Appalachian State, LSU to open season in matchup of national champs

2/8/2008 7:17 PM

By MIKE CRANSTON
AP Sports Writer

Better watch out, LSU. Appalachian State is coming to town.

The Mountaineers, who kicked off last year's wacky college football season with a stunning win at Michigan, will get an even tougher assignment next season when they open against the defending national champion Tigers.

Of course, Appalachian State knows plenty about winning national championships. The Mountaineers enter next season as the three-time defending champs in Division I's Football Championship Subdivision.

LSU won the Bowl Championship Series title by beating Ohio State last season. Appalachian State won its record third straight title in what used to be called Division I-AA by beating Delaware.

Appalachian State and LSU were scheduled to play in 2009, but the game was moved up a year to accommodate an opening in the Tigers' schedule. The teams will now not play in 2009.

LSU beat Appalachian State 24-0 during the 2005 season.

The Mountaineers pulled off one of college football's biggest upsets when they beat then-No. 5 Michigan at the Big House 34-32. Appalachian State safety Corey Lynch blocked the Wolverines' game-winning field goal attempt on the final play.

The victory set off a wild scene at the school's Boone, N.C. campus and thrust the Mountaineers into the national spotlight for months. Behind speedy quarterback Armanti Edwards, Appalachian State recovered from two regular-season losses to win three home playoff games before routing Delaware 49-21 in the title game.

The Mountaineers' success has led several top teams to shy away from playing them and coaches have been scrambling to fill openings on the 2008 schedule. Appalachian will visit James Madison and host Jacksonville and Presbyterian before beginning Southern Conference play.

The Mountaineers do have future games scheduled at Florida (2010), Virginia Tech (2011) and Georgia (2013).