Now, they start the season by being the first FCS team ever (since the distinction between I-A and AA was first made in 1978) to beat an FBS team ranked in the AP poll, and a top five team at that. This is a big win for the program, showing that they continue to make large strides (they finished 6-5 as recently as 2004). There is no doubt that this could give them a huge boost in recruiting ability, and maybe even an opportunity to make the jump up a level if they run the table this season (which shouldn't be hard, since they just won their hardest game).
What makes the win even more impressive is the players who did it. ASU's starting quarterback, Armanti Edwards, was making the first start of his sophomore season, and with today's performance (17-23, 226 yards, 3TD, 2 INT, plus 57 yards and 1 TD rushing) he probably put his name on the 2009 draft radar. He managed 3,300 total yards and completed 61% of his passes last season, and after today's game (a sophomore leading his team to a win on the road against a top 5 I-A team) he'll probably make a national name for himself with a repeat of those numbers.
On top of that, the game winning field goal was kicked by Julian Rauch, who had played in exactly zero collegiate games prior to today. Nailing two of three field goals, including a late game-winner, says a lot about his ability to handle pressure and bodes well for his future.
Appalachian State gets to take a crack at much lesser opponents heading forward, including Lenoir-Rhyne College, Elon, Wofford, and Gardner-Webb — while Michigan will try and figure out the kinks real fast so they don't get embarrassed by Oregon, Notre Dame, or Penn State.
Don't ever let me say the opening weekend of the season is boring.
Article comments
1 - ClemmerC
Thank you for being one of the few journalists who are giving credit where credit is due
2 - Block-A
Rauch is a senior entering his fourth year as PK for ASU, became ASU's highest scoring kicker today.
3 - Matthew T. Sussman
The secret to the upset was that Appalachian State coach Jerry Moore spoke with Lloyd Carr prior to the game and said, "Pretend this is a bowl game
4 - zed
The last time my school - Albion College - played the U of M, we kicked their ass. Of course that was in about 1890.
5 - nicolas
sorry Block, i swear i read somewhere that he was frosh. oh well.
6 - Nick
Don't mean to bash on a good article, because it was, but App State wasn't exactly blown out by NC State. They were in it the whole game and NC State scored a late touchdown to put it just out of reach.
7 - nicolas
yes, but it was still a loss to a rebuilding team that finished the year at the bottom of the ACC (3-9)