Appalachian State Mountaineers football

1928–1971

Appalachian State began playing organized football in 1928. The coach that first year was Graydon Eggers. The Mountaineers competed as an independent before joining the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) North State Conference as a charter member in 1931. Kidd Brewer was the head coach of the Mountaineers from 1935–38, leading the team to two postseason bowl games. Brewer's 1937 squad is best remembered for going unbeaten and unscored upon during the regular season, outscoring opponents 206–0 before losing a postseason game to the Golden Eagles of Southern Miss, 7–0. Appalachian found continued success under coach E. C. Duggins (1947–50 and 1952–55). During Duggins' eight years as coach, the Mountaineers claimed three more North State Conference championships and played in seven bowl games. The Mountaineers again competed as an independent from 1968–71 before joining the Southern Conference.

Recent history

The Mountaineers won three straight FCS titles between 2005–2007, beginning the 2007 season with the historic win over Michigan.

Most of the school's athletic teams joined the Sun Belt Conference on July 1, 2014. The football team began a two-year transition to the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2013, being ineligible for the Southern Conference title and the FCS playoffs.

Scott Satterfield era (2013–present)

On December 14, 2012, Scott Satterfield was named head coach of the Appalachian State football program following the retirement of longtime coach Jerry Moore. Satterfield had spent 15 seasons as an assistant in the Mountaineers program. As the offensive coordinator, he was responsible for much of the program's success.

In 2013, the Mountaineers began a two-year transition from the FCS to college football's premier FBS level. Because of this, the program was declared ineligible for FCS postseason play. Appalachian State's first year of FBS play would come in 2014 as a member of the Sun Belt Conference. However, per NCAA rules, the Mountaineers would not be eligible for the FBS post-season until 2015.

The first game of App State's inaugural FBS season was a rematch of the 2007 Appalachian State vs. Michigan football game. However, this time, the Michigan Wolverines won in a 52-14 blowout. The Mountaineers had their first home game of the season the following week in a win against Campbell. App State would lose its next four contests. After a 1-5 start, the Mountaineers rallied and won the final six games of their 2014 season. The team finished 7-5 overall (6-2 Sun) with a third place conference finish in their first season as a member of the Sunbelt Conference.

Appalachian State opened the 2015 season with a 49-0 pounding of Howard before losing to Clemson. After their 1-1 start, the Mountaineers won six straight but fell short to the eventual Sun Belt champion, Arkansas State, on November 5. The team rallied, finished the regular season 10-2 and received a bid to play in the Camellia Bowl against an 8-4 Ohio. The Mountaineers overcame their opposition 31-29 becoming the first team in Sun Belt history to win eleven games in one season. This win was also historic as it marked the first time a former FCS team won a bowl game in their first season of bowl eligibility.

On November 24, 2015 Miami confirmed rumors they have scheduled a home-and-home series with Appalachian State. The first game will be played in Kidd Brewer Stadium on September 17, 2016 and marks the Mountaineers' first home game against a power five opponent in modern history. The second game will be played in Sun Life Stadium on September 11, 2021.

College Field (1928–61)

College Field was the home of Appalachian football from 1928 to 1961. Located at the future site of Rankin Hall and Edwin Duncan Hall, the stadium was replaced by Kidd Brewer Stadium in 1962.

Kidd Brewer Stadium (1962-Present)

Opened in 1962, Kidd Brewer Stadium was originally named Conrad Stadium after former university trustee and R.J. Reynolds executive William J. Conrad. The stadium was renamed in 1988 for Kidd Brewer who coached the Mountaineers from 1935–38. Nicknamed "The Rock", it sits at an elevation of 3,280 feet (1,000 m) but is measured at 3,333 feet (1,016 m) for NCAA qualifications. The stadium was the first venue in either North or South Carolina to install artificial turf. On October 3, 1970, the Mountaineers and Elon Fightin' Christians staged the first ever game played on turf in the Carolinas. After a 2002 First Round I-AA playoff loss to Maine, Appalachian compiled a 30-game unbeaten streak at Kidd Brewer Stadium that ended on October 20, 2007.

The Mountaineers led the FCS in average attendance throughout the 2007, 2008, and 2010 seasons. Kidd Brewer saw average crowds of 24,219, 25,161 and 25,715 respectively.

Renovations

Completed in 2009, the stadium has seen extensive renovations as part of a $50 million facilities improvement campaign. An upper deck with additional seating for 4,400 was added to the east (visitor) stands prior to the 2008 season. Additional restrooms and concessions have been added. Most significantly, rising behind the west (home) stands and replacing the former pressbox facilities, the 100,000 square feet (9,300 m²) KBS Complex was completed before the start of the 2009 season. The KBS Complex includes new stadium entrance plaza, strength and conditioning rooms, a hydrotherapy room, locker rooms, athletics offices, stadium suites and club seating.

National championships

Appalachian has won three national championships in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision, the highest division in college football to hold a playoff tournament to determine its champion. The Mountaineers became the fifth program in FCS history to reach the national title game three straight years joining Eastern Kentucky (1979–82), Georgia Southern (1988–90 and 1998–2000), Marshall (1991–93) and Youngstown State (1991–94). Appalachian also had a thirteen-game postseason winning streak, a record for consecutive wins in contiguous years that ended with a loss to Richmond in 2008.

Conference championships

Before leaving the Southern Conference in 2014, the Mountaineers had won 10 conference titles, placing them second in the league's history. The Furman Paladins lead the conference with 12 championships.

App State – WCU Rivalry

From 1932 to 2013, Appalachian State played the Western Carolina Catamounts in a regional rivalry game. The only years in that period in which the game was not played were 1942 to 1945, during U.S. involvement in World War II. In 1976, a traveling trophy known as the Old Mountain Jug was created from an old moonshine jug. Appalachian's record in games played is 59–18–1, and 31–7 in the Jug era. No further games in the rivalry are scheduled following Appalachian's move to the Sun Belt Conference.

The Mountaineers currently hold the trophy, having won each of the last nine games (2005–2013) and 26 of the last 28.

2002 Furman Paladins

The Miracle on the Mountain took place at Kidd Brewer Stadium on October 12, 2002 and was selected as the "ABC Sports Radio Call of the Year." A low scoring affair, the Paladins elected to attempt a two-point conversion after scoring the go-ahead touchdown with 7 seconds left in the game. Leading 15–14, Furman quarterback Billy Napier's pass was intercepted by Josh Jeffries at the 4-yard line. He lateraled the ball to Derrick Black who returned it for a score giving the Mountaineers a 16–15 win.

2007 Michigan Wolverines

On September 1, 2007, the Appalachian State football team traveled to Ann Arbor to play their season opener at the University of Michigan. A sellout crowd of over 109,000 fans packed Michigan Stadium, becoming the largest crowd to ever witness an ASU football game. Appalachian State beat Michigan 34–32 and became the first Division I-AA football team to defeat a Division I-A team ranked in the AP poll. This victory was seen by some analysts to be one of the greatest upsets in NCAA football history. Following the win, they were featured on the cover of the following week's issue of Sports Illustrated.

2008 LSU Tigers

On August 30, 2008, Appalachian State opened its football season at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana against NCAA Division I FBS (formerly Division I-A) defending national champion Louisiana State University. The game, which was broadcast on ESPN Classic, was the first ever between defending FBS and FCS National Championship teams. The game against the Mountaineers saw the Tigers claim an early lead and victory by a score of 41–13.

All-time record vs. Sun Belt teams

Official record (including any NCAA imposed vacates and forfeits) against all current Sun Belt opponents:

Coastal Carolina Chanticleers football will begin competition in 2017

Season and coaching history

Note: Appalachian did not field a team in 1943 or 1944.

National award winners – coaches

Eddie Robinson Award

National Coach of the Year 2006: Jerry Moore

American Football Coaches Association (AFCA)

National Coach of the Year 2005: Jerry Moore 2006: Jerry Moore 2007: Jerry Moore

Other awards and honors

Kirkland Blocking Trophy

1964: Larry Hand

National Statistical Champion

1936: Len Wilson (scoring) 1974: Joe Parker (punting) 1979: Rick Beasley (receiving) 1991: Harold Alexander (punting) 1992: Harold Alexander (punting) 2004: DaVon Fowlkes (receptions, receiving yards, all-purpose yards)

Future non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of November 24, 2015