Congratulations students of Valdosta State. We have school spirit and the student body, as a whole, supports the athletic programs here in Titletown USA.
In the past, the student turnout at football games has been lackluster and disappointing. Sure it was a down year in 2009, but leaving before halftime—with maybe the exception of when North Alabama beat us down—is not acceptable. And that is exactly what we saw last year.
Then basketball season came around and the VSU school spirit started to show again. After all, the athletic department at VSU broke the previous attendance record for basketball this past season.
The sight of the crowd filling the arena for the Blazers game on Jan. 18 against No. 1 ranked Augusta State could show the school spirit alone. If that doesn’t do it, maybe the sight of the students rushing the court after the 81-75 victory will.
If basketball season was not enough to show the growth in school spirit of the student body, maybe adding softball season will.
This past season, a record crowd of over 500 filled the VSU softball complex to watch the Lady Blazers sweep the Alabama-Huntsville Lady Chargers and take control in the South Region—a region they eventually won.
The crowd of over 500—which was mainly students— made it so loud that the opposing pitcher found it difficult to throw strikes.
With this past weekend’s season opening football game falling on Labor Day weekend, many believed the crowed—especially the students—would not come out and support the Blazers.
Those doubters were wrong.
The student body of Valdosta State flocked to Bazemore-Hyder Stadium. They made it tough for a very good Wingate team to function at times.
If you don’t think that school spirit at games makes a difference, just go and ask the Wingate Bulldogs—who fell last Saturday to the Blazers—or go ask the once undefeated and No. 1 ranked Augusta State Jaguars, who suffered their first loss of the basketball season at the Complex. They would probably disagree.
So, congratulations Valdosta State. You have school spirit. The only question now is, can you keep it up?

This editorial was written by Ed Hooper (ephooper@valdosta.edu) and it expresses the opinion of the entire editorial staff.