Arguably college football’s most even rivalry (the Mountaineers lead the all-time series 12-11-1), the Georgia Southern/Appalachian State matchup always seems to have huge implications. This time around, it’s no different.
The Eagles are fighting for their playoff lives, and ASU is looking to avoid finding themselves a loss away from missing the playoffs for the first time in senior quarterback Armanti Edwards’ career.
Forget the storied history between these two teams for a second. Even if they had never played before the Eagles ditched the option in 2005, neither team would need any motivation heading into this game.
Over the last three years, Appy has out-scored Georgia Southern 99-95. It came down to the last play of the game each time, including a double-overtime thriller in 2006 when GSU finished 3-8 and ASU won the second of its three national titles.
Eagles coach Chris Hatcher got the biggest win of his GSU career in 2007 when he and his boys took down the Mountaineers 38-35 in Boone, snapping a 30-game home winning streak for ASU.
Appy’s down-to-the-last-play, one-point win in 2008 made the rivalry personal for the new-look Eagles.
Now, let’s take a look at how the rivalry developed between these two FCS powerhouses.
The one that started it all
The first time Georgia Southern played ASU in the modern era, it was defending its back-to-back national titles in the quarterfinals of the 1987 playoffs.
Erk Russell brought his Eagles to Boone, N.C. on an icy, snowy bitter December day, and was shut out 19-0. It was the first time Erk’s Eagles had ever failed to score.
To add insult to injury, Appalachian fans spelled out, “Can you score?” in the snow behind the end zone.
They couldn’t.
The 90’s
The two teams didn’t play again until GSU joined the Southern Conference.
The Eagles won the first two SoCon matchups against App, but dropped the next three, and left the 90’s trailing ASU 3-4 in the modern era. In 1999, after the Mountaineers beat GSU, the Eagles went on to win the national title. Appalachian fans sported bumper stickers boasting, “We beat the national champions.”
The momentum swing
Not many football teams can say they beat a rival four times in three years.
Georgia Southern can.
From 2000-2002, Georgia Southern outscored Appalachian State 135-90 and won four times in the span, including a 38-24 win in the quarterfinals of the 2001 playoffs.
Mountaineers quarterback Joe Burchette started each of those games.
In 2003, Appy broke the streak with a 28-21 win in Boone. The Eagles weren’t having any of that. They answered with a 54-7 win at Paulson the following year.
Post meets bus
After the thrashing the Mountaineers took in 2004, they won again in Boone in 2005. Following the 24-7 win, ASU fans tore down their goal posts and one of them – accidentally or not – went through the side of one of GSU’s busses.
The blue pants
Georgia Southern wore blue pants on the road in 1999’s loss.
They didn’t wear them again until the 2008 “Blue Out” in Paulson Stadium. The Eagles are still winless against the Mountaineers in blue pants.
The rivalry continues
Throw stats and records out the window.
Georgia Southern has the opportunity to crack the Top 25, even the all-time series and stay alive in the playoff race with a win Saturday in Boone.
It’s the only televised game for GSU this season.
SportSouth picked a good one.
Matt Yogus can be reached at (912) 489-9408.
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