The Valdosta State Blazers just made it five in a row.
Equipment Manager Phillip Chartier, who pushes the strong DII, southern Georgia vote, talked with us as he made his way by team bus to West Georgia last week.
“This is my third season here. I was an assistant last year,” he said. He jumped in to help even before he enrolled at Valdosta State. Then, enrolled and began work toward an independent studies degree. Soon, he decided that Equipment Management was his future.
“I love it here. My dream would be to work at Miami,” he said. “Or the Naval Academy.” Navy is currently winning the American Athletic Conference in Helmet Bowl, though there were knocked out of the undefeated club in Week 5 by SMU. Miami trails Syracuse by one point in the Atlantic Coast Conference. 
Why Navy? Phillip served seven years in the US Navy. “I never served aboard a ship. I was an equipment operator—in Iraq in 2005 and again in 2006. I was also deployed to help with Hurricane Katrina.”
He has 18 months left to earn his degree in coaching and physical education, then it's on to study and pass the AEMA (Athletic Equipment Managers Association) Certification Exam.
“I grew up being a big sports nut—a fanatic. I love being part of the team,” he told us. “I want to know that what I do has a great impact on the team. Most people can be content being a fan of a team, but I am part of the team and I want to have an impact.
“I like knowing I have can do a little bit every day to help.”
Phillip learned about Helmet Bowl on Twitter, sent us an updated helmet image for the Blazers just before the first week, and was off and running. He tweets and retweets often, notified the school media team, a
nd reminds players daily to vote.
“It’s a great way of getting exposure for the school,” he said.
The Blazer helmet is adorned with red, white, and blue, reflecting the military presence of Valdosta, where Moody Air Force Base is located. Saturday, a home game against Mississippi College, is Valdosta’s military appreciation game.
Phillip works with a team of six staff members, all students, but only one he is married to—Cassandra.
“She votes. We both vote in other conferences. She’s a Georgia Bulldogs fan.”
Week 6 Doubles Points
Week 6 polls are open and winners this week will receive double the points–winners earn TWO points, tie between two teams get a point each, and other ties earn a half point for every team. Make sure your fans, student body, and alum know. If you haven't told your SID, Media Team, and Communications about Helmet Bowl, this is the week to do so.
Cavaliers
Virginia came out strong in Week 5 and earned a point in the ACC. They trail Syracuse by a point, but are tied with North Carolina Tarheels and Miami Hurricanes for second place.
Bengals
The Idaho State Bengals won their first point in Helmet Bowl and take the Week 5 point in the Big Sky. This Conference is wide open with Idaho State, the Fighting Hawks of North Dakota, and the Southern Utah Thunderbirds all knotted up in second place behind the Eastern Washington Eagles.
Titans
The Illinois Wesleyan Titans took this the Week 5 point in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. The Titans, who play in Bloomington, IL, take a two point lead in Helmet Bowl I.
Ties in Week 5
Lone Star Conference: Angelo State Rams and Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds brought in the same number of votes. They both break the Texas-Permian Basin Falcons unbeaten streak at four.
Northeast 10 Conference: New Haven Chargers and Southern Connecticut Owls knotted it up in Week 5. They trail the Saint Anselm Hawks.
There were no three-way, four-way, or five-way ties in Week 5.
Question of the Week
Nothing against the Ithaca Bombers, but scrawling your school name across your helmet doesn't seem to be a winning design – except in the Empire 8 Conference. We love the Finger Lakes Region of Update New York, but really? Plus, the Bombers are named after a basketball team (yup, look it up).
Commissioner's Pick
Penn Quakers sport a simple, large P on the side of a dark blue helmet. The University of Pennsylvania's P is divided diagonally with a dark red top left portion and lower portion in a lighter shade of dark blue. This team has 18 National Championships in its trophy case to go along with its 17 Ivy League Championships! The helmet is unique, stylish, and powerful.