It may sound lunatic, but if ever there was a "ok loss," it could be said that Appalachian State's failure to conquer East Carolina University was just that. But, I think you really needed to be there to understand.
There was much excitement about reviving this in-state football rivalry. East Carolina is a respectable FBS team while Appalachian State is a highly regarded in the FCS division. I'm not sure the point spread the bookies were allowing this game, but it was generally recognized App was the lesser team in this meet-up, but nobody but a fool would dare count App out, except unless if star Quarterback Armanti Edwards did not play.
Then Armanti went and mowed his lawn and foot about a month ago...
He's fine, but he did not play in yesterday's game leaving a huge question mark dangling in the air over the App Nation. Who could fill AE's void?
No pressure, but we were all more than a wee bit curious and angsty.
Anyway, so 6,000 Appalachian fans and me filled a teeny tiny corner of the huge stadium covered up with zillions of purple Pirate fans screaming "Marco Polo." (I still don't understand the point of that cheer)
I ain't gonna lie. The first half of the game was horrible, painful to watch, and left me a little queasy. We had put up 7 points on the board to ECU's 24.
During halftime, I hydrated for what I assumed was going to be a very long ass whooping.
I shouldn't have given up on the team so soon.
Our defense held the Pirate's line.
And, at the end of the 3rd quarter our 3rd string QB Travaris Cadet scrambled into the game, thus answering our BIG question referred to earlier in this post. When the kid spotted holes, he ran. When he saw an open man, he passed.
We love Travaris. He belongs to us.
But the magic moment for me was seeing Jacques Roman man handle a Pirate then jump to his feet and ask the fans for their support. (photo above) For many minutes, the 6,000 ASU fans in the stadium overpowered the vocal majority. The troops were rallied.
An electricity of hope filled the air, a feeling Mountaineers have come to know. It's when the impossible seems quite do able. It's when the name "Appalachian State" transforms itself from a proper noun to an action-packed verb.
Alas, despite the late rally, it wasn't meant to be. We came up short with the final score of 29-24, but I sure am glad I was there if for nothing else, to remember to never ever give up on our mighty Mountaineers.
And as usual, I posted a small photo album on my sidebar.
Game day stories written by professional sports writers may be found here, here and here.
