ASU Bowl Guide

2015 CAMELLIA BOWL

BOWL GUIDE

APPALACHIAN STATE vs. OHIO UNIVERSITY Go ASU! 2015 JEEP WRANGLER

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WATAUGA DEMOCRAT

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2015

RONALD BLAIR

UNQUESTIONED LEADER

BY STEVE BEHR sports@wataugademocrat.com

BOONE – There was a time when Appalachian State defensive end Ronald Blair was just an incoming freshman on the Mountaineers’ football team.

Five years later, Blair will be playing in his final game as a Mountaineer on Dec. 19 when Appalachian State plays Ohio University in the Camellia Bowl.

It is not Blair’s first trip into the postseason. He also played in the Mountaineers’ two final FCS playoff games, a loss to Maine in 2011 and a 38-37 loss to Illinois State in 2012.

“It was eye-opening,” Blair said of his freshman season. “I remember coming into camp and I had this big guy in front of me, a guy name Gordy Whitt. He was like 6-foot-6, 315 (pounds). I was, like yeah, let me get ready to redshirt.”

Those plans got put on hold. Blair was named the starter at defensive end by the Mountaineers’ first game, which was at Virginia Tech. Former defensive line coach Jason Blaylock liked how hard Blair worked at practice and told the freshman from Greensboro, Ga., that he was starting against the traditional ACC power.

Things did not start out so well for Blair.

“The first play of the game was my fault. I caused a touchdown,” Blair said. “I was supposed to be outside and David Wilson — everybody knows who David Wilson is supposed to be, a great running back who was with the (New York) Giants for a while. I saw the fullback go inside and I chased the fullback and out goes David Wilson for a touchdown.”

PHOTOS BY ROB MOORE

Ronald Blair gets a pick-six against Troy on Oct. 31. Blair is the top rated defensive player in the Sun Belt Conference, having been named the Sun Belt’s Defensive Student-Athlete of the Year.

Things have improved since then. He started to improve and got used to the speed of college football as his freshman season went on.

Four years later, Blair (63, 277 pounds) is one of the unquestioned leaders of an Appalachian State defense that allows just 18.2 points per game and has been the top rated defense in the Sun Belt Conference all season.

Individually, Blair is the top-rated defensive player in the Sun Belt Conference, having been named the Sun Belt’s Defensive Student-Athlete of the Year. It was the second time Blair was named all-Sun Belt Conference, and the fourth time he was named to an all-league team.

In 2012, Blair was named to the all-Southern Conference defensive team.

“The last one we had here was Jeremy Kimbrough and I look up to him,” Blair said. “He really helped me grow as a player here and it’s a tremendous honor to be put in the same light.

We have so many great, physical guys in the Sun Belt and to be considered to be the best out of all of them, it’s ridiculous to think about.”

He is just one of two seniors — Doug Middleton is the other — in the defensive starting lineup. So when Blair speaks, others listen.

He is just selective when he speaks and the volume he uses.

“I try to lead by example,” Blair said. “I’m not

going to always be the guy who is going to say something.

“I feel like if something needs to be said, then I’ll say it. A lot of people follow a leader who says what needs to be said, as opposed to every time something goes on he says something. I try to lead by example first and then if something needs to be said, say it.”

When he does speak, not only does he have something to say, but he’s not the type who will grab a teammate’s facemask and chew him out in front of the team. Blair can make his point without having to raise his voice louder than usual.

“I’m usually like, ‘C’mon man, let’s get it together,

yada, yada, yada,’” Blair said. “You’re not going to see me jump down anybody’s throat. It’s all about keeping everybody’s morale up. Nobody’s going to play hard for you if your morale is low. If they don’t trust you, then they’re not going to play hard for you. So, I’m more about brotherhood and I know if somebody’s jumping down my throat when I walk and I’m not walking normal, then I’m not going to want to play with him.”

Blair’s actions speak volumes. He finished the season with 8.5 sacks and 67 tackles. He lines up on the “field” side of the field along the defensive line, the side that is the wide side of the field, no matter what side it is.

Blair isn’t limited to lining up at defensive end. He also will occasionally line up at nose tackle.

Appalachian State defensive line coach Mark Ivey said a combination of talent, work ethic and preparation makes Blair a difficult player to block, no matter where he lines up.

“The greatest thing about Ronald is that obviously he’s a talented player,” Ivey said. “The reason why he is able to take all that talent, and he is unbelievably talented, but he takes that talent and he uses all of his leadership ability — he takes time to study each opponent. He makes sacrifices from his own time to make sure he has studied each opponent.”

Blair’s work ethic is what got him into the starting lineup in the first place against Virginia Tech.

Defensive line coach Jason Blaylock liked how hard Blair worked and put him in the starting lineup.

Only a thumb injury suffered in 2013 was able to knock him out. He took a medical redshirt, which allows him to be eligible for a fifth season.

Blair also said he’s been helped by having Blaylock, current linebacker coach Dale Jones and Ivey as coaches who have helped him broaden his perspective of playing defensive end.

“Going through that spectrum of having three different coaches and three personalities has helped me grow as a player,” Blair said. “I wouldn’t be the guy I was if it wasn’t for those three different personalities to teach me how to play.”

Blair is grateful to have a chance at a final postseason game after a two-year absence. Appalachian SEE LEADER ON PAGE 3

ASU BOWL GUIDE

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2015

PHOTO BY ROB MOORE

Pressure was what the Mountaineer defense dialed up every game and Blair was consistent in providing that threat for opposing quarterbacks. This pressure is from the Idaho game in 2014 against quarterback Matt Linehan.

LEADER CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

State has not played in the postseason since its loss to Illinois State for a variety of reasons that are tied into the Mountaineers’ transition from the FCS to the FBS. App State played in the Southern Conference in 2013, but finished 4-8, and because of the need to add scholarships for the move to the FBS, was ineligible for the FCS playoffs.

Last season, Appalachian

State finished 7-5, but was in the second year of transition and was ineligible for the bowl season per NCAA rules.

After two long years, Blair is prepared to play on Dec. 19 against Ohio.

“It’s a tremendous honor to play in a bowl like the Camellia Bowl,” Blair said, “and to play a great team like Ohio, which has been playing in what is their fifth or sixth straight bowl.

We’re trying to get to that level and win our first one.

We’re thankful for this opportunity.”

Blair would also like the opportunity to play in the NFL once his college career is finished. He has heard some talk about his chances in the NFL, but first things first for Blair — getting a win over Ohio in the Camellia Bowl.

“I’ve been thinking about it a little bit, but right now, my main focus is on Ohio,” Blair said. “After Ohio, I can think about it all I want to and, hopefully, make that dream come true. For right now, we’re really focused on Ohio and stopping their very good offense.”

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PHOTOS BY ROB MOORE

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ASU BOWL GUIDE

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2015

WATAUGA DEMOCRAT

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TAE HAYES

IN THE ROTATION

BY STEVE BEHR sports@wataugademocrat.com

BOONE — Playing in the Camellia Bowl is almost the perfect ending of a season for Tae Hayes.

The Appalachian State cornerback is the only true freshman starter for a Mountaineers team that finished the season with a 10-2 overall record, 7-1 in the Sun Belt Conference. He has moved into the starting lineup during the final three games of the Mountaineers’ season, and is in a cornerback rotation of himself, Mondo

Williams and Latrell Gibbs.

Hayes also has a chance to end his freshman year with a victory in the Camellia Bowl, in his home state of Alabama.

Hayes is from Decatur, Ala., which is located near the Tennessee state line north of Montgomery, Ala., the site of the Camellia Bowl. It’s a chance for him to not only play against Ohio University in front of a nationally televised audience on ESPN, but to also play live in front of his family.

“It’s pretty exciting to play it there,” Hayes said. “A bunch of my family is there and they were asking how they could get

tickets, so I’ll be happy to play in front of them again. My high school coaches will come, so that will be pretty good.”

He said there may be up to 40 friends and family members making the trip to Montgomery to watch him play.

“Hopefully 40,” he said. “That would be good to see all my family and everybody to come see me play.”

Hayes was a second-team all-state and second-team all-Tennessee Valley player his senior year, but still flew under the radar when it came to recruiting. He was a standout multipurpose player at Decatur

High School, and led the Red Raiders to the 6A state semifinals in 2014, his senior season at the school.

Defensively, he finished with 60 tackles and three interceptions at Decatur. Offensively, he gained more than 300 yards as a receiver and kick returner during his senior season.

Defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator Scott Sloan said Hayes caught the Mountaineers’ attention after he was named to play in the Alabama-Mississippi all-star game. Appalachian State was one SEE HAYES ON PAGE 6

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WATAUGA DEMOCRAT

ASU BOWL GUIDE

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2015

MATCHUP AT A GLANCE APPALACHIAN STATE 10-2 (7-1 Sun Belt)

OHIO UNIVERSITY 8-4 (5-3 Mid-American)

10-2, 7-1 (Sun Belt) ................................................................................................................................Record ...........................................................................................................................8-4, 5-3 (Mid-American) Boone, N.C. ............................................................................................................................................Location ............................................................................................................................................Athens, Ohio 1899 ......................................................................................................................................................Founded .......................................................................................................................................................1804 18,026 .................................................................................................................................................Enrollment ..................................................................................................................................................38,857 Mountaineers.........................................................................................................................................Nickname.................................................................................................................................................. Bobcats Black and gold ..........................................................................................................................................Colors............................................................................................................................. Hunter green and white Sun Belt............................................................................................................................................... Conference........................................................................................................................................ Mid-American Kidd Brewer (23,150) ....................................................................................................................Stadium (Capacity)..............................................................................................................................Peden (24,000) Scott Satterfield ................................................................................................................................... Head coach ......................................................................................................................................... Frank Solich 18-14 (Third season) ........................................................................................................... Head coach’s record at school .............................................................................................................80-60 (11th season) Same..................................................................................................................................... Head coach’s overall record .............................................................................................................138-79 (17th season) None .............................................................................................................................................. National ranking................................................................................................................................................None Multiple spread .................................................................................................................................. Basic offense....................................................................................................................................Multiple spread 37.2 (1st/19th) ......................................................................................................Points per game (Conference/National rank) ......................................................................................................27.4 (5th/75th) 268.8 (2nd/(6th) ........................................................................................... Rushing yards per game (Conference/National rank) .............................................................................................187.0 (5rd/45th) 201.8 (8th/89th) ........................................................................................... Passing yards per game (Conference/National rank) .............................................................................................237.8 (7th/50th) 470.7 (1st/26rd) ...............................................................................................Total yards per game (Conference/National rank) ...............................................................................................424.8 (5th/47rd) 3-4.................................................................................................................................................... Basic defense .................................................................................................................................................... 4-3 18.3 (1st/13th) .............................................................................................. Points allowed per game (Conference/National rank)...............................................................................................24.8 (4th/51th) 133.6 2nd/28th) ......................................................................................Rushing yards allowed per game (Conference/National rank)......................................................................................157.0 (5th/54th) 184.4 (1st/17th) ......................................................................................Passing yards allowed per game (Conference/National rank) ......................................................................................216.6 (4th/54th) 318 (1st/12th) ........................................................................................... Total yards allowed per game (Conference/National rank) ........................................................................................373.6 (4th/49th) D. South Alabama 34-27 (Dec. 5).......................................................................................................... Last game .......................................................................................................D. Northern Illinois 26-21 (Nov. 24)

HAYES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

of the few Division I programs recruiting Hayes despite the fact he was rated a twostar recruit.

“He didn’t have a lot of offers,” Sloan said. “He wasn’t one of those guys with 14 offers. The thing that put the icing on the cake was he was invited to the Mississippi-Alabama all-star game, which is a huge deal. Then once he got down there, he was elected captain, so that spoke volumes for his person, his leadership and his work habits. We were glad to hang on to him until the very end.”

Sloan felt that Hayes’ athleticism would be a good fit at Appalachian State. Sloan liked how Hayes moved, not only on defense, but also how he moved when running the football.

“He’s a quick twitch — he’s a sudden reactor on the field,” Sloan said. “We had a lot of offensive clips, as well as defensive clips, and really watching him running the ball and his footwork and his hips and how fluid he was changing directions with the ball in his hands really was the thing that kind of jumped out at us.”

Hayes is aware that he plays for a defense that is young, but also experienced.

The Mountaineers start two seniors — defensive end Ronald Blair and safety Doug Middleton — but also returned 10 starters from the 2014 season.

Those starters laid the foundation for a defense that allows just 18.7 points per game this season. Appalachian State’s defense was either first or second in the Sun Belt in several categories, including rushing defense, scoring defense and overall defense.

There are several players who are just one or two years older than Hayes, but they have also let Hayes know that football can be fun, and that winning games is serious business, especially on the road.

Hayes has learned a lot from the older players, but also realizes he doesn’t know everything.

“I feel like I’ve grown up a lot, but I feel that I’m the kid,” Hayes said. “You can tell that they are not playing around. At away games, it’s strictly business. Nobody’s hanging out having fun. I want to go and hang out with other people and they are

PHOTOS BY ROB MOORE

Once Tae Hayes was in the cornerback rotation he started making an impact on defense. In this photo he gets a tackle on Troy wide receiver Teddy Ruben, along with fellow teammate Devon Stringer. like, ‘No, go to your room. Just go to sleep.’

So, that’s pretty cool.”

Hayes came to Appalachian State after the Mountaineers had finished 7-5 during the 2014 season. App State started the season with a 1-5 mark, which included a 55-48 overtime home loss to FCS Liberty, but then won their next six games — all Sun Belt matchups, and finished third in the conference with a 6-2 record.

Still, the team’s success in 2015 is a surprise to Hayes. He got a wakeup call as to how winning was expected at App State when he saw the reaction of his teammates to the 41-10 loss at Clemson. The Mountaineers trailed the current No. 1-ranked

Tigers 3-0 after the first quarter, but gave up 28 points in the second quarter and could not keep up.

“I honestly didn’t know we were going to be this good this year,” Hayes said. “I realized how serious this team was after the Clemson game. Even after we got beat pretty bad, the next week, they were like, ‘Let’s go. Let’s get ready for practice.’ Every week, we’ve gotten better and better and the coaches have gotten better and better.

You realize how serious this team is.”

Hayes gave credit to several seniors, including defensive end Ronald Blair and receiver Simms McElfresh for showing him the ropes and for showing him how things

are done at Appalachian State.

“I’ve learned so much from guys like Ronald Blair and Simms McElfresh,” he said. “Guys like that work hard every day and you learn a lot. I’m sure I can use a bunch of stuff from them and when I’m a senior, hopefully, will be talking about me the same way I’m talking about these guys.”

There is business to tend to first. Hayes now has to face another road game, even if he is at home. He’s learned how to approach this business trip, but he still is looking forward to his homecoming.

“It’s pretty cool,” he said. “To be able to play in Alabama is pretty cool.”

ASU BOWL GUIDE

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2015

WATAUGA DEMOCRAT

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MATCHUP AT A GLANCE Passingleaders Receivingleaders Rushingleaders APPALACHIAN STATE PLAYER COMP ATT INT Taylor Lamb 157 257 8 J.P. Caruso 8 12 0 Team totals 167 271 8 Opp. totals 208 345 16 OHIO UNIVERSITY Derrius Vick 158 248 J.D. Sprague 50 88 Team totals 226 376 Opp. totals 238 398

6 1 11 11

PCT. 61.1 66.7 61.6 60.1

63.7 56.8 60.1 59.8

YDS 2,263 109 2,236 2,213

1,809 789 2,859 2,599

TDS 29 2 31 10

Avg. Game 188.6 21.8 201.8 184.4

10 7 18 15

APPALACHIAN STATE PLAYER NO. YDS Simms McElfresh 33 424 Malachi Jones 23 433 Shaedon Meadors 21 439 Team totals 167 2,422 Opp. totals 208 2,213

AVG 12.8 18.8 20.9 14.5 10.6

TDS 6 3 3 31 10

OHIO UNIVERSITY Sebastian Smith 61 752 Jordan Reid 45 616 Brendan Cope 28 464 Team totals 225 2,859 Opp. totals 238 2,599

12.3 13.7 16.6 12.7 10.9

7 5 2 18 15

Mid-American Conference standings East Division Bowling Green Akron Ohio Buffalo Kent State Miami UMass

Conf 7-1 5-3 5-3 3-5 2-6 2-6 2-6

Overall 10-3 7-5 8-4 5-7 3-9 3-9 3-9

West Division Northern Illinois Western Michigan Toledo Central Michigan Ball State Eastern Michigan

Conf 6-2 6-2 6-2 6-2 2-6 0-8

Overall 8-4 7-5 9-2 7-5 3-9 1-11

Dec. 19

Raycom Media Camellia Bowl: Appalachian State vs. Ohio University, 5:30 p.m.

Avg. Game 38.5 36.1 39.9 201.5 184.4

APPALACHIAN STATE PLAYER ATT Marcus Cox 219 Jalin Moore 86 Terrance Upshaw 79 Team totals 556 Opp. totals 461

YARDS 1,261 635 434 3,226 1,603

AVG. 5.8 7.4 5.5 5.8 3.5

TD 8 5 3 23 14

OHIO UNIVERSITY A.J. Ouellette 137 Daz’mond Patterson 102 Dorian Brown 40 Team totals 511 Opp. totals 389

642 497 204 2,245 1,884

4.7 4.9 5.1 4.4 4.8

5 9 0 21 19

Avg. Game 114.6 52.9 43.4 268.8 133.6

Sun Belt Conference standings Conf Arkansas State 8-0 Appalachian State 7-1 Georgia Southern 6-2 Georgia State 5-3 South Alabama 3-5 Idaho 3-5 Troy 3-5 UL Lafayette 3-5 New Mexico State 3-5 Texas State 2-6 UL Monroe 1-7

Overall 9-3 10-2 8-4 6-6 5-7 4-8 4-8 4-8 3-9 3-9 2-11

Dec. 19

Camellia Bowl: Appalachian State vs. Ohio University, 5:30 p.m.

AutoNation Cure Bowl: Georgia State vs. San Jose State, 7 p.m.

New Orleans Bowl: Arkansas State vs. Louisiana Tech, 9 p.m.

Dec. 23

GoDaddy.com Bowl: Georgia Southern vs. Bowling Green, 8 p.m.

Dec. 22

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Akron vs. Utah State, 3:30 p.m.

Marmot Boca Raton Bowl: (24) Temple vs. Toledo, 7 p.m.

Way to go ASU! We're so proud of you!

Dec. 23

S.D. County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl: Boise State vs. Northern Illinois, 4 p.m.

GoDaddy.com Bowl: Georgia Southern vs. Bowling Green, 8 p.m.

Dec. 24

Middle Tennessee vs. Western Michigan, noon

Dec. 23

GoDaddy.com Bowl: Georgia Southern vs. Bowling Green, 8 p.m.

®

PHOTO BY ROB MOORE

Appalachian State’s ‘Band of Distinction’ will make the trip to the Camellia Bowl and participate in the Christmas parade Dec. 18.

2082 Blowing Rock Rd • Boone, NC 28607 828-264-4660 • www.cfarestaurant.com/boone/home

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WATAUGA DEMOCRAT

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2015

APPALACHIAN STATE 2015 ROSTER NO. 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 6 7 8 9 10 10 11 11 12 12 13 14 15 16 16 17 17 18 18 19 20 20 21 22 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 33 34 35 36 37 40 41 42 43 44 45 46

NAME LEWIS, IKE SPEIR, ZEB GRAY, ALEX HOPKINS, DELTRON BARBOUR, JAYLAN WILLIAMS, MONDO ARMSTRONG, MYKELTI GIBBS, LATRELL GILCHRIST, KENNAN MEADORS, SHAEDON JONES, MALACHI BOYD, JOSH EXFORD, AUSTIN CARUSO, J.P. HOWARD, A.J. LAMB, TAYLOR STRINGER, DEVAN DAVID, DANIEL FORD, JORDAN JONES, DANTE COX, MARCUS ADAMS, MOCK EASTER, JAKE GARNETT, TREYON FITCH, CURTIS HAYES, TAE ABSHER, BRAD PINCKNEY, BRANDON CATHEY, NIKIA UPSHAW, TERRENCE WILSON, JUSTIN MIDDLETON, DOUG ANDERSON, DUSTIN DAVIS, AKEEM MOORE, JALIN THOMAS, JOSH SIGALO, JUNIOR FERGERSON, RICKY KRAH, AARON SOMBO, OSVALDO TOWNES, RASHAAD DAVIDSON, ERIC FRANKLIN, DESMOND THOMAS, TORONTO DADA, OLAWALE FULLER, TEH’RON NORWOOD, NATE RUBINO, MICHAEL SIMS, ANTONIOUS WARD, D.J. HARKNESS, ALANMICHEAL BOGGS, ERIC CECIL, BILL

POS WR QB DB WR WR DB WR DB OLB WR WR RB DB QB DB QB OLB QB DB WR RB WR QB DB QB DB WR DB RB RB DB DB OLB OLB RB DB DB RB DB OLB OLB RB DB ILB DL ILB DL PK DL ILB DL ILB TE

HT. 5-10 6-2 6-3 5-8 5-10 5-11 6-2 5-10 6-2 6-2 6-2 5-10 6-2 6-1 5-11 6-2 5-11 6-1 6-2 5-11 5-10 6-4 6-2 6-1 6-0 5-11 5-10 6-0 5-9 5-10 5-10 6-0 5-10 6-2 5-11 6-0 6-0 5-8 5-11 6-2 6-2 5-10 6-2 6-0 6-0 6-2 6-2 6-3 6-3 5-11 6-3 6-3 6-0

WT. 175 190 210 160 180 175 195 170 210 180 215 180 195 210 190 200 200 192 200 185 200 187 186 195 195 175 170 185 175 210 180 210 200 200 200 205 185 170 185 240 220 195 190 235 235 225 240 205 250 245 260 235 210

YR. SO. FR. JR. FR. FR. JR. FR. SO. JR. SO. SR. FR. FR. FR. SO. SO. SO. FR. JR. SO. JR. FR. FR. SO. FR. FR. FR. SO. FR. SO. FR. SR. JR. FR. FR. FR. FR. SR. SR. SR. JR. SR. FR. JR. JR. FR. JR. FR. JR. SR. FR. SO. SO.

HOMETOWN SIMPSONVILLE, S.C. (HILLCREST) SYLVA, N.C. (SMOKEY MOUNTAIN) SUWANEE, GA. (PEACHTREE RIDGE) MIAMI, FLA. (BOOKER T. WASHINGTON) MONROE, N.C. (MONROE) IOWA CITY, IOWA (IOWA WESTERN J.C.) GASTONIA, N.C. (FORESTVIEW) KENNESAW, GA. (NORTH COBB) ABBEVILLE, S.C. (ABBEVILLE) DUNCAN, S.C. (BYRNES) ROSWELL, GA. (CENTRAL GWINNETT) NORCROSS, GA. (NORCROSS) SNELLVILLE, GA. (SHILOH) PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLA. (PALM BEACH GARDENS) HAMILTON, GA. (HARRIS COUNTY) CALHOUN, GA. (CALHOUN) GAINESVILLE, GA. (GAINESVILLE) HOSCHTON, GA. (MILL CREEK) CALHOUN FALLS, S.C. (MONROE COLLEGE) RALEIGH, N.C. (SOUTHEAST RALEIGH) DACULA, GA. (DACULA) GREENWOOD, S.C. (GREENWOOD) PFAFFTOWN, N.C. (REAGAN) MIAMI, FLA. (MIAMI BEACH) LUTZ, FLA. (STEINBRENNER) DECATUR, ALA. (DECATUR) TROY, N.C. (WEST MONTGOMERY) SPARTANBURG, S.C. (DORMAN) MEMPHIS, TENN. (WESTWOOD) DULUTH, GA. (NORTHVIEW) ELON, N.C. (WESTERN ALAMANCE) WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (PARKLAND) HIDDENITE, N.C. (ALEXANDER CENTRAL) THOMASVILLE, N.C. (THOMASVILLE) SHELBY, N.C. (CREST) MONTGOMERY, ALA. (MONTGOMERY ACADEMY) LITHONIA, GA. (ARABIA MOUNTAIN) FUQUAY-VARINA, N.C. (FUQUAY-VARINA) DURHAM, N.C. (HILLSIDE) MATTHEWS, N.C. (BAKERSFIELD COLLEGE) (BUTLER) MACON, GA. (HOWARD) GREENSBORO, N.C. (UTAH) (WESTERN GUILFORD) INVERNESS, FLA. (CITRUS) ELLENWOOD, GA. COLUMBUS, GA. (SHAW) FORT MYERS, FLA. (SOUTH FORT MYERS) HAMPTON, GA. (LOVEJOY) APEX, N.C. (MIDDLE CREEK) COVINGTON, GA. (GEORGIA MILITARY COLLEGE) ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. (VIRGINIA TECH) LITHONIA, GA. (MARTIN LUTHER KING) BELTON, S.C. (BELTON-HONEA PATH) ASHEVILLE, N.C. (T.C. ROBERSON)

NO. 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 53 54 55 56 56 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 66 67 68 70 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 88 89 90 91 91 92 93 93 94 95 96 97 99

NAME GODWIN, OKON REED, DEZMIN BLAIR, RONALD NUNN, BEAU FULLER, CALEB EDGE-CAMPBELL, TOBIAS DUNLEVY, MICHAEL MCKINNEY, CODY SMALL, DARIAN DAVIS, EDWARD BRONSON, THOMAS HENDRIX, CALEB FLORY, ANTHONY MATICS, ZACH CHAPMAN, JESSE NESVISKY, AIDAN CLINE, HUNTER FILBEY, JOSH ALEXANDER, BO COLLMAR, JAMIE COUNTS, SHAQ BARRETT, BRODY GOSSETT, COLBY FERNANDEZ, TYSON HARRIS, DAVANTE JOHNSON, VICTOR COLLINS, PARKER MALONE, MADISON TAYLOR, ALEX GREER, CHANDLER NUNN, HUNTER BEATHARD, BOBO LETMAN, ZY MCELFRESH, SIMMS MCGUIRE, MONTEZ BURNS, BARRETT DUFFIELD, LEVI REED, COLLIN CAPEL, JAQUIL LAW, JOHN MOLL, MICHAEL SINGLETON, TASHION CRITCHER, BENTLEE KEENEY, TREY STOUT, MYQUON MCMURRY, ELIAS WILSON, MORGAN SLATE, DEVIN PAPENHEIM, DEVIN EDWARDS, ISAAC FAVOROSO, CHRIS BURNS, STEPHEN

POS OLB OLB DL OL ILB OL OL ILB DL ILB DL LS ILB P/PK OL OL OL OL OL DL OL DL OL DL OL OL OL OL OL OL TE WR WR WR WR TE TE TE WR ILB TE DL P/PK TE DL LS DL LS DL LS DL DL

HT. 6-2 6-2 6-4 6-4 6-0 6-2 6-0 5-10 6-2 6-0 6-3 6-0 6-2 6-2 6-1 6-4 6-1 6-1 6-5 6-2 6-2 6-3 6-6 6-2 6-6 6-5 6-3 6-5 6-9 6-5 6-3 5-10 6-3 5-10 6-1 6-4 6-2 6-3 5-11 6-0 6-1 6-3 6-1 6-2 6-1 6-1 6-4 6-2 6-6 6-1 6-3 6-2

WT. 240 230 270 305 240 300 270 215 315 224 265 210 225 195 275 260 280 235 285 295 295 305 315 320 290 260 280 275 294 280 225 190 195 180 225 245 205 235 190 230 210 260 190 225 285 235 250 260 225 240 240 270

YR. FR. JR. SR. SO. SO. FR. FR. JR. JR. FR. SR. FR. FR. SR. SR. FR. FR. FR. FR. JR. SR. FR. SO. JR. SR. FR. JR. FR. FR. FR. SO. SR. JR. SR. SR. JR. SO. FR. JR. JR. JR. JR. JR. FR. FR. FR. FR. SR. FR. SR. FR. SR.

HOMETOWN COVINGTON, GA. (ALCOVY) ATLANTA, GA. (GEORGIA MILITARY COLLEGE) GREENSBORO, GA. (GREENE COUNTY) YORK, S.C. (YORK COMPREHENSIVE) WILMINGTON, N.C. (NEW HANOVER) RAEFORD, N.C. (HOKE COUNTY) CHARLOTTE, N.C. (ROCKY RIVER) VILAS, N.C. (WATAUGA) HAMPTON, GA. (DUTCHTOWN) FARMVILLE, N.C. (FARMVILLE CENTRAL) BROOKSVILLE, FLA. (HERNANDO) SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. (PINECREST) FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (AMERICAN HERITAGE) JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (SOUTHWEST-ONSLOW) COOKEVILLE, TENN. (COOKEVILLE) RALEIGH, N.C. (RAVENSCROFT) LINCOLNTON, N.C. (LINCOLNTON) FRANKLIN, TENN. (FRANKLIN) ORLANDO, FLA. (DR. PHILLIPS) GASTONIA, N.C. (FORESTVIEW) IRMO, S.C. (IRMO) SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CALIF. (JSERRA CATHOLIC) CUMMING, GA. (NORTH FORSYTH) FUQUAY-VARINA, N.C. (FUQUAY-VARINA) BLYTHEWOOD, S.C. (BLYTHEWOOD) NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. (NORTH AUGUSTA) NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. (NORTH AUGUSTA) MEMPHIS, TENN. (BRIARCREST CHRISTIAN) MONCKS CORNER, S.C. (BERKELEY SENIOR) KNOXVILLE, TENN. (BEARDEN) YORK, S.C. (YORK COMPREHENSIVE) HAYMARKET, VA. (BATTLEFIELD) LINCOLNTON, GA. (GEORGIA MILITARY COLLEGE) CHARLOTTE, N.C. (CHARLOTTE CHRISTIAN) BEECH ISLAND, S.C. (GEORGIA MILITARY COLLEGE) WOODSTOCK, GA. (ETOWAH) WAYNESVILLE, N.C. (TUSCOLA) BOILING SPRINGS, S.C. (BOILING SPRINGS) MOUNT GILEAD, N.C. (CHARLOTTE) ATLANTA, GA. (GRADY) CHARLOTTE, N.C. (CHARLOTTE CATHOLIC) CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WEST MECKLENBURG) SOUTH DAYTONA, FLA. RALEIGH, N.C. (LEESVILLE ROAD) CHINA GROVE, N.C. (JESSE C. CARSON) STATESVILLE, N.C. (STATESVILLE) CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. (MONTICELLO) PILOT MOUNTAIN, N.C. (EAST SURRY) BUSHNELL, FLA. (SOUTH SUMTER) SPRUCE PINE, N.C. (MARS HILL) (MITCHELL COUNTY) JENSEN BEACH, FLA. (JENSEN BEACH) TAYLORSVILLE, N.C. (ALEXANDER CENTRAL)

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ASU BOWL GUIDE

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2015

WATAUGA DEMOCRAT

OHIO UNIVERSITY 2015 ROSTER

NO. 2 2 3 4 4 5 6 6 7 7 7 8 8 9 10 10 11 11 12 13 14 15 15 16 16 16 17 17 18 18 18 19 19 20 21 21 22 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 36 37 38 39 40

NAME BRUNSON, CURTIS DIXON, IAN SPRAGUE, JD FOX, JALEN WHITE, PAPI BROWN, JARID BRENTLEY, JULIAN SMITH, SEBASTIAN HAGAN, JAVON MAXWELL, QUINTON PATTERSON, DAZ’MOND BALL, ELIJAH WILLIAMS, MAYNE MEYER, ANDREW DUCKWORTH, JOEY STITES, RANDALL BROWN, CEDRIC MYERS, SETH REID, JORDAN JONES, DEVIN WINDHAM, GREG BRUNSON, MARCUS VICK, DERRIUS BELACK, KYLE ELLIS, BRADD KRIZANCIC, CONNER HELTON, TIM HOWELL, MAXWELL A’HARA, DANIEL WALKER, ROBBIE YOHO, MATT BRUNIS, HERMAN KEY, KEITH DICILLO, BRYAN IRONS, MALEEK NELSON, KYLAN HARDY, BO LAYTON, BRETT BONNSTETTER, MITCH DAVIS, TORAN PROVITT, LANGSTON QUALLEN, COREY MACER, AARON BROWN, DORIAN MILLER, CETH TERPIN, MIKE HALE, JACOB CUNNINGHAM, GRANT POLING, QUENTIN BROWN, BLAIR TAUTUIAKI, WATSON CARPENTER, NATHAN CLACK, AUSTIN HAWK, ZACK BASS, DEVIN MOORE, CHAD YAZDANI, JOSIAH GRILLIOT, CODY

POS CB WR QB CB RB WR CB WR S QB RB WR S WR QB WR WR S WR S QB LB QB WR CB QB WR CB CB WR TE WR DL LB RB S RB CB P S DB S S RB LS CB OL/LS S LB LB DL S LB LB CB LB K LB

HT./WT. 5-10/160 5-7/167 6-1/200 5-11/176 5-9/166 6-0/186 5-11/185 6-3/183 6-0/207 6-3/214 5-7/177 6-1/185 5-11/175 6-0/185 6-3/215 5-10/175 6-0/190 6-3/230 6-3/198 6-1/202 6-1/214 5-11/214 6-1/196 5-11/190 5-10/185 6-2/200 6-2/198 6-1/188

YR. SO RS SR RS JR RS FR RS FR RS SO RS FR JR FR FR SR FR FR RS FR RS FR RS JR RS SO RS FR RS JR RS SR RS JR FR RS SR FR RS SO RS FR RS SO FR FR 5-9/180 SO 6-3.5/209 SO 6-0/170 SO 6-3/221 FR 6-2/212 RS FR 6-0/211 RS FR 5-10/180 SO 5-10/195 RS JR 5-11/180 SR 5-11/187 SR 6-0/206 RS JR 5-11/180 FR 6-1/209 RS SO 6-0/192 RS SR 5-11/196 RS SO 5-11/223 RS JR 5-10/165 RS SR 6-2/220 FR 6-0/195 RS SO 6-0/219 RS SO 6-0/230 RS JR 6-2/304 RS SR 5-9/201 RS SR 6-0/215 FR 6-2/230 RS SO 5-9/190 RS SR 6-0/193 RS SO 5-10/216 RS SR 6-0/214 RS SO

HOMETOWN FRANKLIN, MICH./FARMINGTON ATHENS, OHIO/ATHENS CINCINNATI, OHIO/MASON CINCINNATI, OHIO/WYOMING SEMINOLE, OKLA./SEMINOLE HUNTINGTOWN, MD. WEST HILLS, CALIF./CHAMINADE COLUMBUS, OHIO/PICKERINGTON CENTRAL JACKSONVILLE, FLA./TRINITY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY RAYVILLE, MO./RICHMOND R-XVI HS PLANT CITY, FLA./PLANT CITY CINCINNATI, OHIO/PRINCETON CINCINNATI, OHIO/COLERAIN CANAL WINCHESTER, OHIO/PICKERINGTON CENTRAL LOUISVILLE, OHIO/LOUISVILLE WEST CARROLLTON, OHIO/LINDSEY WILSON COLLEGE MARTINSBURG, W. VA./MARTINSBURG SUNBURY, OHIO/FORK UNION MILITARY ACADEMY STONE MOUNTAIN, GA./PARKVIEW SANDUSKY, OHIO/MARGARETTA TAMPA, FLA./KING ORMOND BEACH, FLA./MAINLAND LINCOLN, NEB./LINCOLN SOUTHEAST MYRTLE BEACH, SC/MYRTLE BEACH LEBANON, OHIO/LEBANON MENTOR, OHIO/UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA CHESTERLAND, OHIO/UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI WEST PALM BEACH, FLA./PALM BEACH LAKES DOWNING TOWN, PA./COATSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RESTON, VA./GONZAGA COLLEGE COLUMBUS, OHIO/MOREHEAD STATE FAIRFIELD, OHIO/FAIRFIELD POWELL, OHIO/BISHOP HARTLEY BROADVIEW HEIGHTS, OHIO/WALSH JESUIT CHILLIWACK, BRITISH COLUMBIA LEXINGTON, KY./LAFAYETTE GALLOWAY, OHIO/CAPITAL UNIVERSITY REDLANDS, CALIF./MT. SAN JACINTO COLLEGE WEST BEND, IOWA/IOWA CENTRAL CC LITHONIA, GA./SOUTHWEST DEKALB VENICE, FLA./VENICE MASON, OHIO/MASON TWINSBURG, OHIO/TWINSBURG PITTSBURGH, PA./BALDWIN MOUNT VERNON, OHIO/ASHLAND PITTSBURGH, PA./THOMAS JEFFERSON POWELL, OHIO/OLENTANGY LIBERTY BRECKSVILLE, OHIO/BRECKSVILLE-BROADVIEW HEIGHTS SPENCERVILLE, OHIO/ELIDA MORENO VALLEY, CALIF./RANCHO VERDE SACRAMENTO, CALIF./LA HARBOR COLLEGE LANCASTER, OHIO/LANCASTER TIPP CITY, OHIO/TIPPECANOE WALNUT HILLS, OHIO/WALNUT HILLS OMAHA, NEB./MILLARD NORTH GROVE CITY, OHIO/GROVE CITY ALBANY, OHIO/ALEXANDER CLAYTON, OHIO/NORTHMONT

NO. 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 48 50 51 52 52 53 53 54 54 55 56 57 57 58 60 63 64 65 66 67 69 71 72 73 74 75 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99

NAME WELLS, IAN SCIPIO, BLAKE TAYLOR, ADRRELL SAYLES, CASEY OUELLETTE, A.J. KOONS, JACOB CROUTCH, EVAN PAYNE, ANDREW ZERVOS, LOUIE DAUGHERTY, TRAVIS JOHNSON, JOVON COLLINS, MARCUS PRUEHS, JAKE GRIMES, MARQUES STEIN, ERIK PORTER, TONY POWELL, LUCAS STEPHENS, TONY LANGENKAMP, STEPHEN GRAVES, TAYLOR WOOD, DURRELL DAVIS, MARSHAL PLEASANTS, AUSTEN ANDERSON, JOE ALCORN, GARRETT LOWERY, JOE ARP, BRIAN LUCAS, MIKE MURDOCK, ZACK COOPER, JOSH DUDZIAK, BRENNAN READY, JACOB MCCRAY, JARED MCQUEEN, MIKE GIBBONS, NICK WATSON, TROY MARHEFKA, JERRID HEITZMAN, KEITH MANGEN, TROY BROWN, CONNOR SAWYER, KAWMAE COPE, BRENDAN MORGAN, MASON MORRIS, JOHN KUHAR, KYLE RODRIGUEZ, MALIK FARKAS, MICHAEL SMART, TRENT MCKNIGHT, SAM ALOESE, CLEON BASHAM, TARELL WILLIAMS, JAYLIN PURDUM, BRANDON ROBBINS, KEVIN BERGER, KENT CHUKWU, CHUKWUDI LASEAK, KURT

POS CB S LB DL RB LB LB DL K LB LB LB OL OL LB DL OL DL OL LB OL DL OL OL OL OL DL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL WR TE TE TE WR WR TE WR DL TE K DL DL DL DL DL DL DL DL DL DL

HT./WT. 5-11/202 5-11/187 6-1/205 6-3/268 5-10/195 6-0/218 6-0/217 6-1/261 5-9/152 6-1/202 6-0/215 6-0/222 6-2/285 6-5/319 6-0/215 6-1/289 6-3/296 6-2/245 6-2/285 6-2/200 6-2/306 6-0/280 6-7/295 6-6/320 6-4/271 6-6/290 6-3/256 6-4/313 6-6/267 6-2/309 6-5/250 6-5/292 6-5/320 6-6/287 6-5/303 6-6/293 5-11/183 6-4/255 6-5/252 6-6/245 6-0/192 6-2/189 6-6/259 5-8/165 6-5/275 6-3/205 6-3/170 6-3/249 6-3/267 6-0/297 6-4/250 6-0/227 6-3/270 6-4/265 6-4/249 6-2/230 6-4/236

YR. RS SR RS JR FR JR SO RS FR FR RS FR FR RS SO RS SR RS SR SO FR RS FR RS SO RS SR RS FR SO RS JR RS SO RS SO FR SO RS SO SO FR RS SR RS SO RS JR RS FR FR SO RS SR RS JR RS JR RS SO RS SR JR RS FR RS SR RS SO RS SO RS SO RS FR RS JR FR RS SO FR RS SO JR RS FR RS SR JR RS FR FR RS JR

HOMETOWN DAYTON, OHIO/STEBBINS HILLIARD, OHIO/HILLIARD BRADLEY OMAHA, NEB./MILLARD NORTH OMAHA, NEB./OMAHA NORTH COVINGTON, OHIO/COVINGTON GLOUSTER, OHIO/TRIMBLE YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO/BOARDMAN DANVILLE, OHIO/SHAWNEE STATE TARPON SPRINGS, FLA./TARPON SPRINGS CLARKSVILLE, OHIO/CLINTON-MASSIE SOLON, OHIO/SOLON YEADON, PA./SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY NORTH OLMSTED, OHIO/ST. EDWARD SOUTHFIELD, MICH./SOUTHFIELD COLUMBUS, OHIO/DUBLIN COFFMAN LAWRENCEVILLE, GA./PEACHTREE EDGERTON, KAN./GARDNER EDGERTON FAIRFIELD, OHIO/FAIRFIELD LIBERTY TOWNSHIP, OHIO/MOELLER UNION, N.J./HUDSON VALLEY CC COLUMBUS, OHIO/GROVEPORT MADISON COLUMBUS, OHIO/NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY IRONTON, OHIO/DAWSON-BRYANT COAL GROVE TORRANCE, CALIF./EL CAMINO COLLEGE BEAVERCREEK, OHIO/BEAVERCREEK TALLMADGE, OHIO/TALLMADGE KEARNEY, NEB./KEARNEY CHICAGO, ILL./SAINT PATRICK DUBLIN, OHIO/DUBLIN COFFMAN YAZOO CITY, MISS./MISSISSIPPI DELTA CC PICKERINGTON, OHIO/PICKERINGTON CENTRAL CLEVELAND, OHIO/ST. IGNATIUS HS MINFORD, OHIO/MINFORD GARFIELD HEIGHTS, OHIO/GARFIELD HEIGHTS STONE MOUNTAIN, GA./STEPHENSON AURORA, OHIO/AURORA ST. CLAIRSVILLE, OHIO/ST. CLAIRSVILLE HILLIARD, OHIO/MICHIGAN UNION, OHIO/NORTHMONT MIAMISBURG, OHIO/MIAMISBURG CLEVELAND, OHIO/VILLA ANGELA-ST. JOSEPH WARREN, OHIO/HOWLAND CINCINNATI, OHIO/SYCAMORE COLUMBUS, OHIO/COLUMBUS STATE CC AVON LAKE, OHIO/AVON LAKE BROOKLYN, N.Y./POLY PREP COUNTRY DAY MISHAWAKA, IND./MARIAN WILMINGTON, OHIO/CLINTON-MASSIE CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIO/GLENVILLE PAGO PAGO, A.S./TAFUNA ROCKY MOUNT, VA./HARGRAVE MILITARY ACADEMY STEUBENVILLE, OHIO/STEUBENVILLE LONDON, OHIO/JONATHAN ALDER DISTRICT HEIGHTS, MD./IOWA WESTERN CC MENTOR, OHIO/MENTOR WILLINGBORO, N.J./LINSLY (W.V.) MENTOR, OHIO/MENTOR

9

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ASU BOWL GUIDE

WATAUGA DEMOCRAT

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2015

DANIEL WILCOX

TALKING PLAY

BY PLAY

BY STEVE BEHR sports@wataugademocrat.com BOONE — There is a huge rock on the ring finger of former Appalachian State H-back Daniel Wilcox.

He got that ring for being a member of the 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which beat the Oakland Raiders 48-21 in Super Bowl XXXVII. Before Wilcox got to the Bucs, he was a New York Jets. Before he got to the New York Jets, he was an Appalachian State Mountaineer.

Wilcox technically was a transfer from Georgia Military College in 1999. He was a member of the Appalachian State team that reached the semifinals of the Division I-AA playoffs for the first time, where they lost 19-16 to Montana in overtime.

After a nine-year career in the NFL, Wilcox has returned to Appalachian State this season as the color analysis for the Mountaineers football. He will do his final regular season broadcast for the 2015 season Dec. 19 when App State plays Ohio University in the Camellia Bowl.

The Mountaineers (10-2, 7-1 Sun Belt) became the first Sun Belt Conference team to become bowl eligible.

Wilcox mostly played H-back and tight

end for Appalachian State from 19992000. He also played receiver and finished with 46 catches for 740 yards and four touchdowns.

Wilcox ended up in Tampa Bay after the Bucs picked him up off after an injury to a Tampa linebacker. Wilcox, an Atlanta native, welcomed the chance to get off the Jets’ practice squad and on to the Tampa Bay roster.

He preferred the warm weather of Florida to the cold weather of New York. He also welcomed the chance to play, even if it was on special teams.

“I wasn’t enjoying being on the (Jets’) practice squad,” he said. “I came to the realization to myself that this is what I wanted to do, but if it was on the practice squad, it wasn’t.

“I prayed about it and prayed to God and asked him to give me a sign if this was what I was supposed to be doing or if I was doing the wrong thing so I could put my focus on something else. That was when I got the phone call from the Buccaneers in, I think it was week 10 of the season.”

Wilcox was asked to play special teams and helped the Buccaneers reach Super Bowl XXXVII, where the Bucs crushed the Oakland Raiders 48-21. Wilcox thought he was going to suit up for the game, but

PHOTO BY ROB MOORE

Daniel Wilcox sits high above ‘The Rock’ getting ready to do his color analysis for the Mountaineers football. He will do his broadcast at the Camellia Bowl Dec. 19 when Appalachian State takes on Ohio University. was told he was going to be inactive hours before the game started.

“Everybody got dressed out before the game,” Wilcox said. “Right before the game, they sat me down and told me that I wasn’t going to play. But it was an amazing experience all the way around.”

Wilcox was disappointed not to be able to play in the game, but also feels that he and the rest of the players on the practice squad played a big role in getting the Bucs’ defense, which intercepted four passes in the Super Bowl, ready for the Raiders.

“As much as you want to be a part of a game like that and you want to be the big guy, but being on the practice squad or being on the active roster with the Bucs going through the entire experience, we’re the guys who actually get those guys prepared,” Wilcox said. “You see how well our defense was prepared. They had to go against us all week prior to that game.

They had to see us every day, so when they get to the game, it makes me feel like I was a huge part of the game.”

Wilcox got his first taste of playing in big games by playing in a few while at Appalachian State. It started with big games at Wake Forest, got bigger by playing No. 1 Georgia Southern in 1999 and got bigger as the playoffs approached.

There was a 44-29 playoff loss to Florida A&M that ended the 1999 season. But it was the 2000 playoffs that Appalachian State played its biggest games, up to that point, in the program’s history.

That was when the Pioneers beat Troy in the first round and Western Kentucky in the second round, both on the road.

That left Appalachian State facing Montana, in Missoula, Mont., in the third round.

“It was the first time that we had gotten that far in the playoffs,” Wilcox said. “We had never been to the semifinals before.

We all knew what was at stake.”

At stake was a trip to the Division I-AA finals for the first time in Appalachian State history. But beating Montana is never an easy task. Doing it in Missoula is even tougher.

But Appalachian State had a solid team loaded with receiving talent such as Rashad Slade, Joey Gibson, freshman Sterling Hayward and the speedy Troy Albea, who signed with the Indianapolis Colts as a free agent.

The defense had cornerback Corey Hall, who was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2001 NFL draft.

“We should have won the whole thing,” Wilcox said. “We beat Georgia Southern (in 1999). We were the only team that beat them. It was one of those situations where we felt we were the better team and that it was our year. There wasn’t one second in that game when we thought we were going

to lose. We lost at the very last second of it.”

Montana pulled out a 19-16 overtime victory by holding Appalachian State to a field goal in the overtime period, and then scoring on a touchdown pass.

“When you look at that play, Corey played great defense,” Wilcox said. “I think it was Jimmy Farris who was the receiver, he ran a great route. The catch and the throw to the receiver was probably as perfect as a throw and a catch as you would ever see. The coverage on the play was as good as you’ll ever see. The placement of the ball was a perfect as it could be. It was meant for us to lose.”

By the time he was finished, Wilcox had caught 66 passes for 1,028 yards and 10 touchdowns, including 46 catches for 740 yards and 10 TDs in 2000.

Wilcox is impressed with the 2014 edition of Appalachian State. He is impressed with the defense that is led by defensive end Ronald Blair and linebacker John Law, the offense led by quarterback Taylor Lamb, center Jesse Chapman and receiver Simms McElfresh and a coaching staff led by head coach Scott Satterfield.

“What I could say about this bunch is that this is the first time App State has four phases of and all four phases are spectacular. You’ve got coaches and you’ve got players who have come together to make the dynamics of this team work.

You’ve got offense playing great. You’ve got defense that’s playing great. You’ve got special teams playing great and you’ve got coaching that’s been great.”

Wilcox’s NFL career started with the Jets, went south to Tampa Bay, went overseas to Germany to play with the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe before eventually landing in Baltimore with the Ravens in 2004. His career NFL numbers were 76 receptions for 576 yards and eight touchdowns.

His time in Germany allowed Wilcox to play several different positions, where in the NFL he was limited to either fullback or tight end.

“I was playing fullback, tight end, wide receiver, slot back, sort of the diversity I picked up at Appalachian State,” Wilcox said. “Over there, that was like my senior year all over again at App State, and I was able to do it on the highest level possible.”

After having a good season with the Fire, Wilcox signed with the Baltimore Ravens the next season.

After retirement, he and his wife, Shauna, settled in Atlanta where he owns an interior design/renovation company. He participated in the renovation of his own house in East Atlanta.

He also returned to Appalachian State in 2010 to earn his degree in communications.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2015

ALREADY A SUCCESS Steve Behr Sports Editor

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – There was a time when Ellis Johnson was the head coach at The Citadel from 200103, back when Appalachian State and the Bulldogs were both members of the Division I-AA (now Football Championship Subdivision) Southern Conference.

Johnson has enjoyed a solid career as head coach of The Citadel, at Ole Miss and at Gardner-Webb. He’s also been the defensive coordinator at Auburn and was recently hired to coach linebackers at South Carolina.

He’s been around and has been to his share of bowl games.

On a conference call while with The Citadel, he was asked about which he preferred, the Division I-AA playoffs, or playing in a bowl game.

His answer surprised me.

I don’t remember his exact quote, but he preferred the bowl game.

Johnson did not necessarily dislike the playoffs, but said that when teams go to a bowl, it’s a weeklong event.

The host city and the host bowl committee roll out the red carpet for both teams to make the experience memorable.

The good folks in Montgomery, Ala., and the people associated with the Camellia Bowl have done the same with Appalachian State. I’m guessing the same thing holds true for Ohio University, the Mountaineers’ opponent in the Dec. 19 game (5:30 p.m., ESPN).

College students are sup-

posed to do more, or at least hopefully do more, than just show up for class, hear a lecture, take a midterm, a final and get a grade.

Appalachian State’s football players had the opportunity to do that and cashed in on it.

Some of Appalachian State’s seniors visited a veterans hospital on Wednesday. For most of them, it was the first time they had been to a VA, and the players I spoke with said it was memorable and rewarding.

The same went for me. I also had never been to a VA, but felt a sense of awe I have never felt before. Some, such as Sgt. Grady Morris, were characters who were engaging and held the audience of Mountaineers in the palm of his hand.

Even the emergence of the Ohio Bobcat mascot didn’t distract the Mountaineers.

It’s not like they would have sacked him like a Georgia State quarterback and made that Bobcat use one of his nine lives, but Sgt. Morris was the star attraction to the Mountaineers, and myself.

He was like those old E.F. Hutton commercials.

When Sgt. Morris talked, we listened. (Those of you who are under 40 years old, ask your parents about those commercials.)

Because of printing deadlines, I cannot tell you how the trip to the Rosa Parks Museum went. I can tell you this: I’m a museum junkie.

Whenever I go to Washington, D.C., I hit museums.

The Smithsonian collection of museums can keep me occupied all week, as long as I get my nights off to watch the Washington Nationals play in the summer.

Montgomery museums are no different for me. I’ve

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An Old Yosef says ‘Go Mountaineers!’

“Fox Fits the Mountaineer Image”

even been to the International Towing and Recovery Museum – yes, a museum all about tow trucks – in Chattanooga, Tenn.

It was awesome.

So, I can see Johnson’s point. Make no mistake, Appalachian State is on a business trip. They must focus on Ohio University or else they’ll make the trip back to Boone very disappointed young men.

And it’s not like Appalachian State wasn’t exposed to similar experiences once they made the championship round. Since all three championship games were held in Chattanooga, Tenn., they were treated to a trip to the Tennessee Aquarium during championship week.

They also participated in a Habitat for Humanity project one year. I can’t remember any other things they might have done, but that doesn’t mean the players did not get a rewarding experience off the field.

Plus the Mountaineers took care of business — three times — off the field.

But they had to reach the finals to get that experience.

They spent the first three rounds in Boone preparing for football games.

Hey, I loved covering the playoffs. Some of the best college football games I’ve ever seen involved App State in the playoffs. Good football teams generally play good football games.

Every now and then, they play classic games.

But, we’re in a new era now. It’s the bowl era, and Appalachian State is making the most of its first appearance in the modern era.

We’ll see how it goes on the field on Dec. 19. Off the field, the Camellia Bowl has already been a success.

- Watauga Democrat 1981

Blue Ridge Insurance Service, Inc. 828-264-2393 Fax: 828-264-4436 E-mail: charlie@brinsser.com 2208-2 US Hwy 421N Boone, NC 28607

Charlie Fox, ‘81 - ’82

WWW.BLUERIDGEINSURANCESERVICE.COM

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vs.

GO

Mountaineers!

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Have a game plan.

Call Dougnet today!

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YOSEF, the band, the fans and the Mountaineers have had a great season and Dec. 19 will be a historical moment for all who attend the Camellia Bowl.

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