67-836: The Battle for the Old Mountain Jug was the name given to the Appalachian State – Western Carolina football rivalry , an American college football rivalry game that became dormant when Appalachian State left the Southern Conference and moved to the FBS in 2014. The Mountaineers and Catamounts first played each other in a football game in 1932. The two teams then played annually without interruption from 1946 to 2013. The trophy series began in 1976. The Old Mountain Jug, an old moonshine jug, has been awarded to
134-628: A 38–19–2 record at Appalachian State, left to accept the head coaching position at South Carolina after five seasons. Arkansas assistant coach Jerry Moore was hired as the Mountaineer's 19th coach in 1989. Moore is the winningest coach in conference history, and under his leadership the Mountaineers won seven conference championships. In addition, the Mountaineers posted 19 winning campaigns to go with one losing season during his tenure, allowing Moore to claim Southern Conference Coach of
201-571: A bid to play in the Camellia Bowl against an 8–4 Ohio . The Mountaineers overcame their opposition 31–29 becoming the first team in Sun Belt history to win 11 games in one season. This win was also historic as it marked the first time a former FCS team won a bowl game in their first season of bowl eligibility. On November 24, 2015, Miami confirmed rumors that they had scheduled a home-and-home series with Appalachian State. The first game
268-513: A bowl game or, alternatively, the Division I FCS playoffs, some 35 times. The Mountaineers have 22 conference championships and have one of the nation's best home field advantages by winning percentage. The program boasts a back-to-back Walter Payton Award winner, Armanti Edwards , the first ever to win in consecutive years (2008, 2009). Appalachian's all-time winning percentage of .646 ranks 16th among all programs. The Mountaineers competed in
335-487: A communication gap, and that he had wanted to coach for one more season (i.e., 2013). On December 14, 2012, Scott Satterfield was named head coach of the Appalachian State football program. Satterfield had spent 15 seasons as an assistant in the Mountaineers program. As the offensive coordinator, he was responsible for much of the program's success. In 2013, the Mountaineers began a two-year transition from
402-498: A construction project to increase the size of the video display board in Kidd-Brewer Stadium. The proposed video board is approximately 2,500 square feet (50' x 90'), with LED display, 13HD technology and a Daktronics custom audio system integrated into the video board. The cost of the project was estimated to be approximately $ 60 million and was completed prior to the 2017 season. Appalachian State constructed
469-399: A fourth consecutive bowl game and finishing as 3-peat Sun Belt champions. Eliah Drinkwitz was hired by Appalachian State on December 13, 2018. He was previously the offensive coordinator for NC State . After a 12–1 regular season including a dramatic last-second win (on a blocked field goal ) over Mack Brown 's in-state flagship UNC Tar Heels program and a win over Louisiana in
536-587: A new field house in the North End-zone to replace the 45-year-old Owens Field House which was demolished in February 2019. The new field house project had a budget of $ 45 million and added 1,000 new seats to Kidd Brewer Stadium . The new field house includes athletic training, hydrotherapy and locker rooms, and nutrition science research areas, as well as conference and continuing education training space, potential medical office space, dining facilities,
603-586: A rivalry with fellow Appalachian mountain-based public university Marshall . The rivalry game was played annually 1977–1996. From 1986 to 1996 the Southern Conference foes won at least a share of the conference title a combined eight times. The rivalry resumed annual play in the 2020 season and is set to continue as Marshall joins Appalachian State in the Sun Belt Conference East Division in 2022. Appalachian State leads
670-600: A team store and ticketing office, and offices for coaches and athletics staff. The project was completed in time for the 2021 football season. The Miracle on the Mountain took place at Kidd Brewer Stadium on October 12, 2002, and was selected as the "ABC Sports Radio Call of the Year." In a low-scoring affair, the Paladins elected to attempt a two-point conversion after scoring the go-ahead touchdown with 7 seconds left in
737-477: A third place conference finish in their first season as a member of the Sun Belt Conference . Appalachian State opened the 2015 season with a 49–0 pounding of Howard before losing to Clemson . After their 1–1 start, the Mountaineers won six straight but fell short to the eventual Sun Belt champion, Arkansas State , on November 5. The team rallied, finished the regular season 10–2 and received
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#1732782905392804-480: A top 10 opponent since the triumph over Michigan. The final scoring effort was an 18-play, 63-yard drive that took over nine minutes to finish before Michael Hughes kicked a 29-yard field goal. The Aggies missed a field goal on their own final possession, allowing App State to run out the final 3:43. NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision The NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision ( FCS ), formerly known as Division I-AA ,
871-581: Is 59–18–1, and 31–7 in the Jug era. The Mountaineers hold the trophy, having won each of the last nine games (2005–2013) and 26 of the last 28. No further games in the rivalry are scheduled following Appalachian's move to the Sun Belt Conference. College Field was the home of Appalachian football from 1928 to 1961. Located at the future site of Rankin Hall and Edwin Duncan Hall, the stadium
938-756: Is the second-highest level of college football in the United States, after the Football Bowl Subdivision . Sponsored by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the FCS level comprises 129 teams in 13 conferences as of the 2024 season . The FCS designation is relevant only for football; members of the subdivision compete in NCAA Division I in all other sports. From 1906 to 1955,
1005-487: The 2007 Appalachian State vs. Michigan football game . However, this time, the Michigan Wolverines won in a 52–14 blowout. The Mountaineers had their first home game of the season the following week in a win against Campbell . App State would lose its next four contests. After a 1–5 start, the Mountaineers rallied and won the final six games of their 2014 season . The team finished 7–5 overall (6–2 Sun) with
1072-501: The Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and the Sun Belt Conference since 2014. Appalachian plays its home games in Kidd Brewer Stadium , named after former head coach Kidd Brewer , whose 1937 squad was unbeaten and unscored upon during the regular season, outscoring opponents 206–0. Through its history, the Appalachian State football program has won some 661 games, claimed three NCAA Championships, and appeared in either
1139-618: The Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) from its founding in 1978 to 2013. They won three straight national championships from 2005 to 2007, the first FCS team to do so since the playoffs began in 1978. Appalachian is also the first Division I program to win three consecutive national championships since Army accomplished the feat from 1944 to 1946, and the first Division I school in the modern era to claim three straight undisputed national titles. When FCS Appalachian State defeated No. 5 Michigan in 2007, it
1206-644: The New Orleans Bowl . Clark's first full season as head coach of the Mountaineers was met with complications from the COVID-19 Pandemic , which caused many changes to schedules and football operations around the country . The team persevered and Clark finished 9–3 and lead the team in the inaugural Myrtle Beach Bowl to defeat the North Texas Mean Green with a dominating performance by the offense, 56–28. Clark had thus led
1273-415: The Southern Conference . Jim Duncan served as Appalachian State's head coach from 1960 to 1964, compiling a 31–15–2 record. Duncan was succeeded by Carl Messere , who compiled a 34–26–1 record from 1965 to 1970. Wofford head coach Jim Brakefield was hired as Appalachian State's head football coach in 1971. He led the Mountaineers into the Southern Conference in his first season. Brakefield led
1340-511: The Sun Belt Championship Game for a fourth consecutive Sun Belt championship, Drinkwitz left after just one season to become the new head coach at Missouri . Shawn Clark was hired as the 22nd head coach in program history on December 13, 2019. Clark, a 1998 graduate of the university, played under Moore and coached under Satterfield as well as Drinkwitz. He led the Mountaineers to a 31–17 victory over UAB Blazers in
1407-437: The 2007, 2008, and 2010 seasons. Kidd Brewer saw average crowds of 24,219, 25,161 and 25,715 respectively. Completed in 2009, the stadium has seen extensive renovations as part of a $ 50 million facilities improvement campaign. An upper deck with additional seating for 4,400 was added to the east (visitor) stands prior to the 2008 season . Additional restrooms and concessions have been added. Most significantly, rising behind
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#17327829053921474-562: The 2018 season; its only recorded loss was to Penn State in an overtime game. They would promptly lose their next game and their ranking. The Mountaineers would end the 2018 season as Sun Belt Conference Champions. Satterfield would be named Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year. It was the Mountaineers' 3rd Conference championship in a row and their first outright championship in the inaugural Sun Belt Championship game hosted in Boone on December 1, 2018. On December 4, 2018, Scott Satterfield
1541-523: The 2019 season with a final AP poll ranking at No. 19 (and Coaches No. 18) after winning its fifth straight bowl game, third straight Sun Belt Championship, and statement victories over both UNC and USC in out-of-conference matchups at Chapel Hill and Columbia. With a 7–1 record in modern NCAA-sanctioned bowl games, Appalachian has the highest bowl winning percentage of any football program to have played in five or more. Appalachian State began playing organized football in 1928. The coach that first year
1608-469: The 3rd quarter to cut the lead to 27–24. The Mountaineers responded with a four-play touchdown drive capped with Darrynton Evans' 3rd rushing touchdown of the game. UNC scored again in the 4th quarter and kept Appalachian's offense in check, bringing the score to 34–31 Mountaineers in the final minutes. With 40 seconds left UNC drove down the field and lined up to attempt a 56-yard field with 5 seconds left. App State linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither burst through
1675-694: The Appalachian State Mountaineers holding a 59–18–1 advantage over the Western Carolina Catamounts. The two teams had squared off for 68 consecutive years since the game was suspended for World War II , 1942–1945. Appalachian State Mountaineers football The Appalachian State Mountaineers football team is the intercollegiate American football team representing Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina . The Mountaineers have competed in
1742-452: The FCS to college football's premier FBS level. Because of this, the program was declared ineligible for FCS postseason play. Appalachian State's first year of FBS play would come in 2014 as a member of the Sun Belt Conference . However, per NCAA rules, the Mountaineers would not be eligible for the FBS post-season until 2015. The first game of App State's inaugural FBS season was a rematch of
1809-427: The Mountaineers compiled a record of 13–18–2 and never were able to sustain consistency. Working was fired following back to back seven-loss seasons in 1981 and 1982. Mack Brown was hired as Appalachian State's head coach in 1983, his first such role. Brown previously served as LSU 's quarterbacks coach and led Appalachian State to a 6–5 record in his only season. In December 1983, he was seriously considered for
1876-467: The Mountaineers faced off against Texas A&M. With the Aggies ranked sixth in the week's Associated Press poll, Appalachian State was a 19-point underdog after falling in a narrow 63-61 decision against North Carolina in opening week play. Thanks to an offensive effort that controlled the ball for over 41 minutes of game time, the Mountaineers earned an improbable 17–14 victory, earning their first win over
1943-414: The Mountaineers to their 5th and 6th consecutive bowl wins since Appalachian State joined the FBS tier of Division I. On September 10, 2022, Clark led the Mountaineers to a 17–14 victory over 6th ranked Texas A&M , the programs second win against a top 10 ranked opponent, and first since Michigan in 2007. This victory helped App State secure the school's first visit from College GameDay . However,
2010-416: The Mountaineers to three losing seasons in four years en route to a 47–48–4 record at Appalachian State, however, a 3–8 campaign in 1979 resulted in his dismissal. However, Brakefield's 1975 team won impressive victories over Wake Forest (19–17) and South Carolina (35–34) in 1975. Mike Working served as the 16th head football coach in Appalachian State football history from 1980 to 1982. Under Working,
2077-563: The NCAA had no divisional structure for member schools. Prior to the 1956 college football season, NCAA schools were organized into an upper University Division and lower College Division . In the summer of 1973 , the University Division became Division I , but by 1976, there was a desire to further separate the major football programs from those that were less financially successful, while allowing their other sports to compete at
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2144-521: The Southern Conference in 2014, the Mountaineers had won 10 conference titles, placing them second in the league's history. The Furman Paladins lead the SoCon with 12 championships. † Co-champions The Mountaineers' have played in 17 bowl games; their record so far is 10–7. Their first nine bowl games are listed in NCAA records, but the games were not considered NCAA-sanctioned bowls. †NCAA records list
2211-610: The Year honors a record six times. He was also the 2006 recipient of the Eddie Robinson Award , presented to the division's most outstanding coach. Under the stewardship of Moore, players such as two-time Buck Buchanan Award winner Dexter Coakley have gone on to play in the National Football League . Appalachian State became the first team since the playoffs began in 1978 to win three straight national titles in 2005 , 2006 , and 2007 , and
2278-538: The creation of Division I-AA appeared to backfire; rather than serve as a home for the smaller or less competitive football programs of Division I, it created a pathway for football-playing Division II schools to join Division I without the burden of funding a major football program. Division I-AA still had just 50 members when the four-year deadline set in January 1978 expired, forcing 41 schools that did not meet I-A criteria to reclassify to I-AA. Some successfully appealed
2345-548: The date of the first Pythian Bowl as "11-26-1949", which is inconsistent with contemporary newspaper reports. Known as Deeper than Hate, Appalachian State enjoys a fierce Sun Belt Conference rivalry with Georgia Southern . This rivalry has been described by many as "the best rivalry in the Group of Five ." Appalachian State holds a 20–15–1 lead through the 2021 season. Nicknamed The Old Mountain Feud, Appalachian State competes in
2412-560: The decision, including eight members of the Mid-American Conference along with Cincinnati , a football independent at the time. Thus I-AA membership hit an early peak of 91 in 1982, before settling down into the 80-90 range for the next several years. The next big increase in Division I-AA membership came after the January 1991 NCAA convention voted to require an athletic program to maintain all of its sports at
2479-475: The fifth program in FCS history to reach the national title game three straight years joining Eastern Kentucky (1979–82), Georgia Southern (1988–90 and 1998–2000), Marshall (1991–93) and Youngstown State (1991–94). Appalachian also had a 13-game postseason winning streak, a record for consecutive wins in contiguous years that ended with a loss to Richmond in 2008. Appalachian State has won 22 conference titles, 16 outright and six shared. Before leaving
2546-497: The first ever Sun Belt Championship Game , hosting the Ragin' Cajuns of University of Louisiana at Lafayette at Kidd Brewer Stadium . This momentous game, broadcast on ESPN , saw the Mountaineers come out on top 30–19. This gave the Mountaineers a berth to the 2018 New Orleans Bowl , which Appalachian State won 45–13 over Middle Tennessee State. On September 21, 2019, the Mountaineers defeated North Carolina . Appalachian entered
2613-519: The first of nine Southern Conference championships in 1986 under Woods, who also led the Mountaineers into the playoffs for the first time that year. Another conference championship and playoff appearance followed in 1987. Woods won the Wallace Wade coach of the Year Award three straight years in 1985, 1986, and 1987, becoming the only coach in conference history to do so. Woods, who compiled
2680-460: The first team to accomplish the feat since Army in 1944, 1945, and 1946. They are also the first Division I school in modern times to claim three straight undisputed national titles. On September 1, 2007 , in what was hailed as one of the biggest upsets in American sports history, the Mountaineers shocked the fifth-ranked Michigan Wolverines , 34–32. Most people predicted that Michigan
2747-474: The game as a 3-point underdog against UNC and their returning coach Mack Brown. UNC opened the game with a long kick off return followed by a one play touchdown to take the lead 7–0. App State responded with 20 unanswered points including a Demetrius Taylor fumble recovery for a touchdown and Darrynton Evans rushing touchdown set up by Demetrius Taylor's interception. UNC came back to cut the halftime score to 27–17 in favor of Appalachian State. UNC scored first in
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2814-501: The game. Leading 15–14, Furman quarterback Billy Napier 's pass was intercepted by Josh Jeffries at the 4-yard line. He lateraled the ball to Derrick Black who returned it for a score giving the Mountaineers a 16–15 win. On September 1, 2007, the Appalachian State football team traveled to Ann Arbor to play their season opener at the University of Michigan . A sellout crowd of over 109,000 fans packed Michigan Stadium , becoming
2881-453: The head coaching position at LSU which had been vacated after Jerry Stovall was fired, but the position instead went to Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Bill Arnsparger . However, Brown chose to leave Appalachian State to accept the position of offensive coordinator at Oklahoma under head coach Barry Switzer . Following Brown's departure, Appalachian State promoted assistant coach Sparky Woods to head coach. Appalachian State won
2948-515: The largest crowd to ever witness an ASU football game. Appalachian State beat AP No. 5 Michigan 34–32 and became the first FCS football team to defeat an FBS team ranked in the AP poll. This victory was seen by some analysts to be one of the greatest upsets in NCAA football history. Following the win, they were featured on the cover of the following week's issue of Sports Illustrated . On December 1, 2018, Appalachian State played in and won
3015-457: The last four years. Division I football schools satisfying #1 and either #2 or #3 also had to maintain eight sports overall. Schools failing to meet either #2 or #3 could still qualify for I-A if they maintained twelve sports overall. (NOTE: the NCAA, at the time, governed male sports only; women's teams did not count toward these totals). Of 144 schools participating in Division I football in the 1977 season, 79 were expected to qualify for I-A, with
3082-432: The line and tipped the ball to solidify the Mountaineer victory. On December 7, 2019, Appalachian State also played in and won the second ever Sun Belt Championship Game , again hosting the Ragin' Cajuns of University of Louisiana at Lafayette at Kidd Brewer Stadium . The Mountaineers won an offense-laden game, 45–38. Appalachian State went on to win the 2019 New Orleans Bowl over UAB, 31–17. On September 10, 2022,
3149-576: The most outstanding offensive player. On December 2, 2012, after a first-round home playoff loss to Illinois State , athletics director Charlie Cobb announced that Moore would not return for the 2013 season. According to a press release issued by the ASU athletic department, Cobb stated that he and Moore agreed after the end of the 2011 season that the 2012 season would be Moore's last as head coach, but chose not to make an announcement until that time. However, several days later, Moore claimed that there had been
3216-544: The new additions, membership in I-AA hit a new high of 118 in 1993. The subdivision stabilized thereafter, maintaining at least 120 members from 1997 onward. Membership peaked at 130 in 2022 before settling at the current 129. NCAA Division I-A and NCAA Division I-AA were renamed as NCAA Division I FBS and NCAA Division I FCS prior to the 2006 season. The FCS has held a post-season playoff to award an NCAA-sanctioned national championship since its inception in 1978. The size of
3283-419: The regular season, outscoring opponents 206–0 before losing a postseason game to Southern Miss , 7–0. Appalachian found continued success under coach E. C. Duggins (1947–50 and 1952–55). During Duggins' eight years as coach, the Mountaineers claimed three more North State Conference championships and played in seven bowl games. The Mountaineers again competed as an independent from 1968 to 1971 before joining
3350-511: The remaining 65 relegated to I-AA. But because the NCAA allowed four years for criteria #2 and #3 to be met, just eight schools (seven from the Southwestern Athletic Conference , a league of HBCUs that had just moved to Division I in 1977) opted for Division I-AA for the 1978 season. Meanwhile, another 35 reclassified from Division II to Division I-AA, including four entire conferences. Thus, at least initially,
3417-536: The same divisional level by the 1993 season. In order to comply, 28 Division I schools with football programs at the Division II and Division III levels were forced to upgrade their teams to the Division I level, and all of them (at least initially) chose Division I-AA as their new football home. At the same time, the number of football scholarships allowed in I-AA was reduced from the original 70 to 63, effective in 1994; it has remained at that number ever since. With
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#17327829053923484-525: The same high schools in the early years and their graduates were, in large part, public school teachers. The alumni of the schools found themselves working together, which helped foster the rivalry. Prior to the game in 1976, the idea was pitched of heightening the long-standing rivalry. The jug idea was presented to alumni of both universities and the Sports Information Directors were charged with drumming up media exposure. The jug
3551-499: The season ultimately turned out to be a disappointment for the program, as they missed bowl eligibility for the first time since their move to the FBS. Shawn Clark started the 2023 Appalachian State season 3-4, with a double overtime lose to UNC-Chapel Hill and two games by a field goal to end the game versus Wyoming and Coastal Carolina . The Mountaineers rebounded winning their next five games including defeating previously undefeated James Madison University while College GameDay
3618-518: The series became one-sided, with Western Carolina winning only 2 of the last 28 meetings. The 1979 game was the second-ever live broadcast on the ESPN sports network. With Appalachian's move to the Sun Belt Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2014, the trophy was retired after 2013's contest. The Old Mountain Jug currently resides in a trophy case at Appalachian State. The Appalachian State and Western Carolina rivalry dates back to 1932 with
3685-424: The top level. Division I-AA was created in January 1978, when Division I was subdivided into Division I-A and Division I-AA for football only. The initial criteria for a program's admittance to I-A included (1) scheduling 60% of its games against other I-A teams, and either (2) having a 30,000-seat stadium and an average attendance of 17,000 for one year in the last four, or (3) drawing an average of 17,000 over
3752-605: The total series, 15–10. Known as the Battle for the Old Mountain Jug , Appalachian State played Western Carolina in a regional rivalry game from 1932 to 2013. The only years in that period in which the game was not played were 1942 to 1945, during U.S. involvement in World War II. In 1976, a traveling trophy known as the Old Mountain Jug was created from an old moonshine jug. Appalachian's record in games played
3819-427: The west (home) stands and replacing the former pressbox facilities, the 100,000 square feet (9,300 m ) KBS Complex was completed before the start of the 2009 season. The KBS Complex includes new stadium entrance plaza, strength and conditioning rooms, a hydrotherapy room, locker rooms , athletics offices, stadium suites and club seating . On February 28, 2017, the Appalachian State athletics office announced
3886-427: The winner since 1976. It is painted gold with Appalachian State's mascot, a Mountaineer , and Western Carolina's mascot, a Catamount , on opposing sides. The rivalry had natural origins. Appalachian and Western were the only public colleges in the western half of North Carolina for decades and made similar steps to their present status as comprehensive regional universities. Both basically recruited athletes from
3953-472: Was Graydon Eggers . The Mountaineers competed as an independent before joining the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) North State Conference as a charter member in 1931. Kidd Brewer was the head coach of the Mountaineers from 1935 to 1938, leading the team to two postseason bowl games. Brewer's 1937 squad is best remembered for going unbeaten and unscored upon during
4020-494: Was confirmed to be the next head coach of the Louisville Cardinals football program. Assistant Head Coach Mark Ivey would be named interim Head Coach and would go on to coach the Mountaineers for the 2018 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl win over Middle Tennessee State University Blue Raiders , 43–13. Ivey would not be retained as head coach of the Mountaineers. The Mountaineers ended their season 11–2, winning
4087-523: Was donated by Roby Triplett, the manager of the Appalachian State Bookstore. It weighs approximately 25 pounds and is capped with its original traditional cork . Dee Triplett, Roby's wife, painted the jug. Excluding minor touchups, the jug and its logos have not been altered since their creation. In the mid-1980s, the series was mentioned as "the best football rivalry you've never heard of" by Sports Illustrated ; but after 1985,
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#17327829053924154-560: Was going to win by a large margin—in fact, the unofficial odds were that Michigan was going to win by 33 points. The win helped Appalachian State become the first FCS team to ever receive votes in the final Associated Press (AP) college football poll on January 8, 2008. The Mountaineers received five points in the poll, tying South Florida for 34th. The conclusion of the 2008 season saw quarterback Armanti Edwards win Appalachian's first Walter Payton Award , presented annually to
4221-565: Was on campus. Clark earned a spot in the Sun Belt Conference title game in Troy, Alabama . Shawn Clark led Appalachian State to its 7th bowl win in the Avocados from Mexico Cure Bowl 13-9 over Miami (OH) . Appalachian has won three national championships in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision , at the time, the highest division in college football to hold a playoff tournament to determine its champion. The Mountaineers became
4288-496: Was played in Kidd Brewer Stadium on September 17, 2016, and marked the Mountaineers' first home game against a power five opponent in modern history. The second game was played in Sun Life Stadium on September 11, 2021, with Miami narrowly winning 25–23. In 2016, the Mountaineers finished with a 10–3 record. In 2018, Appalachian State was ranked in the FBS for the first time in its history after starting out 5–1 in
4355-460: Was replaced by Kidd Brewer Stadium in 1962. Opened in 1962, Kidd Brewer Stadium was originally named Conrad Stadium after former university trustee and R.J. Reynolds executive William J. Conrad. The stadium was renamed in 1988 for Kidd Brewer who coached the Mountaineers from 1935 to 1938. Nicknamed "The Rock", it sits at an elevation of 3,280 feet (1,000 m) but is measured at 3,333 feet (1,016 m) for NCAA qualifications. The stadium
4422-456: Was the first time an FCS team had defeated any ranked FBS program. Appalachian State then tallied votes itself and became the first FCS team to receive votes in a final Associated Press (AP) college football poll. The Mountaineers received five points in the poll. Appalachian State moved on from FCS to FBS in 2014, and has already enjoyed AP Top 25 rankings during several of its seasons (e.g., 2018, 2019, 2020) in FBS. The Mountaineers finished
4489-496: Was the first venue in either North or South Carolina to install artificial turf . On October 3, 1970, the Mountaineers and Elon Fightin' Christians staged the first ever game played on turf in the Carolinas. After a 2002 First Round I-AA playoff loss to Maine , Appalachian compiled a 30-game unbeaten streak at Kidd Brewer Stadium that ended on October 20, 2007. The Mountaineers led the FCS in average attendance throughout
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