2012 Valdosta State Blazers football team

2012 Valdosta State Blazers football
Division II National Champions
NCAA Division II National Football Championship, W 35–7 vs. Winston–Salem State
Conference Gulf South Conference
Ranking
AFCA #1[1]
2012 record 12–2 (4–1 Gulf South)
Head coach David Dean (6th year)
Offensive coordinator Andy Richman
Defensive coordinator Earl Chambers, Seth Wallace
Home stadium Bazemore–Hyder Stadium
(Capacity: 11,249)
2012 Gulf South Conference football standings
Conf     Overall
Team   W   L         W   L  
#21 West Alabama ^   5 0         9 4  
#1 Valdosta State ^   4 1         12 2  
Shorter   2 3         6 5  
North Alabama   2 3         5 5  
Delta State   1 4         3 7  
West Georgia   1 4         3 7  
Conference champion
^ Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA Poll

The 2012 Valdosta State Blazers football team represented Valdosta State University during the NCAA Division II football season. They were led by sixth year head coach David Dean. The Blazers played their home games at Bazemore–Hyder Stadium and were a member of the Gulf South Conference. After a 2–2 start Valdosta State won their next 10 consecutive games and defeated Winston–Salem State 35–7 in the NCAA Division II National Football Championship.[2] The championship was the school's seventh national title, and the third in football. The national championship was David Dean's second as head coach, previously leading the blazers in their win in 2007, his first year as head coach. In 2012 Dean was also recognized as the AFCA Division II Coach of the Year.[3] The Blazers finished the season 12–2; 4–1 and 2nd place in the Gulf South Conference.

Schedule

Date Time Opponent# Rank# Site TV Result Attendance
September 1 7:00 PM at Saginaw Valley State* #8 Wickes StadiumUniversity Center, MI L 28–24   4,891
September 8 7:00 PM Fort Valley State* #20 Bazemore–Hyder StadiumValdosta,GA W 62–14   5,298
September 15 1:00 PM vs. Angelo State* #18 Cowboys StadiumArlington, TX (Lone Star Football Festival) W 43–10  
September 22 7:00 PM #23 West Alabama #16 Bazemore–Hyder Stadium • Valdosta,GA L 28–39   5,783
September 29 7:00 PM Edward Waters* Bazemore–Hyder Stadium • Valdosta,GA W 58–10   4,728
October 6 2:00PM West Georgia University StadiumCarrollton, GA W 42–7   7,644
October 13 7:00PM at North Alabama Braly Municipal StadiumFlorence, AL W 24–21   8,816
October 20 3:00PM Delta Statedagger Bazemore–Hyder Stadium • Valdosta,GA W 59–41   6,672
October 25 7:30PM at Shorter Brannon Stadium • Rome, GA GSC–TV LIVE W 37–6   3,800
November 1 7:30PM Texas A&M–Kingsville* #24 Bazemore–Hyder Stadium • Valdosta,GA GSC–TV LIVE W 38–31   3,711
November 24 12:00PM West Alabama* #17 Bazemore–Hyder Stadium • Valdosta,GA W 49–21   1,984
December 1 12:00PM #22 Carson–Newman* #17 Bazemore–Hyder Stadium • Valdosta,GA W 48–26   3,699
December 8 3:00PM #5 Minnesota State–Mankato* #17 Blakeslee StadiumMankato, MN ESPN3 W 35–19   3,356
December 15 1:00PM #2 Winston–Salem* #17 Braly Municipal StadiumFlorence, AL ESPN2, ESPN3 W 35–7   7,527
*Non-conference game. daggerHomecoming. #Rankings from American Football Coaches Association Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

References