Old Mountain Jug

[Maddog1956]

My vote would be to change the Jug from a football trophy to an all-sports trophy. While we may only play them occasionally in the future in football, we'll more than likely play them annually in most other sports. Whoever wins the most games between the two schools each year gets the trophy. This could actually heat up the rivalry as football is essentially a no-contest right now and in the foreseeable future.

I like it, but then I'm not in the "I hate WCU" camp!

I just feel that anything (positive) that helps build attention for APP and WCU is positive for both schools and the mountains in general. Plus I hate to lose our football games when that is getting to be the only sport we come away with a sure "win" in,

[WataugaMan]

I say screw it. After their defeat this year, in a sign of good will, let's just let them have that porcelain jug as something to remember us by.

[App Band]

I think it should stay for football only since that's the tradition and the history. It should remain in our trophy case until such time that we might play them again. With this move, who knows if that will ever happen again? Then haul it out, place it on the sidelines by our bench, hoist it high when we beat them again, then put it back in our trophy case until the next time...if there is a next time.

Since I'm "old school" I've always viewed Western as an arch rival. Back in my day, it truly was. I know it's not been much of a contest in recent years but it's our shared mountain proximity that keeps this get-your-blood-pumping contest so much fun for me every year....kinda like "King of The Mountain" bragging rights for the winner. I'll really miss that pregame "Dueling Banjos" video every other year at The Rock. Love that!

I know that we hold other teams in a higher rivalry esteem because of the calibre of our programs but I, for one, will truly miss the annual "Battle for the Old Mountain Jug!"

Goodbye, Catamounts! It's been fun!

[GoAppsGo92]

The Cant board fans are talking of boycotting the last game in Boone. I hope their will be a few present to hear 30,000 singing, Na Na Na Na Na, Hey Good Bye!

I'm sure we can make due 30 less WCU fans in attendance.

[GoAppsGo92]

If we beat Western this year what will become of the Old Mountain Jug?

Most ppl on here won't agree, but I say we play WCU as one of our OOC games each year and keep it going even in an "unofficial" status. The Jug was only added after several years anyway. In that case usually the last winner keeps it.

I think playing WCU would both honor the tradition of the rivalry and honor both's schools mountain heritage, while still giving a us a "soft game" at least once a year. In the case that we beat all SB and FBS teams we play out of the gate, they we're just throwing them a bone. In the case, that we go through some learn and growing process it might be good to play someone, that we should win against.

Does WCU ever have a chance of winning and can it be called a rivalry if they don't. Well the Army-Navy game as been going on for something like a 120 years and I haven't heard where they were going to call it off anytime soon because Navy has won the last 11 years.

While others will say that we should use all our OOC games to play "big named" school because playing WCU won't help us get in the national championship games, I imagine that we're going to some pretty tough schedule and fan issues anyway. It might be good to way to wait till we're beating FBS teams on a regular basis before scheduling all our games on a higher level. Throwing out our traditionally highest attended game, might not be our best move at a time we really want to show that moving up was a smart decision.

Will it actually happen? I'm not sure, I think there is lots of support for it (just not on here) but that's where money comes into play. WCU already has seen that play for pay, for them is a money maker. Their basketball and track teams are much improved over where they were because of the million dollar football games they play, next year they play 3 FBS teams. APP on the other hand will most likely try to budget low cost FCS teams to aid the bottom line the first few years. I think this will help make APP vs WCU games about impossible unless both schools feel the fan desires are the most important issue.

I see no reason to continue the series whatsoever. That OOC slot should be, and will be, filled by any FBS team that will do a home and home with us including ECU, UNCC, ODU, Marshall, and many others. Scheduling will be easier, not harder.

[JCline0429]

Speaking of the Can'ts, I visited their board this weekend for the first time since we left Delphi. After reading that stuff, I now know where the North Korean news agency gets its writers.

That is the most hate-filled, insecure group I have ever seen. I'd pass it off as just message board talk, but most of their fans I know in person are the same way.

It would suit me just fine if we washed our hands of them entirely after we leave the SoCon.

Just the use of the term "Cant's" is hate filled to some of them, just as Elon fans' use of CrapAllachian" is to some of us.

[JCline0429]

The Cant board fans are talking of boycotting the last game in Boone. I hope their will be a few present to hear 30,000 singing, Na Na Na Na Na, Hey Good Bye!

I'm sure we can make due 30 less WCU fans in attendance.

Wait and see how many show up from Louisiana- Lafayette. If there's 30, I'll be waaaay surprised.

[ASU-FTW]

The Cant board fans are talking of boycotting the last game in Boone. I hope their will be a few present to hear 30,000 singing, Na Na Na Na Na, Hey Good Bye!

I'm sure we can make due 30 less WCU fans in attendance.

Wait and see how many show up from Louisiana- Lafayette. If there's 30, I'll be waaaay surprised.

Maybe not, but in all the games I've attended in Boone, I've yet to be impressed by a team's traveling fan base. At most the opposing team manages to fill the two small visitor's sections. It can't get much worse by moving to the Sun Belt IMO.

[appbanker]

Maye not, but in all the games I've attended in Boone, I've yet to be impressed by a team's traveling fan base. At most the opposing team manages to fill the two small visitor's sections. It can't get much worse by moving to the Sun Belt IMO.

I was impressed with the crowd that SC Stae brought to the playoffs. They were some of the best visiting fans I have seen.

[JCline0429]

The Cant board fans are talking of boycotting the last game in Boone. I hope their will be a few present to hear 30,000 singing, Na Na Na Na Na, Hey Good Bye!

I'm sure we can make due 30 less WCU fans in attendance.

Wait and see how many show up from Louisiana- Lafayette. If there's 30, I'll be waaaay surprised.

Maye not, but in all the games I've attended in Boone, I've yet to be impressed by a team's traveling fan base. At most the opposing team manages to fill the two small visitor's sections. It can't get much worse by moving to the Sun Belt IMO.

Judging the fans sitting in visitors' sections is not always a good measure. In the last NC State game, we had more fans sitting outside the relative section than we did inside it. I, myself, sat in the fifty yard line section among hundreds of big Wolf Pack donors as I had free tickets there. But I still agree with your point that visiting fans from any school have not been very visible with the exception of Furman fans. Of course, many don't get a chance to purchase reserve seats because we close the date on their purchase pretty quickly as do many programs.

[Appsolutely]

But back to the original question...what to do with the Jug...
I propose that the Jug be inserted up the fanny of the closet Can't fan who seems to frequent this board.

[Maddog1956]

But back to the original question...what to do with the Jug...
I propose that the Jug be inserted up the fanny of the closet Can't fan who seems to frequent this board.

As a NRA pistol and CCH instructor and FFL dealer you might want to see the thread regarding guns on campus first. Just saying!

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

But back to the original question...what to do with the Jug...
I propose that the Jug be inserted up the fanny of the closet Can't fan who seems to frequent this board.

Someone on the WCU Delphi board suggested it go to the State Sports Museum that has a small part of the NC History museum. That is not a bad ideal. They already have something about ASU and Jerry Moore. On display there for the entire state to see would not be a bad idea.

[ASUGoose]

It is time to retire the old jug. Time to put it in the varsity gym trophy case....

I think setting up something similar with ECU would be ideal. It would help both schools on travel costs so it would be a fiscally responsible choice for both. ECU was willing to schedule us twice when we were FCS so I don't see them in opposition of an annual game every year. Now that we will be FBS, the win against us would count towards their FBS win total towards bowl game eligibility.

[canes_mj]

Keep it, assuming we win the game. This game has REAL meaning this year as it could be the last ever. Despite 30-7, they would talk trash forever if they won the last meeting. Whoever wins this year keeps it for good. I personally like it. Certainly I wouldn't destroy it. It's a cool trophy that symbolizes mountain culture, played for by two mountain schools that USED to be similar, and it was before every team in the nation tried to establish some ridiculous "rivalry" trophy to play for. (Seriously some teams play for two or three trophies per year.) Win this year, keep it, put it in our trophy room to display as part of our history. I'm happy we're moving up too, but I have nothing but good feelings for what FCS and the SoCon have been to App. Never thought of this game like this until this thread, but now this is kind of our biggest game of the year. Like someone else said, if there is one game this year we MUST win, it's this one.

[SayYesToTheRock]

Well, since an 'old mountain jug' IS an instrument, it should be awarded to the winner of a marching band competition. That'll at least give WCU something to live for.

[App Band]

I'M BETTING THAT WE STOMP THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS OUTTA THOSE CATS ON OUR WAY OUT THE FCS DOOR! They're not going to know what hit 'em! If we're going out, GO OUT BIG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[AppSt94]

I see no reason to continue the series whatsoever. That OOC slot should be, and will be, filled by any FBS team that will do a home and home with us including ECU, UNCC, ODU, Marshall, and many others. Scheduling will be easier, not harder.[/quote]

Wouldn't this mentality put us on par with Wake Forest, UNC, and Duke? "Play anyone but the boys down the road".

[Kgfish]

It is time to retire the old jug. Time to put it in the varsity gym trophy case....

I think setting up something similar with ECU would be ideal. It would help both schools on travel costs so it would be a fiscally responsible choice for both. ECU was willing to schedule us twice when we were FCS so I don't see them in opposition of an annual game every year. Now that we will be FBS, the win against us would count towards their FBS win total towards bowl game eligibility.

Just so you know there is a new trophy case n the Athletics Center for football. By far the best display we've ever had. Once you go to the link click on 4th floor.

http://www.playattherock.com/asu-athletics-complex.php

[MAD Doctor]

It may ba a moot point. If other conferences follow the Big 10's lead, it may be that no FBS schools will be playing FCS schools any longer.
We'll see Western in other sports at times, but the football "rivalry" has been dying out anyway, due to a lack of competitiveness. It's not a great rivalry when one school hopes for an unlikely upset to salvage a 3-8 season, and the other just hopes to avoid injuries to key players while looking ahead to the playoffs.
Rather than looking backward, we should now focus on building new rivalries and finally getting some really good OOC games at the Rock.

See you all at Ardrey Kell. Let's encourage the Black and Gold by packing that stadium inside and out and we'll serve notice to the region that North Carolina's most successful football program is back and FBS bound!

GO APP!!!