Follow Seth on Twitter @SethWEmerson, Mike Leach served as Valdosta States offensive coordinator for five seasons from 1992-96. He rushed for 106 yards and two touchdowns during the 2012 season for the four-time NCAA Division II national . In 2021, Jackson coached two Academic All-Americans as well as one AFCA Second Team All-American. I had the linemen. In 2002 VSU made its first national championship appearance with a 3124 loss to Grand Valley State University. Kerwin Bell, former Florida Gator quarterback, led the Valdosta State team that won the 2018 Division II National Championship. Leach reclaimed his brand-new Valdosta State pullover. He said Goff wasnt looking for another job, but he was presented with an opportunity he couldnt turn down. His first season got his era off to a great start with them starting off ranked No. One was with players: Hatcher had been Mummes quarterback coach at Kentucky, where Dusty Bonner had lost his starting quarterback job to Jared Lorenzen, so Bonner was willing to return home to Valdosta and be Hatchers quarterback in 2000. Ryne Strickland. It was that way with laundry, too: At the bigger school, everything would be handled by equipment managers or janitorial staff. The Blazers started the season ranked No. I've really appreciated that. All rights reserved. He played for former Blazer head coach Hal Mumme and former offensive coordinator Mike Leach at Valdosta State and graduated in 1996. I kid people that it was the most fun Ive ever had coaching, Smart said. 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 second man of color to be named head coach of a football powerhouse in Valdosta. Because thats Valdosta, Bonner said. He wanted Valdosta State football to build its own identity. 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. Chris Hatcher would prove to be the connective tissue between the two unique Valdosta State coaching trees. Not just Blazer football, but Valdosta State University. Its impossible for me to answer that question without talking about football. You're giving me an opportunity to come coach you,'" Jackson said of his first message to the team when he was hired. On November 28, 2022, at approximately 8:27 am., a Valdosta Police Officer responded to a commercial business in the 1600 block of Clay Road after the owner called E911 to report a burglary. [12] David Dean is the only football coach in Valdosta State history to win two national championships. "Two weeks ago, I had never heard of Tremaine Jackson. It was the Mavericks first victory over a top 5 opponent since they became an NCAA Division II school in 1994. It was really pure. There was the gym without air conditioning, less than ideal in south Georgia. [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. Entering his eighth season at Samford in 2022, Hatcher boasts a career record of 161-93 in 22 years as a college head coach, having previously coached at Murray State, Georgia Southern and Valdosta State. Goff continued on the outstanding tradition of VSU football as the Blazers won their first ten games of the season, ranked #1 nationally throughout the regular season and a berth in the second round of the NCAA Division II Football playoffs. 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 Mavericks finished 10th in total defense at 258.2 yards per game and 16th in total offense at 452.0 yards per game. The Blazer defense held teams to 124.4 yards per game on the ground for 44th nationally. "I feel like I have a responsibility as a coach to speak truth into people's lives. During his second season in 2017 the Blazers finished 5-4 overall and 53 in conference. The official Football Coach List for the Valdosta State University Blazers Skip To Main . VALDOSTA, Ga. (WALB) - On Monday, Valdosta State University (VSU) Athletics Department announced a new head coach to lead the Blazers in the upcoming . 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. "This is special," Jackson said. I think the individual awards gave the winners a lot of motivation by proving that they can do anything they set their minds to. Welcome to the job, now hire a football coach. "I also wanted to be here because you have a chance to compete for national championships year in and year out. Low 51F. We don't take that lightly at all, and I told them we're going to do it step-by-step together. The 2021 fall edition of the Mavericks finished 13th nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 15.6 points per game, while the team was 34th nationally in scoring offense at 33.7 points per game. In 2019 he led the Blazers to a season of 10-1 and 8-0 in Gulf South Conference play, earning Gulf South Conference Co-Coach of the Year honors. For the 2006 Season the Blazers wore silver helmets to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the VSU football program. GBI investigating body found in Cook County lake, Valdosta man faces drug, firearms charges, Court advocacy group opens new headquarters. 18. He then reunited with his old college football coach and helped Hal Mumme start the Southeastern Louisiana University football program from scratch. The team was ranked nationally for the first time and broke 12 offensive school records. The Blazers were fourth nationally in completion percentage (.701), while finishing 14th nationally in first downs gained (276). VSU finished the season ranked No. Jessica Pope Pipkin tallied seven Tiffin career records and four GLIAC records, ranking 13thall-time in career total offense, 19thin total offense per game, 27thin career passing yards, and is only the third quarterback at the Division II level to ever accumulate at least 2,000 rushing yards and throw for 10,000 passing yards in a career. Pickups. I knew it was a learning experience for me. Then there were the coaching connections: Will Muschamp was friends with Hatcher through several personal relationships. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. That opportunity came through the mail one day in the form of a videotape: Hal Mumme, then the head coach at NAIA school Iowa Wesleyan, sent Reinhard the tape of his offense, throwing the ball up and down the field. A graduate of rival DeLand High, Roberts played quarterback at Valdosta State. Valdosta might be a 24-time state football champ, but lately its program has been rocked by a racial discrimination lawsuit filed by a former coach, the hiring of controversial coach Rush Propst . But it was still a third wheel locally to the high school teams, a sleepy college football program that befitted the sleepy Spanish moss trees that dot the campus. 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. First of all, hes a genius. I started each meeting with a huge Big Gulp full of ice water, Mike Leach recalled. Smart was hired anyway. That usually ends the conversation. The Spectator finished third in the Best Editorial or Editorial Series (Group II) category and second in the Best Campus Community Service: Editorial (Division A) and Best Campus Community Service: News (Division A) categories. What is your favorite part of The Valdosta Daily Times? But I would say its certainly the purest form, because you werent doing it for the money. 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. 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 team. [5] That year the Blazers missed the playoffs for the first time in the Chris Hatcher Era, despite an 82 record and a top-ten ranking. He amassed a 22-3 record, one national championship appearance, and one conference title. Head Coach Gary Goff begins his third season at the helm of the VSU Blazers. It is my intent to continue and enhance the storied tradition of Blazer football for many years to come. A composer named James Lord Pierpont also lived for a time in Valdosta in the 19thcentury, after he wrote a song called Jingle Bells. The comedian Bill Hicks was born there, as was country singer Rhett Akins and actor Demond Wilson, the son in Sanford and Son.. "I stand before you today very confident that we have found that gentleman. Laying the foundation for what this Blazers program can be moving forward. He continued, I think the way that he handled COVID with the team is really the reason we were able to have the season we did this year.. 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. 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. The official Baseball Coach List for the Valdosta State University Blazers Skip To Main . Its hard to say that because you enjoy what you do, and Ive enjoyed every stop Ive had on the coaching carousel, and Ive been in a lot of places. The relationships. 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. In 2009 VSU finished in 3rd in the Gulf South Conference and 4th in 2011. 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. Red versus black, and the red squad, won 28-24. One night, Leach was out with a group of people including Michael Doscher, the teams strength and conditioning coach. The pay was low. 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. Smart did very well, and a year later he was on the move himself, taking a graduate assistant job under Bobby Bowden at Florida State, before rejoining Muschamp at LSU in 2004. Goff had 16 Dragons named to G-MAC All-Conference teams in 2018. He didnt have many connections to Valdosta State or Mumme. And as he filled out his defensive staff, Muschamp brought down one of his former Georgia teammates, Kirby Smart. I am very excited to have Tremaine join our Blazer family, Reinhard said. Valdosta would prove to be a great experience for the young staff, especially someone like Smart, who had played at a big-time school. The first two seasons the offensive line coach was Guy Morriss, the future Kentucky and Baylor head coach. Valdosta State football coach Gary Goff announced Sunday that he has taken the head coaching job at Division I and Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) member McNeese State in Lake Charles, La. Mostly sunny skies. Jessica Ballow. Well, open the trunk, is my pullover still in there? Leach asked. They had just left happy hour at a Ruby Tuesday at the mall when they discovered that Doschers wifes car was gone. "It's for the culture and we take a lot of pride in that. Im also excited about the opportunity to bring back to VSU a Blazer alum. Steel's Jewelry Blazer Athletes of the Week. In 2016, Goff guided the Dragons to their first winning season since the 2006 season as the team went 8-3 with Goff earning Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Coach of the Year honors, the first in program history. VALDOSTA, Ga. The program needed new lockers. The opposition scored just 18.5 points per game on the Blazers for 23rd nationally and tops in the conference. Those lockers the coaches built, incidentally? J.H. Start fast, finish faster than that!! 1 in the country in Division II and were the Gulf South Conference champions for the first time in school history. In 1996, with quarterback Lance Funderburk, the blazers spent a week ranked No. How he handled the COVID year with our football team is something I am most appreciative of, said Reinhard. (He has argued the story didnt happen exactly that way, but Muschamp is adamant: That is 100 percent right.). He called up Joe Kines, who had been his DC at Georgia, who told him: Theres no book for that. Holgorsen currently serves as the head coach at the University of Houston, while Belk serves as Holgorsen's defensive coordinator. Journalism, as well as student-led journalism, matters because it plays a crucial role in society by informing the public about events, issues and ideas that affect them, she added. 2022 Valdosta State Blazers football team, List of Valdosta State Blazers football seasons, NCAA Division II National Football Championship, "The Official Site of Valdosta State Blazers Athletics", "Wins, losses in Winnersville in '06 Valdosta Daily Times: Sports", "Valdosta State Blazers Athletics CHAMPIONS AGAIN", http://vdtvarsity.ourvarsity.com/schools/school-article-profile.php?Article_ID=2017, "Gulf South Conference Official Site 201011 GSC Championships", "Few Changes in AFCA Division II Coaches' Poll", "Gulf South Conference Official Site Valdosta State Wins 2012 NCAA Football Title", Georgia Southern fires offensive coordinators Dean, Gillespie, Kerwin Bell Named Valdosta State Head Football Coach, No. "Tremaine told me very early in the interview that the reason he coaches is to change lives. So moving up to Division I just isnt feasible. Grit. I believe that the players, I hope that the players have enough trust in us and have seen our track record that we have had some success bringing in good, quality coaches that they will give us the opportunity to do what we need to do before they let emotion have them make a decision in regards to the transfer portal, said Reinhard. [13] Bell was formerly the head coach for the Jacksonville Dolphins, prior to joining Valdosta State. But above all, Valdosta has been defined by football. Seven different Valdosta coaches have gone on to become head coaches at an FBS school: Smart, Muschamp, Leach, Holgorsen, Morris, Mumme and Cavan. Bonner had transferred from Kentucky, so he had seen the differences in resources, which were glaring. I love Valdosta State University and the Valdosta community as much as anywhere I have coached so it means a lot to me that Gary is now the VSU head coach, Leach said, who currently is the head coach at Washington State University. Bell was also the starting quarterback for the Florida Gators from 1984 through 1987. Now Reinhard looks to hire his seventh head football coach. That also goes for Reinhard, who when he arrived in 1992 planned to only be in Valdosta for three years and then keep climbing the ladder. I have for years kind of snickered when people talk about Miami of Ohio as the cradle of coaches. Kentucky hired Mumme as head coach after the 1996 season. And others are working their way through the system. In the Blazers first season, under the direction of Head Coach Jim Goodman, the team finished with a 551 record. What was the atmosphere like? Goff is a native of Picayune, Miss., and he and his wife Tiffanie have two children, Tyler and Audrey. I'm really excited about where we are going, not anywhere near where we need to be but so far, leaps and bounds beyond where we were and so we want to be able to build on that.". I am truly honored and blessed to return to VSU and carry on the rich tradition of success that has been established within this football program, Goff said. The two high school powers didnt produce an eye-popping number of household names Jay Ratliff, Randall Godfrey and Kenny Moore are among the recent pros but nearly everyone played football, and did so very, very seriously. They were just trying to build a program and get the locals to watch someone other than the two high school powers. It is 100 percent true. Reinhard said he did not know prior to Saturday that Goff was leaving. 1 in the polls. Journalists do their job every day because they help to ensure that the public is informed and that those in power are held accountable for their actions.. After three years, he was gone. Head coach . 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. Theres photo evidence for a story about Muschamp that also became legendary around the school. Those are the type of guys that when they talk about being all in, theyre all in.. 2004 Plaque on Bazemore-Hyder Stadium 2004 Renovations [ edit] He guided Washington State to a 55-47 record and took the Cougars to a . Tremaine Jackson was named as the 11th head football coach in Blazer history. I had (to oversee) discipline runs on Saturday mornings, and I had study hall for academics because you didnt have an academic staff. None of us saw this coming. following his conversation with now-former head football coach Gary Goff when he told him he was leaving for McNeese State. (Valdosta State Athletics). Goff was named Gulf South. VSC had its first winning season in 1986 with a 92 record led by All-American Jessie Tuggle. Kerwin Bell, 54, who coached Valdosta State to the national championship last year, is now the South Florida offensive coordinator. Shane Thomas | The Valdosta Daily TimesValdosta State Director of Athletics Herb Reinhard speaks to reporters following an introductory press conference for head football coach Tremaine Jackson Thursday. Herb Reinhard, Valdosta State athletic director, 1992-present. Ehhhh, it may have at one time.. Hatcher was only 26 years old. I am so glad that the staff was able to make Spectator history and rightfully earn the General Excellence award. Other coaches include Mike Cavan, Hal Mumme, and Mike Kelly. Jackson also served as assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and defensive line coach at Sioux Falls from 2013-16. Which I did at various times.. The riding on buses. High around 80F. David Dean is only the second head coach to lead his team to a national championship in his first season. Fourteen practices . I was humbled by the job, Smart said. Along with Wells, senior offensive linemen Adonis Sealey and Brandon Kemp earned All-America honors. Carry the boards, get the boards here, remembered Kirby Smart, back then the new secondary coach one year removed from college himself. At his interview, Smart went up to the drawing board and designed a brilliant defensive scheme. Bazemore-Hyder Stadium Weekly Previews FloSports FAQ Tremaine Jackson Title Head Football Coach Email football@valdosta.edu Phone (229) 333-5970 Discipline. Under Dean the Blazers also won the 2012 national title. Mumme brought with him Leach, who had worked with him since 1989. Most of all, we'll have a defense that can prevent free points and take the football away to give our offense better opportunities. Then theres the short answer: Didnt winning those four national championships feel good? Shane Thomas | The Valdosta Daily TimesNew Valdosta State head football coach Tremaine Jackson speaks during his introductory press conference Thursday. 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. There was onlyone problem: Smart had written 12 defenders on the board. The student-journalists made campus history when they finished second in the General Excellence category. I was appreciative. I was lucky to have that job. (229) 333-5897 or 5477. Kay Harris, Editor.2006. Theres an appreciation at this school for who they are. But they had also seen how the Air Raid worked at Valdosta State. Both were now part of the Saban tree, where they were indoctrinated in a philosophy of run-oriented, physical football. He then served as offensive coordinator, wide . In 2001 and 2002, the Blazers went undefeated during the regular season, and were GSC Champions for the third year in a row. "Grid Times" Valdosta State University Football Preview 2006. [16] Goff, a former Blazer captain and 1996 graduate of VSU, had gone 23-10 the prior three seasons at Tiffin. In both 1994 and 1996 he led the team to the NCAA Division II playoff quarterfinals; Valdosta State had never made the playoffs previously. Valdosta State announces new head football coach, Teens arrested after 11 injured in South Carolina park shooting, Turner Co. Sheriffs Office to reward $1K for information on fireworks incident, Instant replay coming to Ga. championship football games, Photos: Atlanta Braves host Cairo Boys & Girls Club, Cairo-Grady Co. Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer (Football, Men's and Women's Tennis) jballow@valdosta.edu. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. Mumme took over as head coach at Valdosta State University in 1992.
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