Almost time for the big game! I unfortunately won't be watching it live (about 2 hours delayed) so I'll be turning off my phone to prevent any spoilers!
Since it won't be played in Tennessee, I give you the Griz pre-game video just prior to intros!
It was a great game again though. Again guys this is how a Champion should be decided. Villanova beat some darn good teams to EARN this title. Was rooting for your boys though Con. I hope some of you got to see another good game.
Also Armanti Edwards won the Walter Payton award for the 2nd yr. in row, the only player to do that. Here is the article:
Quote: Armanti Edwards wins 2009 Walter Payton Award Chattanooga, TN (Sports Network) - Appalachian State quarterback Armanti Edwards was named the 23rd winner of the Walter Payton Award Thursday night at The Sports Network's Football Championship Subdivision Awards Banquet, held at the Chattanooga Convention Center on the eve of the NCAA Division I Football Championship title game.
Edwards became the first player to capture the award in back-to-back seasons and the first two-time winner of the Payton Award. Appalachian State linebacker Dexter Coakley, who won the first two Buck Buchanan Awards in 1995-96, and James Madison coach Mickey Matthews, who won the Eddie Robinson Award in 1999 and again in 2008, are the only other two-time award winners at the FCS level.
The Payton Award, named for the legendary Jackson State and Chicago Bears running back, is presented annually to the top player in FCS.
"It is a great honor to win it again," said Edwards. "But I wouldn't have done any of this without the help of my teammates."
The 6-foot, 185-pound senior signal-caller became the first quarterback in NCAA history to pass for more than 10,000 yards and rush for over 4,000 yards in his career. He ranked third nationally in total offense and fifth in passing efficiency in the regular season, and finished with 3,291 yards passing and 679 yards rushing, with 30 combined touchdowns for 2009.
For his career, Edwards finished with 14,753 yards of total offense, ranking him second on the all-time list behind Alcorn State great Steve McNair.
Edwards missed the first game of the year after a lawn mower badly lacerated his right foot at the beginning of training camp and required 35 stitches to close. He also sat out the final game of the regular season with an ACL strain.
The multi-talented quarterback led Appalachian State to its fifth consecutive Southern Conference title and playoff berth and had over 400 yards of total offense three times and over 300 yards seven times during the regular season.
For the second year in a row, Edwards finished first by a landslide, with 55 first-place votes and 431 points. Terrell Hudgins of Elon became the highest- placing receiver since Villanova's Brian Finneran won the award in 1997, finishing second with 268 points, just ahead of Southern Illinois running back Deji Karim.
The Walter Payton Award was established in 1987 by The Sports Network and previous winners of the honor include current NFL players such as Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (2002, Eastern Illinois) and Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook (2001, Villanova).
Guys this young man is a "football" player. He is too small to play QB in the NFL but he someone will look at him. He is a very ACCURATE thrower and intelligent as well. He won't be able to take some of the hits he has taken at App. in the NFL, but he is tough as well. There has to be a place for him somewhere.....I just don't know what position???????
Also, the kid that came in 2nd from Elon, is a stud as well, and he has the size to make it in the NFL at reciever as well.
Born and breed with OSU, App. State alumni, but bleed orange and brown.
It was a great game and they deserved to win. I don't know what happened to Montana but they were a completely different team. We have been known to start off sluggish but have always finished strong. This game however, it felt like they never even came out after the half. How can you have an All-Pro like Mariani put up the numbers that he put up in the first half, and not even look at him in the second half?
Two bits of news, I'd love it if we took a chance on Mariani, he's a pro's pro. Great hands, hard to take down, and a great punt returner. There is a reason why SFA stopped kicking to him and the last two games just avoided him all together.
The other bit of news, it appears as though Bobby Hauck (our coach) is leaving for UNLV. He's a Missoula native so I thought for sure he'd stick around.
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