2017 Valdosta State Blazers football team

The 2017 Valdosta State Blazers football team represented Valdosta State University as a member of the Gulf South Conference (GSC) during the 2017 NCAA Division II football season. They were led by second-year head coach Kerwin Bell and played their home games at Bazemore–Hyder Stadium in Valdosta, Georgia. Valdosta State compiled an overall record of 5–4 with a mark of 5–3 in conference play, placing in a five-way tie for second in the GSC.

2017 Valdosta State Blazers football
ConferenceGulf South Conference
Record5–4 (5–3 GSC)
Head coach
Defensive coordinatorDanny Verpaele (1st season)
Home stadiumBazemore–Hyder Stadium
Seasons
← 2016
2018 →
2017 Gulf South Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 12 West Alabama $^   7 1     10 3  
No. 2 West Florida ^   5 3     11 4  
No. 21 Delta State ^   5 3     9 4  
No. 19 West Georgia ^   5 3     9 4  
Valdosta State   5 3     5 4  
North Alabama   5 3     5 5  
Florida Tech   3 5     5 6  
Mississippi College   1 7     1 9  
Shorter   0 8     0 11  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA Poll

Schedule

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Valdosta State announced its 2017 football schedule on March 17, 2017. The schedule consisted of four home games, five away games, and one neutral site game in the regular season. The Blazers hosted GSC foes Florida Tech, Mississippi College, North Alabama, and West Alabama and traveled to Delta State, Shorter, West Florida, and West Georgia.[1]

The Blazers were scheduled to travel to both non-conference games, which were against Albany State of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SAIC) a neutral site game against Fort Valley State, also from the SIAC.

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 27:00 p.m.at Albany State*No. 11L 12–294,011
September 97:00 p.m.vs. Fort Valley State*
Canceled[a]
September 167:00 p.m.No. 10 North AlabamaESPN3L 24–304,191
September 237:00 p.m.at West FloridaW 30–195,416
October 72:00 p.m.at No. 25 West GeorgiaESPN3L 13–424,927
October 147:00 p.m.Mississippi College
  • Bazemore–Hyder Stadium
  • Valdosta, GA
ESPN3W 55–34,455
October 213:00 p.m. No. 19 Delta StateW 34–133,451
October 287:00 p.m.Florida Tech
  • Bazemore–Hyder Stadium
  • Valdosta, GA
W 42–143,018
November 43:00 p.m.No. 23 West Alabama 
  • Bazemore–Hyder Stadium
  • Valdosta, GA
L 14–385,921
November 111:30 p.m.ShorterW 52–01,100
^[a] The game between Fort Valley State and Valdosta State was cancelled in advance of the arrival of Hurricane Irma.[2]

Rankings

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Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre1234567891011Final
AFCA11RVRV

References

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  1. ^ "Football Announces 2017 Schedule; Prepares for Spring Practice" (Press release). Valdosta State University Department of Athletics. March 17, 2017. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  2. ^ "Fort Valley State Game Cancelled Due to Hurricane Irma" (Press release). Valdosta State University Department of Athletics. September 7, 2017. Retrieved September 12, 2017.