Appalachian St - Michigan

[JackJD]

Re: Appalachian St - Michigan

The game was the first time an FCS (or DIAA for past years) team has beaten a ranked FBS (or DIA for past years) team.

[JackJD]

Re: Appalachian St - Michigan

Another story...more a column, on Yahoo Sports:

By the time they were carrying small school coach Jerry Moore out of the Big House, owner of the greatest upset in college football history, the question was no longer whether little Appalachian State could compete with mighty Michigan.
It was now whether they could sneak enough whiskey back into dry Boone, N.C., to handle the celebration.
In a stunner for the ages, ASU, courtesy of a 34-32 come-from-behind thriller, became the first team from what was formerly known as Division I-AA to ever beat a ranked I-A team.
...
Michigan had never played a I-AA opponent in its history. Now we know why, the Wolverines were ducking them. Instead of an easy tune-up for Michigan, Appalachian State leaves with its most profound victory ever and a check for $400,000 that was supposed to be their pay for getting punished. ...

Columnist Dan Wetzel, Yahoo Sports [is that a real job?] will have a hard time getting into a Michigan game after those comments.

Some sniping aside (which is probably okay, after all, it is Michigan), some good analysis of what Appy did to win...this was not a fluke.

read more:
http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news?s...yhoo&type=lgns

[89rabbit]

Re: Appalachian St - Michigan

http://www.in-forum.com/Sports/articles/177182 (sub site, but it is free)

Michigan loss not shocking to all

Jeff Kolpack, The Forum


Division I-AA football changed its name in the off-season, and people are having trouble getting accustomed to the name “Division I Football Championship Subdivision.”

But the division is having no trouble jumping on the back of Appalachian State this week. It seemingly happens every time a FCS team knocks off a Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) program like Appalachian did to fifth-ranked Michigan last Saturday in a 34-32 victory.
“What bothers me is to listen to all of these pundits on the networks and how it’s the biggest upset in the history of the world,” said Cal Poly head coach Rich Ellerson. “It’s not. We know these teams can play.”
It happens yearly. Since North Dakota State moved to Division I football in 2004, California Davis defeated Stanford, Southern Illinois beat Indiana, Poly stopped San Diego State and New Hampshire dominated Northwestern.
Lost in last week’s mix was Nicholls State’s 16-14 win over Rice University of Conference USA. Davis, Southern Illinois and Nicholls are current or former NDSU opponents. . . .

“It’s a case in point that the gap in college football has begun to come closer,” Bohl said.
The gap is especially closer – if not closed – between lower level FBS teams and the top teams in FCS. NDSU proved that last year in a 10-9 loss at the University of Minnesota and a 29-24 win at Ball State (Ind.).
Last year, seven Division I-AA teams beat I-A programs.
“I’m surprised with the win at Michigan, but I would bet Appalachian State would beat a lot of teams ranked 25 or lower in (FBS),” said Davis head coach Bob Biggs. “It’s great for the FCS.” . . . (read more)


Go State!