Blazers' #1 Team Player Retires

For over a quarter of a century, Steve Roberts has been "making the plays" as VSU's Sports Information Director. From keeping statistics and records to handling all media promotions, Roberts has played a huge role in the success of the Blazers. However, Roberts recently announced that his playing season is over, and he will retire at the end of May 2006.

"Steve is truly one of the 'deans' of the sports information profession, and he has played a tremendous role in the growth and development of our athletic program," said Herb Reinhard, VSU Athletic Director. "He is highly respected by his colleagues, and he is at the top in regards to his work to advance Division II athletics on the national level."

Roberts earned his Bachelor of Arts in journalism from the University of Georgia in 1965 and immediately began working as a sports writer and Sunday editor for the Savannah Morning News. In 1968, Roberts joined Valdosta State College as a staff member of College Relations. From 1972 to 1981, he worked as a Sunday editor for the Valdosta Daily Times, while doing sports information work at VSC on a part-time basis. In 1981, Roberts was hired as VSC's first full-time sports information director.

Roberts received several awards over the years from the College Sports Information Directors of America. He has promoted three winners of the Harlon Hill Trophy, which recognizes the best Division II football player, and he witnessed first-hand the 1979 Baseball National Championship and the 2004 Football National Championship.

So what's a retired sports information director to do? Roberts said that in addition to enjoying VSU's athletic events from outside the press box, he plans to "play a little golf, fish a little, some gardening, travel, find some kind of 'brain-dead' work to do part-time, maybe some volunteer work, and other duties as assigned by my wife of over 33 years."

Roberts is married to Maggie Roberts, director of the Advising Center in the James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education. The couple has two sons: John, 26, who works at East Tennessee State University as the assistant director of media relations for sports; and Bill, age 30, who works for Allstate in Chicago as the editor of their company newsletter.

Reinhard said VSU has benefited from Roberts' tenure. "We will miss him."