Chris Pope Does Well at Valdosta

By Diane Glidewell
dglidewell@myjpa.com

Chris Pope, a 2009 Jackson High School graduate, played four years for the Red Devil football team and earned All-Region honors on the JHS team that went 10-1 his senior year.

While also a standout on the basketball court, Pope signed to play football with the Valdosta State University Blazers after high school.

The 2010 football season at VSU proved to be a good one for both the team and Pope. The Blazers went 8-3 for the season, with only one loss in the first nine games, and Pope started in all 11 games for VSU.
{{more}}

Playing linebacker for VSU, Pope, who was redshirted in 2009, had a total of 61 tackles in 2010, 42 assisted tackles and 19 unassisted. He had 17 tackles in Valdosta’s game against Arkansas-Monticello on Oct. 23, which VSU won, 21-17.

Another highlight of the 2010 season for Pope was an interception in the Sept. 11 game against Newberry, which he ran back for 19 yards. Pope had nine tackles in Valdosta State’s final game of the season on Nov. 20 against North Alabama. During the season, Pope had four tackles for losses, totaling three yards.
“Chris had a great year for us,” said VSU Sports Information Director Shawn Reed.

Pope, who is majoring in education, said that a lot of hard work went into preparing for the VSU football season, including pre-season practices in the 101-degree heat of south Georgia. He is glad that he chose to play for the Blazers, however, and credits the leadership of the players and coaches at VSU and the support of the fans in Valdosta with the good season.

“We had a lot of good seniors on the team,” said Pope. “This is a good place to play. It’s a great football town.”

Pope said that he appreciates the encouragement he has received from VSU Defensive Coordinator/Linebacker Coach Joe Cauthen. And he added that he also is grateful to his coaches at Jackson High School.

“Playing for them for four years got me ready to play. I don’t think I would have been as ready to play if I had been at any other school,” said Pope. “They gave me a lot of knowledge of the game, both mental and physical.”

Mr. Pope is the grandson of Arlene Pope and the late Lynwood Pope of Monticello.

(This artilce was reprinted from the Jackson Progress Argus, with the permission of their Editor Mike Davis.)