I was not even going to start a post if ASU lost, .........but we WON, albeit, on a miracle play to END the game,....but it IS a playoff and this is all that matters.
ANYWAY.....here is a breakdown off the brackets and I hope you guys follow it as it will be telivised from here on out.
Glad you started a thread though,...I saw where Wofford won a game they shouldn't have also. That puts 2 SoCon teams in The Hunt.
With no YSU in the tourney, I tend to pull for the SoCon. The Penguins finished 15th in the poll, but I guess there were too many other 1-AA smaller conference champs that weren't ranked very high that got their automatic bids.
Didn't look at your bracket yet, hopefully Wofford and Appalachian State don't have to play until the final,...??
OoohRah, App and Wofford would meet in the Semi-Final IF they both win next week.
App. got pretty lucky in thier win, and Wofford beat a GOOD team in Montana, the one BIG advantage is that the way the brackets have shaken out so far, App. gets another home game while Wofford has to go on the road again. Kinda like the NFL, it's tough to win consecutive road games in the playoffs.
App., Kinda reminds me of the Browns this yr, in that we can score on anybody, but man........we CANNOT stop the run !!!!!!
If we can't figure out something soon, we will not be hanging around for long. By all rights, we shouldn't have won yesterdays game.
Born and breed with OSU, App. State alumni, but bleed orange and brown.
Actually, I'm kind of wondering why The Dayton Flyers, 11-1 ranked # 24, as of last week, didn't get a playoff shot -- did they just move DOWN from 1-A and are on probation or something ???
Well, were down to the final four, and both games will be shown on ESPN next week. One friday night at 8:00 PM and the other Sat. at 4:00 PM. If you can ONLY make one, watch the Sat. game.
Here is a little run down:
Quote:
Around FCS: The Fantastic Four By David Coulson, FCS Executive Director
Spartanburg, SC (Sports Network) - The comic book Superheros known as the Fantastic Four all had special powers that enabled them to protect the world from all sorts of bad guys.
Sort of sounds like the final four teams left competing for the NCAA Division I Football Championship. Appalachian State, Delaware, Richmond and Southern Illinois all shared some common ground as they have survived into the FCS semifinals.
As we try to make sense of a championship tournament where three of the four seeded teams have been eliminated in the first two rounds, there are a number of reasons why these four were able to come away with wins.
WINNING THE TURNOVER BATTLE
If there was one common denominator for the four quarterfinal winners on Saturday, it wasn't surprising that it was winning the turnover battle.
Appalachian State has been in search of its defensive reputation for most of the season, but after surviving a 28-27 win over upset-minded James Madison in week one of the playoffs, the Mountaineers went back to basics in practice last week.
The Mountaineers spent three days of practice doing tackling drills last week in preparation for Eastern Washington. The result was ASU’s best defensive performance of the year against a high-powered Eagle offense that resulted in a 38-35 victory that wasn't nearly as close as the point margin.
"If you've got a leak in the roof, you've got to fix it," said Appalachian State coach Jerry Moore, after watching missed tackles nearly cost his Mountaineers the game against JMU.
Had it not been for a 78-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by EWU’s A.J. Jimerson, an 82-yard return by Nicholas Ramos that set up another TD and a 51- yard scoring run by Bryan Jarrett on a fake punt, this was a game that would have been a rout.
Eastern Washington didn't manage to drive for a touchdown until scoring twice in the final 3:11 of garbage time. Eastern Washington quarterback Matt Nicholls was intercepted once, fumbled once and was involved with a bad exchange on another fumble at the ASU two-yard line that cost the Eagles a key score.
The Eagles also lost another fumble and had a field goal blocked. Three turnovers and an error in the kicking game are an almost sure road to playoff elimination.
Appalachian State, meanwhile, had some breakdowns on special teams, but was able to survive them because the Mountaineers had zero turnovers. They weren't required to even recover any of their own fumbles.
In Richmond's 21-10 win at Wofford, the Spiders were not perfect. But the Spiders survived a fumble at the Terrier 40 midway through the third quarter and got a break when the MEAC officials at the game called a controversial penalty on Wofford for interfering with a Richmond punt returner when he fumbled the ball away in a crucial fourth-quarter stretch.
Wofford's high-risk option offense led to five fumbles and one turnover, as well as a Josh Collier interception. But it was a special teams miscue that proved fatal.
With Richmond leading 14-10 with nine minutes to play, Wofford was lining up for the first punt of the entire game when a snap nearly went over the head of punter Chris Tommie. Tommie managed to leap and catch the errant snap, but then dropped the ball at the Terrier 19 and then froze. Derek Hatcher scooped up the ball and returned for Richmond to the one to set up Tim Hightower’s second touchdown run of the game one play later.
In a somewhat wild game between No. 1 ranked Northern Iowa and Delaware, turnovers and turnovers that were overruled played a large role in the Blue Hens’ 39-27 upset.
Northern Iowa threatened to win easily when it raced to a 10-0 first-quarter lead. But Delaware cut that advantage to 10-6 in the second quarter when Joe Flacco hit Mark Duncan on a seven-yard scoring play.
Joe Striefsky had the first of consecutive extra points blocked, but Flacco threw another seven-yard scoring strike to Robbie Agnone to give the Blue Hens a 12-10 lead.
Just 20 seconds later, UNI's Eric Sanders completed a pass to Victor Williams at the Delaware 45, but Williams fumbled and Delaware linebacker Erik Johnson dashed 55 yards for a touchdown after recovering the ball. Suddenly, Delaware led 19-10.
Delaware won the turnover battle 3-0, but it was a turnover that the Blue Hens avoided that allowed them to clinch the game. With Northern Iowa trailing 32-27 in the final minutes, the Panthers recovered a fumble at the Panther one.
It looked like Sanders would have one last chance to lead Northern Iowa to a comeback victory. But the Panthers were called for offsides on the play and Flacco snuck in for a game-clinching touchdown seconds later.
Southern Illinois forced Massachusetts quarterback Liam Coen into three interceptions, while counterpart Nick Hill was committing just one interception in a 34-27 victory.
The Minutemen made a late run with a pair of Coen touchdown passes in the final 17 minutes, but those missed chances earlier came back to cost UMass when Southern Illinois ran out the clock in the final four minutes.
Coen threw for a school-record 421 yards and three touchdowns, hitting 28- of-42 passes. But Coen will remember those interceptions for a lot longer than the touchdowns.
THE STAR PLAYER SYNDROME
There is little doubt that teams need their stars players to play major roles in the playoffs and all four winners got major contributions from their big guns on Saturday.
And if your stars don't perform well, it usually means you are headed home.
At Appalachian State, sophomore quarterback Armanti Edwards was cool and collected as he directed the Mountaineers to 529 yards of total offense.
Edwards completed all nine of his passes in the first half for 154 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He finished 15-of-22 for 221 yards and rushed 23 times for 126 yards and another score.
With ASU tailback Kevin Richardson slowed by an ankle injury, Devon Moore stepped in to run 24 times for 100 yards and a touchdown. When Richardson did play, however, he was sharp with eight carries for 69 yards and a score.
An even bigger star for the Mountaineers was free safety and Buchanan Award candidate Corey Lynch. Lynch sapped some momentum from Eastern Washington early with the block of a 46-yard field goal by Felipe Macias, but that was just the start of things for Lynch.
In the third quarter, Lynch intercepted a Nicholls pass at the ASU seven in a 31-21 game, one play after Ramos had returned a kickoff 39 yards to the EWU 40.
And in the fourth period, Lynch recovered a Nicholls fumble at the Eagle 29 when Gary Tharrington stripped Nicholls on an option run to set up ASU’s clinching touchdown.
Nicholls, who seemed unsettled by a blitzing Appalachian State defense, was 24-of-42 for 185 yards and two TDs, a far cry from his usual performance.
In Richmond’s win, Tim Hightower was held in check for most of the game. But this big-time back came through with key yardage when the Spiders needed it the most and came back from a knee injury to finish with 23 carries for 88 yards and two fourth-quater touchdown runs.
Kevious Johnson was stellar for Wofford with 16 carries for 89 hard-fought yards in this defensive struggle, but Richmond was able to keep the explosive senior halfback out of the end zone.
Joe Flacco hit 25-of-45 for 312 yards and two TDs against the tough Northern Iowa defense and Omar Cuff rushed 28 times for 102 yards and a score to give the Blue Hens a lift.
UNI's Sanders ended his career by going 26-of-38 for 291 yards and one touchdown, but also was picked off once. Corey Lewis ran 20 times for 150 yards and two TDs and was tough on the Delaware defense early. But once the Panthers fell behind, it took one of their major weapons out of the attack.
Hill wasn't as accurate as normal against the high-pressure UMass defense, but he still completed 13-of-23 passes for 216 yards and three touchdowns. Hill’s 69-yard TD throw to Byron Gettis 53 seconds into the game got the Salukis off to the kind of start they needed to beat the Minutemen.
LOOKING TO A FANTASTIC SEMIFINAL ROUND
With Southern Illinois hosting Delaware on Friday night and Appalachian State entertaining Richmond on Saturday afternoon, we should be guaranteed of some fine play from this fantastic four.
All four teams have shown the capacity for piling up big offensive numbers and each teams showed on Saturday that they can come up with the big defense plays needed to win as well.
Batten down the hatches for what should be an exciting weekend of play as FCS finally determines its championship pairing for 2007.
Look guys, I did the same thing last yr., and there was some damn good football. Granted a few more of you were interested because YSU was involved, but,.........it's still good ball.
It should be exciting ball and it's decided the way it should be........... A PLAYOFF.
History has a CHANCE to be made as NO team has EVER won three DI-AA (or whatever it's called now ) Championships in a row.
But first we have to win next week.
Born and breed with OSU, App. State alumni, but bleed orange and brown.
I really wanted to see Wofford beat Richmond, as they had lost to The Citadel earlier,....but I'll take The 'Neers as my new 2d team,...hoping for the 3-peat.
Just thought that I would bump this thread as we are now down to the Championship game and yes...........Appalachian State is back in it!!!!!!
The game will be televised on ESPN Friday night at 8:00.
No team has EVER won Back-to-Back-to-Back National titles. YSU with Tressel and Georgia Southern have been to three in a row, but not WON three in a row. Hopefully we can make history.
Anyway it should be a pretty good game, the last two have been great.
Here is something about both teams and a prediction:
Quote:
Around FCS: First And Last By David Coulson, FCS Executive Director
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - It seems pretty ironic now, but the first week of the 2007 football season, I chose two rather interesting games to attend.
On a Thursday night, I was at William & Mary to see the Tribe and Delaware kick off football in the Colonial Athletic Association. It was an amazing performance, as Omar Cuff tore through the Tribe defense for seven touchdowns in a 49-31 Blue Hen victory.
Two days later, I was in Michigan Stadium along with a throng of media and 109,000 fans to see how Appalachian State - the two-time defending FCS national champion - would fare against the Associated Press' No. 5-ranked Wolverines.
A Hollywood screenwriter couldn't have written a better script as the Mountaineers stunned Michigan, 34-32.
Now 17 weeks later, I am packing my bags for Chattanooga, TN and the NCAA Division I Football Championship, to see Appalachian State and Delaware meet for the title.
A wonderful bit of symmetry, if you ask me.
Appalachian State fans were noting that they had opened the season against a team wearing those winged-logo helmets and that they would close the year playing another team with the distinctive head gear.
And in a year when offensive football got the better of defense, what better matchup than a game featuring two of the most high-powered attacks in FCS?
Defensive coordinators around the country have found that about the only way to slow down quarterback Armanti Edwards and the Appalachian State no-huddle spread offense is to methodically run the ball up and down the field to keep the Mountaineer attack on the sideline.
James Madison, a team that might have found itself in Chattanooga, playing for a national crown, nearly pulled off that strategy in the opening round of the playoffs. But the Mountaineer defense forced a fumble in the final seconds on the nine-yard line to preserve a 28-27 victory.
Delaware has also shown a lethal attack behind the cannon-armed passing of Joe Flacco and the gritty, determined running of Cuff.
The Blue Hens staggered into the playoffs, losing their final two regular- season games to Richmond and Villanova. But Delaware has appeared to be a refreshed club in the playoffs, even with some taxing travel to Northern Iowa and Southern Illinois.
In 2004, I remember conversing with Delaware coach K.C. Keeler over lunch at the Atlantic 10 media day about how he thought his Blue Hens were a year or two away from being annual contenders for the national title. Coming off a national title in 2003, Keeler didn't believe his team was that far away.
But it has been four years since the Blue Hens dominated the playoff field on the way to their first FCS title.
Appalachian State had twice as many injuries this season as in the previous two championship years combined. But the Mountaineers survived a pair of early losses and seem to be peaking at precisely the right time.
Mountaineer coach Jerry Moore said on Friday night that his team was well aware that it was on the verge of history. He admitted that the Mountaineers had talked about their legacy more this season than ever before.
I opened the playoffs watching the electric atmosphere at Delaware Stadium as Delaware met Delaware State for the first time, and I was in attendance in Boone last Friday night when Appalachian State took on Richmond before one of the loudest, most energetic crowds that longtime fans could ever remember.
I have been blessed to cover the past six national championship games and will be in the press box Friday night for my seventh. And there probably hasn't been any of those games that myself and the others who will attend have anticipated with more excitement.
It should be a fun week in Chattanooga for Mountaineer and Blue Hen supporters alike, as well as anyone else who calls him or herself an FCS fan.
EXPANSION ZONE
The good news is that Friday's national championship game is a sellout for the second year in a row. The bad news is that the demand for tickets far exceeds the supply.
Finley Stadium seats 20,668 and last year's game drew an overflow crowd of 22,808. The demand for tickets to this year's game might be even higher. It isn't hard to think that ASU and Delaware could draw 30,000 fans, if there were that many seats.
Adding to that problem is the word that the NCAA has asked that the host committee not place bleachers in the grassy end zone area, further cutting the potential crowd. The NCAA has apparently made this demand for aesthetic reasons and safety concerns.
The NCAA wasn't that enthused with the over-enthusiastic celebration of Appalachian State's fans last year when the Mountaineers beat Massachusetts, 28-17. One of the problems was that there was little keeping those end zone fans from rushing onto the field at the game's end.
From at least one person's perspective, it seems like additional fencing might solve the potential crowd control problems and allow for more temporary seating.
While Chattanooga has been an excellent host and has done a lot to grow the game, it might be time for Tennessee-Chattanooga and those who run the stadium to consider expanding the seating capacity.
It would be fairly easy to enclose one side, where the grassy knoll now resides, and add some permanent seats, and it might prevent the game from out- growing the city in future years.
NCAA DIVISION I FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Finley Stadium, Chattanooga, TN., 8 p.m. ET, ESPN2
No. 13 Delaware (11-3) at No. 5 Appalachian State (12-2)
Two of the premier programs in FCS meet for the first time with a national championship on the line. ASU will be trying to win an unprecedented three consecutive national crowns after winning a record 11 straight playoff games over the past three years. Delaware has won six national titles, four times in wire service polls, once in Division II (1979, with coach K.C. Keeler as a starting linebacker) and once in FCS (2003). The teams have had two common opponents. ASU beat James Madison 28-27 and Richmond 55-35 in the playoffs, while Delaware edged JMU 37-34 and lost to Richmond 62-56 in five overtimes in CAA play.
HOW THEY GOT HERE
Appalachian State tied Wofford for the Southern Conference championship with a 5-2 record and earned an at-large playoff berth. The Mountaineers survived a close call against James Madison in the first round, beat Eastern Washington 38-35 in the quarterfinals and defeated Richmond in the semifinals.
Delaware finished 5-3 to tie for third in the CAA's South Division and earned an at-large berth in the playoffs. The Blue Hens stormed past Delaware State 40-7 at home in the historic first meeting of the programs in the first round of the playoffs. Delaware then went on the road and beat Northern Iowa 39-27 in the quarterfinals and Southern Illinois 20-17 in the semifinals.
OFFENSE
Appalachian State has numerous weapons on offense, led by the speedy Edwards at quarterback. Sophomore Armanti Edwards has rushed for 1,499 yards and 21 touchdowns in just 10 games and would rank fourth nationally in rushing, if he had played enough games to qualify. He also has developed as a passer, throwing for 1,750 yards and 14 TDs with just seven interceptions. Edwards has gone four games without an interception.
Kevin Richardson became ASU's all-time leader in rushing and all-purpose yards, and is second only to Cuff in active career scoring. Richardson has run for 1,230 yards and 14 TDs to complement Edwards in the rushing game, and has 31 catches and 317 yards, with three more scores. The Mountaineers also have a quality backup behind Richardson in Devon Moore (392 yards, six TDs). Edwards' backup, Trey Elder, has started in a national championship game in 2005 and would rank in the top five in passing efficiency, if he had enough passing attempts. Elder has only lost one game he has started in high school, or college.
Dexter Jackson (29 receptions, seven TDs, 21.6 average per catch) grabbed just one pass last week, but it went for a 52-yard touchdown. Hans Batichon (56 receptions, seven TDs) is injury free and will play in his first title game in three years. Tight end Nic Cardwell had just five catches all year before pulling in two for touchdowns last week. Six different receivers have scored touchdowns for ASU.
The offensive line, led by two-time Jacobs Blocking Trophy winner Kerry Brown at left guard, played perhaps its best game of the season against Richmond and was fortified by getting starting left tackle Mario Acitelli back from a broken leg. ASU ranks second in total offense (484 yards per game), third in rushing (282 yards), third in scoring (42.3 points) and 58th in passing (201 yards). The Mountaineers have averaged 492 yards and 40 points in the playoffs.
Delaware, like ASU, has won most of its games by simply outscoring opponents. The Blue Hens returned 10 of 11 starters from 2006 on this unit. Joe Flacco ranks 10th in total offense (282 yards per game, 3,952 total yards) and 15th in passing efficiency. He has 22 touchdown passes and just five interceptions. Flacco has thrown for 744 yards five TDs in the playoffs, including completing 21-of-38 passes last week for 243 yards and two TDs.
Omar Cuff is first in scoring with 38 TDs and 228 points and is seventh in rushing (133 yards per game, 1,861 total yards). He also is one of the team's best receivers with 52 receptions.
Flacco likes to spread around his passes. Aaron Love is the leading receiver with 66 grabs and three TDs, but Mark Duncan has 63 and five, and Kevin Michaud has added 49 receptions and three TDs. Tight end Robbie Agnone (37 receptions, four TDs) is another threat. The offensive line, led by All- American Mike Byrne, has been one of Delaware's strengths.
DEFENSE
Appalachian State went into the season with just one starter back on the defensive line, sophomore end Gary Tharrington. The line has struggled to stop the run throughout the season, but has shown signs of improvement as the year has progressed. The Mountaineers rank 93rd in rushing defense, allowing 200 yards per game, but they limited high-powered Tim Hightower to 95 yards last week in the win over Richmond.
LSU transfer Tim Washington, Anthony Williams and Daniel Finnerty anchor the inside, while speedy Tony Robertson is one of the main pass rushing threats. Robertson, Tharrington and Williams have combined for 15 sacks. The Mountaineer linebackers are probably the fastest in FCS, with Pierre Banks (103 tackles), Jacque Roman (122 tackles) and freshman D.J. Smith (111 tackles) in the lineup.
The secondary features three four-year starters, free safety Corey Lynch (103 tackles) and cornerbacks Jerome Touchstone and Justin Woazeah. Lynch, the active career leader in interceptions and a three-time All-American, picked off his 24th lifetime pass on Friday night, leaving him one away from Larry Harbin's team record. Cortez Gilbert replaced Touchstone when the senior was injured in the first two rounds of the playoffs and turned in some fine work. Starting strong safety Titus Howard and nickel back Leonard Love are also quality players.
The Mountaineers rank 22nd in passing efficiency defense and 24th in pass defense (176 yards). They are 68th in total defense (376 yards) and 64th in scoring defense (27 points).
Delaware had one of the worst defenses in FCS last season, giving up 398 yards per game. But the Blue Hens have made strong improvements. Delaware has cut that figure to 343 yards to rank 36th in total defense. The Blue Hens have given up 17 or fewer points in seven of 14 games, but have been torched for 31 or more points five times, including 62 by Richmond and 52 from Navy.
Delaware ranks 61st in rushing defense (165 yards), 26th in pass defense (178 yards), 17th in passing efficiency defense, 30th in sacks (2.4 per game) and 23rd in turnover margin (.86). The Blue Hens are 48th in scoring defense (24 points), but that figure has dropped to 16.8 points in the past four games.
Linebacker Erik Johnson (112 tackles) has been a leader during the playoffs, returning a fumble recovery for a 55-yard touchdown in the quarterfinals and intercepting a pass to kill a scoring drive last weekend. Anthony Bratton has 109 tackles at another linebacking spot. Matt Marcorelle and Julian James have combined for 15 sacks on the defensive front.
The Blue Hens seemed vulnerable at times against the run, as John Randle rushed for 129 yards last week for Southern Illinois. But Delaware was able to slow down SIU quarterback Nick Hill, holding him to 12-of-25 passing for a season-low 106 yards. Delaware limited the Salukis to 297 yards of total offense, SIU's worst performance of the season.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Appalachian State is generally solid in this phase of the game, but the Mountaineers have struggled with kickoff return coverage during the playoffs. Eastern Washington broke one kickoff return for a touchdown and has a pair of other long gainers in the quarterfinals. The Mountaineers were better against Richmond, but still gave up some long returns. ASU also allowed a fake punt for a touchdown against EWU.
Southern Conference sprint champion Jackson is capable of breaking punt returns for significant yardage. He had two returns for touchdowns in one game last year against Gardner-Webb and averages 7.2 yards per return. CoCo Hillary is a threat on kickoff returns (24.2 average), but did have a fumble against Richmond. Julian Rauch, a two-time Jewish All-American at kicker, has one of the stronger legs in FCS. He ranks 21st nationally scoring.
Neil Young is averaging 37.7 yards per punt and is 28th in the country in net punting at 34.4. The Mountaineers are one of the top teams in the country at blocking kicks. Lynch has six blocks in two years.
Delaware knows how important special teams play can be after beating Southern Illinois. Blue Hens kicker Jon Striefsky converted field goals of 47 and 24 yards in the fourth quarter to lift the Blue Hens to their 20-17 victory, while Southern Illinois botched three field goal attempts. Striefsky is ninth nationally, averaging 1 1/2 field goals per game and is 17th in scoring.
Delaware also was stung by an 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown during Saturday's semifinal game and was burned for a touchdown off a fumbled snap from field goal formation, though that play was nullified by a penalty. Love is an effective punt returner, averaging 7.3 yards per return, while Michaud can occasionally break a kickoff return for a long gain and is averaging 21.2 yards per return.
Stuart Kenworthy is 56th in net punting, averaging 32.8 yards. He is averaging only 36.8 in gross punting.
SUMMARY
The only losses for Appalachian State came when Edwards re-injured a shoulder in the first half of a 42-31 defeat by Wofford and his first game back from injury, a 38-35 setback to Georgia Southern. ASU is 6-2 lifetime at Finley Stadium, including the past two national championship games. The game is officially a sellout, with standing-room-only tickets being sold. ASU fans grabbed the bulk of the tickets, making it likely that the game will again resemble a Mountaineer home contest. Delaware sold a block of 3,000 tickets. The Blue Hens have won in tough road venues the past two weeks, beating No. 1- seed Northern Iowa in the quarterfinals and No. 4 Southern Illinois in the semifinals.
Appalachian State must avoid making turnovers and needs to let Edwards continue doing what he has done during its seven-game winning streak. Defensively, the Mountaineers need to continue their improvement against the run to contain Cuff, and must pressure Flacco to disrupt his passing rhythm. ASU also needs to tighten up on kickoff return coverage.
Delaware must play ball control and keep churning out first downs to keep the ASU offense on the sidelines. Flacco has seen his completion percentage plummet from over 72% to 56% in the second half of the season, but he needs to complete 65 to 70% of his throws against the Mountaineers to keep the Blue Hen offense functioning at full efficiency.
Delaware also needs to find a better balance between passing and running. Cuff has rushed for a total of 211 yards in the past two weeks after running for 288 in the first week of the playoffs. On defense, the Hens must find a way to contain Edwards, something no one has done since his return to the lineup. Delaware also needs to avoid giving up big plays, something that has troubled the Blue Hens at times this season.
With all things considered, Delaware will need to play probably its best game of the year to put itself in a position to win against an Appalachian State squad that is firing on all cylinders. Expect the Mountaineers to celebrate an unprecedented third straight national championship.
Two guys to watch for App. State are OG Kerry Brown and S Cory Lynch (no relation to John). Both guys are being projected to be drafted right know, somewhere between the 3rd and 5th rounds.
Anyway, there is NO OTHER FOOTBALL on friday night and it should be an exciting game.
GO APP !!!!!!!!!!!
Born and breed with OSU, App. State alumni, but bleed orange and brown.
Sorry guys, but I really hope some of you watch this game, 8:00 ESPN2
good article in USA Today:
Quote: Appalachian State nears peak of another title
BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State's victory against Michigan vaulted the Mountaineers atop one of college football's highest peaks. But there's another mountain for Appalachian State to climb, not as celebrated but more arduous and ultimately more satisfying: winning an unprecedented third consecutive Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) crown.
There were no trophies and rings awarded for beating Michigan. There are if Appalachian State beats Delaware in the title game Friday.
"The Michigan game doesn't mean anything to us," junior linebacker Pierre Banks says. "We play every year to win the Southern Conference championship, then the national championship."
It's that simple, even if the season was not.
Battling injuries and losing twice in four games in September and October, Appalachian State (12-2) refocused and recovered, winning its final four regular-season games and three playoff games, including Friday's 55-35 victory against Richmond.
Appalachian State, winner of 11 consecutive playoff games, will try to finish one of college football's most unique stories with another championship
"We won't be satisfied until we get that victory," says Mountaineers sophomore quarterback Armanti Edwards, who rushed for 313 yards and four touchdowns and threw for three touchdowns in the semifinal. "We knew if we didn't get back here, that win (against Michigan) would mean nothing."
So important is a championship to Appalachian State that senior safety Corey Lynch wondered in late August if beating Michigan would be worth it.
"I remember telling my friends, 'I sure hope we don't win against Michigan. I'm serious, I kind of hope we don't win this game.' Because I knew we could," Lynch says. "If we do that, we'll have three targets on our chest — Michigan and two national championships."
"Michigan was a great history-maker. It's good for college football and good for the underdog," Appalachian State coach Jerry Moore says after a recent practice. "But because of that, I think both us and Michigan experienced a lot of distractions in different ways."
After losses to Wofford and Georgia Southern in a four-game span, Appalachian State used those defeats to turn its season around when one more loss might have eliminated it from postseason contention.
"Those two losses are the keys to our success," says Lynch, who will marry Cissie Graham, the daughter of the Rev. Franklin Graham and granddaughter of the Rev. Billy Graham, on Dec. 31.
"We hadn't lost a whole bunch, and sometimes knowing how to lose makes you long for remembering how it is to win. As hard as it was on our team during those tight games that we lost, those were very instrumental to our success this season."
Injuries and the witch doctor
Serious and lingering injuries slowed the team's progress. Edwards, who wasn't 100% for the Michigan game with a shoulder injury, sat out most of the second half in the Wofford loss. Offensive tackles Mario Acitelli, a sophomore, and Pat Mills, a freshman, missed time to injuries.
Against James Madison in the first round of the playoffs, head trainer Justin Smith told the coaching staff sophomore defensive end Gary Tharrington was done for the day after aggravating a shoulder injury.
But after Appalachian State scored the go-ahead touchdown with 1:10 to play, James Madison drove deep into Mountaineers territory. Tharrington ran onto the field and told his replacement to get back on the sideline. He was in on the play during which Appalachian State caused a fumble that helped secure the Mountaineers' win.
Smith, in his first year at Appalachian State after working for the NFL Europe's Rhein Fire, became known as the witch doctor for his ability to make players healthy.
"Just the simple fact that you're in there with a guy who's been in NFL Europe and been around pro players … there's some kind of mystique to that," Moore says.
Smith says: "It seemed like each week we had three guys out at one position. It was like triage. 'Who's the least injured?' "
That forced players who didn't have much experience to produce and made Appalachian State confront weaknesses.
"We were always waiting on someone else," senior tight end Nic Cardwell says. "We kept relying on that, and it got to the point where you have to make the play. 'Don't wait on someone else. Have a sense of urgency. I just can't rely on Armanti to make something out of nothing. I have to make my block.' "
After losing to Georgia Southern, the Mountaineers were on the playoff bubble.
"Some of the success we've had this year has been out of fear … afraid you weren't going to make it," Moore says. "Once we got in the playoffs, we were able to get our attention and focus back like we had in past years."
The Mountaineers finished the regular season with wins against Furman, The Citadel, Western Carolina and Chattanooga, ending with a share of the Southern Conference championship. Most important, they reached the playoffs. Appalachian State defeated James Madison and Eastern Washington and finally Richmond to reach the final on a seven-game winning streak.
Last season Appalachian State lost its season opener to North Carolina State, then won 14 in a row, including the championship game against Massachusetts. There were no serious injuries to deal with, no conference losses, no win against Michigan, no receiving votes in the Associated Press Top 25 Division I-A poll.
"Last year was a great season, but it was like we dominated everybody," Lynch says. "This year has been just so much more fulfilling because we went through the adversity. You might compare it to someone who inherited millions whereas another guy worked for his millions."
Or, as Cardwell puts it: "We knew adversity was going to be good for our team. We had to fight through something."
The excitement on campus is as raucous as it was in September after the Michigan victory. More than 24,000 fans attended the semifinal game at Appalachian State's Kidd Brewer Stadium, which usually seats 16,650 with standing room for thousands more in the open area behind one end zone.
"Friday night here was one of the most awesome experiences I've had in college football coaching," says Moore, 68. He is 166-70 in 19 seasons. "The officials (had) worked the (2005) Ohio State-Texas game in Columbus, and one of the officials told us the electric atmosphere was even more so here than in Columbus."
It's difficult to visit any establishment here — the drugstore diner, the bookstore, the coffee shop — without hearing talk about the football team.
Scrambling for tickets
School chancellor Ken Peacock and his wife, Rosanne, had trouble getting to their table at a rustic Italian restaurant Sunday. Staff and customers stopped them to talk about the game.
"It's a great day to be a Mountaineer" is one of Peacock's favorite expressions. He has another this week: "See you in Chattanooga."
The school sold its allotment of 5,800 tickets, and "we're scrambling to find as many tickets as we can," Appalachian State athletics director Charlie Cobb says. "A lot of fans will be there, and there are a lot that want to be there. We're unique in that we travel well."
With an appearance in another title game, the question about reclassifying and moving to I-A is a topic — although an NCAA moratorium on reclassification doesn't expire until 2011.
Despite improvements and additions to football facilities and a $50 million fundraising effort, Peacock insists fans shouldn't read anything into it.
"We have not even talked about a move — even after Michigan, the success of the season this year and the wonderful attendance we have had," Peacock says.
"That publicity means a lot to this institution because it allows us, when the spotlight comes on, to show the incredible championship programs that we have in academics. I don't want to lose that spotlight right now. … If at a later time it's right for us to make that move, then we should. But I think we have a ways to go."
Four other schools have played in at least three consecutive Division I-AA championship games: Eastern Kentucky, Georgia Southern twice, Youngstown State and Marshall. But none entered the third title game with a chance to make it three consecutive titles.
Friday's game will be their 45th in 28 months for the Mountaineers, three fewer than a non-playoff NFL team would play in that span.
"There's enough for one more game. … Always enough for one more game," Lynch says.
One more game. Against Delaware. Which wears the winged helmet just like Michigan. Symmetrical bookends to an atypical season.
The Michigan victory "is in a completely different category," Moore says. "It's got its place, and you cherish it.
It's important and came at a great time. But there's nothing better than winning a championship in your division."
Born and breed with OSU, App. State alumni, but bleed orange and brown.
Well The Appy State ( Yes I said APPY) Fans showed no class. It was completely disrespectful to go on the field with more than 3 minutes to go. It was completely uncalled for and reflects poorly upon themselves and their school. Nothing but classless egomaniacs
I have a problem with it. Someone could have gotten hurt (A Player runs a play to sidelines and slams into 30 kids then their parents would be screaming). Do you realize how easy a fight could have started? Did you see the Delaware kid throw the ball at the crowd. Obviously they were upset and rightly so. No coach or players should be put in that situation. If they weren't there, there wouldn't have been a problem.....totally classless
Admittedly, I didn't/haven't seen the ending yet. Just seemed that you might've had some vested interest on the D-ware side (which there's nothing wrong with), and have to remember that these are college kids ready to have a good time. Was there anything malicious going on?
Remember, we once had a bad call go against us and did this:
suds... i was watching the game at the bar and, he is right the app state fans put alot of people in harms way with the way the ywarmed the field... delaware was surrounded on their own sideline...app state's coach was irate himself...they capped a dreamseason with ugly behavior
When it gets cold and snows and the wind blows, you gotta be able to run the ball. - TR
It's okay no problem. I have no problem with fans rushing the field it's the fact they surrounded the field. But as far as bottlegate goes I was like 12 (22 now), and sadly I have never been to a game.
Look, I am not going to defend the fans on this one. Rushing the field as early as they did was dumb, and your right, it does make some of us look bad.
As hard as it may be though, try not to let it take away from what this team accomplished.
App. State (not Appy ), has won THREE consecutive NATIONAL TITLES. Something that hasn't been accomplished by ANY D-I school since Army in 1944-46.
No matter how you slice it that is a GREAT accoplishment. and They did it in a PLAYOFF format !
Coach Jerry Moore is a class act.
In the semi-final game, when our QB did a stupid taunting dive into the end-zone, he got his butt chewed out and didn't do it the rest of the game, even though he set several play-off records.
This game, when Keving Richardson, a senior, playing in his LAST game, did that silly dance, he got a tongue lashing on the sidelines.
Something many of you may not know. Coach Moore suspended our STARTING CB before the game for violation of undisclosed team rules. This kid had started for us THREE STRAIGHT yrs. He was a SENIOR, and this was more than likely his LAST game. Coach Moore suspended him in what may have been the biggest game of the yr. How many "big name" coaches would do that?
This, TEAM, plays with the TEAM 1st attitude, it plays with class. Please don't judge the team, or the university, on the act of the fans that rushed the field WAY TOO EARLY.
We made HISTORY this yr. We beat Michigan at the BIG HOUSE We won a share of the Southern Conference Title, AGAIN. (What many consider the SEC or Big Ten of I-AA). And we have now won THREE CONSECTUTIVE NATIOONAL TITLES !!!!!!
Try to give us a small break (it is christmas after all )
Born and breed with OSU, App. State alumni, but bleed orange and brown.
This kind of comparison lacks a tiny bit of credibility.
Quote: App. State (not Appy ), has won THREE consecutive NATIONAL TITLES. Something that hasn't been accomplished by ANY D-I school since Army in 1944-46.
However, giving credit where it's due, the Mountaineers did beat Michigan this year. That, coupled with this third straight title, would make me -- were I in charge of the NCAA -- move them to 1-A.
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