2007 Game Preview: Appalachian State University

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3.  Offense:  Multiple Single Back Sets

4.  Defense:  4-3

5.  2006 Record: 14-1 (7-0 Southern Conference)

6.  Star Watch:

Five ASU players are Pre-Season All Americans (RB Richardson, QB Edwards, DB and Buck Buchanan Award Candidate Corey Lynch, OG Kerry Brown, and CB Jerome Touchstone)

Senior Running Back Kevin Richardson-(5'9, 190) This former walk-on won the Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Year Award and is now a Walter Payton Award Candidate.  He averaged well over 100 yards per game as he ran for 1,676 yards (All time school record) and 30 TD's (All time DII record) last year as a Junior including 179 yds and 4 TD's in Championship Game. 

Sophomore QB Armanti Edwards- Last year's National Freshmen of the year was second on the team in rushing easily surpassing the 1,000 yd mark for the season.  Scored 15 TD's on the ground and averaged over 6 yds per scamper.  Also threw for over 2,000 yds.  (150 per game with a 60 percent completion percentage)

Junior Linebacker Pierre Banks-Led the team with over 100 tackles last season playing the wide side linebacker spot.

Redshirt Freshmen CoCo Hillary-Yes the second 'C' is capitalized.  This slot receiver/return specialist has dazzled in the fall workouts, is a threat to break a big one!

The Series

These two schools have never met and this is ASU's first ever trip to the state of Michigan.  It is also ASU's first ever matchup against a Big Ten Conference Team.   ASU is 45-29-3 in season openers and 6-29-1 vs. DI squads.  Their last victory over a DI school came in 2000 vs. Wake Forest.

Fast and Fun Facts


  • ASU is a perfect 2-0 all time in instant replay challenges! 

  • ASU's next opponent is the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears, enrollment 1,600!

  • ASU is a perfect 15-0 when Richardson eclipses the 100 yd mark!

  • One of ASU's title sponsors is Hardee's.  (I really miss the "fixins" bar and their commecials on the website are sweet!)

  • In an online poll, as of yesterday, 71% of ASU fan's biggest concern about the game was stopping our offense.

  • ASU players are referred to as "APPS" and the stadium is nickname "The Rock"

  • They have a "Tailgate of the Game Award" for each home game

*Appalachian State University football's preparations for the defense of its back-to-back NCAA Division I football national championships and 2007 season opener at Michigan will be chronicled for a 30-minute documentary as part of Fox Sports Net's popular Under the Lights series.

Weekend Internet Roundup: 8/27/07

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Things that happened while you were out throwing cell phones:



Case of the Mundy's: Do You Know Where Mundy Is? Edition

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The Monday injury report, which is often just ripped straight from the Angel over at the Detroit News, was named after injury prone Ryan Mundy.  You might be surprised to find that Ryan Mundy transferred to West Virginia, using the odd NCAA rule that allows a graduated athlete with eligibility remaining to transfer without penalty to another University and play immediately.  Due to Mr. Mundy's Benndict Arnold-like move, I have decided to change the name of the weekly injury report starting next week to "Pain in the Bass," which honors the former speedy thrasher Antonio Bass, who is entering his second season on the injured list. 

On with the brief injury report:

  • RB Carlos Brown: 3rd on the depth chart at RB behind Hart and Minor.  Slated to return kicks and punts before injury.  Had surgery on his right hand last Tuesday.  Should be back sooner than originally expected.  Lloyd says he may be playing or practicing by Oregon.

  • OL Alex Mitchell: undisclosed. Probable starter before injury. Word is he'll miss ASU game and probably Oregon.

  • OL Jeremy Ciulla: undisclosed.  Probable starter. Missed a week of practice.  Should be OK for start of season.

More From the Orlando Sentinel

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​Found a better link to the article on tailgating that appeared in the Orlando Sentinel...didn't notice this quote before:

But why go through all of this hassle, getting to stadiums the night before, taking hours to set everything up, then hours to break everything down and do it all over the next week?

"I love the people, everyone with a different story, from a different walk of life, coming together as if they've known each other forever," said Michigan fan Frank DiMaggio. "I love the fact that we all live and die inside based on what happens on the football field. We celebrate together or console each other."


I'm soooooo quotable.

Article link here.

PDF with pictures here.

The Professionals

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​The butterflies are setting in now.  Tailgating equipment has been taken out of storage.  The endless cycle of load-unload has begun.  Propane tanks have been refilled.  Went to Sam's Club today.  Watched Michigan Replay today.  I love the all-positive preview edition.  Did some menu planning too.  Luau = pork.  But, gotta cover for FryDaddy Frank, who is now REAL Daddy Frank...because we can't have a Luau without coconut shrimp.  Fear not, I'm on it.

On the National media attention front, UMTailgate.com has shown up for the third time.  The first time, we were featured in the newspaper in Connecticut.  The second time, we were on the television show Aztec weekly following our game against San Diego State.  Now, following an interview I participated in with the Orlando Sentinel, UMTailgate.com has shown up in the fall football preview insert to their newspaper.  You can find the full page article here.  The part we are in is on the right hand side.

It's a busy week.  Should be some new content every day.  The return of Case of the Mundy's, the Weekend Roundup, Way Back Wednesday, a shitty ASU preview...and some other fun stuff.