CHAMPS-Squared

ASU will play national champ LSU
By Steve Behr
sports@wataugademocrat.com

The battle of the two Division I national champions has been set.

Appalachian State, the three-time defending FCS/I-AA national champion, will play at the Bowl Coalition Series national champ LSU on Aug. 30 in Baton Rouge.

The Mountaineers had been trying to land a Division I-A team on their schedule, but teams have shied away from the Mountaineers after their 34-32 win over Michigan last year. Appalachian State was to play LSU in 2009, but an open date in the Tigers’ schedule allowed them to move the game to 2008. The teams will not play in 2009.

Appalachian State also released the rest of its schedule, which includes non-conference home games against Jacksonville (Sept. 6) and Presbyterian (Sept. 28). Appalachian State also visits James Madison on Sept. 13.

The Mountaineers beat James Madison during the 2006 regular season at Kidd Brewer Stadium and did it again in the first round of the 2007, hanging on to claim a 28-27 victory.

The Mountaineers also host Southern Conference rivals The Citadel (Oct. 4), Furman (Oct. 25), Wofford (Nov. 1) nd Elon (Nov. 15).

Appalachian State plays at SoCon newcomer Samford, in Birmingham, Ala., on Oct. 11. The following Saturday, the Mountaineers play at Georgia Southern.

Other SoCon road trips include Chattanooga (Nov. 8) and at Western Carolina (Nov. 22).

Appalachian State is no stranger to LSU, having lost in Baton Rouge 24-0 in 2005. The Mountaineers trailed 14-0 heading into the fourth quarter, and several of them felt that their effort that night propelled them into their first national championship.

Appalachian State dropped what would have likely been a touchdown pass and had a field goal hit an upright before the fourth quarter began.

Since then, they lost 23-10 to N.C. State in 2006 and beat Michigan in 2007. Appalachian State also has games scheduled against Florida (2010), Virginia Tech (2011) and Georgia (2013).

LSU won the Football Bowl Subdivision championship by beating Ohio State. LSU also won the national championship in 2003. Appalachian State beat Delaware 49-21 in the finals of the FCS championship game in Chattanooga, Tenn.

It’s the first time since 1931 that the Mountaineers will play 12 games. A quirk in the calendar allowed for the extra week.