Sun, Jul 05, 2009
 Appalachian State senior Bobby Roach printed these shirts two days before the Mountaineers beat Michigan and had cause to celebrate after the game.
bill sheffield / the associated press 2007
RANCHO RESORT MAINTANANCE POSITION Administrative & Professional Jorgensen Brooks Group Counselor Construction West-Press Printing Health Care CENTRAL ARIZONA COLLEGE DIRECTOR OF HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT Administrative & Professional Tucson Urban League CEO/President Sales and Marketing Everready Glass Sales Reps Health Care Sierra Tucson Eating Disorders Program Coordinator UA Sportsua football
NAU may be Wildcats' bugabooAppalachian State shows I-AA teams are not so easy foes
Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 09.06.2007
Major college coaches warn their teams every year about overlooking Division I-AA teams, painting their second-tier opponents to look like the Green Bay Packers.
"That's all we talk about as coaches," UA coach Mike Stoops said. "Sometimes players don't listen."
Not this week.
Not with the UA struggling offensively heading into Saturday's home opener against Northern Arizona.
Not in the wake of Division I-AA Appalachian State pulling off one of the greatest upsets in college football history, a 34-32 win at No. 5 Michigan, on Saturday.
"Hopefully, with our guys, that'll get their attention," Stoops said, "and understand this is a very good, well-coached team."
The Lumberjacks defeated Western New Mexico 47-0 Saturday in their opener. After this Saturday's in-state game, NAU plays — you guessed it — Appalachian State.
NAU coach Jerome Souers sounds content letting his team fly under the radar this week, distancing himself from any Cinderella comparisons.
"Appalachian State's a really good football team," he said. "I think everybody loves the Rocky Balboa story. To categorize all of us, we're all (Div. I-AA) schools, but they're extremely talented."
The Mountaineers have won back-to-back I-AA national titles. The Lumberjacks finished 6-5 last year, and quarterback Lance Kriesien will be making only his second career start Saturday.
The leadup to Saturday's game seems far more important when taken in the context of the past week — the Appalachian State upset and the UA's 20-7 loss to BYU.
Division I-AA teams have 22 fewer maximum scholarships than I-A's 85 per season, and a fancy new name, the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision. But competitiveness among teams has never been more apparent in the sport than it is this week.
"I think the average fan is less likely to understand that the parity in college football is really true," said Oregon coach Mike Bellotti, whose Ducks play Michigan this week, "and that good teams are good teams."
Lumberjacks wide receiver Alex Watson and his teammates had finished practice and walked to the weight room Saturday when they glimpsed at the Michigan game on television. The team watched the last six minutes or so, rooting for the Mountaineers.
"We looked at that game, and saw an example of the competition growing closer between I-A and I-AA," said Watson, whose 20 touchdown catches are sixth among active I-AA players. "We definitely think we can go in and contend with the U of A."
His coach knows — if for one week only — that I-A teams will not underestimate the little guy.
"I'm sure all the schools are preaching that lesson — 'Don't look past anybody,' " Souers said.
Jennings still the starter
Chris Jennings was named the Wildcats' starting tailback after Wednesday's practice. Stoops said Jennings, a senior, will play the first few series before giving way to sophomore Xavier Smith or freshman Nicolas Grigsby. All three backs are expected to see action.
Jennings rushed for 41 yards on 14 carries and caught nine passes for 27 yards against BYU.
Stoops said Monday that Jennings would split time with Smith and Grigsby, with the starting job going to the player who had the best week of practice.
● Ryan Finley contributed to this report
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