Todays News and Observer

[Black Saturday]

2016 could be huge for Appalachian State football program

Zach Matics' game-winning field goal didn't only push Appalachian State to victory over Ohio in the Camelia Bowl, it also pushed expectations sky-high on what will be one of the most anticipated football season in history for the Mountaineers in 2016.

Depending on how bowl games shake out, App State could find itself in this season's top 25 polls.

The Mountaineers (11-2) figure to have 15 starters back on 2016, with three of the departing seniors coming from a wide receiving corps that rarely leaned on just one player. App State's defense, ranked in the nation's top 20 in a number of categories, will lose just two starters -- but key starters -- in defensive end Ronald Blair, the Sun Belt's defensive player of the year and safety Doug Middleton.

The number of departing seniors -- 22 overall -- isn't huge, but filling the leadership roles will be among the Mountaineers' biggest challenges of the offseason.

Players like Jesse Chapman and Simms McElfresh, both walk-ons turned team captains, don't come around often. There's no plug-and-play solution for Blair, who is likely to be taken in the upper-half of the NFL draft.

But perhaps more important in App State's culture, those players helped guide the program through the two year transition that wasn't easy on anyone.

Despite those losses, the reason for optimism is because of the returning talent -- some of which didn't see much of the field.

Quarterback Taylor Lamb set a new school record for touchdown passes with 31 and ranked among the nation's most efficient passers. Marcus Cox, the Camelia Bowl MVP, figures to return after a 1423 yard season, joined be Jalin Moore.

Defensively, App State will get back it's two leading tacklers in Eric Boggs and John Law to go along with Latrell Gibbs, who is tied for third in the nation with seven interceptions.

The talented group of returners will have every opportunity to prove itself on the national stage early in a season opening visit to Tennessee before playing host to Miami and new coach Mark Richt two weeks later in Boone.

Going into the offseason on an emotional victory in the Camelia Bowl will only help the Mountaineers, according to Satterfield.


from the News and Observers December 23, 2015

[boonetown1]

We need to not overlook ODU and especially Akron next year. Akron is coming off a fairly impressive bowl win of their own.

Our SOS should not be questioned next season.

[Black Saturday]

GaSouthern should be tough too

[hapapp]

Toughest schedule we will have ever faced.

[proasu89]

Toughest schedule we will have ever faced.

Big boy football!

[moehler]

we could be better next year, and an overall worse record.

[YesAppCan]

... Or maybe waiting on our New Year's day bowl.

[hotrod2001]

Tennessee, Miami, ODU and Akron...it'll be a major test but so will playing us.

[Capt. Ed]

What ever it is great press in the heart of tobacco row

[sixtoes9134]

Yes, I in the RDU area and the N&O provides crap for coverage of App and always has, so this is shocker.

[AppDawg]

Yes, I in the RDU area and the N&O provides crap for coverage of App and always has, so this is shocker.

Evidenced by this being Brant's article that was ran in the Winston Salem Journal 2 or 3 days ago and the Charlotte Observer yesterday.

Nonetheless, happy to see us getting some ink in the Triangle. Too few and far between.

[Appsolutely]

Yes, I in the RDU area and the N&O provides crap for coverage of App and always has, so this is shocker.

Welcome to FBS football, especially when there is a good storyline and you're winning.

[AppOrange]

Yes, I in the RDU area and the N&O provides crap for coverage of App and always has, so this is shocker.

Back in the late 90's and during the Championship runs, I remember us getting decent coverage in the N&O. Then the newspaper's all started shrinking and there was a huge void. Sports page used to be 10+ pages or so, now its like 4 to 5. Lots of readers have gone to the internet and so you get the bare bones. This piece really shows something to me.

[Capt. Ed]

Yes, I in the RDU area and the N&O provides crap for coverage of App and always has, so this is shocker.

Back in the late 90's and during the Championship runs, I remember us getting decent coverage in the N&O. Then the newspaper's all started shrinking and there was a huge void. Sports page used to be 10+ pages or so, now its like 4 to 5. Lots of readers have gone to the internet and so you get the bare bones. This piece really shows something to me.

Off topic, but couldn't help but notice you're getting close to your 100th post! Congratulations and let us know if there is a big change in this site's performance.

[AppOrange]

Yes, I in the RDU area and the N&O provides crap for coverage of App and always has, so this is shocker.

Back in the late 90's and during the Championship runs, I remember us getting decent coverage in the N&O. Then the newspaper's all started shrinking and there was a huge void. Sports page used to be 10+ pages or so, now its like 4 to 5. Lots of readers have gone to the internet and so you get the bare bones. This piece really shows something to me.

Off topic, but couldn't help but notice you're getting close to your 100th post! Congratulations and let us know if there is a big change in this site's performance.

Thanks, I hope so. I can't even look at the site anymore on my phone due to all the ads.

[AppAttack]

Another 10-2 season with that schedule would be quite an achievement! I'd probably take 9-3 if you gave it to me. I'm excited to see what we can do against Tenn, Miami and GS. Do we play everyone except USA and Ark St in conference next year?

[Appalachman]

How does stAte know they are not playing us and some other schools seeming to have info for weeks and sunbelt and app have said nothing? When does official schedule come out? 2/1, 3/1?

[ApexASU]

I constantly complain to the N&O and to WRAL about their lack of coverage. I know others who do as well. Glad to see App is getting some attention even if it is from another news source.

[Golfguy]

This was the only article I found on their on-line editions. I was quite disappointed but not surprised. N&O gave us much better coverage in the old FCS days.