Carrollton, GA – Each year at the University of West Georgia's annual Westpy Award celebration awards are given for Team of the Year and Coach of the Year within UWG Athletics. For the 2017-18 athletic year UWG Football claimed both honors.
The 2017 West Georgia Wolves football team was chosen Team of the Year for UWG Athletics. Also, head coach David Dean was selected as the Westpy Recipient as Coach of the Year for UWG's athletic program.
Last year's Wolves produced a 9-4 record, and football was the only team within UWG Athletics to receive an at large bid to the NCAA Playoffs in its respective sport. The playoff bid was the third-in-four years for Wolves' program.
UWG's 8-3 regular season mark included many highlights. Two of the most notable came in weeks five and six as the Wolves dismantled a pair of old rivals in North Alabama and Valdosta State. The Wolves outran the Lions 37-23 on September 30. A week later they reclaimed The Peach Basket with a 42-13 rout of the rival Blazers. The latter was the second largest margin of victory ever for a West Georgia team over Valdosta State.
The 2017 Wolves received a bid to the NCAA Division II Playoffs, and then celebrated with a decisive road win, 35-9, over previously undefeated Virginia State. The season ended a week later with a heartbreaking, 17-14 home playoff loss to West Florida. Still, it was a remarkable season for UWG Football.
Beyond team accomplishments, the 2017 Wolves reaped more than their share of individual honors. The most notable was junior running back Devontae Jackson, who became the first West Georgia player ever to be a national finalist for the Harlan Hill Trophy, given annually to the Division II Football Player of the Year. Also, Jackson and senior center Harley Vaughan were named first team members of the Associated Press Division II All-America Team, while senior tackle Desmond Harrison was selected a first team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association.
At the center of UWG's 2017 success was the head coach. Dean brought national championship credentials to West Georgia when he returned to Carrollton as head coach in late January. And though coaching transitions can often be tumultuous, Dean blended his philosophy with the returning talent to again have UWG in the NCAA Playoffs, and to solidify the program's rise to the level of consistent contender in the rugged Gulf South Conference.
