By Dionte Daniel, Assistant Sports Editor Heading into the 2026 season, the Atlanta Falcons have several question marks surrounding them. However, none is bigger than who will be their starting quarterback.  Atlanta faces the Miami Dolphins on Friday night for their third and final preseason game. While games during the preseason are often meaningless, it means more this time around ...

By: Lloydrica Hudson, Sports Editor   Valdosta State football will open its 2026 season Thursday night against Emory & Henry at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium, beginning a new campaign with several key players returning on both sides of the ball. The Blazers enter the season after finishing 2025 with a 6-5 overall record. VSU closed the year with three consecutive Gulf South ...

By: Dionte Daniel, Spectator Staff Writer  Valdosta State University has had one of the top athletic programs in Division II for years. The Blazers have won championships, created professionals and cultivated a football legacy that rivals any school not playing in the FBS.   College athletics are evolving though, and the Gulf South Conference is evolving with it. At some point ...

By: Marese Hudson, Assistant Sports Editor  The NBA tried its hardest to preserve the value of major awards by adding a new rule: the 65-game rule. Instead, it created new inequities across the league.  This season, the players who clearly delivered great All-NBA level production found themselves on the outside looking in and not because of performance, but because of a rigid cutoff that doesn’t account for ...

By: Austin Sellars, Staff Writer VALDOSTA, Ga. – Titletown, USA, is renowned for its numerous national championships in Division II sports at VSU and its intense high school football rivalries. However, many overlook that it has become a powerhouse in collegiate dance.   The VSU Red Hots swept both the jazz and hip-hop divisions at the National Dance Alliance College National Championship in Daytona Beach, Florida, securing their 10th and 11th national titles in program history.   ...

By Dionte Daniel, Spectator Staff Writer  VALDOSTA, Ga. — Spring football isn’t about wins and losses. Spring football is about finding identity.  VSU has found parts of who it wants to be.  Head Coach Graham Craig said effort and competition were what stood out to him after the Blazers finished spring practice with their spring game.  “I think this team ...

By: Summer Smiley, Staff Writer  VALDOSTA, Ga. – VSU baseball has had a challenging 2026 season filled with ups and downs. Although some of the series’ matchups ended in losses, the team continues to play with effort and determination.  The Blazers opened their season with a 4-5 loss against Nova Southeastern on Jan. 30 but gained momentum with a 15-12 win over Palm ...

By: Austin Sellars – Spectator Staff Writer VALDOSTA, Ga – The VSU men’s golf team competed in and hosted the First Federal Collegiate Classic on Monday and Tuesday, March 9-10, at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club in Valdosta, Ga. The red and black finished their home tournament in eighth place, posting scores of 284, 288, and 292 for an even-par total ...

By Dionte Daniel, staff writer  VALDOSTA, Ga. — VSU women’s soccer suffered a late-goal setback against Jacksonville University Saturday afternoon in a spring exhibition game on the VSU Soccer Fieldhouse turf.   The scoreless deadlock was broken with just over five minutes left in regulation, as Jacksonville put the game away.   Despite falling to the Dolphins, the Blazers stayed composed against ...

By the Spectator Staff At VSU athletics plays a major role in campus life. From game days to championships, student athletes represent our university. But beyond the field, their experiences show opportunities for growth in how support systems are structured.  One area that continues to evolve across colleges, across the US are Name, Image and Likeness (NIL). While NIL has created new opportunities nationwide, student-athletes at VSU often navigate this space largely ...