VSU Intramural Flag Football Team Wins Second National Championship

The Valdosta State University Nikes won the 2015-2016 National Intramural Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) Men’s National Flag Football Championship for the second consecutive year. Pictured, from left to right, are (back row) D'Angelo Smith, team captain and a December 2015 graduate from Lithonia; Wes Carter, a graduate student from Sycamore; Teddy Welch, a December 2015 graduate from Valdosta; Romaz Jones, a senior from Tifton; Justin Brown, a senior from Valdosta; Eric Johnson, a senior from Thomasville; Craig Snead and JaMichael Snead, seniors from Mount Vernon; Malcolm Johnson, a senior from Cartersville; Tedrian Thompson, a senior, and Jaleel Eugene, team coach and a December 2015 graduate, both from Lithonia; (front row) Jamaar Snead, a senior from Mount Vernon; Theseus Jackson, a graduate student from Wilkerson; and Lance Jarriel, a senior from Valdosta.

VALDOSTA – The Valdosta State University Nikes won the 2015-2016 National Intramural Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) Men’s National Flag Football Championship for the second consecutive year.

The Nikes and P-Rex traveled to Pensacola, Fla., to represent Georgia for the 2015-2016 NIRSA Flag Football National Championships Jan. 2-4 at the University of West Florida.

P-Rex won the 2014-2015 co-rec national championship.

“The students from P-Rex and the Nikes did an amazing job this past weekend,” said Shawn Phippen, director of Campus Recreation. “Both teams worked very hard to get to the finals and had an excellent showing for VSU. These students are outstanding examples of Blazers and put VSU in the national spotlight.”

In the final men’s championship game, the Valdosta State University Nikes defeated the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley’s Hoosier Daddy with a score of 26 to 12.

P-Rex also earned their place in the final co-rec championship game but lost to Angelo State University with a score of 23 to 9.

“I was glad to be in attendance for all of the games and it was a great feeling to support our students, as always,” said Dr. James Archibald, interim vice president for Student Affairs. “The Division of Student Affairs stands with our students in all their endeavors, initiatives, and goals. They certainly had the drive…went in there to win…kept each other pumped up, their spirits up, and when you’re in the competitive mode, you don’t really lose that focus. Our intramural program is among the best.”

Five VSU student-athletes — Eric Johnson, a senior from Thomasville; Rachel Swilley, a senior from Valdosta; Lance Jarriel, P-Rex team captain and a senior from Valdosta; D’Angelo Smith, Nikes team captain and a senior from Lithonia; and Romaz Jones, a senior from Tifton — were among 22 players and 10 officials to receive All-American honors for their performances in the 2015-2016 NIRSA Flag Football Championships.

Smith was also honored with the Most Valuable Player award for his efforts in the 2015-2016 Men’s National Championship game.

To qualify for nationals, both teams had to win at the 32^nd Annual Georgia Peach Classic Flag Football Championships Nov. 6-8, hosted by Georgia Southern University’s Department of Campus Recreation and Intramurals.

VSU’s intramural flag football program’s past honors include men’s state champions, women’s runner-up state champions, co-rec state champions, and men’s runner-up Swamp Bowl champions for the 2015-2016 collegiate year; men’s national champions, co-rec national champions, men’s Swamp Bowl champions, men’s runner-up state champions, women’s state champions, and co-rec state champions for the 2014-2015 collegiate year; co-rec national series final four, men’s state champions, and co-rec state champions for the 2013-2014 collegiate year; co-rec national series final four and co-rec runner-up state champions for the 2012-2013 collegiate year; and co-rec state champions for the 2011-2012 collegiate year.

Contact Shawn Phippen at (229) 333-5898 or sphippen@valdosta.edu for more information.

On the Web:

https://www.valdosta.edu/student/rec-wellness/campus-recreation/

http://nirsa.net/nirsa/flag-football/

Valdosta State University’s 2013-2019 Strategic Plan represents a renewal of energy and commitment to the foundational principles for comprehensive institutions.

Implementation of the plan’s five goals, along with their accompanying objectives and strategies, supports VSU’s institutional mission and the University System of Georgia’s mission for comprehensive universities.

The story above demonstrates VSU's commitment to meeting the following goals:

Goal 1: Recruit, retain, and graduate a quality, diverse student population and prepare students for roles as leaders in a global society.

Goal 3: Promote student, employee, alumni, retiree, and community engagement in our mission.

Visit http://www.valdosta.edu/administration/planning/strategic-plan.php to learn more.