Did I miss something last Saturday?
Did Michigan, then ranked fifth in the
nation, lose to itself in a scrimmage?
No, the Michigan Wolverines dropped
a 34-32 decision to the Appalachian
State Mountaineers, a team hailing
from the mountains of Boone, N.C.
So why is it that this loss is all about
the demise of Michigan under head
coach Lloyd Carr and not about the
solid play of Appalachian State?
Forget that FCS teams don’t normally
beat BCS teams. Forget that the
Mountaineers are the first FCS team
to beat a BCS team ranked in the
top 25. Appalachian State is a good
football team. With Saturday’s win,
the Mountaineers have won 27 of
the last 31 games. Head coach Jerry
Moore has led his squad to consecutive
national titles. I don’t care what level
of football we are talking about, that
is solid. Keep in mind, the teams that
have accomplished that on college
football’s highest level are considered
to be dynasties. USC over the last
decade, Nebraska in the mid-‘90s
— you get the picture.
So for one second, can we just forget
about in what division Appalachian
State plays? Can we forget that many
people haven’t heard of Boone, N.C.,
let alone Appalachian State?
The Mountaineers played one hell
of a game. They worked hard, and it
showed up in the results. Michigan
had a chance to win — heck they
took the lead late in the fourth quarter.
However, good teams are able to get
back up when they are hit in the
mouth.
Appalachian State answered Michigan’s
final touchdown with a field
goal to take the lead. Michigan had a
last-second field goal attempt blocked
with the game on the line.
On that day, Michigan’s ranking
meant nothing and heart meant
everything. Appalachian State came
out on top. It deserved what it got out
of the game – so maybe it’s time the
Mountaineers get what they deserve
from the fans.