ASU crowd

crowds football field
By Steve Behr
sports@wataugademocrat.com

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Delaware coach K.C. Keeler would have liked to have his players shake hands with the Mountaineers following Friday’s game. However, the Blue Hens never got the chance.

A swarm of Appalachian State fans descended on the field as time expired following the Mountaineers’ 49-21 victory. The Blue Hens and Mountaineers lined up to shake hands, but there were too many fans on the field to allow them.

“You know, we tried very desperately to get out and shake ASU’s hands, but fortunately I got a chance to stop in the locker room and I saw their coach and players and congratulated them,” Keeler said. “I know how he felt about his kids. I feel the same way about my kids.”

The seating capacity of Finley Stadium is 20,668. However, fans were allowed to buy standing room tickets and stand along and above a grassy knoll similar to the one at Kidd Brewer Stadium. Fans were also allowed to stand on a balcony behind the other end zone.

The result was a crowd of 23,010, the largest crowd to watch a Division I-AA/FCS championship game at a neutral site. It’s also the eighth largest crowd in FCS history.

Fans started leaking around the field itself with about three minutes left with Appalachian State leading 42-14.

It also led to an unfortunate incident. After Trey Elder went 53 yards for a touchdown, Mark Duncan returned the ensuing kickoff back for a touchdown, and then flung the ball into the crowd.

However, he hit a security officer in the head with the ball. Keeler had some choice words for Duncan when the player retured to the Delaware sideline.

Awards
Georgia Southern quarterback Jayson Foster won the Walter Payton Award, which is given to the top player in the Football Championship Subdivision by The Sports Network.

Foster set a rushing record for quarterbacks in all divisions with 1,844 yards and 24 touchdowns. He also completed 109-of-170 passes for 1,203 yards and six touchdowns.

Montana’s Kroy Blermann won the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the top defensive player. He edged Appalachian State safety Corey Lynch by five points with both receiving 35 first-place votes.

Northern Iowa coach Mark Farley received the Eddie Robinson Award for being named the coach of the year.

Just the coach
Moore was asked about the possibility of Appalachian State moving up to Division I-AA/Football Bowl Subdivision status. His response was that he was just the coach and that was a decision that the Appalachian State administration would have to make.

“My job is to coach our football team, not make those types of decisions,” he said. “I enjoy my roles as a coach and I don’t give that a thought. Our responsibility is to go out and make our team the bet in the nation and we’ve done that for three straight years now.”

Feeling better
Appalachian State quarterback Armanti Edwards, who has played with a sore throwing shoulder the entire season, said a day before the game he has not felt any better than he has before the game.

Edwards injured his shoulder during fall practices and aggravated it against Michigan. He missed four games during the season.

“I’m probably the healthiest that I’ve been in a long time,” Edwards said. “I got hurt in training camp and then missed four games during the season. That set me back, but I’m healthy now.”