Wes Byrum Wears Crocs So He Can Comfortably Kick Your Ass

Tell me those don't look like the shoes we all hate!

If you're alive after the College Football Nuclear Fallout, you already know that Auburn pretty much outplayed the indefatigable Florida Gators before Tigers' kicker Wes Byrum gave them a double Donkey Punch by making a timeout interrupted 43 yard field goal. This, of course, betters Sebastian Janikowski and Phil Dawson (they couldn't make NFL Hashmark-Type kicks after timeouts) to vanquish Team 1B in the SEC. Team 1A - LSU - looked underwhelming in dispatching of Tulane. LSU-Florida looks decidedly less glamorous next week. Being the SEC, that means the Gators will probably win.

Overall,What a day. Colorado plays DIVISION I FOOTBALL(!!!) against Oklahoma, the 'Cats of K-State remind Texas that they are, in fact, their bitch.

"I know you coached for one glorious year at my Alma Mater, Mack Brown. Still, I have to barrel my sleek cranium into your team's sternum!"

-Ron Prince

K-State proves that, if they can do one thing, it's mercilessly pound the Longhorns.

Rutgers falls to the school that probably has more kids from New Jersey in its student body outside of Piscataway - Maryland. Bravo, Fridge...now, the Big East could realistically send either Cincinnati or South Florida to the Orange Bowl.

Incidentally...is there a harder city to spell outside The 'Nati? I had to spell check to make sure I got right.

Wisconsin might sneak into the Top 5, where they have no business residing,which probably means they'll inexplicably run the table...but I think they'll lose soon.

And, of course, Notre Dame lost in Duke-esque fashion. So close, yet so far away.

This is going to be a great season.

Just For Fun, Right? Right?!

Clearly, this gambling thing isn't working out too well for me so far. Luckily, I bet small amounts, so I don't start debating about how much Ramen one man can actually ingest in a month, and no one is showing up at my house with a Gibraltar or Costa Rica stamp on their passport.

We'll keep it brief this week, since me trying to reason out why I picked something has pretty much just become a comical view of how I convince myself to pick the wrong games.

To review, I was 2-4 last week. Auburn covered the 16.5 handily against NMSU, and UGA won in overtime...so they obviously beat the 3.5 spread. Georgia Tech let me down (in so many ways), as did the Arkansas and Kentucky defenses, NC State, and Penn State.

This weeks games, a brief note on why I picked them

Local Kids:

Two teams at the crossroads of their season. Will Tech fall to 0-3 in conference play? Will Georgia be able to build on their win last week in Tuscaloosa? Will Mike Patrick bring up Britney Spears again? Even if he does - he's thankfully not calling either of these games.

Clemson (-3) at Georgia Tech: Clemson appears to finally have a solid QB under center, and the already known commodities of Spiller and Davis in the backfield. This game always ends up being decided by the best athlete on the field...whether it be Calvin Johnson or Woody Dantzler. Clemson just has more of those right now. Generally, though, a hard game to predict...which is why mine will probably be wrong (even though that will make me happy in this case).

Ole Miss (+15) at Georgia: Mark Richt rarely likes to do things the easy way - see last year's comeback win over Colorado for proof. He might have the best young RB/QB combo in the SEC, but that likely means he'll pick this game to work the Zone Read (and maybe even Joe Cox) back into his offense, neglecting his massive fullback's obvious run blocking abilities. Ole Miss looked promising against the Gators, as they were the first team to really test them. The Dawgs win, but not by much.

National Games:

Kind of a down week here, with really only 3 "big time" matchups. In fact, the best game might be tonight...thanks to the programming geniuses at ESPN.

WVU at South Florida (+7): These Friday night games do weird things to teams (right, Mike Gundy? Sorry...don't yell at me!). Their expecting the first sell out in school history at The Bulls' impenetrable fortress that is...uh...Raymond James Stadium.

Surely, the Bulls will beam with pride as they think of all the history there, and many octagenarian Alumni will tear up at the montage of the great Bulls teams of yore, when Col. Tiberius Leavitt commandded the team his great-Grandson now oversees.

Okay - so they've only been around 11 years. Thanks to conference realignment, though, the Bulls can interject themselves into the National Title picture this weekend. I don't even think they'll need the 7 points, they just seem to know how to play WVU, and they'll have the "Program Game" atmosphere at their backs. Bulls Win! Bulls Win! Bulls Win! (Flails wildly at Craig Ehlo)

Cal at Oregon (-6.5): Why this isn't the ESPN night game, I have no idea. This is the biggest game of Saturday as it will pretty much determine who gets to unmask USC later in the year. Oregon's hippies have apparently hired a Shaman to make Autzen Stadium a house of horrors for most, and beat Cal there 2 years ago. Cal's hippies would protest, but they're not really aware they have a football team. Anyway - Dennis Dixon leads his troops, sans Brian Paysinger, to a comfortable win, and Jeff Tedford starts wondering when Franchione is going to get the axe at A&M (Hint: it's at the end of this season)

Auburn (+18) at Florida: This should be an interesting game, despite what some might think. You have arguably one of the best defenses in the SEC, who should have one of its biggest cogs back in Trey Blackmon, versus a seemingly unstoppable offense. Florida obviously has revenge on their mind, while Auburn is just looking to cancel out a really bad loss to Mississippi State. Auburn managed to put up 27 points last year without scoring a single offensive touchdown. They might need one or two this time to stop Gold-Plated Baby Jesus, Tim Tebow, and his pet Jesus Lizard, Percy Harvin. Gators win, but the Tigers keep it close.

Stay tuned next week when, like Louisville, my status as a football sage spirals further out of relevancy.

The Myth of the "Vick Divide"

When they booed Terrence Moore, I wasn't surprised. The moment they booed a spokesperson for The Humane Society, I knew they were crazy.

I knew this, and I felt sorry for the majority of black Atlantans. I know many, and I know they don't think like the Vick apologists. They don't draw comparisons between Bill Belichick videotaping other team's defensive signals, and dogfighting. (Yes, someone actually did that last night) They don't shout down people trying to make valid points, and they don't think Michael Vick got a raw deal.

Still - ESPN has to advance their point of view - that Atlanta is a city comprised of thugs and rednecks, surrounded by apathetic (perhaps secretly racist) suburbanites.

What they don't know, and don't want to take the time to know, is that the discussions that took place on stage, amongst Terrence Moore, Neal Boortz, and Chuck Smith (Terrence Mathis The New York Times' Selena Roberts offered little useful to the discussion), happen at restaurants, offices, and in the media of this city every day.

That is to say - people of different races and backgrounds having a reasonable discussion about what went wrong with Michael Vick - not placing blame on the Federal Government for doing their job, and not claiming that Vick was unfairly targetted because he was/is a black athlete.

These are the black people I know - they are educated, middle class, and think Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, and The NAACP are as much of a joke as I do. Until I lived in this city, everything I saw on TV and in print media led me to believe that those racists spoke for all blacks. The media still wants us to believe that the average Southern white is an unintelligent bigot. In their eyes, whether it be the War, Civil Rights, or politics in general, they still wish it was 1967.

Another myth perpetuated by Roberts, the token member of the New York Intelligentsia (can't have a Town Hall meeting without one of them) is that dogfighting is a Rural Southern past-time. Chicago, in fact, has a bigger problem with dogfighting than anywhere down here. Since that doesn't advance ESPN's POV that Atlanta is not only a bad sports town, but backwards, it's not included in the discussion.

Let's also not forget that Michael Vick was tried, and convicted, in Virginia...not Atlanta. Somehow, though, they saw fit to bring their dog and pony show to "The City Too Busy To Hate", and invite the most obnoxious, unreasonable Vick fans to the party.

This city has moved on, this city did not begin to teeter on the brink of anarchy because of this case, and this city (well, most of it) understands that what Michael Vick was doing - supporting illegal gambling, evading taxes, and financially backing an interstate dogfighting ring, puts him on equal footing with any other organized crime boss in this country.

Ultimately, that's what he was.

Boselli Apparently Paying for Transgressions

Former Jaguars and Texans Tackle Tony Boselli is apparently going through some sort of broadcaster hazing. 3 weeks - 3 Falcons games. Unfortunately for him, Ron Pitts is along for the ride as his play-by-play partner.

They aren't a bad team - just odd that they seem to be stuck covering what could end up being the worst team in the NFC.

Some encouraging things from today's loss to Carolina, though. Harrington was sharp, Roddy White is coming into his own, and the line held well. When you're supposed All-Pro CB gives up 67 yards in penalties on one drive (albeit some shoddy officiating on 2 of the 3 calls), it's going to be hard to win.

Petrino still not running the ball enough - Dunn and Norwood combined for 87 yards on 17 carries. I think Norwood especially needs to get the ball more. He is a homerun hitter, plain and simple.

Mike Patrick Has an Incredible Sense of Timing

A slugfest between to of The SEC's Big Six...overtime, Alabama up 23-20 on UGA. The Bulldogs lining up for what would eventually be the gamewinning touchdown pass. ESPN's Mike Patrick surely has his thoughts squarely focused on this epic battle, right?

Wrong.



Bravo, Mike - for all the legendary calls Larry Munson has made during Georgia games - you took the opportunity during his first absence in 41 years to trump them all. For that, we are forever indebted. Praise be to the Combover.

One Of The Few Advantages Of Being Strictly An NFL Fan

Many of us are crossover football fans...college, high school, pro, powder puff...we watch it all. The guys that only follow the pro game, however, have a distinct advantage over the rest - especially those obsessed with the college game, and there is one overriding reason...

Fall Weddings!

While a handful weddings will fall on a Sunday - Saturday being the preferred day hits college football fans, and hits them hard. I know a Georgia fan who, right now, is getting ready to board a plane for Dallas for a Saturday wedding. A Saturday night Catholic wedding that starts at 6:00 CDT - 15 minutes after the Georgia-Alabama game kicks off.

I have been fortunate enough to mostly avoid this phenomena. Although, I was forced to listen to the Georgia Southern-Appalachian State game last year on a faint radio signal in Northwest Georgia. Otherwise, I probably would have driven the 3 hours to Statesboro to watch it in person.

The upshot was that I won $10 off my buddy's dad, whose daughter went to Southern.

(Word to the wise - getting people who know nothing about FCS football to bet on it is as close to a sure thing in gambling as there is...provided you know something about it.)

But - I digress.

For those of us who have been put through this pain - there is finally a place for us:

Fall Weddings Suck

It's heavy on LSU fans, which I can't say surprises me that the women over there didn't/don't probably think things through. Nonetheless - I'm sure you'll find a little bit of yourself in one of these guys.

The Vols fan who had a wedding (likely pictured above)cause him to miss last week's UT-Florida game, however, probably realizes now that he got out easy.

Dr. Farthing, What Happened To Your Arm?

Well, it was from either sleeping on it the wrong way, or bookmakers throwing me out of a speeding car.

Can't...give...up...yet.

We'll give this picking games thing another go, so I can see what I really know about college football. I'm not exactly sure I want to know the answer to that, but I will be spending all day Saturday in a full on smorgasboard of college football - even if it means watching Auburn vs. New Mexico State on Gameplan (more on that game later).

On to my I Know A Guy, Who Knows A Guy, Episode II

Upstarts:

#15 Clemson at NC State (+7.5) - Let's face it, NC State is the only team to slow down the disturbinglingly efficient BC offense thus far, even if you couple that with their loss to UCF, and a sleepwalk over Wofford, it says something. One thing Chuck Amato left behind, along with red shoes, white sunglasses, and pectoral residue...is a solid defense.

Clemson's Cullen Harper has yet to really be tested, and this will be his first road conference game. Being that he might sadly be the most famous graduate of my High School Alma Mater...and only be 20...I still say Clemson pulls this one off thanks to better athletes on both sides of the ball, but NC State keeps it close until late.

#21 Kentucky at Arkansas (Under 67.5) - Over/Unders scare me about as much as having Reggie Ball under center with 2:00 left and no timeouts. The idea that you can be screwed by a meaningless TD in a blowout just seems to be too risky...most of the time.

In this game - both teams are coming off of offensive shootouts. I am inclined to think it won't be quite as chaotic in Fayetteville this Saturday. Kentucky is coming off a program win, and Arkansas helped kickoff the "Nick Saban is God '07" tour in Tuscaloosa. The Hogs will actually use Darren McFadden for all 4 quarters this week and keep the scoring low, like a good running team should. Remember, this Wildcat team gave up over 300 yards on the ground to Kent State in Week One...and the Golden Flashes didn't have a half-cyborg/half-gazelle in their backfield (unfortunately, DMC's hamstrings not part of the cyborg half).

As for the game itself, I also think it's likely Arkansas covers the 7 thanks to a Wildcat comedown. Still - I am happy to see that people finally remember that Rich Brooks can coach.

Home Warriors:

#Penn State (-3.5) at Michigan - Seriously, does Michigan ever go on the road? Playing their 4th consecutive game in The Big House, which you would think might actually scare them by now, if not for piling on Notre Dame last week. Penn State comes in with designs on a trip to the Rose Bowl. Anthony Morelli has a tidy 7/1 TD to INT ratio, and Michigan's suspect secondary, still trying to catch up with Oregon's Derrick Jones and App State's Dexter Jackson, lining up in a Cover None Zone.

New Mexico State at Auburn (-16.5) - Auburn, unlike Michigan, can avoid starting 1-3 at home because they scheduled the tricky "cupcake" game last. Seriously - if Auburn can't get up enough muster to thwart Mummeball, we might be witnessing the beginning of the end of Tubbytime at Jordan-Hare. Auburn learns to stop throwing the ball at guys who can't catch it, and read past the Preface of their playbook.

There are also rumors swirling that Brad Lester might be available for this one, which will be a big boost to the Tigers rushing attack.

Personal Interest

#22 Georgia (+3.5) at #16 Alabama - Picking against Alabama again, I know. Other than an improbable win against Auburn last year, Georgia's been sliding in the SEC lately. For a team with as much talent as they have, this is unlikely to continue.

Last week, once Arkansas actually made adjustments, they outscored the Tide 38-10 after the 1st Quarter. That last second heart-stopper, combined with UGA's humane destruction of Western Carolina, points to a rested and motivated Bulldog squad.

Really, I am just hoping for ESPN's continued sideline shots of these girls:



Even if they are crying.

Georgia Tech (-5.5) at Virginia - World, meet Jonathan Dwyer, Jonathan Dwyer, world. The Yellow Jacket recruit so good they assigned him #21 as soon as they saw Calvin Johnson out the door, Dwyer is likely to get a few more carries this week with Tashard Choice nursing his tender hammy, and ruptured Heisman Hopes, going into Charlottesville. Apparently, God didn't take to kindly to him running all over religious institutions.

Virginia has a little momentum going with a 2-0 conference start - but it was Duke and North Carolina, after all. Jackets by at least 10.

Finally - the nation's longest winning streak continues this week as Appalachian State wins their 18th straight game in front of the 1100 strong student body of Wofford College.

We'll be back next week to sift through the prediction carnage.

Weekend Review #1 - Owweee!

Shows how much I know.

Bombed:

Well - I took the easy way out on my biggest miss of the week - picking Georgia Tech to outlast BC, but still saying the Eagles would cover. Boy, did they ever. Matt Ryan looks more like a #1 pick than Brian Brohm right now.

This was typical Gailey-era Georgia Tech, though. Too agressive on defense, too predictable on offense. It'll work against most of the ACC, but BC looks to be for real.

The people that should really be worried about this are NC State fans - Jeff Jagodzinski has this team playing well on both sides of the ball, with the same players Tom O'Brien seemed to always go 9-3 or 8-4 with. The Eagles may well be 7-0 going into Blacksburg on October 25th - a game that looks entirely winnable.

The Rest of the Story:

The first sentence that comes to mind when looking at the 2007 College Football season is "What the hell is going on?!"

Obviously, Michigan-App State started that...but when Wisconsin struggles to hold off the 3rd or 4th best team in the Southern Conference, FAU thumps Minnesota, and Northern Iowa can rightfully claim to be the best team in Iowa (thanks to beating Iowa St., who beat Iowa), these first 3 weeks have just been one hefty helping of crazy. Now that I look at it - especially if you're a fan of the Big Ten.

This is going to be one of those years like 1990, when Ga. Tech and Colorado split the National Title. We're going to have BC vs. Oregon or Rutgers vs. Cal in the National Title game.

Quickly reviewing my less than stellar picks (reminding me that maybe I should stop betting on football):

UTEP +5 vs. New Mexico State:29-24 A push. Nonetheless, can't figure out how you lose to Texas Tech by 14 and can't beat the Aggies. I can only figure Mike Price pulled a "Jake Taylor in his first scene in Major League" type bender the night before.

Incidentally - are Land Grant schools west of the Mississippi just incapable of coming up with better nicknames? Texas A&M, Cal-Davis, New Mexico State, and Utah State...all the Aggies. We get it.

Arkansas (+3.5) vs. Alabama:41-38 The Hogs covered - but didn't do what I wanted, and win. Alabama didn't get Arkansas' best shot until it was already 21-0. It's almost as if Houston Nutt wants to prove he can win without leaning on Darren McFadden. Call me crazy, but when you have the best running back in the SEC since Bo, you lean on him. While, he got 32 carries, and 190 yards - they waited until the Tide were up big to really utilize him.

When Saban finally faces a team with more than 1 player, it'll be a little more difficult (fortunately for him, he has Georgia this Saturday).

Notre Dame vs. Michigan (-8):38-0 Wait, I got one right on the line, and the outcome? Someone stop the Prognostication Sensation! Seriously, you had to see this one coming. Michigan has better athletes, Mike Hart, Mario Manningham, a home game, they were facing Notre Dame's defense...and Mike Hart and Mario Manningham. The Irish might actually start 0-8 - where's your Jesus now, Notre Dame? That's right, he's over here with us Protestants.

I won't even mention the Georgia - Western Carolina prediction. That was just a throw in. The Dawgs still look destined to fall flat on their face this Saturday night.

We'll give this whole picking games thing another go Friday, hopefully it'll turn out better.

I Know a Guy Who Knows a Guy

Okay, well most of you probably use a website - but if you're getting ready to call your bookie, I have a few thoughts on this weekends games. Including the ones I may, or may not have, put some money on.

On a side note - how random is this movie poster? I don't recognize the names of any of those actors on there...so I had just had to use it. The things you find on Google Image search!

Anyway - on to the games.

Games Of National Interest...

Arkansas (+3.5) vs. Alabama: So, Alabama is 2-0 under Nick Saban, and some Tide fans are already making early December reservations in Atlanta. Everyone can agree that beating Western Carolina was not really much - in fact, it was just mean. The Vandy win, though, showed that against a middling I-A program, Alabama can look like a football team, or reasonable facsimile thereof.

Beating Vandy really only takes 2 steps - 1) Hurt Earl Bennett, or the guy who throws to him., and 2) Win. Done and done. This is a little more complex, as you have to deal not only with Darren McFadden and Felix Jones, but a halfway decent Arkansas defense that is probably drooling at the prospect of Major Applewhite breaking out some plays from his old Rice playbook.

I think the Razorbacks remind Saban that it isn't always going to be Western Carolina on the other side of the ball - but take the 3.5 points anyway.

Notre Dame vs. Michigan (-8): The Wolverines finally get a team that is slower than them. Both teams will be starting True Freshman QBs...but Michigan's gets to throw to Mario Manningham and hand-off to Mike Hart. Jimmy Clausen gets to wonder if the Irish used all their recruiting points to sign him.

Games Of Personal Interest...

Boston College (+7) vs. Georgia Tech: The Jesuits will learn Saturday that their Polish coach isn't quite as infallible as the last Polish guy they hired. It'll be close, though.

Hard to say we know much about either of these teams, considering BC pummeled a hapless NC State team, led by their old coach, and a now 0-2 Wake Forest. I do know that Matt Ryan's production fell off significantly when facing a mildly talented Wolfpack defense, and Taylor Bennett won't throw 5 INTs like State's Harrison Beck did.

The Jackets are at home, and essentially had last week off when they pasted Samford 69-14. They have one of the most underrated running backs in the country. Tashard Choice has gone over 100 yards in 4 straight games against religiously affiliated schools. He'll make it five before turning his attention to those Cardiganned Sodomites at UVa. Choice, and an equally uderrated Jacket defense, will be the difference.

Whoever wins this game will be in the odd position of getting the ACC BCS push - for what it's worth. (Thanks to LOLJocks for the photo!)

Western Carolina vs. Georgia (-Alot): So the Dawgs aren't ignored. It's likely they will start seeing Spurrier's face in place of the Catamount's helmets, a la The Waterboy. The Bulldogs are playing the anti-Appalachian State. Western is actually App State's oldest rival - but have basically been collecting paychecks from BCS teams, and thinking about turning the Southern Conference basement into that bonus room they've always wanted, while the Mountaineers won 2 National Titles and embarassed Michigan. Georgia rolls, and Knowshon Moreno gets his second consecutive 100 yard game...in around 5 carries.

Random Line Of The Week...

UTEP (+5) vs. New Mexico St.: You always seem to have that game featuring two non-BCS schools that just seems to be a trap. This is mine. UTEP is 1-1 after they beat New Mexico by 4 (who beat New Mexico State by 10) and lost to Texas Tech by 14. The Red Raiders needed two late TDs to hold off the Miners to boot.

Somehow, though, the Aggies are the favorite here. The two schools are seperated by 30 miles of the most desolate real estate you'd ever want to see - so, it's hard to say there's any real homefield advantage here. I mean - State is the 2nd biggest school...in New Mexico.

Also consider that Hal Mumme taught Mike Leach the Air Raid offense, which means UTEP will see it for the 2nd straight week. There will be lots of points here, but I'll take Mike Price's almost certain penchant for Juarez whores over Hal Mumme's Ted Haggard-esque hairdo. To Price...it's all the same. New Mexico, Old Mexico - he's giving someone the Dirty Sanchez. Sorry Aggies.

We'll review just how off I was on my opinions next week...and if I miss them all, that might signal the end of I Know a Guy Who Knows a Guy.

Finally, in honor of Appalachian State's game against the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks this Saturday - I present to you a classic Monty Python bit - The Lumberjack Song!



Someone needs to teach this to the student section at Kidd Brewer, or get it up on the video screen!

Sea Change

This week just keeps getting better.

Mountaineers bring change to AP Poll.

This may mean we will have two teams called The Mountaineers in a Top 25 Poll for the first time ever! Daniel Boone, rejoice!

This definitely makes me knowing that there may have been a money line on the Michigan game (somewhere out there on the internet) feel slightly less aggravating. I might have only bet $10, but I'm sure it would have paid me about 25 times that!

Back to the Poll - I knew when we beat Michigan, it would alter the way alot of people thought about I-AA/FCS football, but I didn't think it would start the process of blurring the line completely. We now appear to be moving back to the way things were 30 years ago...where every team was just "Division I", not I-A, I-AA, or some kind of subdivision.

While I am excited at the idea of Appalachian appearing in the Top 25 alongside schools like Georgia Tech and Tennessee (current denizens in spots 20-25), I'm forced to wonder what this will ultimately mean. If App can be ranked in the top 25, and manages to finish 15-0, why can't they go to a bowl game. Conversely, why can't a team like Boise State or TCU, who are likely to get perpetually shut-out of the BCS National Championship game, decide to go play in the playoffs instead?

Ultimately, since the AP Poll is no longer used to determine BCS spots, it may not matter. But, if it somehow causes a complete elimination of subdivisions, it could spell the end for many of the smaller Division I schools who have neither the resources, nor the fanbase, to compete in a DI free-for-all.

Regardless of what happens - Appalachian may organically succeed in doing something that the legislators have only had limited success in doing - fundamentally changing the way college football is structured.

You Got No Fear of The Underdog...

...that's why you will not survive!



I've been listening to the song The Underdog off of Spoon's latest album for about 2 months now. During the past 3 days, that lyric has seemed all the more sweet.

For those who may check this blog out on a semi-regular basis (which would also generously describe how often I write on it) that don't already know - I am an alumnus of THE Appalachian State University!

Needless to say, the last few days have been the most enjoyable of my life as a sports fan. There is truly nothing that could compare.

Being a I-AA/FCS fan is a lonely existence. You get strange looks from people when you answer "Appalachian State" to their question "Who do you root for?". The idea of picking your team based on where you went to school seems a foreign concept to them. That all has gone away, if only temporarily, after Saturday's stunning occurrence.

For that day, to anyone who knew me outside of App, I was the person to call. To my friends and acquaintances, I was THE Appalachian guy - and they knew that because I never made excuses for my love of The Mountaineers.

It's one of the feelings people who go to big schools, unless distantly transplanted from their Alma Mater, can't experience. Yet, here I was, only a 4 1/2 hour drive from my school, being bombarded with phone calls and text messages. It felt like a tremendous reward for my loyalty to the Black and Gold.

I can't say much that hasn't already been said from an analysis standpoint, but I will highlight two things:

A) This game was very quickly compared to some of the great upsets of all time - Chaminade over Virginia, US Hockey over the Soviet Union, etc. As mentioned by Kevin Hench of FoxSports, though, the most amazing thing about this upset is that the Mountaineers did it on the road. Most of the "Greatest Upsets Ever" took place at a neutral site, or in a de facto home location, like Lake Placid. That is something truly amazing and unique. This is like Leonidas and his 300 defeating the Persians at Thermopylae!

Although, now that I think about it - Thermopylae is pretty close to Sparta.

B) If you had only heard about this game, you would have assumed that App State must have played the perfect game, a la Villanova vs. Georgetown in the 1985 Final Four.

You would be wrong.

Despite a practically flawless start by Armanti Edwards (he of the now household name), he still finished the game with 2 interceptions, and 1 fumble. The 2nd interception coming when ASU was trailing late - leading most to think this game was over.

The Mountaineers also egregiously missed a chance to make the game 35-20 early in the 3rd Quarter when a wide open Brian Quick, a true freshman WR, dropped a sure TD in the end zone. (Hard to blame a True Frosh in that situation) This forced App to settle for a Field Goal and a 31-20 lead. They would also later miss another field goal that would have made it 34-20 midway through the third.

That miss, ironically, seemed to help seal Michigan's fate as they haplessly botched two 2 pt. conversions later in the game. Quick would also redeem himself later by blocking the first of Michigan's two 4th Quarter FG tries.

We can also forget about safety Corey Lynch leaving Mario Manningham 1-on-1 with Justin Woazeah on the penultimate play of the game - the 46 yard completion that set up Michigan's 2nd blocked FG attempt.

That's because - when the Mountaineers needed a miracle - the man who might one day be Billy Graham's grandson-in-law delivered one.

I, like most App fans, will bask in this for quite a while. Nonetheless, I hope the team is the thinking the same thing I am right now. The shoe is on the other foot this Saturday, and really for the rest of the season. This Saturday, Division II Lenoir-Rhyne comes to town with hopes of taking down a 2-Time National Champion/Media Darling, and having their highlights on ESPN.

If we've learned one thing from this Saturday...it's that anything is possible in college football.