Players growing out beards for wins

Josey's beard in August

VALDOSTA — San Francisco Giants closer Brian Wilson and Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Brett Keisel have two of the most iconic beards in today's sports world. And now, a few Valdosta State players are looking to challenge the two professional superstars in the ultimate beard face-off.

Four Blazer players — defensive tackle Tyler Josey, center Jake Thomas, quarterback Justin Roberts and captain Cam Short — all made a pledge to one another this summer that they would grow out their beards until the end of the season, which they hope isn't until Dec. 17 in Florence, Ala., the site of the Division II national championship game.

"We started growing them out July 1, all four us," said Short, who also sports his customary long locks of hair. "We haven't shaved yet."

Short's beard at picture day
in August.

The four close friends all came up with the idea during summer workouts and have managed to stick with it. Some other players have started to join in, like backup safety Davis Durham, defensive lineman Cooper Lemonds and even defensive coordinator Seth Wallace, who just recently started to grow out his facial hair. Other coaches have since started the trend, but not head coach David Dean.

"I had one the other day," Dean said. "I grew it Saturday and Sunday, but I had to shave it."

While the four players started this July, they said it is Kaylon Harrell, who started growing out his beard nearly two years ago.

"He is like the grandfather of beards," Thomas joked.

The group's devotion to the beard growing hasn't gone unnoticed either. While the Blazers were in Florence, Ala. for their game against rival North Alabama, the group of four tweeted a picture of their beards to Keisel, who in return retweeted their picture to his 72,000-plus Twitter followers.

— Follow me on Twitter at @Ed_Hooper.