Tuesday, December 2, 2014

VSU Trojans' Success Brought Pride Back

ETTRICK, Virginia — Bloomsburg University quarterback Tim Kelly lined up under center with under a minute remaining and took two kneel-downs to bring the clock to zero on Virginia State's football season. Kelly had run in three touchdowns, mostly untouched, and was the difference-maker the Huskies needed to blow by the Trojans in the second round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs.

But as the clock hit zero and both teams met at midfield for the typical post-game handshakes, something unexpected happened. Even though the Trojans had been manhandled in a 35-14 loss, there were cheers emanating from their side of the field. Many Virginia State alumni had made the six-hour trek to Pennsylvania to cheer on the team which had helped ease the pain the university has felt over the past two years.

Virginia State has been in the news for all of the wrong reasons recently with crime, last year's suspension of the CIAA Title game and petty violence occurring on campus which has led to lower enrollment numbers at a time when the school has a shortfall of $19 million. Additionally, the school has cut services while continuing construction projects which includes an $84 million multipurpose center.

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