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ASU better than Big Ten, ACC?

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Fred Goldsmith, head coach at Division II Lenoir-Rhyne, has the unenviable task of playing Appalachian State a week after the two-time defending I-AA champ shocked then-No. 5 Michigan 34-32. "They have great speed. Edwards did the same things to Michigan that Troy Smith (of Ohio State) did last year, and (Smith) won the Heisman Trophy," Goldsmith says. "Appalachian State is better than five or six teams in the Big Ten, and they're better than five or six in the ACC, too."

Detroit Free Press

Appalachian State fans, AP Appalachian State fans, AP
September 7, 2007  06:11 AM ET

Obviously. There are probably more 1-AA than just App St, that are better than the Bottom of the Big Ten, ACC, Big East, and the Pac 10.
Hell look at the points L'ville gave up to Middle Tenn last night.
Even more reason why App St should move up.

September 7, 2007  08:16 AM ET

Come one, ask any Ohio State fan and they will tell you Michagan sucks. If App St played in the Big Ten they would be a bottom feeder like NW or Indiana and every few years break .500.

September 7, 2007  08:31 AM ET

Ask any Ohio State fan what 2+3 is and you will receive a dumb glazed look in return. aao1970 proves the point that Goldsmith is trying to make, ASU would hold its own in the Big Ten. Breaking .500 in the Big Ten would imply they would have to likely be better than 5 or 6 teams in the Big Ten...

September 7, 2007  08:44 AM ET

I can't agree with this. What makes/made App State great is that they are . . . App State. Small school, sports less of a priority, kids are there to play. Put them in the Big10, then they'd face the pressure to win, then make coaching changes, and bring in the wrong kids just because of their size or speed.

Their coach, for example, must be doing something right, he's won two titles after all. He probably can get a lifetime contract if he wants one. Put him in the Big10, suddenly (the perception is) he can't coach anymore because his team goes 4-6 two years in a row and is shown the door.

App State is a big fish in a little pond, lets stop the comparisons so we can all enjoy their victory for what it was: a great team, with great kids, and great coaches, playing the game of their lives just for the fun of it.

September 7, 2007  09:13 AM ET

App State has a good team for a FCS school. But they couldn't make it in the weekly grind of any major confrence. They played a great game against Michigan last week but their just not a D-1 program

September 7, 2007  09:43 AM ET

ASU is good quality football team and they prepare to play a big ten team. I think when a team goes in thinking they are playing a cupcake school and prepare for a cupcake school, then you get what you got last Saturday. A cupcake that bites back. ASU doesn't play big team day in and day out and right now I don't think they could do it for 13+ weeks. But I think if they had more opportunites year after year there is a possibility they could play teams like this day in and day out. and make great victories happen. So next year, when we head to Gainsville, FL, them gators had better took notes last Saturday.

September 7, 2007  09:46 AM ET

I agree that the 2007 version of App. State ''as is'' would falter under BCS conference play but only because they lack the depth compared to the other BCS schools.

I think a few years from now at least 5 players from App. State will be on NFL rosters.

September 7, 2007  09:56 AM ET

Big Case, I think probably see some of boys in the pros sooner than later. We have sent some before. See Dexter Coakley and we have some alumni playing now.

September 7, 2007  10:00 AM ET

Ok..we get it...they are a good football team...rank 'em and shutty!!!!!!

September 7, 2007  11:26 AM ET

Tigator, I like how you left the SEC out of that statement. I'm sure appy state would beat Ole Miss and Miss state worse than they beat Michigan.

September 7, 2007  11:41 AM ET

they would struggle in any other major conference game, its was a one time thing, they couldnt do it everyweek

September 7, 2007  11:44 AM ET

I like Under Dogs.....they beat Michigan, good for them, are they better than five or six in the ACC and the Big 10, maybe. It just depends on when you play them.

September 7, 2007  11:47 AM ET

hey..
i just want to say i'm glad syracuse doesn't play app st.! i KNOW we'd get beat!

tk369

September 7, 2007  11:59 AM ET

App state is obviously a great AA team and i'm thrilled they won but I wouldn't get too carried away and say they could beat 5 teams in the Big 10. They barely won the game.

September 7, 2007  12:20 PM ET

Who knows.

September 7, 2007  12:22 PM ET

Kudos to Appalachian State for a great win. They played a great game and beat a team that might still win 10 games this year - that's a hell of an achievement. However, to say that they could win the Big Ten (in, admittedly, a terrible year for Big Ten schools) is ridiculous. In the 5 years leading up to this year, ASU is 0-5 against Bowl Subdivision schools and has been outscored 173-52 (only one of the teams they played in that span was ranked, mind you). They got beat by Kansas by a score of 36-8. Kansas - a perennial cellar dweller in the Big Twelve.

They should enjoy their win over Michigan - they played a great game. They're a hell of a team and will probably repeat again as Playoff Subdivision champions. But don't get too high on the horse - if you played a full 1A schedule year in and year out, you probably wouldn't have more than 3 wins on any given year. To imply otherwise just makes you look foolish.

September 7, 2007  12:23 PM ET

Well, here's 5 bad Big Ten teams here:

Purdue
Illinois
Indiana
Northwestern
Minnesota

I'd be awfully surprised if ASU couldn't beat all 5 of those pups. Plus the win over my Michigan squad and you have a BOWL ELIGIBLE App State team. Wouldn't that be something?

Every week it is more and more clear that the Big Ten is just extremely weak right now.

September 7, 2007  12:25 PM ET

As for the ACC:

Duke
North Carolina State
North Carolina

I'd love to see a App. State vs. Florida State match-up. Of course, Florida State would never be dumb enough to schedule that contest right now.

September 7, 2007  12:35 PM ET

No doubt.

These hillbillies can play.

 
September 7, 2007  12:43 PM ET

Wow all these judgments based on One big win after the first week of the season? I guess they will go on to beat the likes of Wofford and Northern Arizona going 11-0. Then all of you will say that they are the greatest team ever? Face it, in reality if App. State played Michigan in Boone next week chances are they would probably lose the rematch. I think this is carry over from the awesome but completely unimpressive Boise State win over Oklahoma at the end of last year. I love to see the underdog win as much as the next but give me a break! If App. State and Boise State are so great than don't call them underdogs and see what happens when they play ranked teams on a weekly basis instead of once a year.

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