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| Bobby Wallace |
The last time the Valdosta State Blazers faced head coach Bobby Wallace, it was his final game as head coach at West Alabama. Following the game, Wallace was supposed to end his long and victorious coaching career and ride off into the sunset for retirement.
That didn't last long.
After one season away from the game, Wallace was hired as the head coach at North Alabama, a school where he won three straight national championships in the 1990's. In his return, he has guided the Lions to a 5-1 record with a game against Valdosta State looming Saturday night in Florence, Ala.
When speaking with media Tuesday, Valdosta State head coach David Dean was asked about that going away game for Wallace in 2010. Dean remembered the game, which ended with the Tigers beating the Blazers, who entered with the No. 1 ranking in the region, 24-21. The loss cost the Blazers the outright Gulf South Conference championship and the night was filled with controversy, at least from Valdosta State's standpoint.
“Yeah, I do (remember),” Dean said. “It was supposed to be his retirement night. It was over in Livingston, Ala. and they beat us....the whole night was questionable. But, yes I do remember that game.
“I told him, ‘I don’t think you can stay away from it,’” Dean continued. “I thought if North Alabama ever opened up, he would go back and coach again. So it didn’t surprise me. Honestly, I am glad. He is a great guy, a great person. He is good for Gulf South Conference football, just because of the legacy he brings, all the national championships he has won there. He is a great coach...It is always fun to coach against a guy like that.”
In the loss, the Blazers had their chances to win, including at the end of the game when quarterback Austen Roberts heaved the ball into the end zone where cornerback Stevie Harden, who was on the field as a wide receiver, stood. Harden looked as though he was pushed in the back just prior to making the catch. No flag was thrown and the game was over.
The Blazers were eliminated from the playoffs the following week by North Alabama, which was under the direction of then-head coach Terry Bowden, who built his team each year on Division I transfer players.
Since taking over the North Alabama program this season, Wallace has turned the program around back around, recruiting freshman to fill out the roster. The Blazers have been able to notice the difference between the two teams by watching film.
"They are a team this year," VSU defensive end Tyler Josey said. "They aren't just a bunch of individuals brought in as transfers. These guys have been together, they have been through the spring and they have a little bit of a bond in them. You can tell they are getting along as a team than they have in the past."
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