Spring Break
The Daily OrangeRace | Home field edge stronger now for Appalachian St. after upset
By Bill Palka
Posted: 10/17/07, 2:19 AM EST Section: Sports
The images of Appalachian State students carrying goal posts through their campus after upsetting Michigan on Sept. 1 are a distant memory.
The win is considered one of the greatest upsets in college football history and many ASU fans hold it close to their hearts. But life goes on in college football, and in Boone, N.C., the record-breaking fan support is helping the Mountaineers make history.
Appalachian State holds the longest current home winning streak for Football Bowl Subdivison (formerly known as Division I-A) and Football Championship Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-AA) teams with 30 straight wins at Kidd Brewer Stadium. The Mountaineers were second on that list until Stanford ended Southern California's streak of 35 straight home victories Oct. 6. ASU has also drawn an average attendance of 27,778 to lead the FCS.
It is clear the atmosphere at Kidd Brewer Stadium - also known as The Rock - is a benefit to the hometown Mountaineers. ASU has not lost at home since Nov. 30, 2002, in a first round playoff game against Maine. ASU head coach Jerry Moore appreciates the home crowd but said if he were to guess where the current streak was, he probably would be about five to eight figures off. It's something a head coach does not think about when his team has won two consecutive national titles.
"Our place is obviously very special to us, but there's nothing magic about it," Moore said in a teleconference Tuesday. "There's nothing mystical about it at all. Like anybody else, we enjoy playing at our place."
Maybe it's nothing supernatural, but the Mountaineers have embraced The Rock and players are certainly aware something special is happening every time they exit the field.
After every home win, the players gather in the locker room and yell, "The streak continues!" in unison. While some may not know the exact extent of the streak, they all know it exists. Julian Rauch, ASU's senior kicker who made the game-winning field goal against Michigan, said the odds are strongly against those who enter The Rock.
"There's a big sense of tradition around here, Rauch said. "The fans are incredible. I guess when you have so many things that fit together and are going your way, it just gives you that intimidation factor for anybody coming up here."
It is hard to believe that a place like Boone, N.C., could intimidate anyone. The small town of roughly 14,000 is tucked away in the Blue Ridge Mountains in the northwestern corner of the state, 104 miles from Charlotte. Yet more people know where Boone is now than before with ASU's leap into the national spotlight the last three seasons.
With FCS national titles in 2005 and 2006, ASU already entered the season with a natural target on its back from other FCS teams. Then the greatest upset in college football history happened, thanks to ASU senior receiver Dexter Jackson's two touchdown catches.
"There's been a lot of pressure on us, but after the Michigan game, Coach Moore told us that our target got even bigger," Jackson said. "We know that all we have now is Division I-AA teams, and we just can't take anyone lightly and just play hard each game."
With its target exposed to teams in the Southern Conference, ASU has had to adjust to increased national spotlight against teams the likes of Lenoir-Rhyne and Elon. At Wofford, the Mountaineers received a direct hit in a 42-31 loss on Sept. 22.
Nothing could hinder the fans at The Rock though, especially the students, who are a large reason for the record-breaking attendance this season. Rauch said in 2004, his freshman year, people would relax, watch the game and maybe even throw a ball around on the grass hill behind one of the endzones. Now with student demand so high, that hill is packed, and some students are complaining about the lack of seats at games.
Not a bad problem for a FCS football program to have. ASU is promoting "Black Out The Rock," for Saturday's game against Georgia Southern where nearly everyone in the stands will be wearing black. ASU is expecting a record crowd.
The Mountaineers will continue with their FCS schedule, the victory over Michigan far away in the rearview mirror. But when opposing teams step into The Rock, the players want "The streak continues" to be uttered from their mouths afterward.
"All I see was like a burglar coming into your house," Jackson said. "You don't want nobody to come into your house and disown you or disrespect you on your own property, so that's how we feel when we have opponents step on our turf."
No. 15 Florida (-7) at No. 7 Kentucky
Saturday, 3:30 p.m., CBS
Florida can't afford a third SEC loss, especially to SEC East foe Kentucky. Tim Tebow and Co. will have to grind it out against Andre' Woodson, who showed his Heisman potential against LSU last week. The Gators will come out on top, but not without a few heavyweight punches thrown back and forth.
Pick: Florida 31, Kentucky 28
No. 24 Texas Tech at No. 16 Missouri (-3.5)
Saturday, 3:30 p.m., ABC
All anyone knows about Texas Tech is it can score a lot of points. The Red Raiders average 50 points a game but have not been tested like Missouri has. The Tigers know how to put points on the board, too (40 points per game), and hung tough with Oklahoma last week.
Pick: Missouri 44, Texas Tech 40
No. 25 Michigan (-3) at Illinois
Saturday, 8 p.m., ABC
Don't look now, but the Wolverines are back in the top 25. A national afterthought following opening week losses to Appalachian State and Oregon, Michigan has set its sights on challenging rival Ohio State for the Big Ten title. It will hop on Mike Hart's back for a victory in this one, even with his suspect ankle.
Pick: Michigan 35, Illinois 30
No. 17 Auburn @ No. 4 LSU (-10.5)
Saturday, 9 p.m., ESPN
The clash of the Tigers. LSU is a great home team and is undoubtedly furious after losing a triple overtime thriller to Kentucky. With first place in the SEC West on the line, don't expect Auburn to roll over. Auburn has the ability to play well on the road, but the carnival-like atmosphere in Baton Rouge will help LSU prevail in the end.
Pick: LSU 17, Auburn 13
Buffalo at Syracuse (-4.5)
Saturday, 4 p.m., ESPNU
After a tough first half schedule, this game may be what the Orange needs. Then again, it's impossible to know what to make of this team and its inconsistencies. A loss would not bode well for Greg Robinson, who has been on the hot seat since day one.
Pick: Syracuse 27, Buffalo 17
The win is considered one of the greatest upsets in college football history and many ASU fans hold it close to their hearts. But life goes on in college football, and in Boone, N.C., the record-breaking fan support is helping the Mountaineers make history.
Appalachian State holds the longest current home winning streak for Football Bowl Subdivison (formerly known as Division I-A) and Football Championship Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-AA) teams with 30 straight wins at Kidd Brewer Stadium. The Mountaineers were second on that list until Stanford ended Southern California's streak of 35 straight home victories Oct. 6. ASU has also drawn an average attendance of 27,778 to lead the FCS.It is clear the atmosphere at Kidd Brewer Stadium - also known as The Rock - is a benefit to the hometown Mountaineers. ASU has not lost at home since Nov. 30, 2002, in a first round playoff game against Maine. ASU head coach Jerry Moore appreciates the home crowd but said if he were to guess where the current streak was, he probably would be about five to eight figures off. It's something a head coach does not think about when his team has won two consecutive national titles.
"Our place is obviously very special to us, but there's nothing magic about it," Moore said in a teleconference Tuesday. "There's nothing mystical about it at all. Like anybody else, we enjoy playing at our place."
Maybe it's nothing supernatural, but the Mountaineers have embraced The Rock and players are certainly aware something special is happening every time they exit the field.
After every home win, the players gather in the locker room and yell, "The streak continues!" in unison. While some may not know the exact extent of the streak, they all know it exists. Julian Rauch, ASU's senior kicker who made the game-winning field goal against Michigan, said the odds are strongly against those who enter The Rock.
"There's a big sense of tradition around here, Rauch said. "The fans are incredible. I guess when you have so many things that fit together and are going your way, it just gives you that intimidation factor for anybody coming up here."
It is hard to believe that a place like Boone, N.C., could intimidate anyone. The small town of roughly 14,000 is tucked away in the Blue Ridge Mountains in the northwestern corner of the state, 104 miles from Charlotte. Yet more people know where Boone is now than before with ASU's leap into the national spotlight the last three seasons.
With FCS national titles in 2005 and 2006, ASU already entered the season with a natural target on its back from other FCS teams. Then the greatest upset in college football history happened, thanks to ASU senior receiver Dexter Jackson's two touchdown catches.
"There's been a lot of pressure on us, but after the Michigan game, Coach Moore told us that our target got even bigger," Jackson said. "We know that all we have now is Division I-AA teams, and we just can't take anyone lightly and just play hard each game."
With its target exposed to teams in the Southern Conference, ASU has had to adjust to increased national spotlight against teams the likes of Lenoir-Rhyne and Elon. At Wofford, the Mountaineers received a direct hit in a 42-31 loss on Sept. 22.
Nothing could hinder the fans at The Rock though, especially the students, who are a large reason for the record-breaking attendance this season. Rauch said in 2004, his freshman year, people would relax, watch the game and maybe even throw a ball around on the grass hill behind one of the endzones. Now with student demand so high, that hill is packed, and some students are complaining about the lack of seats at games.
Not a bad problem for a FCS football program to have. ASU is promoting "Black Out The Rock," for Saturday's game against Georgia Southern where nearly everyone in the stands will be wearing black. ASU is expecting a record crowd.
The Mountaineers will continue with their FCS schedule, the victory over Michigan far away in the rearview mirror. But when opposing teams step into The Rock, the players want "The streak continues" to be uttered from their mouths afterward.
"All I see was like a burglar coming into your house," Jackson said. "You don't want nobody to come into your house and disown you or disrespect you on your own property, so that's how we feel when we have opponents step on our turf."
Palka's Picks
No. 15 Florida (-7) at No. 7 Kentucky
Saturday, 3:30 p.m., CBS
Florida can't afford a third SEC loss, especially to SEC East foe Kentucky. Tim Tebow and Co. will have to grind it out against Andre' Woodson, who showed his Heisman potential against LSU last week. The Gators will come out on top, but not without a few heavyweight punches thrown back and forth.
Pick: Florida 31, Kentucky 28
No. 24 Texas Tech at No. 16 Missouri (-3.5)
Saturday, 3:30 p.m., ABC
All anyone knows about Texas Tech is it can score a lot of points. The Red Raiders average 50 points a game but have not been tested like Missouri has. The Tigers know how to put points on the board, too (40 points per game), and hung tough with Oklahoma last week.
Pick: Missouri 44, Texas Tech 40
No. 25 Michigan (-3) at Illinois
Saturday, 8 p.m., ABC
Don't look now, but the Wolverines are back in the top 25. A national afterthought following opening week losses to Appalachian State and Oregon, Michigan has set its sights on challenging rival Ohio State for the Big Ten title. It will hop on Mike Hart's back for a victory in this one, even with his suspect ankle.
Pick: Michigan 35, Illinois 30
No. 17 Auburn @ No. 4 LSU (-10.5)
Saturday, 9 p.m., ESPN
The clash of the Tigers. LSU is a great home team and is undoubtedly furious after losing a triple overtime thriller to Kentucky. With first place in the SEC West on the line, don't expect Auburn to roll over. Auburn has the ability to play well on the road, but the carnival-like atmosphere in Baton Rouge will help LSU prevail in the end.
Pick: LSU 17, Auburn 13
Buffalo at Syracuse (-4.5)
Saturday, 4 p.m., ESPNU
After a tough first half schedule, this game may be what the Orange needs. Then again, it's impossible to know what to make of this team and its inconsistencies. A loss would not bode well for Greg Robinson, who has been on the hot seat since day one.
Pick: Syracuse 27, Buffalo 17
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Jason
posted 10/17/07 @ 5:53 PM EST
Well written article and thank you for the recognition of our football team.
- Jason, Appalachian State '09
Josh
posted 10/17/07 @ 6:13 PM EST
Why aren't the standings listed?
Jeff
posted 10/17/07 @ 9:23 PM EST
We appreciate the recognition of this very special ASU football team. Great article!
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