Just as everyone has forgotten about “the fumble” and the “roughing the quarterback who is selling a fake handoff”, we must talk about it a little more. Whether Jamal Jackson’s pass went forward or backwards can be talked to death, but my original thought was that he had to be down. Regardless, Jackson should have tucked the ball and not allow the officials to be put in the position to make a bad call. It turned out to be the biggest play of the game. The other call, questions every defensive strategy of football since the game was invented. Decades ago, the game of football was primarily a game of running plays, options, and tons of formations with adjectives identifying some type of bone. In those days, the phrase that was used went something like this, “if you think it has the ball, hit it”. Generally, that rule still stands, except in modern day football, where quarterbacks cannot be touched if they do not possess the football, whether you believe it or not. That call was not as painful, but it epitomized the day. For whatever reason, the sun was shining on the Terriers last weekend. The elimination game that it was, has basically taken away all hope the Mountaineers had of winning a conference championship in 2012. At best, Appalachian will share the trophy, most likely with two other teams, one that it beat, one that it did not. Next up: the Catamounts. From the looks of it, this is the same ole sorry Catamounts, except half of their coaching staff had different addresses last year at this time. Will the Mountaineers accept the challenge and kick Western while they are still down, or will Appalachian give up and call it a season?

Continue reading at http://www.bigctailgate.com

N.P.

Terrific write up BigC. We've been on the receiving end of some big breaks but the stars aligned for Wofford last week. But that fumble call was horrifically bad....

Can't look past WCU no matter how bad they are, we can only win one at a time anyway. I like your playoff analysis. I would love to see Woof again this season.

Thanks BigC.

Just hoping we have woken up a little.

App - 45
WCU - 24

Still not seen a leader step up to the plate from the more experienced team members, coupled with the fact we have a lot of youth the possibility of an upset could occur. Looking past west carolina to the gnats would be a big mistake. However, in the end I believe App will get er' done:

Apps 38

ccc 24

Another good write-up Big C. Look forward to these every week. I also like your perspective on the Lady Apps Black and Gold game. I got a lot more out of your piece than I did the one on GoASU.

ASU 41
WC 17

ASU - 60

WCU - 35

Another great job BigC! Angry Mountaineers- 38 Cats with no more lives- 21

Mountain Men - 48

Kitty Kats - 24

Mad 'Jug Hogging' Mountaineers - 52

Cant amounts - 28

Thanks BigC. See you all in Whee.

Keepers of the Jug - 56
Whee Suck - 14

MEN WITH LONG GUNS - 42 the terrors of division 2 - 10

35-14 good guys

With Western being the worst team in the conference and our guys coming off of a disappointing loss, I think we are going to take it out on the Catamounts.

ASU 49
West 21

App 49
WCU 13

APP - 40

WCU- 28

Should move to the FBS: 48
Should move to D-2: 21

Here's a message from Benedict Arnold.

.....and that's another Mountaineer FIRST DOWN!!!


Too soon?

I am going a different route. I think this is a game that the Catamount coaches have been waiting and planning for all year. This could be a notch in their belt and something to build on for next year. Bobby Bouche and Coach Kline pull out all the stops, but it won't quite be enough. It will still be too close for comfort.

Jerry Moores Longrifles 28

Purple 24