build it and they will come!
Todd Cunningham
December 15th, 2012
10:15 am
Georgia Southern lost last night…They gave it away…
Worst Georgia
December 15th, 2012
10:31 am
Congratulations Valdosta State. If only West Georgia had a clue. Daryl Dickey is 13-37 and nobody will fire him. Every university fires poor football coaches except West Georgia. Board of Regents? Governor? Someone help!!!!!
Buckhead Benny
December 15th, 2012
12:30 pm
Getting ready to watch this game but last thing I am going to say on this blog- Last I checked the VSU students have paid over 5 million dollars thru a stadium fee they elected to pay for almost 10 years ago. $20.00 dollars is charged to each student each semester so if you do the math thats a lot of students and alumni that have contributed directly to the football program and by far the biggest contributers to it. Without this signifcant donation of fees there would be no 7 million dollar athletic facility and I see Herb on his bio likes to take credit for that but last I checked he should be thanking the students that have been paying into it and continue to pay into that fee. Without there would be no athletic facility for the football team.
In addition, I don’t see Herb raising any signifcant donations for the football team so last thing I would do is blame students and former alumni that have paid directly over 40.00 a year and continue to do so because an AD can’t even disclose his plans for why he continues to take these fees and not have a definitve plan for a stadium-
The audacity to even questions the students or alumni after they paid for a 7 million dollar athletic facility is not appropriate-
Just think what you could raise with current students and alumni if you had an organized capital caimpaign? For example, if 26,000 contributed 100.00 a piece which is a very low figure- is 2.6 million- 13,000 for your current student base- 13,000 for for former alumni-
This is a very conservative goal- I think a lot of alumni can do over 500-1000k or more- so it would drive that figure up tremendously- have a little graph so you alumni can feel they are particpiating and contributing to something that is possible (blue print for stadium, etc)
This is doable- There is a 7 million dollar athletic facility that has been built by the students already so this is possible, fyi-
Herb likes to act like he raised private donations for that facility that was 100 percent student paid fees, fyi so thats why I am not sold on him- Any AD can do that.
VSU Season Ticket holder
December 15th, 2012
12:37 pm
The banter and discussion is great. Its shows interest. There must be hope. On a more serious note. Cayden Cochran’s house burned down in OK. His family is fine but they lost everything. I sit next to his parents at home games and they are fine people. Keep them in your prayers. Family, that is what is important.
BlazerGrad1990s
December 16th, 2012
8:40 pm
Bottom line….the AD is a joke.
VSU deserves a LOT better.