"Why I wanted to be here was because of the brand, the history, the tradition, the name recognition of Valdosta State. Mike Leach came to Valdosta State University Athletics in 1992 to work with newly hired Blazer Football head coach Hal Mumme; the duo had been at Iowa Wesleyan College where they set numerous offensive records. All rights reserved. I was lucky because there are a lot of guys my age who were GAs (graduate assistants) and things, and I had a full-time job. Bonner paused a moment. What was the atmosphere like? Madison Gruber, editor-in-chief of The Spectator, said this was the first time VSUs college newspaper earned General Excellence recognition. And when I say they I mean Kirby, Muschamp, Hatcher, all those guys walking up the hallway passing out Whoppers or Chick-fil-A sandwiches or whatever, Bonner said. Mumme took over as head coach at Valdosta State University in 1992. It's my responsibility to help them finish that mission. It was truly an honor to win this award., The column was a sports column about the football team, with the focus being on Coach Tremaine Jackson, he said. In 1994 the Blazer won a school-record 11 victories, and with quarterback Chris Hatcher, played in the program's first national football tournament. Under Dean the Blazers also won the 2012 national title. There are three main things that attracted me to Valdosta State, (1) the history, tradition and brand of VSU football, (2) the chance to compete on the national stage every year, (3) the chance to be coached by a seasoned Athletic Director like Mr. Reinhard.. You might find that weird, but I truly, truly love you. He said Goff wasnt looking for another job, but he was presented with an opportunity he couldnt turn down. Bailey Wilson of Glennville, Georgia, finished third in the Best Photo Essay (Group I) category for her coverage of VSU Housing and Residence Lifes annual Hallaballoo event on the Front Lawn. Leach becomes third former VSU asst. to be named HC in SEC | State Leach spent the last eight seasons as head coach at Washington State and was the head coach for Texas Tech from 2000-09. 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, 2520. I guess the fans and all the other coaches thought: Those guys are kind of crazy.. VALDOSTA -- Former Valdosta State football assistant coach Mike Leach was named head coach at Mississippi State, becoming the third former Blazer football staffer to be named a . I was a manual labor guy. Feb 15 No surprise here @phillipstarks25 ! But Reinhard wanted something different. Coach Rush Propst was fired from Valdosta High in 2021. Category:Valdosta State Blazers football coaches - Wikipedia They take a lot of pride in what they do.. Copyright 2022 WALB. On January 25, 2019, VSU announced former Tiffin head coach Gary Goff as the tenth head coach in program history. The Blazers and Director of Athletics Herb Reinhard moved quickly to find their next head coach following former coach Gary Goff's sudden departure for Division I McNeese State less than 24 hours after the Blazers' 58-17 loss to Ferris State in the NCAA Division II Championship game Dec. 18. [13] Bell was formerly the head coach for the Jacksonville Dolphins, prior to joining Valdosta State. Follow Seth on Twitter @SethWEmerson, Mike Leach served as Valdosta States offensive coordinator for five seasons from 1992-96. They care about Valdosta State and they took the time during bowl preparation to reach out because they had a message that they wanted us to hear.". The Blazers started the season ranked No. . Like he did with Mumme in 1992, Reinhard went out of the box again, this time by reaching back to the Mumme-Leach tree. Valdosta State Blazers head football coaches, NCAA Division II Football Championship Game, Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, "Goff introduced as VSU's new football coach", "Gary Goff Named Valdosta State Head Football Coach", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gary_Goff&oldid=1145961370, Southeastern Louisiana Lions football coaches, West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats football coaches, High school football coaches in Georgia (U.S. state), Coaches of American football from Mississippi, Players of American football from Mississippi, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 21 March 2023, at 23:57. The previous staff did an excellent job with this team, which is full with talent and potential. Every one of us, we were all in there hammering away with the hammers and nails.. It was the most important time in my career.. And now this uncommonly large group of multimillionaire coaches looks back at their stint in this small town and thinks: This was the time of our lives. As the team flew back to Valdosta empty-handed and disappointed, Reinhard made a promise to the players. The "Hatch-Attack" completed its first season 102, and were Gulf South Conference Champions with an 81 conference record, a dramatic improvement from their previous 47 season. Jessica Pope Tremaine also has an impressive track record of his teams excelling in the classroom and playing a prominent role in the community. The annual Press Institute offers collegiate journalists from across the Peach State a day of learning and discussion with instructors and professional journalists, with a focus on helping the student journalists improve their craft and make connections. Valdosta State Football (@valdostastatefb) / Twitter Valdosta had been ranked as high as No. I was very surprised, he said. We didnt know anything different, said Gary Goff, then a Valdosta State receiver. Goff's first season saw the Blazers record an undefeated regular season, a second consecutive GSC championship and extend their winning streak to 25 consecutive games before being upset in the second round of the playoffs by West Florida, 3835. Bonner had transferred from Kentucky, so he had seen the differences in resources, which were glaring. "We'll have a defense that loves to run around and hit people and knock people completely out. 3 Blazers Claim Fourth National Title with 49-47 Thriller over No. Valdosta is a South Georgia city located in Lowndes County, where football is everything. Wilson joined The Spectator staff two years ago. At quarterback, Hatcher led the Blazers to their first-ever playoff appearance in 1994 and won the Harlon Hill Trophy, the Division II version of the Heisman. The Blazers also were outstanding on defense as the team was 32nd nationally in total defense, allowing 311.5 yards per game and held teams to a 111.71 passing efficiency for 33rd nationally out of 166 NCAA Division II programs. One night, Leach was out with a group of people including Michael Doscher, the teams strength and conditioning coach. Herb Reinhard, Valdosta State athletic director, 1992-present. The pay was low. The players would leave the hot practice field and be handed a peanut-butter sandwich and a banana, and then had to lie on the floor inside to try to get cool. Oh, and the meeting rooms didnt have enough chairs. They had more responsibilities. VALDOSTA, Ga. The program needed new lockers. He rushed for 106 yards and two touchdowns during the 2012 season for the four-time NCAA Division II national . David Dean, former VSU offensive coordinator, is the current football head coach at Valdosta State University. Mandel's Mailbag: Is Deion Sanders' roster overhaul too ruthless for She said it was exciting to celebrate the history-making moment with her advisors, Dr. Ted Geltner and Gregory Brown, and her team of student journalists, designers, photographers, and editors. The football program didnt debut until 1982 and had some modest success in Division II over the next few decades. Valdosta State is the second football program to make a historic coaching hire in the last two months as Jackson joins Valdosta High School head football coach Shelton Felton as the. 7 in the AFCA coaches poll, before finishing the regular season ranked No. He called up Joe Kines, who had been his DC at Georgia, who told him: Theres no book for that. At his interview, Smart went up to the drawing board and designed a brilliant defensive scheme. And it was. Leach reclaimed his brand-new Valdosta State pullover. Jackson coached two Academic All-America players this season and one AFCA Second Team All-America honoree, along with 21 All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) performers, including RMAC Offensive Freshman of the Year in Karst Hunter. Because it was such a big step up, Mumme was able to lure most of his top assistants north, including Leach. There will be an official introductory press conference for Jackson on Thursday at 2 p.m. in the arena of The Complex. "It's for the culture and we take a lot of pride in that. They had just left happy hour at a Ruby Tuesday at the mall when they discovered that Doschers wifes car was gone. And so they did: Someone drove a truck out to get a massive amount of wood and hauled it back, where the new football staff at Valdosta State formed an assembly line and proceeded to build new lockers. For the 2006 Season the Blazers wore silver helmets to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the VSU football program. While at VSU, Goff and his teammates helped lay the foundation for where the VSU football program is today. They lost in the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs to UNC-Pembroke 2421. Because thats Valdosta, Bonner said. Garys offenses have been among the most prolific in the country and he will certainly continue and build on our history and tradition of fast-paced, explosive football. There had been people on social media wanting him ousted early in the season, so the column was me taking a stance, saying that he shouldn't be fired but should be given some leeway since he didn't exactly inherit a perfect situation.. During his time in Titletown, Goff helped lead the Blazers to their first Gulf South Conference title in 1996 and the first two NCAA playoff seasons in program history in 1994 and 1996. "About three weeks ago, I stood before a group of young men in the aisle on a plane and told them that they had my word and the word of the university that we would go and aggressively and boldly look for the finest head coach to come lead the program and build on the foundation that Valdosta State University Blazer football has," Reinhard said. The first two seasons the offensive line coach was Guy Morriss, the future Kentucky and Baylor head coach. The opposition scored just 18.5 points per game on the Blazers for 23rd nationally and tops in the conference. Massillon, Ohio football to play Valdosta, Georgia in 2023 Head Football Coach - Valdosta State University Athletics In 2002, the Blazers went to their first national championship game against Grand Valley State, losing 3124. Both were now part of the Saban tree, where they were indoctrinated in a philosophy of run-oriented, physical football. He is the driest, funniest individual I think Ive ever met. Hatcher left VSU after the 2006 season to be the head football coach at Georgia Southern University, he left Valdosta State with a 7612 overall record, a .864 winning percentage, and was the winningest coach in Blazer history. On Sunday, Valdosta State University (VSU) head football coach Gary Goff announced he has taken the head coaching position at McNeese State in Lake Charles, La., according to VSU Athletics. I hate comparing it to that but it was more of what I was raised in, because my Dad was a high school coach, and its closer to the form of high school coaching, at least it was then. [1] [2] Goff served as the head football coach at Tiffin University in Tiffin, Ohio from 2011 to 2018 and Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Georgia from 2019 to 2021. My hope is that it also proves to VSU that we are here, and we mean business.. He wanted Valdosta State football to build its own identity. However, former Seabreeze coach Pat Brown, who departed on Feb. 8 to become the wide receivers coach at NCAA Division II powerhouse Valdosta State, righted a once wayward ship. What should WTXL be covering in this community. Where Is Coach Rush Propst From Valdosta High Now? (EXCLUSIVE) Laying the foundation for what this Blazers program can be moving forward. Goff and the Blazers went 35-13 during his career at VSU under Mumme earning letters in 1995 and 1996. 18. There was only one problem: The money wasnt in this small schools small budget to contract out for it. On April 27, 2023, at approximately 1237 am., a Valdosta Police Officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling in the 1500 block of North Ashley Street, for not having working taillights. The Spectator also finished second in the Layout and Design Excellence (Division A) category. They were big, massive people and youd end up going through chairs pretty quickly, Leach said. The Blazer defense held teams to 124.4 yards per game on the ground for 44th nationally. In 2012 the Blazers posted a 122 record for the year and beat Winston-Salem State University 357 in the NCAA Division II National Football Championship in Florence, Alabama. Years before the existence of offseason workouts and football generally becoming a year-round game, they were doing that in Valdosta. He then served as offensive coordinator, wide . But I would say its certainly the purest form, because you werent doing it for the money. Running Backs / Athletic Training Liaison / Travel Coordinator. 1 even with the upsetting finish. During his time at Hoover High School in Alabama, he was accused of changing students' grades in order to allow them to remain eligible to play football. Even during a national championship run last year, Valdosta States average attendance was about 6,100. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Pickups. In 2001 and 2002, the Blazers went undefeated during the regular season, and were GSC Champions for the third year in a row. Offensively, the Mavericks put up 33.7 points per game, placing them among the top 35 best offenses in Division II. I was appreciative. Longtime Valdosta State quarterback Rogan Wells transfers - WTXL Bailey directed each to quickly move toward fielding a varsity team. The Blazers open their 2023 slate at home against Point on September the 2nd. You have permission to edit this article. Giovanni Spadaro. He also served as co-offensive coordinator and receivers coach at New Mexico State for four seasons as he helped lead the team to second nationally in passing offense and total offense. Thats real, Reinhard said. In 2004, Hatcher led the Blazers to their second national championship appearance with and a 3631 win over Pittsburg State University for the National title. The other day at Georgia football practice, Cavan, now a Bulldogs staffer, was speaking with Josh Lee, another former Valdosta State coach: He was the quarterback coach on the 2004 championship . "Two weeks ago, I had never heard of Tremaine Jackson. Valdosta State head coach takes coaching position at McNeese State - WALB Ryne Strickland. The Aggies broke 21 offensive school records, while ranking 15th nationally in scoring offense. The Blazers are a member of the Gulf South Conference (GSC) in NCAA Division II. Leach becomes third former Blazer football assistant named HC at SEC Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. They like to hunt and they like to fish. "There's not a lot of people that look like me that get the opportunities like this," Jackson said. The award-winning design, a front-page cover, was created by Gavin Ponder, an art major from Augusta, Georgia, who serves as graphics editor for the newspaper. College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Harley Langdale, Jr. College of Business Administration, James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services, University Advising & Student Transitions, VSUs Spectator Wins Big at Collegiate Better Newspaper Contest, https://gapress.org/georgia-college-press-association/, 2023 Valdosta State University A Comprehensive University of the University System of Georgia, Office of Communications In Coach Bell's first season, 2016, the Blazers finished the season 83. He had one of the top offenses in country in 2016 averaging 434.5 yards per game, while his quarterback Antonio Pipkin was a Harlon Hill nominee and was named GLIAC Player of the Year. Valdosta State University has had a football team since 1981. 2008 and 2010 were the only years VSU has made it to the NCAA Division II playoffs since the 2007 National Championship season. Leach served as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach from 1992 to 1993. Sanders, Publisher. Then theres the short answer: Didnt winning those four national championships feel good? Seth also covered South Carolina for The State from 2005-10. GBI investigating body found in Cook County lake, Valdosta man faces drug, firearms charges, Court advocacy group opens new headquarters. Coach Goff spent the last three seasons as the Blazers head football coach. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. [11] Dean left the Blazers to coach a single, unsuccessful year as co-offensive coordinator at FBS program Georgia Southern; both co-coordinators were fired after one year. The Valdosta State football team will turn to Ivory Durham to lead the Blazers at quarterback this fall, as longtime quarterback Rogan Wells has transferred. They wouldnt have made them in an SEC locker room, but at the same time, from a players perspective, thats pretty cool when your coaches are making lockers.
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