Blazing into the playoffs

By Bryan Fazio
The Valdosta Daily Times

November 11, 2007 11:16 pm

— VALDOSTA — The auditorium in Valdosta State’s Continuing Education building erupted Sunday morning, as a year of fighting back from disappointment came to an end.
At 11:30 a.m. Sunday, when the Division II football playoff seedings were announced on ESPNU, the VSU football family watched in glee.
The dozens of players, coaches, fans, VSU Athletic Staff and family watched on a jumbo screen as the Northwest, Southwest and Northeast seedlings were announced.
Last but not least, the Southeast Region’s section of the bracket came through the projector, displaying VSU as the No. 1 seed, awaiting the winner of the first-round matchup of Catawba (10-1) and Albany State (8-2).
“We’re excited,” VSU coach David Dean said. “Good things always come last, I guess.”
The Blazers (9-1) may have had to wait until the end of the announcement for their selection this season, but that sure is better than what happened a year ago.
Seeded No. 6 in the Southeast in 2006, the Blazers were bumped from the playoffs by Albany State (a team VSU had beaten during the regular season), under the NCAA’s earned-access rule.
VSU worked all year to take the decision out of the selection committee’s hands, and there isn’t a more definite way to do that than to earn the No. 1 slot.
“It feels good,” VSU quarterback Willie Copeland said. “Last year they denied us, but this year they couldn’t.”
By earning the No. 1 seed, the Blazers became the first team to be atop the Southeast for two consecutive weeks.
VSU, North Alabama and Delta State all had the top ranking this year, with the Blazers starting the year in the coveted spot.
Delta overtook the Blazers, only to fall when it lost to UNA.
“I give a lot credit to our kids,” Dean said. “After they lost to Delta State, it would have been easy to survive and hopefully get into to the playoffs, but they fought their way back up and got the No. 1 seed. And I’m awfully proud of them for that.”
The Blazers were ranked No. 2 after defeating the Lions 27-24 three weeks ago, and moved permanently to the top following a 63-28 win at Arkansas-Monticello.
“It shows that if you take care off business, you deserve the No. 1 spot,” VSU senior tight end Zach Parker said. “But, you never know who in that room is going to make a vote, and who’s going to swing what way. I think we deserved it, the way we played.”
The No. 1 seed means that VSU will host the second round, and if they win, then the Region Championship, before moving on to play the winner of the Northeast Region in the national semifinals.
“We wanted the No. 1 spot, and to stay at home throughout,” VSU senior center Davis Russell said. “I think we’ll have great home support. It’s great to be home.”
The Blazers will have to wait until Saturday to find out who their opponent will be between fifth-seeded Albany State and fourth-seeded Catawba.
While the Blazers haven’t played against Catawba this year, they faced Albany State in the season opener at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium. VSU dominated that contest, 41-3.
“We already played Albany State,” Russell said. “We know they got a lot better as the season went on, and Catawba we don’t know much about, but we know they’re always tough. We’re just excited to play either one.”
Playing against the No. 4 or No. 5 seed means the Blazers won’t have to play both Delta State and North Alabama.
Earning the No. 2 seed, the Lions will wait in the second round for either the Statesmen or the No. 6 seed, Shaw.
“I think it worked out well for us,” Dean said. “We’re going to have to go through a lot of people, but Delta and North Alabama have to play each other, and that’s going to be a very physical game. Again, I’m excited, and it doesn’t matter who you put in front of us, we’re just excited about being there.”
VSU will take time off and return to the practice field to prepare against either the Golden Rams or the Indians, and heal up any lingering injuries from their last game against West Georgia.
“Now we focus on what we have to do,” Parker said. “We’ll take this week off, let everybody heal up, and come out next week and get focused on our goal.”


VSU playoff tickets
Tickets for Valdosta State’s second-round matchup go on sale to the general public today at 9 a.m. VSU season ticket holders have until noon Tuesday to re-purchase their tickets, before they get released.
Tickets prices are $15 for reserved, $8 general admission and $4 for students and youth tickets.

Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.