VALDOSTA —
Motivation has been the key to Valdosta State University Blazers’ success so far this season. On Saturday, the Blazers’ motivation will continue as the team plays for the Division II national championship against Winston-Salem State Rams in Florence, Ala.
Throughout this season, the Blazers have transformed their motivation into momentum as the team has moved win by win to the championship slot. Saturday’s game marks the fourth national championship appearance for VSU and the team’s first championship game in five years. VSU head coach David Dean led the Blazers to its 2007 national championship victory. It was his first season as head coach.
Earlier this week, the Blazer players discussed wanting to create a different result this season, following what has been described as last year’s collapse near the 2011 season’s end. Then, VSU lost three of its final games within the last minute of play.
“As a team, we didn’t end (2011) like we wanted to,” quarterback Cayden Cochran told The Times this week. “The seniors, especially, they won’t want to end this (season) with a loss. It was a big deal to us in the offseason, and it has been like that the whole season.”
Last season spurred this season’s motivation. There were wake-up calls this season, as with VSU’s regular-season loss to West Alabama, but the team used this loss to fuel its motivation to play better ball the following week and the week after that ...
Since that game, VSU has won by an average of 23 points per game.
We wish the Blazers the best of success this weekend. We hope VSU brings home another national title for the city known as TitleTown.
Go, Blazers!
What We Think
Good luck, VSU Blazers!
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Thoughts on graduation
Graduation ceremonies reflect how life marches on. For the students receiving their diplomas and degrees, graduation is a culmination of the majority of their lives’ work.
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Thumbs up, thumbs down
THUMBS UP: To Dr. John Gaston, retiring dean of Valdosta State University’s College of the Arts. For the past 10-plus years, Gaston has worked to build a more interconnected program with various artistic and communications departments working together. Given that you are likely to see one College of the Arts department collaborating with another during events is proof of Gaston’s success.
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On the go this weekend
Take a breath.
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Sharing the roads with motorcycles
With the recent pleasant temperatures and sunny skies, the number of motorcycles on area roads has increased.
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Thank your local law enforcement today
Today, May 15, was designated Peace Officers Memorial Day back in 1962 when President John F. Kennedy was in office.
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Visit musical roots this weekend
Beginning Saturday, May 18, Nashville, Ga., will be hosting a special Smithsonian exhibit, “New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music.” The exhibit will continue through the end of June and Nashville has done a tremendous job in promoting and planning for the exhibit.
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Happy Mother’s Day!
A few years ago, a television commercial asked, Who first believed in you? Many folks may have instinctively answered by simply saying, Mom.
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Thumbs up
THUMBS UP: To mail workers, volunteers and food bank staff for gathering food for the annual Stamp Out Hunger postal food drive today. A plastic bag designated for canned goods and other non-perishable food items should have arrived in your mailbox earlier this week. If you haven’t already, take a few moments to fill the bag with food and hang from your mailbox. If you didn’t receive the special Stamp Out Hunger bag, any plastic bag filled with food will do. This food drive helps feed thousands of South Georgians annually. Valdosta-Lowndes County often donates more food than nearly all other cities and counties in Georgia.
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Celebrating nurses
She is considered the founder of modern nursing so it seems only natural that National Nurses Week would include Florence Nightingale’s birthday.
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Helping the hungry: Mail it in!
Valdosta-Lowndes County continues revealing its generous spirit.
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Thoughts on graduation
