History
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).
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 year's 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 his first year Dean's Valdosta State team won the 2007 Division II National Championship. Under Dean the Blazers also won the 2012 national title.
Read more about this topic: Valdosta State Blazers Football
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