Edward Hooper
Sports Writer
ephooper@valdosta.edu

After finishing with a 9-3 record in 2008 and being eliminated in the playoffs by conference foe North Alabama, the Valdosta State University football team is gunning for their third National Championship in just five seasons.
If VSU wants their football program to go back to national prominence in 2009 the Blazers are going to have to rely on some new faces in order to accomplish that feat. The Blazers are only returning 5 starters on the offensive and the defensive side of the football.  The Blazers lost their top two quarterbacks from a year ago and entered fall camp with a fierce quarterback battle between Junior Russ Callaway and Senior Transfer from Indiana University Kellen Lewis. However on Thursday August 20th Lewis was named the starter by head coach David Dean.
“He’ll (Kellen) will go in there and do a good job for us,” Dean said. “He earned the right to be the starter through his work throughout practices and scrimmages.”
In 2009 Kellen Lewis’ favorite receiver to throw the ball to might be receiving sensation Cedric Jones. The six-foot senior needs only 23 more receptions to become the schools all time leading receiver, a mark which is held by Sean Pender at 247 receptions. Jones also needs only 1,106 more yards to break Reggie Mosley’s school record in receiving yards which stands at  3, 738.
“He’s a gamer”, Lewis said. “He is the kind of guy that can turn a negative one or two yard bubble screen into eighty yards and a touchdown.”
Defensively the Blazers are led by their five returning starters in cornerback Carlos Anderson, defensive end Melvin Black, linebackers Brian Buford and Larry Dean and defensive tackle Demario Jones. Defensive coordinator Joe Cauthen says only returning five starters is no worry to him or the coaching staff.
“We’re young and we’re going to have to be quite simple early on in the season”, Cauthen said. “However we’re very athletic and that is a plus for us.”
Since Cauthen took over as defensive coordinator two seasons ago the Blazers defense has only allowed one single game 100 yard rusher. However the last time that happened was 18 games ago which has earned the defense a nickname of “The Black Swarm” which represents the way the defense swarms to the ball as a collective unit.
For the first time since 2005 the Blazers football team enjoys a schedule that has them hosting six home games. Valdosta State welcomes Newberry on September 29th to open up there 2009 season. The Blazers will then enjoy a week off before hosting Southern Arkansas on September 12th, West Alabama on September 26th, Henderson State on October 10th and North Alabama on Thursday October 22, a game that will be featured on CBS College Sports Network as the Game of the Week. This game will be heavily watched as this will be the first time North Alabama and VSU will face off with North Alabama being coached by ex-Auburn coach Terry Bowden. The Blazers will then finish their home schedule against Edward Waters on November 7.
“Anytime we get an opportunity to play here at home its huge for us”, Dean said. “We get to sleep in our own beds and get to play in familiar surroundings and play in front of a great home crowd and a great student body.”
The Blazers hit the road four times in 2009 and never have to travel on back to back weeks. There first away game comes on September 19 when they visit Ouachita Baptist. The Blazers next away contest will most likely be their most notable away game when they visit Delta State on October 1. Delta State reinsured the known rival with VSU last season when Delta State knocked off the Blazers at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium with a 27-24 win in overtime.  When asked about a rematch with Delta State, quarterback Russ Callaway only offered a comment about their first game against Newberry.
After a fierce rematch with Delta State the Blazers enjoy the luxuries of home until October 17 when they visit Harding. The Blazers final away contest will be on October 29th when they visit West Georgia, a team that will be opening their new stadium this season.