After putting up a gallant effort against Tennessee in its season opener, Appalachian State is prepared for Saturday’s showdown, their biggest home game in school history. Hosting No. 25 Miami in Boone at noon, the Mountaineers have yet another shot at a shocking upset on national TV. Only this time, it will be at Kidd Brewer Stadium.For the first time in modern history, the App State football team will play host to an ACC school when the Hurricanes come to town. While the Mountaineers are only in their third year of FBS play in the Sun Belt Conference, Miami head coach Mark Richt isn’t overlooking them.”Great program, a team that’s used to winning,” Richt said of App State. “It’s going to be a battle royale, I promise you, going into their house. No matter where you play, they’re just a great team, well-coached. I have seen their tape. I have looked at the first four opponents. It’s going to be a battle.”App State has put together several memorable seasons in Boone, including three straight FCS Championships from 2005-07 and six straight Southern Conference titles under Jerry Moore. In the first three years under Scott Satterfield, the Mountaineers have already reached another new mark with their first FBS bowl appearance and win over Ohio in the Camellia bowl to cap off an 11-2 season last year.The program has been building toward this moment. Hosting Miami on Saturday is the payoff.”We couldn’t be more thrilled to kick off what should be a truly incredible weekend in Boone with this event and the game on Saturday against Miami,” Appalachian State Director of Athletics Doug Gillin said. “This will be a historic time for the University and the community.”In their season opener, the Mountaineers led 13-3 at the half in Knoxville. Tennessee forced overtime after putting up 10 unanswered points in the second half and needed a miraculous fumble recovery in the end zone to pull out the win.Some college football analysts came away believing App State was the real deal. Others said the Mountaineers simply exposed a flawed Volunteers team. Ironically enough, many of those same experts at No. 9 in the Associated Press poll before the season.The unfortunate part about nearly shocking a team like Tennessee in the season opener? App State isn’t sneaking up on anyone anymore. Miami quarterback Brad Kaaya is expecting a dog fight in Boone.”It just shows how far they’ve come and that they’re a legit program now,” Kaaya said of making the trip to Kidd Brewer Stadium. “They had a great season last year. … They can’t be taken lightly ever. Any team that schedules them needs to be prepping right now, like we are. Especially when you go up there.”They’ve got some ballplayers and guys that play hard. When you watch what they put on film, you have to respect what they put on film.”Coming literally one fumble recovery away from shocking the world (again), App State and Boone now have a chance to shine on the national stage. For Satterfield and his entire team, Saturday will be a chance to make a statement and earn some vindication.”Our guys are anxious to get back on the field,” Satterfield said. “We’ve got a bad taste in our mouth not finishing the deal against Tennessee.”
