Homecoming Should Be an Adventure...
November 5, 2015
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5 Day Forecast Today
Thunderstorms
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Friday
Saturday
To see a list of Homecoming events, go to pages 8 & 9
Mostly Sunny
88 H 66 L
Sunday
November 5, 2015
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Showers
73 H 59 L
Partly Cloudy
Monday
88 H 68 L
Showers
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Blazers against bigotry Jordan Barela
Our point of view...
Minority news ignored by mainstream media As a staff of upcoming journalists, we should be ashamed of the media coverage of minorities. The media is an allinclusive term used to sum up newspapers, broadcast, video and audio as a way to disseminate the news. The outside sees something that just comes on television or through headphones; we see our dream careers. Simply put, the media is the social conscience that is broadcast to our society. In a Big Brother motif, the media is always watching through the lenses of a smartphone, so of course the media will help shape how we think and act. On the surface, this is not necessarily a bad thing. This can be utilized for good in a variety of ways. However, when the media portrays minorities a certain way, how can we not get upset at the profession we are about to enter? When gathering research for this editorial, we came across the website bravenewfilms.org. After watching the short film “Stop Racism in Mainstream Media Reporting,” we were floored. The short film compared the difference in media coverage of black protests and predominately white sporting events. When portraying black protests, mainstream media used cruel words such as “thug,” “criminals” and “wild animals.” However, riots that happened at sporting events, which were shown to be predominately white, the participants were referred to as “young people” and “fans.” Upon further research, Zak
Cheney-Rice wrote an article on mic.com that talks about when a massive, predominately Caucasian group was rioting in the streets, vandalizing and setting fires over Ohio State’s football team winning, the portrayal was with the utmost care. This is one of the many riotous sporting event aftermaths that Rice discussed in his article. Rice compared the coverage of this event to the coverage of the Ferguson protests. In one of its numerous coverage pieces, CNN brought on former New York City police commissioner Bernard Kerik, who said that the people protesting were acting like “savages” and “animals.” A double standard indeed. How can we hope to work for the media when the coverage paints minorities in different, and often cruel light? Publishing a newspaper each week is a part of our training and we are training to enter a field where a double standard exists and yet, few acknowledge it. Not only should we as potential journalists be worried, the people we aim to serve and disseminate the news to the public, should know of this double standard. The point of this editorial is not to make our readers want to disbelieve the mainstream media, but to question the news. Engage with it, rant about it, speak to your community, or get mad and do something. The news only serves to inform. And to inform, mainstream media needs to be fair and accurate in its reporting.
This editorial was written by a member of the editorial staff and expresses the general opinion of The Spectator.
Editorial Staff
Editors-in-Chief: Jordan Barela, John Preer Managing Editor: Tatyana Phelps Opinions Editor: Kenzie Kesselring College Life Editor: LaShawn Oglesby Sports Editor: Kristin Whitman Photo Editor: Stella Henderson Multimedia Editor: Jefferson Leblanc Web Editor: Kayla Stroud Social Media Editor: Tyra Mills Copy Editor: Zenobia Harris
Editor-In-Chief jlbarela@valdosta.edu The media and the recent presidential debate coverage have been rife with anti-Muslim remarks and bigotry. And on Saturday, that prejudiced reared its ugly head as two protests were held in quaint downtown Valdosta. One was an anti-Muslim protest against allowing Syrian refugees to come to America. The other was a counter response from Valdosta State students promoting harmony and equality. I live for a good protest. Not simply because it helps bring pages to life in The Spectator when students get involved in protests, but because I am a big believer that people should be able to voice their opinions peacefully and respectfully. While I am a big advocate for peaceful protests, I think the antiMuslim protest was full of stereotypes. Many of these stereotypes
How can you protest refugees coming to seek shelter in our country, no matter who they are or where they come from? stem from post 9-11 stigmas. Labeling an entire group of people as “terrorists” for something a small group of extremists did is simply wrong. Think about the prejudice that many minorities face and the stereotypes that are negatively pinned to them, like the stereotype that black people are “ghetto” or that gay men and women are “feminine” or “manly.”
Furthermore, the protest focused on keeping Syrian refugees out based on religion. Since when did a person’s religion determine whether or not they are allowed to come to the United States in order to escape a war that is wreaking havoc on their homes? How can you protest refugees coming to seek shelter in our country, no matter who they are or where they come from? This just comes off as selfish and much of the hate-filled speech from the protest was laced with narrowmindedness and ignorance. And while I don’t agree with the beliefs behind the anti-Muslim protest, I believe that the protestors did have the right to protest and voice their opinions no matter how awful they were. To the VSU students who took a stand against the bigotry, kudos. It was nice to see fellow Blazers standing for what they believe in.
Media overlooks Million Man March Tyra Mills
Social Media Editor tnmills@valdosta.edu On Oct. 16, 1995, Louis Farrakhan organized the Million Man March. This was a calling of all African American men to meet in Washington, D.C. around the National Mall. The march was held to place black issues back on the political agenda. This past October, the 20th anniversary of the Million Man March was held again in Washington, DC around the National Mall. This time it was led by activist group, Justice or Else! This was a huge event, with thousands of people showing up to participate. Though the crowd was less dense and younger than that of the original march, it was still a memorable event and at the very least, it was news worthy of coverage. Unfortunately, the reunion of one of the biggest congregations to ever take place in Washington, D.C. is not important enough for mainstream media to cover.
Instead, they offered two to four sentences of brief notes about the event and moved on to other far more “important” topics. According to newsbusters.org, “Sunday Morning” host Charles Osgood gave a one-sentence news brief that didn’t even mention Farrakhan’s name. Then, 50 minutes earlier, news anchor Ron Claiborne set aside four sentences to the rally on “Good Morning America.” Yes, a lot of media wrote articles and web exclusives after the fact, but television coverage would have been way more efficient in my opinion. I think the biggest disappointment of all was the fact that BET didn’t even think to cover this event. BET is a channel dedicated to blacks, a channel that is supposed to be the voice of blacks. If that isn’t sad, I don’t know what is. BET instead showed another rerun of the “Martin” sitcom, and TV One, the other major blackoriented network, ran yet another episode of “Good Times.” News channels CNN and MSNBC likewise turned their attention
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elsewhere. I just find it disgusting how mainstream media goes about choosing what it deems to be important. When the killing of Mike Brown happened, blacks gathered to peacefully protest and remember him. After being pelted with wooden bullets by heavily armed officers, riots began to break out in the city. Media swarmed Ferguson as soon as it looked like black people were doing something negative. Where was all the coverage of the peaceful protest? Why is it that the media only likes to show minorities through a slanted lens when it seems they are doing something negative. Here you have thousands of blacks meeting peacefully to celebrate a historic event, and there’s little to no coverage of it. This is very frustrating because I believe that the media’s job is to be fair and to represent everyone equally. Representation is so important, and I really feel like those who chose not to cover the march or put very little effort into briefing it really dropped the ball.
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Racism is not so far far away
Twitter.com/AudraEqualityMc
Mayah Cantave
Asst. Opinons Editor mcantave@valdosta.edu The release of the new Star Wars movie has created a ton of buzz and controversy. On Twitter people seem to be upset with the upcoming movie claiming it is “anti-white” and promotes white genocide. The #boycottstarwarsVII was created to prevent the release of the movie. The boycotters’ anger stems from the fact that an African American actor, John Bodega, will be playing one of the movies main heroes. This is absolutely ridiculous. Bodega is not the first black actor to become a Jedi in the series. In the previous Star Wars movies, other black actors have held prominent roles. For example, the easily recognizable, Samuel L. Jackson played Jedi Master, Mace Windu. Darth Vader the villain that everyone seems to know is voiced by James Earl Jones who is
a black man. If the use of black actors upset Star Wars fans, they’re really going to be upset at the fact that Star Wars creator George Lucas, a white man, is married to a black woman. The angry fans claim that Star Wars is “anti-white” because none of the leading actors are white. In regards to the backlash, the movie’s director, JJ Abrams gave his opinion on the subject in a recent interview. “Everyone belongs, and there is nothing more important than embracing,” said Abrams. “When you think about the Force, [it’s] about embracing everyone.” The best thing about the Star Wars trilogy is that the movies have always been racially diverse. Who knew there should be a cap on how many leading actors should be of a different race. It’s a shame that people still view minorities as being lesser. Race does not determine the worth of an actor or of anyone.
November 5, 2015
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Responding to our invitation to Wild Adventures on Friday? The Spectator editors will be there. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat @vsuspectator for all of our live updates.
Photo courtesy of Sementha Mathews Mayor John Gayle speaks at a press conference for a VSU journalism class. He talked about a variety of subjects on his agenda after reelection.
Mayor Gayle reelected, has new agenda set Gabe Burns
ASST. SPORTS EDITOR gcburns@valdosta.edu Reelection was not the only subject on Mayor John Gayle’s agenda this week. Gayle, who narrowly won reelection on Tuesday night, set aside time to address topics pertaining to the students’ interests last week, prior to the election. Among the most discussed subjects was the establishment of a public transportation circuit. The mayor confirmed that a year-long trial run is in progress to examine how effective the arrangement would be, from which he alluded would determine if the city will produce a full transportation system in the near future. Though not said with malicious intent, Gayle suggested that his competition with opponent J.D. Rice has racial implications. With Rice being an African-American, Gayle feels that the political race had become a racial debate. Gayle said he believes that the AfricanAmerican community strongly desires a larger voice, and with 52 percent of the area’s population being of that descent, it could have a significant impact on Tuesday’s results. “I hate to put it this way, but I’m in an election where it’s the white community against the black community right now,” Gayle said. “That’s what it’s boiled down to. They (the African-American community) do feel like they should have more representation, and so they’re pushing as a group for J.D. to be elected. “I’m hoping I’ve been the mayor enough to get the support of all of the community. I feel like I’ve been the mayor for all of Valdosta, and I’ve been spreading that message.” VSU journalist Candace Mitchell concurred that race is still a relevant concern of Valdosta. “With me being an AfricanAmerican woman, it showed that he knows there is still a separation, and that race, this day and age, is still a big part of life, especially in Valdosta,” Mitchell said. “I think that might be one of his—not downfalls—concerns for his campaign. I think that’s why he was reaching out to everyone, to gain everyone’s attention.” Gayle also spoke on the emergence of the drug “flakka,” a substance that has recently reached circulation in Valdosta. He
explained the effects of the drug, and that it is even being dispersed via candy such as gummy bears and Jolly Ranchers. He cautions all citizens to not be ignorant of the variety of ways in which the drug is spread. Pertaining to the drug outbreak, as well as the city’s high STD rate, Gayle said it all starts with educating our youth. The mayor has been traveling to different functions and events to help raise awareness in the community. He said that it is not connected to his campaign, but rather a focus on improving the future of the United States. “We have to see that the parents are involved,” Gayle said. “The churches have to see to it that the congregation is involved. It’s got to be a community-wide effort where education is important, and most of all, home life is important.” Regarding the current state of the town’s economy, Gayle teased the prospect of an unnamed European business setting up their first American plant in Valdosta, though the city is competing with an undisclosed Florida location for that honor. If the business ultimately settles in the Azalea City, it would provide over 200 high-paying jobs for the area. The press conference was considered an overall success, educating students on the government’s involvement in the community.
Campus alerts still fizzle out for some, burn bright for other students Tiarra Bell
STAFF WRITER tcbell@valdosta.edu College students, faculty and staff are equipped these days with laptops, smart phones and other communication devices. One would think they’re easy to notify in the event of an emergency or safety issue. However, many people do not know if something has happened within the university community. Despite the fact that VSU uses RAVE Mobile Safety to send messages to students, faculty and staff via email, voice and SMS/ text messages, there have been concerns expressed by those who wish to receive campus alert messages but have not been getting them. Many have gone into the university’s system to sign up for campus emergency alerts and still don’t receive notifications when something happens on campus. VSU students, faculty and staff have the option to stop receiving SMS/text messages and voice calls to their personal telephone numbers. However, some students feel unsafe because too much time may go by before they are notified about anything. “My alerts won’t come in until an hour or two hours later,” Chelsea Cruver, a VSU senior, said. “Sometimes I feel like it’s pointless and other times frightened because by the time I get it (campus alert messages) the suspects could be long gone or I even could have been in the area at the time and wouldn’t have known.” According to Lieutenant Charles Rowe, emergency management coordinator at Valdosta State University, students are only
“My alerts won’t come in until an hour or two hours later. Sometimes I feel like it’s pointless and other times frightened because by the time I get it the suspects could be long gone or I even could have been in the area at the time and wouldn’t have known.” -Chelsea Cruver, VSU student notified of serious threats. “When any potential hazardous situation is brought to the attention of the University Police, the situation is assessed for its potential to threaten the University community,” Rowe said. “If the Director of University Police, or his designee in his absence, determines the hazard to threaten the university, an alert is issued,” Rowe added. “University Police strives to keep the university community informed as quickly as possible.” For threats that are serious, students are usually notified within 15 minutes. The students who do receive both forms of alerts believe that it increases the safety of others on campus, which makes them feel
more secure. Senior Chynna Downie is among the students who receive campus alert messages through both email and text. “It makes me feel better they (VSU) tell us things. I appreciate the heads up and will continue to lock my door when I hear of the news,” Downie said. While many students do receive emails, Junior Charmaine Washington points out how he was not aware that emergency alerts can be received through text as well. “I didn’t know that I could receive alerts through text messages, thought it was just email,” Washington said. “It is nice to know I can go to my phone now to see what’s going on.” Student Lorenzo Washington points out that he always has his phone in his hand, therefore it is more convenient to receive texts rather than emails. “I prefer the text alert and I feel they are helpful because it’s a direct alert to what’s happening,” Washington said. “It’s a great idea to have it because our generation is always on the phone or it’s in our hands so we can see it immediately and be aware for our safety.” Some students such as Downie receives both email and text alerts, while other students like Taylor Hobbs stopped receiving alerts via text message. “I used to get campus text alerts, but the incident from September, I never got one,” Hobbs said. “I never changed anything on Banner If a student has signed up and stopped receiving emergency alerts, contact Rowe for more information.
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Valdosta set to brew a new business in April Mayah Cantave
Asst. Opinions Editor mcantave@valdosta.edu New jobs and new beer are heading toward Valdosta in the next couple of months. Three friends, who met while attending VSU and all have brewing experience, have partnered together to create craft beer right in the heart of Valdosta. The owners, J. Ryce Martin, Drew Young and Christopher Jones aim to have The Georgia Beer Company as Valdosta’s first and only craft beer company. The partners are working with the City of Valdosta, the ValdostaLowndes Industrial Authority, and the Downtown Development Au-
thority to renovate an 89-year-old building to make it their facility of production. Currently, the location of the brewery is top secret, but they plan to open April 2016. The Georgia Beer Company aims to package beers, an IPA, a pale ale, and either an amber or porter in cans. “We will package three beers in cans, which are much better for the beer quality and a new paradigm shift for craft breweries,” said Jones, director of business development. During the seasons, the company plans on distributing kegs of beer to restaurants and bars. The type of beer being distributed
includes summer ales, porters, stouts and holiday beers. The average six pack will cost between $9 and $10. The price may seem high but the company’s product will have higher alcohol by volume and use only the freshest ingredients with no additives or artificial ingredients. “We plan to use several locally grown ingredients, including blueberries, peaches, pecans, honey, cane syrup, etc,” said Jones. The company plans to open a tasting room in which customers can sample beer and try experimental batches which have the possibility to become staples in their company based on the feedback from patrons.
The goal is to let local beer drinkers have influence on the various type of beers they can purchase at local bars and restaurants. New jobs will become available with the opening of the Georgia Beer Company. Various positions will be open, including production assistant, tasting-room staff and other positions will be up for grabs. “We hope to partner with VSU to create innovative intern opportunities and independent study for a variety of majors and fields of study,” said Jones. The Georgia Beer Company plans to reach hard core beer drinkers buy using social media and attending the various beer
festivals to get their product out there. “We want to give South Georgia beer drinkers something that no other Georgia brewery can: accessibility. Everyone should have access to a local beer!”said Jones. The owners have launched a kickstarter campaign to help raise money for their company. The proceeds will go to building a tasting room that will include chairs, tables, televisions, bar tops, a stage, and many other amenities to entertain guests as they try out the company’s beer. To give a donation to help build the Georgia Beer Company, visit the company’s home page at www.georgiabeercompany.com.
Tatyana Phelps
Barbara L. Brown, assistant vice chancellor for transitional and general education, said in a USG press release. “The courses these students did complete, however, may qualify them for their associate degree.” Working with Parchment will allow credits to be transferred more quickly and for student documents to be sent and received faster. “USG chose to combine forces with Parchment because of the company’s existing capabilities working with high schools, colleges, universities and their learners to make the process of requesting and sending academic transcripts faster, easier and more secure than ever,” Christie Poole, assistant account executive, said. The main goal of the program is to increase the number of people in Georgia who hold an associate’s degree. There are hopes that obtaining an associate’s degree will encourage students to continue on to get their bachelor’s degree or will make the students more qualified for jobs they didn’t qualify for before getting an associate’s degree. Eligible students will be contacted by email and encouraged to apply for an associate’s degree for no cost.
Students who left college can still get associate’s degree Managing Editor tnphelps@valdosta.edu
Each year, millions of Americans make the decision to go to college; however, not all of them actually graduate. The University System of Georgia is combining its efforts to make sure that those who earned some college credit can obtain an associate’s degree that they may have never known they had. Whether it is due to the inability to manage finances, work, school or personal life, 70 percent of Americans attend college, but less than two-thirds of them graduate, according to College Atlas. The USG has teamed up with Parchment, an academic credential management system, to create “Credit When It’s Due.” The program, funded by a grant from Lumina Foundation, allows former college students who have met the requirements for an associate’s degree but did not actually receive it, to be awarded an associate’s degree. The program is available at several colleges in Georgia, including Valdosta State. “Today there are thousands of Georgians who have invested some time in college without completion of enough courses to earn a bachelor’s degree,” Dr.
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DID YOU
KNOW?
November 5, 2015
According to “did you know?”: Using your non-dominant hand to do habitual tasks for two weeks can help calm your temper.
VSU welcomes international artist Masayasu IIzuka LaShawn Oglesby
College Life Editor lsoglesby@valdosta.edu
Courtsey of Mark Errol
Masayasu IIzuka, an artist specializing in ceramics and pottery visited VSU Oct. 27 and 29 all the way from Japan. In the Fine Arts Building, IIzuka presented to those in attendance his artistic capabilities for free. The workshops, which were open to the entire Valdosta community, lasted from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event was sponsored by the VSU department of art.
Download the Spectator app to use the QR reader and read Jyrell’s play review!
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VSU adjusts well to fall time change Tiarra Bell
STAFF WRITER tcbell@valdosta.edu It’s hard enough to get the rest that is needed each night, but with the end of Daylight Saving Time, everyone can finally get their precious extra hour of sleep. For college students, chances are they’re not getting enough sleep. On average, most college students get 6 to 6.9 hours of sleep per night, and the college years are notorious for sleep-depravity due to excess activities. Research at Brown University found that nearly 11 percent of students report good sleep, while 73 percent report sleep problems. Sleep deprivation in students has been linked to lower GPAs because sleep affects concentration, memory and the ability to learn. Students who get seven to eight hours of sleep each night have higher GPAs than students who get six or fewer. VSU junior Dominic Ligon is among the students at Valdosta State University who get the required eight hours of sleep each night. “The extra hour of sleep helped me a lot,” Ligon said. “With the extra hour, I wake up earlier than I would normally, but I still feel refreshed throughout the day. Without my eight hours of sleep, I’m extremely tired and have a tough time functioning.” As opposed to Dominic Ligon, VSU senior Lisa Clark can perform to the best of her abilities with only six to seven hours of sleep. “I usually do better when I get six to seven hours of sleep,” Clark said. “If I get more than
seven, I’m usually sleepier than if I get six hours. When time goes forward, that’s when it throws me off.” While some people may be able to function with less of sleep, getting a proper night’s rest is more important than many people believe. It restores energy, promotes a positive mood throughout the day, helps the mind think more clearly, and it strengthens memory. Compared to the jetlag feeling that comes when time springs forward when it takes the body up to a week to return to normal, it only takes up to one night when time goes back. Another positive effect of the time change is that many people may go to bed earlier, because it gets dark sooner. If it takes longer than usual to get used to the time change, there’s a couple of tips that could help. Remind your brain it’s not time for bed yet by turning on lights around your house or apartment. Conversely, turn off all lights for quicker adaption to the time change. Practicing good sleep hygiene will also make it easier to fall asleep, stay asleep, and sleep soundly. Sleep hygiene is a term used to describe behavioral and environmental practices for a better quality siesta. Things that college students can do to improve sleep hygiene includes exercising several hours before bedtime, reducing or eliminating caffeine and alcohol, doing calming rituals before bed to gradually relax yourself (taking a hot bath for example), and wearing ear plugs and/or eye masks.
November 5, 2015
Book Review:
‘Agents
of the Internet Apocalypse’; irks and bores in the beginning before delighting reader Julia Rodriguez
STAFF WRITER jlrodriguez@valdosta.edu “Agents of the Internet Apocalypse” by Wayne Gladstone is about a man who has lost everything and is trying to get it back. Everything to Wayne Gladstone (the main character) is the Internet and his wife. It is a relatively quick read and its reading level is average. The novel starts off in a hospital room where Wayne has landed himself by way of “jumping into the Hudson River to try and find the Internet.” Essentially, the poor man has gone practically mad, but his doctor declares him healed and sets him loose into the world. Before ending up in the hospital, Gladstone had been declared the “Internet messiah,” and upon his return to the world, he takes up his role as such once again. He flies from New York to California where the story is supposed to really start up. While in the hospital, Gladstone kept a journal that was half true, half fiction, and he takes this with him to California. This journal is the thing that truly kick-starts his role as the savior who will
bring the Internet back. Once in California, the story will have gained some momentum and that something interesting might actually happen. However, rather than being action packed, the book is full of random events that have little to do with the story line or have a lot to do with the progression of the book, but take so long to get to the point that you will forget what is even going on. Once some bit of action is finally achieved, it comes and goes so quickly that it is practically casual. In addition, the entire mission of Gladstone is seemingly pointless and the story is told with an array of unnecessary language accompanied by some childish jokes. Should you decide to read this book and whether it is the background love story, Gladstone’s sarcastic companion or the curiosity of the ending that gets you to the back cover, you are practically guaranteed to pick up the next one, as this one is only the first of the series. Within the last few chapters, there are finally some answers and some action to keep you awake and a cliffhanger that will make you grind your teeth. The end of “Agents of the Internet Apocalypse” makes the whole thing worth reading.
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Today in History 1971- The Los Angeles Lakers started a record 33-game winning streak by beating the Baltimore Bullets, 110-106, at the Forum.
Stella Henderson/THE SPECTATOR
Beginning the second half, Cornerback Kenny Moore intercepted on West Alabama’s first play of a drive to return the ball for a touchdown. The play marked the first time a Blazer has returned an interception for a touchdown since November 16, 2013. The Blazers beat the Tigers 55-28. helping the team remain contenders for the playoffs. Coming up for the Blazers are the Delta State Statesmen on Saturday.
Blazers remain playoff contenders after GSC win over UWA Tigers Niamani Carlyle-Hollis Staff Writer ntcarlyle@valdosta.edu
The Valdosta State football team kicked Halloween off the right way and was to be too much for the West Alabama Tigers to handle as they defeated them 55-28 on Saturday. The big Gulf South Conference rival win helped ensure that the Blazers remain as contenders in the playoff as well as tying head coach David Dean for the winningest coach in the history of Valdosta State football. The big win marked Dean’s 76th career win, giving him the tie with Chris Hatcher, who once held the throne as the winningest coach. In the first quarter, the Blazers were able to get a 14-0 lead up on West Alabama, the Tigers gave it all they could to try and slow down the Blazer offense. Things seemed to be clicking on both ends however for the Blazers, as the Tigers were not able to score until the 9:01 mark in the second quarter, setting the score at 14-7. Not to be a team that is outdone, the Blazers came back just a little over two minutes later and scored a touchdown of their own. As the Blazers began to fall in stride, West Alabama began to make costly mistakes on the offensive end. At the six minute mark, Kenny Moore came up with a big interception and ran it all the way back for an easy pick six, making him the first player to return an interception for a touchdown since November 2013. With just 12 seconds left to go in the half, West Alabama was able to score, cutting the Blazers lead to only seven with a 27-14 score at the half. Both teams came out after the half more determined than before, as both teams battled to make it to the end zone. It was not until Greg Dent broke loose and was able to score off of a 40 yard touchdown reception, putting the Blazers up 34-14 with just 1:43 to go in the quarter. West Alabama hung in there, though and cut the deficit to back within seven, after Devonta Savage returned a kickoff for 95 yards setting the stage for a 5 yard rush by Rashaad Lee. Going into the 4th quarter with a 34-21 score, the Blazers kicked their offense into another gear and with 14:45 on the clock Blazer Cedric O’Neal burst through the defense for a 74-yard touchdown. West Alabama continued to hang tough as they were able to push toward the end zone for 73 yards and Lee was able to score off of a 10 yard run, setting the score at 41-28 with the Blazers on top. That would be the last time that the Tigers put points on the scoreboard, the Blazers however, were eager for more. With nine minutes left in the game, the Blazers went on an 80-yard drive and Austin Scott was able to rush in for a 17-yard touchdown, increasing the score to 48-28. Still not satisfied Kenny Murphy put the nail in the coffin for the Tigers when at the 3:34 mark of the fourth quarter, he came up with a big interception and ran it back for a 73 yard touchdown. With this win, VSU’s record improved to 6-2 overall, while West Alabama’s fell to 6-3 overall, making it impossible for them to make playoffs this season. The Blazers will be traveling to Cleveland, Mississippi to face yet another GSC contender at Delta State. The game is set to take place on Saturday at 5 p.m.
November 5, 2015
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Upcoming Blazers at Home Volleyball: Nov. 13 6 p.m. vs. Alabama-Hunstville Football: Nov. 14 3 p.m. vs. Florida Tech (Homecoming)
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Some of the Blazers get pumped up before starting the second half of Saturday’s game. The team has two more GSC regular season games, against Delta State on Nov. 7 and Florida Tech on Nov. 14.
Blazers take on Delta State to keep streak alive Austin Wells
Staff Writer amwells@valdosta.edu Coming off a huge home victory against West Alabama, the 6-2 Valdosta State Blazers will now go on the road to face off against the 5-4 Delta State Statesmen. The win on Saturday marked head coach David Dean’s 76th victory as the Blazers coach, tying him for the winningest head coach in VSU football history. With the huge milestone and the 55-28 victory that was put up this past weekend, Dean believes that the team could be going into the upcoming game with some extra confidence. “At the time that we played West Alabama they were probably the hottest team in the conference,” Dean said. “For us to be able to win in the decisive manner that we did really created more confidence and more excitement among the football team, along with knowing that we’re closer to the goal that we have of making the playoffs.” One of the big performers from the game against West Alabama was senior running back Cedric O’Neal, who amassed 108 yards and two touchdowns in the win. Being one of the bigger impact players on the team, Dean believes that O’Neal’s power running has helped him succeed. “He’s running with a lot of confidence and power underneath his pads,” Dean said. “He’s really starting to lower his shoulder and knock people backwards, when early on he was trying to make a lot of moves. He’s got the moves, but a big arsenal with him is his power and his strength. If we can
get him to continue to do that, to lower his shoulder and push folks back, we can be successful.” Dean’s praise extended to the blocking as well. “I think the biggest key is how well our offensive line is beginning to gel, and how they’re coming together as a unit and blocking well,” said Dean. “Our wide receivers are doing a great job of blocking down the field as well, which is creating opportunities from him to take maybe 8 or 9 yard rushing plays and turn them into 20 or 25 rushing plays or even touchdown plays.” With the Blazer defense coming off a great turnover-creating performance including four interceptions, Dean believes stopping the run will be one of the keys to repeating that performance. “The big thing is stopping the run,” Dean said. “That’s what we did against West Alabama and it forced them to throw. When we’re forcing teams to go one-dimensional it creates a lot of opportunities to force turnovers and interceptions, so we’re going to have to do the same thing again.” “Another thing we have to do is play for field position,” Dean continued to say. “Maybe if we don’t score every possession that we have, we can at least move the ball and force [Delta State] to have to drive back down the field. We need to play good special teams, make some big plays and then stop the run and force them to become more one-dimensional.” VSU’s game against Delta State will be this Saturday at 5 p.m. at the Statesmen’s home in Cleveland, Mississippi.
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Come join the VSU community for our annual Homecoming trip to Wild Adventures. Located 15 minutes from campus. Just take 75-South to exit 13 and turn right onto Old Clyattville Road . After about four miles, Wild Adventures Amusement Park will be on your right. See you there ...
Hey Blazers, State Unive rsi t
y
November 6, 2015 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Friday
3766 Old Clyattville Road , Valdosta, GA 31601
Wild Adventures Amusement Park
Valdosta State University Students
osta d l Va