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Football unveils 2006 schedule

Thursday, 16 February 2006

by CHRIS ZALUSKI
Sports Editor

The Appalachian State athletics department released the 2006 football schedule Friday. The schedule includes six home games, as well as a season-opener against Division I-A opponent North Carolina State University.

“I think it’s a great schedule,” Athletics Director Charlie Cobb said. “[We] go into any season where [we’re] trying to set up a schedule to give [our] team a chance to reach post season.”

Including the opening game against N.C. State, the Mountaineers’ first four games are against non-conference opponents.

The second game of the season is at home against James Madison University. JMU will strengthen the schedule as the team won the I-AA National Championship in 2004.

The next two games are against Mars Hill College, a Division II team, at home and on the road against Gardner-Webb University. Gardner-Webb is a Division I-AA Sunbelt Conference member, the same conference as Coastal Carolina University, an ASU opponent last season.

After the first four non-conference games, the team plays seven straight Southern Conference games to finish out the season.

Associate Athletics Director Jay Sutton said winning the national championship has caused its share of scheduling problems during the off-season.

“It has been a very challenging time finishing the schedule for ‘06 due to the kind of team we have,” Sutton said. “There are institutions that simply to do not want to play us.”

Cobb agrees with the statement and said compiling the football schedule was “the most aggravating thing I’ve done since I’ve been here.”

Despite the scheduling problems, Appalachian has a schedule that will allow for more home games as well as more games within driving distance.

Of the 11 games, nine are in North Carolina and the other two are against Georgia Southern University and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

“We want a schedule that our fans can watch us play whether we’re in Boone or on the road,” Sutton said. “Part of the thought going forward was to support the Mountaineers off the mountain. All the games are within driving distance.”

Cobb said he wanted the schedule to help continue the fan intensity of home football games from last season.

In 2005, Kidd Brewer Stadium averaged 23,169 fans, second most in Division I-AA, for the four regular season games.

On top of the attendance figures, fans broke record attendance for both regular season and playoff games.

Jerry Moore, head football coach, also believes the schedule will help fan support in both home and away games.

“We should have a great support and following,” Moore said. “I think it’s a great schedule.”

Regardless of the scheduling difficulties, Cobb said fans will be the difference this year.

“It doesn’t matter who we’re playing, when we’re playing or where we’re playing,” he said. “It’s about Appalachian playing and the spirit that goes around that.”