“Championship Week” was a whole lot of fun!
By: FVSU Office of Sports Information
The concept was created by the Fort Valley State University (FVSU) Football Coaching Staff. The plan: schedule a full week of activities involving FVSU student-athletes and alumni which culminates with the annual “Blue and Gold Spring Football Game.” And even with the traditional “Blue and Gold Game,” add an unconventional twist!
With that in mind, “Championship Week” took place last week (April 6-10th) on the FVSU campus. The week of athletic activities began on Tuesday when the FVSU Football Team challenged the FVSU Track & Field Team to a series of sprint events on the FVSU Track. And while it wasn’t quite the tortoise versus the hare, the FVSU Track Team blistered the competition.
On Wednesday, it was on to the HPE Arena for the Wildcat Football Team. This time they challenged the women and men’s basketball teams in a night of hoops action. First up, the lineman (the Big Boys) met the Lady Wildcats in a 20 minute, running clock basketball ruckus. While the Lady Wildcats were severely outsized, they more than made up for the disadvantage with their court speed and savvy. The light-hearted affair ended with the Lady Wildcats showing the Wildcats Football Team that sometimes, size really doesn’t matter.
After the Lady Wildcats unceremoniously dumped the Big Boys, it was time for the running backs, receivers and defensive backs to defend against the Wildcats Basketball Team. Initially, it was athleticism run amuck. However, as the testosterone levels settled, so too did the Wildcats Basketball Team. In the end, they showed the gridiron gang that when it comes to hoops, finesse is almost always better than brawn.
On Thursday night, alumni and friends of FVSU athletics gathered in the hospitality suite at Wildcat Stadium for a social mixer as prelude to the Inaugural Lomax & Porter Golf Fundraiser. As the football team went through a rigorous practice on the field, those in attendance watched and enjoyed the company of Coach Stan Lomax (half of the duo for which the Golf Fundraiser was named and Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Member) and; Tyrone Poole (FVSU Alumnus and NFL Player). FVSU First Lady Betty Rivers even made an appearance.
On Friday morning, the festivities moved to the Perry Country Club for the start of the Lomax & Porter Golf Fundraiser. As the over 60 golfers approached the club house for 18 holes of best ball, team competition, they were greeted by legendary FVSU Coaches Douglas Porter (College Football Hall of Fame Inductee) and Stan Lomax. What better could there be to start a round of golf? Between the player camaraderie, the entry fees collected, and the per-hole corporate sponsorships, the event was a social and financial success.
“Championship Week” concluded on Saturday (April 10th) with the Annual Blue & Gold Spring Football Game. Only this year, the game came with a twist! Instead of a traditional intra-squad game between the current FVSU Wildcats offense and defense, this year’s game featured a match up between the current FVSU Wildcats Team versus former wildcat players.
On a post card perfect day in “The Valley,” both teams represented FVSU extremely well. As expected, the current Wildcats won the game. However, the former players showed that once you’ve gone through all the rigors and challenges that make you uniquely a Wildcat, it’s not that difficult to suite up when called upon.
-Wildcats Athletics-
