Michigan to Face Appalachian State in 2014 Opener
Aug. 25, 2011
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan football program will open the 2014 season with a match-up against Appalachian State University on Aug. 30 at Michigan Stadium. This will be the second meeting between the Wolverines and Mountaineers at Michigan Stadium.
"We look forward to facing Appalachian State again," said U-M Athletic Director Dave Brandon.
The only previous game in the series between Michigan and Appalachian State came in the 2007 season opener. The defending FCS champion Mountaineers stunned the Wolverines, 34-32, as ASU blocked a field goal attempt that could have won the game for Michigan at the end of regulation. It was the first-ever game broadcast by the Big Ten Network.
U-M has two remaining open dates on its schedule.
(http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/082511aad.html)
August 25th, 2011 at 4:21 PM ^
That will be interesting. The opening of old wounds won't be welcome.
August 25th, 2011 at 4:43 PM ^
Michigan will come out to play a FCS team as though they were playing Ohio. This will simultaneously be an exorcism and a lamb being sacrificed at the altar of all things Wolverine.
Appy State will not have the benefit of catching Michigan by surprise again; nobody on the staff or the field will be "asleep at the wheel" this time.
August 25th, 2011 at 5:37 PM ^
I don't see how any good can come from playing this game. First, Michigan clearly looks like its trying to get revenge and prove that the last game was a fluke. Second, if Michigan wins, everyone will say "great, big deal, you beat a team you should have beaten in the first place." And if they lose . . . well . . . <speechless>
No good can come from it except the change for App State to win another big game and/or make a lot of money.
August 25th, 2011 at 11:42 PM ^
Let's not get over confident about "thrashing" App State. It could come back to bite us.....and they are a well coached team and we know they bring speed.
August 25th, 2011 at 4:21 PM ^
This is a joke right? Is it really April 1 and I my calendar is off? Or did someone hack MGoBlue.com?
What good can come from this?
August 25th, 2011 at 4:27 PM ^
Just like dealing with a hangover-- bite the snake that bit ya.
Bring on Appy and bury the horror.
August 25th, 2011 at 4:32 PM ^
are you serious? do you really think beating them will bury the horror??? unless app state is somehow ranked #5 in the nation and we get demoted to FCS status, no good can come of this.
August 25th, 2011 at 4:37 PM ^
No, that day will always be there. However, just because David takes down Golaith once, that doesn't mean Golaith should run and hide. Goliath should welcome them back, curb stomp them 99 times, and restore peace and order to the galaxy.
August 25th, 2011 at 4:43 PM ^
not if goliath has to watch reruns of the HORROR for weeks on end leading up to the season every time he turns on espn.
on that note, great time to open up a psychiatrist office or liquor store.
August 25th, 2011 at 4:59 PM ^
could not possibly agree more. we will be 8 years removed from that damn game, hopefully having turned the corner and left the sad times behind us. but wait! lets play app state to make sure that the college football world will do nothing but talk about the HORROR all week leading up the game.
why on earth would we do this? what is the upside?
August 25th, 2011 at 4:55 PM ^
And after all that, all anyone will want to talk about is the one time David took Goliath down.
August 25th, 2011 at 10:18 PM ^
And destroyed the Death Star, doesn't mean you shouldn't create another one to blow their asses to space dust.
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<br>Wait, that maybe wasn't the best example to make my point....
August 25th, 2011 at 11:29 PM ^
Yeah, definitely need to clean out the liquor store. I'm thinking a few cases of Rolling Rock and a gallon or 9 of vodka. Ugh....
August 25th, 2011 at 5:04 PM ^
The fact that we are playing them again is horror enough. I cringe every time I hear or see replays of that game (which was the first game of my senior year). I am dreading media coverage in the months leading up the the game rehashing everything that happened.
August 25th, 2011 at 9:11 PM ^
this needs a facepalm. I know you guys are out there ... but this is seriously the stupidest freaking scheduling move EVER. Hey, why doesn't DB go ask his former high school sweetheart over for dinner at his house and then fondle her (like he used to) in front of his wife ....
Bad bad bad bad bad bad idea ... DB. Maybe he'll have his new mascot at the game too!
I will list these on Ebay - for sale ... U of M 2014 home opener tickets
fuuuuuuuu .... Go Blue!
August 25th, 2011 at 4:22 PM ^
I know this isn't your fault, snoopblue, but I'm negging you anyway.
August 25th, 2011 at 4:24 PM ^
normally it's unacceptable to punish the messenger, but it's more than understandable in this case.
August 25th, 2011 at 4:22 PM ^
How can you un-ring THE HORROR bell?
August 25th, 2011 at 4:52 PM ^
I don't suppose that will be Lloyd Carr Day at the Big House, will it?
August 25th, 2011 at 5:01 PM ^
Yeah, they usually don't have commemorative games consecutively, and seeing how Rich Rodriguez day against Ohio State would have been the last game in the Big House it wouldn't make much sense to hold Lloyd Carr Day just then. They'll probably wait for the Rose Bowl to hold that.
August 25th, 2011 at 4:22 PM ^
Michigan has never played App State. Their current series is 0-0. I have never heard of Boone, NC.
LALALALA I CAN'T HEAR YOU LALALALA
August 25th, 2011 at 4:22 PM ^
Dumb, dumb, dumb.
August 25th, 2011 at 4:39 PM ^
It seems for every thing he does that I like he has to counter with something I abhor (or at least floats the idea).
August 25th, 2011 at 5:39 PM ^
August 25th, 2011 at 4:22 PM ^
Yay for a chance to make up for the last time? I guess. I would prefer to not have to relive the horror in the weeks leading up to this game, not to mention all the crap rival fans will give us
August 25th, 2011 at 4:40 PM ^
this could set us up for something nasty.
Oh well, GO BLUE
August 25th, 2011 at 4:23 PM ^
what does michigan possibly have to gain by doing this??? there a ton of other fcs schools out there who would be willing to cash our check. DISLIKE.
August 25th, 2011 at 4:59 PM ^
What do you do when someone beats you that really shouldn't beat you? You play them again, and make sure you kick their bums. I cannot believe how many negative comments there are on this. I will be just as annoyed about the media coverage, but its time to put on our big boy pants and stop hiding from the game.
August 25th, 2011 at 5:41 PM ^
Tell me what good comes from beating App State. To show Michigan can win? That re-raises the issue that Michigan couldn't win the first time! That, and Michigan has to shell out cash to play a revenge game that should never be necessary. Its a terrible idea. Let bygones be bygones and move on with life. It is what it is. Let a sleeping dog lie. Etc.
August 25th, 2011 at 10:13 PM ^
We can even the score. It's shameful that they are 1-0 against us. Play them again - hell, play them two more times to regain the edge. The winningest program in history should not have a losing record against these punks.
(Besides, you can play the "What do we gain?" game with all the other FCS schools we're in the process of scheduling, not to mention all those thrilling MAC matchups.)
August 25th, 2011 at 4:23 PM ^
I really hope this hasn't been posted, I checked a couple times just so I don't get crushed.
On one hand, this could be the road to redemption. It could help flush the memories of that god awful day. On the other hand, why bring back the pain or take the risk? I have a feeling Dave Brandon said "We look forward to facing Appalachian State again," with a serious looking smirk on his face.
August 25th, 2011 at 4:29 PM ^
What redemption? Winning by 100 wont erase that we lost on a blocked field goal. There are ZERO positives as to why we are doing this.
August 25th, 2011 at 4:23 PM ^
I'm simultaneously happy to get the chance to kick the shit out of them, and disgusted that I will have to endure hearing about the Horror like 1500 times the few weeks before the season starts.
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<br>Oh well, let's just REALLY kick the shit out of them and have new highlights we can look at.
August 25th, 2011 at 4:23 PM ^
The Brandon/Hoke team has ginormous Manballz. Kudos to them for directly confronting our collective demons.
August 25th, 2011 at 4:24 PM ^
I just threw up.
August 25th, 2011 at 4:25 PM ^
KILL IT WITH FIRE!!!
Isn't this the opposite of Positive Branding or whatever DB wants? Why let this get rehashed?!?!?!!
August 25th, 2011 at 4:25 PM ^
Well if anything it will be the most talked about opener of the college football season in a long time.
Not really happy about a 6 month build up to a game against an FCS school again...but hey screw it. Lets go out and hope Shane leads the charge.
August 25th, 2011 at 4:27 PM ^
Uhhh you do realize that Michigan is opening the season against Alabama at Cowboys Stadium next year, right?
August 25th, 2011 at 4:34 PM ^
yes, and this will STILL be more talked about. therein lies the problem.
August 25th, 2011 at 4:49 PM ^
However, lets hope DG is our starter and not Shane.
August 25th, 2011 at 4:38 PM ^
I think he is talking about outside the Mgoblogosphere. From a national perspective, if UM goes into next year unranked then the game basically becomes Penn State vs Bama of this year. Just not much hype going into the game. However, every media outlet and college football fans acroos the nation will take the opportunity to rip on Michigan leading up to the The Revenge of the Horror. I guarantee the week before that game we will see every media outlet come up with their version of "The Biggest Upsets in College Football" and guess what game will be on top. Page Hits, yo. Yea so most talked about.
August 25th, 2011 at 4:31 PM ^
named Devin Gardner! I'm not sure how many more times I am going to be able to read through peoples' posts disregarding his existence before I freak out!
OK, I think that last post qualifies as the freak out breaking point.
August 25th, 2011 at 4:33 PM ^
Let me clarify by saying I am assuming the fact that he doesn't get the Redshirt and therefore it would more than likely be Shane as our starting QB.
August 25th, 2011 at 4:25 PM ^
the only upside is that they might be an FBS school by then...
August 25th, 2011 at 4:25 PM ^
Why is this happening? Michigan could win 100-0 and it wouldn't make up for THE HORROR. Can't we just play Toledo or something...oh, right. Well then how about Eastern?
August 25th, 2011 at 4:53 PM ^
Bring in some other 1-AA team that has had recent success- Delaware, Richmond, Montana, Eastern Washington, Villanova come to mind. Nothing good can come of playing App State again. Even IF Michigan wins and wins big, the App State fans will still be taunting the hell out of Michigan fans because of that huge win. Deservedly so, I might add. But still, this is such a bad idea.
August 25th, 2011 at 8:23 PM ^
If we're going to play an FCS team, we've got to take on App State again. To schedule FCS teams but duck them would be pathetic. You want that school to be 1-0 against us forever?
August 25th, 2011 at 4:26 PM ^
This is dumb. What the hell is Michigan going to gain out of this? Nothing. Just when people were starting to forget about Michigan App. State its gonna come back around again. not a smart move Dave