The fall semester is coming to its seemingly long overdue close and, call me sentimental, it is just about time to look back at all the things that have made fall ’09 memorable.
For starters, the Lady Blazers reached the conference playoffs for the first time in three seasons. Although the team met an early exit at the hands of Harding it had one of its best seasons in years, finishing 15-13. However, the most impressive number of the season was three. Irene Hannan, Ruthie King, and Tanis Tauiliili were all named to the All-GSC team. The Lady Blazers may not have pulled-off a Hoosiers-like run, but they sure look good for next fall.
The cross-country teams also showed great improvement in league play from previous year. The men’s team finished with three top-five finishes and placed ninth in the NCAA South regional meet. The Running Lady  Blazers finished in the top-ten four times and placed tenth in the NCAA South regionals. The fact that the teams placed so well throughout the season was exciting since Head Coach Todd Smoot always has his teams    improving, those runners only get faster. Assuming the teams starts channeling Forrest Gump this off-season, next fall should be even more entertaining, for a non-spectators sport anyway.
Then, of course, there was the football team. I promised in an earlier column that I would play nice from now on to protect the  sensitivity of  certain people, so I will only state the facts; in hope of a fair and justified analysis of the ’09 season. The Valdosta football Blazers went 6-4 on the season and did not make the playoffs. The team gave up a school record-tying 62 points in the game against UNA and scored a school record-setting 70 points against Edward Waters. The team had to deal with the  legal troubles of star quarterback, Kellen Lewis.
In other news, the athletic    department announced the addition of a women’s soccer team in 2011.
So looking back through    tear-filled eyes we can bid adieu to the fall and hope for a more productive spring. Maybe if we are lucky the basketball teams will give us something special to cheer for. Until then Go Blazers and Merry Christmas!