The Real Reasons to Get Pumped for App State Football

We’ve all been anticipating September 5 like it’s Christmas here at Appalachian State, but have you really thought about why you should get pumped for another football season at The Rock?! Well, your Her Campus Mystery Mountain Man is here to fill you ladies in.

Tailgate is going to be crazier than ever:

Alcohol will be flowing, alumni will be smiling, and students will be cheering. Between stadium lot, Peacock, Duck pond, and many other tailgating locations, Appalachian football attendance will reach unbelievably high numbers this season. Winning three national championships within the past decade and making the recent jump to the Sun Belt conference has sparked interest in Mountaineer football throughout the country. Saturdaydownsouth.com even ranked Appalachian at 24 for top tailgating universities in the country.  

Appalachian has returned a healthy amount of starters combined between offense and defense:

This is by far one of the most helpful things for the Mountaineers considering that they have still recruited well on top of returning many experienced players. Taylor Lamb will be starting at quarterback again this season, as well as Marcus Cox at the running back position. On defense, Ronald Blair will be returning after an incredible 6-sack season at defensive end as well as experienced veterans like John Law at linebacker. Every game is winnable this season, especially with experienced football players leading the team.

Appalachian has a great schedule, including two Thursday night games featured on ESPNU:

The Mountaineers have an incredible schedule this year featuring two Thursday night home games against two of the top Sun Belt powerhouses, Georgia Southern and Arkansas State. These two games will be featured on ESPNU, as well as when Appalachian plays Clemson at Death Valley for the second game of the season. If the idea of App crushing Clemson at Clemson doesn’t make you bleed black and gold, I don’t know what will. The famously infamous Black Saturday will be featured against UL-Lafayette late in November. Ultimately, the ‘Neers have an incredible schedule this 2015-2016 that challenges the top three Sun Belt teams to face Appalachian at our home, The Rock.

Appalachian is officially a member of the FBS starting this season:

Last year, App state was brand new to the Sun Belt conference, which meant that they weren’t eligible for certain luxuries such as playing in a bowl game. Despite being first year competitors, Appalachian finished with a seven-win season. Now that they have gotten their feet wet, the Mountaineers will be playing for a Sun Belt Championship this year.

Ranked No. 4 on the SB Nation power index:

The top three teams in the Sun Belt consist of Georgia Southern, Arkansas State, and UL-Lafayette this season, however, Appalachian trails right behind at the No. 4 spot. This is truly remarkable considering that Appalachian has only played one year in the Sun Belt. Also, Appalachian’s 2014 season included victories over two of the three top ranked teams, Arkansas State and UL-Lafayette. If Appalachian plays as well as it did last November all season long, then the Mountaineers may indeed be a force to be reckoned with.

http://alumni.appstate.edu/events/series/1487

http://www.wataugademocrat.com/sports/app-state-notebook-lamb-has-record-setting-day/article_3866117a-51d5-11e4-9d5f-1faf36e3b909.html

http://www.yosefscabin.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=418

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1581261-appalachian-state-and-georgia-southern-headed-to-fbs-in-2015

http://www.playattherock.com/asu-championship-tradition.php

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