Appalachian State is thriving on Thursdays. Kidd Brewer Stadium (the Rock), in Boone, North Carolina, will host two teams undefeated in conference play and in contention for the Sun Belt championship once again this week. The Mountaineers (7-1, 4-0) will play Arkansas State (5-3, 4-0) as the two will fight for the inside track in the championship chase. The national spotlight returns to campus only two weeks after the Mountaineers made their national statement with a 31-13 win over long-time rival, Georgia Southern.
Appalachian State Thriving on Thursdays
Appalachian beat Troy on Saturday in what could have easily turned into a trap game loss. The sandwich game between two Thursday night contests wound up going to overtime. The underrated Troy squad gave Appalachian their first game all season which was still competitive into the fourth quarter, and even took the game to three extra periods. The men from Boone were able to make key plays in the final overtime to stop a fake field goal and set up a game winner for themselves. App is now the only team in Sun Belt history to start the season 7-1, and has received votes in both the A.P. (4) and College Coaches top 25 polls (1).
Head coach Scott Satterfield knows his team now has control of its own destiny. He has stressed, “Every game is a championship type game especially when you’re undefeated.” His mountaineer squad will have the chance to take another big step to their first Sun Belt title against the Red Wolves.
This week’s Thursday game, which marks only the second time in league history two teams have met with unbeaten conference records this late in the year, brings new challenges to a program which became used to national attention during its days in FCS football. With the Thursday game on ESPN U there will be fewer games available for viewing and additional opportunity to showcase the mountainous campus to viewers across the entire country. The first challenges most fans think of with a Thursday game are the short rest and limited time to game plan for an upcoming opponent. Alternatively, the two schools will have an extra few days to rest up and prepare for their next opponents following the game, and some coaches may even be able to jump on the road to visit recruits before their next contest as well.
Thursday games also make it more difficult for fans to make the game. But, for a school who just became eligible for their first bowl game since joining FBS, it is important to continue to show to the bowls that they can carry a crowd no matter the circumstances. Appalachian recruiting coordinator, Scot Sloan told me, “For the Stadium to be full, the fans to be avid and crazy and really getting loud, really supporting the guys on the field. That makes an impact on the recruits.” That will be especially important for out of town fans to consider. Sloan encourages the fan base, “Come up and make this place a crazy environment for our players, but also our recruits. Because when they see that, they say this is where I want to play. When comparing App to other schools recruits will say, their game day is nothing like this here. To underestimate that and say, well, it’s on TV. I’m gonna sit at home and watch it on TV. It hurts us a little bit.”
Being on television and eventually playing in bowl games does get our foot in more doors. “The fact we are FBS and you’ve got that brand beside your name helps because 90% of those guys want to play at the highest level. “
Along with the challenges of getting fans in the seats it may be difficult to get potential new players to a weekday contest. Recruits, who may have to travel from around the region to get to the game, may have transportation or scheduling issues on Thursday nights. Some of those potential recruits may also be currently involved in their own playoff games. Sloan said, “Our footprint is typically a six hour radius from Boone. Now we will stretch out further into south Florida, into northern Virginia. Even all the way to Memphis, Tennessee, Montgomery, Alabama, Mobile, Alabama. For the most part our strongest success is probably a six hour radius. Just because it’s easiest for those guys to get on campus multiple times during the summer.” But, a six hour ride for a weekday game can be a difficult challenge.
For the teams the travel after a Saturday game may add stress as well. Appalachian has the advantage this week as Arkansas State has to travel to the tarheel state for the contest, and Appalachian was at home last game. Alternatively, the Red Wolves come off the easier game with a 48-34 victory over Georgia State compared to App’s triple overtime affair versus Troy.
Thursday night will pit two of the most potent offensive attacks in the conference, but stopping the spread will not be the only challenge facing Appalachian’s up and coming program as they head into their second Thursday night contest of the year in the high country. This is all part of the transition to the highest level of football and learning the best way to display the Appalachian brand to the entire country.
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