Appalachian State, LSU to open season in matchup of national champs

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By MIKE CRANSTON, AP Sports Writer
February 8, 2008

Better watch out, LSU. Appalachian State is coming to town.

The Mountaineers, who kicked off last year's wacky college football season with a stunning win at Michigan, will get an even tougher assignment next season when they open against the defending national champion Tigers.

Of course, Appalachian State knows plenty about winning national championships. The Mountaineers enter next season as the three-time defending champs in Division I's Football Championship Subdivision.

LSU won the Bowl Championship Series title by beating Ohio State last season. Appalachian State won its record third straight title in what used to be called Division I-AA by beating Delaware.

Appalachian State and LSU were scheduled to play in 2009, but the game was moved up a year to accommodate an opening in the Tigers' schedule. The teams will now not play in 2009.

LSU beat Appalachian State 24-0 during the 2005 season.

The Mountaineers pulled off one of college football's biggest upsets when they beat then-No. 5 Michigan at the Big House 34-32. Appalachian State safety Corey Lynch blocked the Wolverines' game-winning field goal attempt on the final play.

The victory set off a wild scene at the school's Boone, N.C. campus and thrust the Mountaineers into the national spotlight for months. Behind speedy quarterback Armanti Edwards, Appalachian State recovered from two regular-season losses to win three home playoff games before routing Delaware 49-21 in the title game.

The Mountaineers' success has led several top teams to shy away from playing them and coaches have been scrambling to fill openings on the 2008 schedule. Appalachian will visit James Madison and host Jacksonville and Presbyterian before beginning Southern Conference play.

The Mountaineers do have future games scheduled at Florida (2010), Virginia Tech (2011) and Georgia (2013).

Appalachian State, LSU to open season in matchup of national champs - NCAA Football - Yahoo! Sports

August 30 at LSU Baton Rouge, La. 8 p.m. (EDT)
September 6 JACKSONVILLE (National Champions/Hall of Fame Day) KIDD BREWER STADIUM 3:30 p.m.
September 20 at James Madison Harrisonburg, Va. TBA
September 28 PRESBYTERIAN (Family Weekend/Open House) KIDD BREWER STADIUM 7 p.m.
October 4 THE CITADEL* (Homecoming) KIDD BREWER STADIUM 2:30 p.m.
October 11 at Samford* Birmingham, Ala. TBA
October 18 at Georgia Southern* Statesboro, Ga. TBA
October 25 FURMAN* (BLACK SATURDAY) KIDD BREWER STADIUM 3:30 p.m.
November 1 WOFFORD* (Education Day) KIDD BREWER STADIUM 3:30 p.m.
November 8 at Chattanooga* Chattanooga, Tenn. TBA
November 15 ELON* KIDD BREWER STADIUM 3:30 p.m.
November 22 at Western Carolina* Cullowhee, N.C. TBA

[TyPenn613]

It's very doubtful, but I'll be pulling for Appalachian State very much in this one. I couldn't careless about either team, but LSU denied Rutgers a chance for a home and home set of matchups. I can't believe that LSU can't chance a game in New Jersey.

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Everyone knows i'll be pulling for App St, and i think they can win this game they just have to stay in it for 4 quarters

[Korrupt]

I think everybody's rooting for App St to pull off another monumental upset....

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If they beat a top SEC School after beating a Top Big 10 school. I would be all for them joining Division 1