Appalachian State Mountaineers football

The Appalachian State Mountaineers football team is the college football team at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. The Mountaineers have competed in the Southern Conference since 1972, and are currently a Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Appalachian plays its home games in Kidd Brewer Stadium, which is named after Kidd Brewer, whose 1937 squad was unbeaten and unscored upon during the regular season.

The Mountaineers are the first FCS team to win three straight national championships since the playoffs began in 1978. They are also the first Division I program to win three consecutive national championships since Army accomplished the feat in 1944, 1945, and 1946, and the first Division I school in modern times to claim three straight undisputed national titles. Appalachian became the first FCS team to ever receive votes in the final Associated Press (AP) college football poll on January 8, 2008. The Mountaineers received five points in the poll, tying South Florida for 34th.

At the conclusion of the 2008 season, Armanti Edwards became the Mountaineers' first Walter Payton Award winner, given to the most outstanding FCS offensive player. Former head coach Jerry Moore also took home his sixth Coach of the Year award, the most in Southern Conference history.

1928–1971
Appalachian State began playing organized football in 1928. The coach during 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 accepting an invitation to the Southern Conference.

College Field
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
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", Kidd Brewer sits at an elevation of 3280 ft but is measured at 3333 ft for NCAA qualifications. The stadium was the first venue in either North or South Carolina to install artificial turf. The Mountaineers and Elon staged the first game on fake grass in the Carolinas on October 3, 1970. 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 in 2007, 2008, and 2010 with totals 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 for 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 100000 sqft KBS Complex was completed for 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 FCS, 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
Among current conference members, the Mountaineers are in second place with ten championships. The Furman Paladins lead the conference with twelve championships.

Trophy games
Appalachian State plays the Western Carolina Catamounts annually for the Old Mountain Jug. The first game played between the two universities was in 1932, and the Jug was first introduced in 1976. Appalachian's record in games played is 54–18–1, and 26–7 in the Jug era. The Mountaineers currently hold the trophy having won the 2009 contest.

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 FCS (I-AA) football team to defeat a Division I FBS (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.

Season and coaching history

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

National award winners - players

 * Buck Buchanan Award
 * National Defensive Player of the Year
 * 1995: Dexter Coakley
 * 1996: Dexter Coakley


 * Buck Buchanan Award Finalists
 * 1995: Dexter Coakley (1st)
 * 1996: Dexter Coakley (1st)
 * 1999: Corey Hall (N/A)
 * 2000: Joe Best (13th)
 * 2001: Josh Jeffries (7th)
 * 2002: Josh Jeffries (8th)
 * 2003: K.T. Stovall (11th)
 * 2005: Marques Murrell (9th)
 * 2006: Marques Murrell (3rd)
 * 2006: Jeremy Wiggins (9th)
 * 2007: Corey Lynch (2nd)
 * 2008: Mark LeGree (3rd)
 * 2009: Mark LeGree (5th)


 * Walter Payton Award
 * National Offensive Player of the Year
 * 2008: Armanti Edwards
 * 2009: Armanti Edwards


 * Walter Payton Award Finalists
 * 2004: DaVon Fowlkes (3rd)
 * 2004: Richie Williams (15th)
 * 2005: Richie Williams (6th)
 * 2006: Kevin Richardson (12th)
 * 2007: Kevin Richardson (10th)
 * 2008: Armanti Edwards (1st)
 * 2009: Armanti Edwards (1st)
 * 2010: DeAndre Presley (3rd)

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

Southern Conference honors

 * Male Athlete of the Year
 * Bob Waters Award
 * 1979–80: Rick Beasley
 * 1986–87: John Settle
 * 1995–96: Dexter Coakley
 * 1996–97: Dexter Coakley
 * 2004–05: DaVon Fowlkes
 * 2005–06: Richie Williams
 * 2006–07: Marques Murrell
 * 2009–10: Armanti Edwards


 * Offensive Player of the Year
 * Roy M. "Legs" Hawley Award (media)
 * 1979: Rick Beasley (media)
 * 1986: John Settle (media)
 * 2004: DaVon Fowlkes (coaches and media)
 * 2005: Richie Williams (coaches and media)
 * 2006: Kevin Richardson (coaches and media)
 * 2008: Armanti Edwards (coaches and media)
 * 2009: Armanti Edwards (coaches and media)


 * Defensive Player of the Year
 * 1987: Anthony Downs (media)
 * 1991: Rico Mack (media)
 * 1992: Avery Hall (coaches and media)
 * 1994: Dexter Coakley (coaches and media)
 * 1995: Dexter Coakley (coaches and media)
 * 1996: Dexter Coakley (coaches and media)
 * 2002: Josh Jeffries (coaches and media)
 * 2003: K.T. Stovall (coaches)
 * 2006: Marques Murrell (coaches)
 * 2007: Corey Lynch (coaches and media)
 * 2008: Jacque Roman (coaches)


 * Freshman of the Year
 * 1983: John Settle (media)
 * 1985: Tim Sanders (media)
 * 1991: Chip Hooks (coaches and media)
 * 1993: Dexter Coakley (coaches and media)
 * 2006: Armanti Edwards (coaches and media)


 * Jacobs Blocking Trophy
 * 1976: Gill Beck
 * 1977: Gill Beck
 * 1987: James Hardman
 * 1989: Derrick Graham
 * 2005: Matt Isenhour
 * 2006: Kerry Brown
 * 2007: Kerry Brown
 * 2009: Mario Acitelli


 * Coach of the Year
 * Wallace Wade Award (media)
 * 1985: Sparky Woods (media)
 * 1986: Sparky Woods (media)
 * 1987: Sparky Woods (media)
 * 1991: Jerry Moore (coaches and media)
 * 1994: Jerry Moore (coaches and media)
 * 1995: Jerry Moore (coaches and media)
 * 2005: Jerry Moore (coaches and media)
 * 2006: Jerry Moore (coaches and media)
 * 2008: Jerry Moore (coaches and media)
 * 2009: Jerry Moore (coaches and media)

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)