From The Student Section...Countdown to Chattanooga Edition

The Appalachian State Mountaineers are heading back to Chattanooga, so isn't it fitting we focus on Appy and their opponent Delaware.

• What a crowd at "The Rock" on Friday Night! It was packed and set a record for the playoffs/non-championship game. Even the students were involved, and there was many creative signs. My favorite has to be the Spidey Pig (from "The Simpsons: The Movie). Hopefully, the Mountaineer faithful will make their presence felt in Chattanooga (and I say they will make Finley Stadium "The Rock #2")
• The crowd was so impressive, even Coach Jerry Moore and other Mountaineer coaches took notice. "I just turned and looked and everybody was still there,” Moore said, recalling he had never done that in his time in Boone. “It was an awesome thing.” Moore even said his coaches in the booth were amazed at the people in line for Chattanooga tickets, before the game even ended.
• Even the officials were impressed with "The Rock." At the press conference, Coach Moore stated the following: “One of the officials on the sideline, they’re from the Southland Conference and they had worked some Big 12 games, said, ‘Coach, I’ve worked the Texas-Ohio State game and I’ve got to tell you something. This is the best college-football game I’ve ever been involved in.’ He said, ‘The atmosphere here is awesome. This is real college football.’“He said, ‘You all need a bigger stadium.’ I told him we’re fixing to get one. That’s a great compliment.... I think it speaks volumes about our fans.”
• The Appalachian State Seniors will finish a staggering 29-1 at home in their four seasons at "The Rock." Their lone lost was to Georgia Southern earlier this season.
• The numbers are pointing that the National title game will be a shootout. The two teams have scored over 35 points nine times combined this year. App is averaging 42.3 points per game, while Delaware is right behind them averaging 37.3 points per game.
• Armanti Edwards impressed everyone who saw him play on Friday night. His numbers speak for themselves: 313 yards, 4 rushing touchdowns, 14 of 16 passing 182 yards and 3 additonal touchdowns. Total: 495 offensive yards responsible for; 7 total touchdowns. "No. 14. He's the best we've seen this year. I think we have some pretty good athletes on defense but he makes plays in space that nobody has on us this year," Richmond Coach Dave Clawson said of Edwards. "I wouldn't want to change places with the defensive coordinators in the Southern Conference the next two years."
• Delaware has some big time play makers. They are led by quarterback Joe Flacco who has 3,939 yards and 22 touchdowns. Tailback Omar Cuff has amassed 1,861 yards rushing for 34 TDs, and he has also caught 52 passes for 4 touchdowns.
• The Delaware defense has held seven teams to under 17 points.
• Everyone knows Appalachian Stata beat Michigan, but Delaware also has an upset under its belt. The Fighting Blue Hens defeated the Navy Midshipmen 59-52 in Annapolis, Maryland.
• Delaware's most famous grad to play in the NFL. Former Oakland Raider quarterback Rich Gannon.
• Kickoff is set for 8:00 p.m. and will be telvised nationally on ESPN2. The game is sold out.
• For the first time in this blog's history, From the Student Section is actually coming from a college campus! I am at ETSU and this probably will not be the last post from the Culp Computer lab!

I look forward to seeing everyone in Chattanooga. The Avery Journal-Times will be there for full coverage of the contest. We will have our preview of the contest up by Thursday evening. The pre-game blog will also start on Thursday evening. As was the case last week, Jamie will take over around kickoff to handle the actual gameday blog, and we will have a full recap up sometime after the game. Enjoy the game!!