E.Joyce WSJ: App State becomes ranked in AP Top 25 for first time in program history

[asu66]

App State becomes ranked in AP Top 25 for first time in program history

https://www.journalnow.com/sports/asu/a ... 5ccd1.html

[bigdaddyg]

Can someone attach the entire article. Pay site

[BTK2000]

https://247sports.com/college/appalachi ... 123630524/

This is a cool aspect of the ranking I didn’t even consider when it comes to recruiting

[AppfaninCAALand]

Can someone attach the entire article. Pay site

Is that a pay site from servers in the Triad? I've never had any trouble opening their articles, and as far as I know have never paid the W-S Journal for access.

[AppScott89]

I don't have any trouble opening the articles either. I think there could be a limit on how many you can read in a certain time period. But I'm not sure..

[Rick83]

Can someone attach the entire article. Pay site

Is that a pay site from servers in the Triad? I've never had any trouble opening their articles, and as far as I know have never paid the W-S Journal for access.

I believe they grant a certain number of free article views per week unless you subscribe. I encounter that often but I'm old school and still get a hard-copy Greensboro newspaper delivered each morning and they will usually (not always) carry the same article as the WSJ.

[ah59396]

https://247sports.com/college/appalachi ... 123630524/

This is a cool aspect of the ranking I didn’t even consider when it comes to recruiting

Absolutely. Being ranked means a lot more than just being ranked.

It’s a boost to recruiting

A boost to our brand and adds serious legitimacy to our program

A boost to our national and regional fandom and publicity

A boost to our current guys as recognition for their hard work

A boost to our bottom line!

[bigdaddyg]

Can someone attach the entire article. Pay site

Is that a pay site from servers in the Triad? I've never had any trouble opening their articles, and as far as I know have never paid the W-S Journal for access.

I believe they grant a certain number of free article views per week unless you subscribe. I encounter that often but I'm old school and still get a hard-copy Greensboro newspaper delivered each morning and they will usually (not always) carry the same article as the WSJ.

Yeah I reached my limit. I don’t want to pay a subscription to WSJ. Lol

[appaneer1984]

E. Joyce:

Five years ago, Appalachian State was initiating its transition to the FBS level.

Now, as of this week, the Mountaineers (5-1, 3-0 Sun Belt Conference) are among the top teams in Division-I football.

App State made its debut in the AP Top 25 poll on Sunday, earning the 25th spot in this week’s rankings. It’s the first top-25 appearance in program history for Appalachian, which in its last two games beat preseason Sun Belt favorite Arkansas State, 35-9, and Louisiana, 27-17.

"Well, I mean, I certainly think we are playing as good of football as anybody in the country right now,” Coach Scott Satterfield said after his team’s Oct. 9 win against Arkansas State. “You know, to go on the road, it’s a tough place to play, to come in here and get this win — just the body of work.

“But I really don’t worry about it too much because I just know if you’re taking care of business each and every week, eventually you’ll get in there.”

App State received 79 points. UCF (10th place) and South Florida (21st) are the only Group of Five schools ranked higher than the Mountaineers. It ties the highest ranking by a Sun Belt team, a Mark set by Troy during the 2016 season.

Since joining the Sun Belt in 2014, App State has won at least seven games per season. With five wins now, they’re on course to achieve that again in 2018.


The Mountaineers claimed at least nine victories in each of the last three seasons (11 in 2015, 10 in 2016 and nine last season), going to a bowl game every year they’ve been eligible.

App State won the Camellia Bowl in both 2015 and 2016 (against Ohio and Toledo, respectively), and the Dollar General Bowl last season (also against Toledo).

The Mountaineers started receiving votes in the AP Poll after Week 6 following App State’s 52-7 victory against South Alabama on Sept. 29. It was the third of four-straight wins where Appalachian won by at least 26 points while holding an opponent under 10.


App State’s offense was somewhat stunted against Louisiana on Saturday, relying heavily on running back Darrynton Evans to provide forward progress. But the Mountaineers benefited from losses for Cincinnati, Mississippi State, Michigan State and Southern California on the same day. Those first three teams were ranked 20th, 22nd and 24th last week, respectively.

Before rising to the FBS ranks, App State spent decades as one of the top programs in the former I-AA. From 1983 to 2013, the Mountaineers were ranked in parts of 30 seasons. That stretch includes three-straight national championships from 2005 to 2007 and multiple seasons ranking in the top 10.

Following the 2007 season, Appalachian became the first FCS team to receive votes in the AP Poll. That season consisted of its final I-AA national championship, as well as its 34-32 upset victory against Michigan. The Mountaineers tied for an unofficial 34th place with South Florida in the final rankings.

App State had better luck with the Amway Coaches Poll in the early portions of this season. The Mountaineers started receiving votes following their near upset of Penn State in a 45-38 overtime loss on Sept. 1. Appalachian earned nine votes from coaches, and after that, the number ballooned all the way to 78 points in Sunday’s newest installment. App State is the first team outside of that poll, an unofficial ranking of 26th.

[AppOrange]

E. Joyce:

Five years ago, Appalachian State was initiating its transition to the FBS level.

Now, as of this week, the Mountaineers (5-1, 3-0 Sun Belt Conference) are among the top teams in Division-I football.

App State made its debut in the AP Top 25 poll on Sunday, earning the 25th spot in this week’s rankings. It’s the first top-25 appearance in program history for Appalachian, which in its last two games beat preseason Sun Belt favorite Arkansas State, 35-9, and Louisiana, 27-17.

"Well, I mean, I certainly think we are playing as good of football as anybody in the country right now,” Coach Scott Satterfield said after his team’s Oct. 9 win against Arkansas State. “You know, to go on the road, it’s a tough place to play, to come in here and get this win — just the body of work.

“But I really don’t worry about it too much because I just know if you’re taking care of business each and every week, eventually you’ll get in there.”

App State received 79 points. UCF (10th place) and South Florida (21st) are the only Group of Five schools ranked higher than the Mountaineers. It ties the highest ranking by a Sun Belt team, a Mark set by Troy during the 2016 season.

Since joining the Sun Belt in 2014, App State has won at least seven games per season. With five wins now, they’re on course to achieve that again in 2018.


The Mountaineers claimed at least nine victories in each of the last three seasons (11 in 2015, 10 in 2016 and nine last season), going to a bowl game every year they’ve been eligible.

App State won the Camellia Bowl in both 2015 and 2016 (against Ohio and Toledo, respectively), and the Dollar General Bowl last season (also against Toledo).

The Mountaineers started receiving votes in the AP Poll after Week 6 following App State’s 52-7 victory against South Alabama on Sept. 29. It was the third of four-straight wins where Appalachian won by at least 26 points while holding an opponent under 10.


App State’s offense was somewhat stunted against Louisiana on Saturday, relying heavily on running back Darrynton Evans to provide forward progress. But the Mountaineers benefited from losses for Cincinnati, Mississippi State, Michigan State and Southern California on the same day. Those first three teams were ranked 20th, 22nd and 24th last week, respectively.

Before rising to the FBS ranks, App State spent decades as one of the top programs in the former I-AA. From 1983 to 2013, the Mountaineers were ranked in parts of 30 seasons. That stretch includes three-straight national championships from 2005 to 2007 and multiple seasons ranking in the top 10.

Following the 2007 season, Appalachian became the first FCS team to receive votes in the AP Poll. That season consisted of its final I-AA national championship, as well as its 34-32 upset victory against Michigan. The Mountaineers tied for an unofficial 34th place with South Florida in the final rankings.

App State had better luck with the Amway Coaches Poll in the early portions of this season. The Mountaineers started receiving votes following their near upset of Penn State in a 45-38 overtime loss on Sept. 1. Appalachian earned nine votes from coaches, and after that, the number ballooned all the way to 78 points in Sunday’s newest installment. App State is the first team outside of that poll, an unofficial ranking of 26th.

I wish I had a daughter old enough for Ethan to marry

[GregPercussion]

Always try to view it on the website, helps us out. Understand why someone can't sometimes. But always try.

[appchicago]

You know what? As a Winston-Salem resident who appreciates that they at least acknowledge App's existence--more than most papers in the state do--I just bit the bullet and actually paid for a digital subscription. 4 bucks a month for the next three months, then 9/month if I decide to keep it.

I won't offer my daughters' hands in marriage to Ethan, but I'll pay a little to the people who pay him. I've appreciated his work, and the work of the beat writers who came before him. There's been a good string of young writers who treat App as a real beat rather than a novelty.

[ah59396]

[tweet][/tweet]

[appst89]

[tweet][/tweet]

What does this say? Tweets blocked at work.

[biggie]

[tweet][/tweet]

What does this say? Tweets blocked at work.

Ethan Joyce:

"A thought for your Monday morning:

I see some App State fans talking about the organizations that are NOT covering the Mountaineers.

What if, instead of doing that, you support the ones that DO?"

[GregPercussion]

[tweet][/tweet]

What does this say? Tweets blocked at work.

Ethan Joyce:

"A thought for your Monday morning:

I see some App State fans talking about the organizations that are NOT covering the Mountaineers.

What if, instead of doing that, you support the ones that DO?"

He speaks the truth!

[appchicago]

I should mention that I am not Ethan Joyce (he has a lot more hair than me), nor did I see his tweet before I posted.

[eggers76]

I also subscribed to the digital version of the Journal at the start of the season. $4 a month for three months is a pretty good deal and I don't worry about reaching my article limit over different browsers and devices which I was doing regularly because of their great App coverage.

[dubs21]

Don't post the entire article here, it cuts down on clicks on the journal site, then Ethan can't prove that there is as much demand for more articles.

If you get blocked from reading the article due to too many clicks, open the link in an incognito window or tab in your browser. Works everytime.