CSJ Classic: The Miracle On The Mountain
By David Coulson
Executive Editor
College Sports Journal
Editor's Note: On Saturday, Appalachian State and Furman resume one of the most competitive rivalries in the Football Championship Subdivision, with ASU attempting to win a share of the Southern Conference title and the league's automatic bid to the playoffs at Kidd Brewer Stadium. In a series filled with wacky finishes, the game from 10 years ago on Oct. 12, 2002 provided one of the wildest endings in college football history.
BOONE, N.C — Cornerback Derrick Black had already established himself as Appalachian State's resident miracle worker and All-American defensive end Josh Jeffries has saved the Mountaineers many times with big plays.
But nothing either of the them has done could compare to their game-winning effort as No. 4 ASU stunned No. 5 Furman 16-15 on arguably one of the most bizarre finishes in college football history before a crowd of 14,311 fans at Kidd Brewer Stadium and a regional television audience.
Just call it the Miracle on the Mountain.
CSJ Classic: SoCon Mismatch Becomes VMI's Ultimate Upset
By David Coulson
Executive Editor/Managing Partner
College Sports Journal
Editor's Note: This is the latest offering in the CSJ Classic series. In this edition, we look back on the greatest football upset in Southern Conference history.
On Nov. 19, 1994, coach Bill Stewart brought an 0-10 team into Kidd Brewer Stadium to face an Appalachian State squad that was just four weeks removed from beating top-ranked Marshall, 24-14, in a nationally-televised game.
ASU went on to beat New Hampshire, 17-10 in overtime, a week later in the playoffs, before losing a narrow 17-14 decision at national runner-up Boise State in the I-AA quarterfinals.
All the Mountaineers needed was a win over winless VMI to secure an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Football playoffs, but Stewart and the Keydets had other things in mind as he tried to win his first college game as a head coach.
The emotional coach had tears streaming down his face in the visiting locker room when this reporter spoke to him after the game.
Stewart passed away May 22, 2012 of an apparent heart attack at the age of 59. The story below appeared in the Nov. 20, 1994 editions of the Charlotte Observer and serves as a remembrance of a great coach, who was an even better person.
Read more: CSJ Classic: SoCon Mismatch Becomes VMI's Ultimate Upset
CSJ Classic: DeBerry Had Major Influence On FCS
By David Coulson
Executive Editor/Managing Partner
College Sporting News
Editor's Note: College Sports Journal is celebrating the release earlier this month of the ballot for the College Football Hall of Fame by offering several past articles in its CSJ Classic series. This article originally ran in the College Sporting News on May 18, 2011 and highlights the coaching career of former Wofford player and coach and Appalachian State assistant Fisher DeBerry on his election to the College Football Hall of Fame. It points out that DeBerry should be remembered for his impact on FCS, in addition to his work at Air Force.
PHILADELPHIA, PA. — It is easy to overlook history when you are focusing on the here and now and when the subject is football, it becomes even more commonplace for fans to forget how the past has effected the present and will impact the future.
I thought about such things when I learned on Tuesday that retired coach Fisher DeBerry had been elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.
CSJ Classic: Hall of Fame Misfires On FCS Players
By David Coulson
Executive Editor
College Sports Journal
Editor's Note: College Sports Journal is celebrating the release earlier this month of the ballot for the College Football Hall of Fame by offering several past articles in its CSJ Classic series. This piece was originally published on May 14, 2009 and chastised the National Football Foundation for failing to elect a Football Championship Subdivision player to the 2009 College Football Hall of Fame class. This piece created enough of a stir that FCS players were represented by the 2010 and 2011 Hall of Fame classes.
PHILADELPHIA, PA. — On the weekend of July 18-19, 24 players and coaches will walk through the doors of the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, IN, as the latest class of inductees.
Among those being honored will be former Heisman Trophy winners Tim Brown and Gino Torretta and a pair of Lombardi Award winners, Chris Spielman and Grant Wistrom, in a star-studded class.
From the coaching fraternity, USC's John Robinson and former Massachusetts and Syracuse legend Dick MacPherson will be inducted. Joining them will be ex- Marshall and Georgia coach Jim Donnan, who led the Thundering Herd to the 1992 national championship and built that program into one of the best in history.
From the small school ranks, Fred Dean, Sam Mills and Roger Brown - all significant NFL performers - were selected as inductees.
Read more: CSJ Classic: Hall of Fame Misfires On FCS Players
More Articles...
- CSJ Classic: Looking At The 2011 College Football Hall Of Fame Ballot
- CSJ Classic: Dexter Coakley Brings FCS Legacy to the College Football Hall Of Fame
- CSN Classic: NCAA Misses The Whole Aircraft Carrier on North Dakota Nickname Issue
- 2001: Montana Shuts Down Furman For NCAA Title Win
- 2002: Western Kentucky Tops McNeese State For NCAA Championship
- 2003: Delaware Crushes Colgate, 40-0, In Title Game
- 2004: JMU Grinds Out Championship Win Against Montana
- 2005: Hunter's Fumble Recovery, TD Lifts Appalachian State Over UNI
- 2006: Richardson, Appalachian State Run Past UMass For Title
