AE quote of the week. “Anybody that plays sports should go in expecting to win.”

Here comes some cold water. It’s all gonna hinge on the D.

SEC’s best matchup. Armanti Edwards vs. LSU defensive line.

Memories. Pressed between the pages of my mind.

Planning for the storm. Just in case.

What ‘dem Tigers doing. Unrelated, but just so you know, App State is indeed wearing black.

One prediction - LSU 23, App State 10. I could live with that.

Coastal Carolina is no App State. But you can pretend.

Call it App State Syndrome. We need a medic in App Arbor, STAT!

That App State metaphor cuts both ways. Good luck Big Sky.

Alltime Upset highlights versus practice footage. Subliminal slam?

It’s 8 p.m. Saturday in Baton Rouge, and you’ve just witnessed the incredibly hard fought historic App State victory huge blowout Battle Royal in the Bayou.

You’re hot. Dehydrated. Psyched. Exhausted. Amped. And in Louisiana. Whatchagonnado?

Bourbon Street, of course! Nah’Lins just 90 minutes away. Wagons East, young fans! Wagons east!

Just …. um …. well ….. how should one put this … um … there’s already a big party planned there this weekend and … uh …. aw heck, just party on. A party is a party, right?

One of the largest annual celebrations in New Orleans, it has become known as the “Gay Mardi Gras.” People begin to arrive on the Wednesday before Labor Day, and generally don’t even think about stopping or going home until the following Tuesday. With over 100,000 gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender participants, and an economic impact estimated to be in excess of $100 million, the city has recognized its importance with an Official Proclamation to welcome the event.

You will not believe how many people have sent in that link. Well, just two actually, one with the suggestion, “Be sure to pack your pink feather boas!” (Black and gold boas would so clash).

Then again, maybe there’s just as much scenery to enjoy in Baton Rouge.

Three days to kickoff, and football fans have been put on full alert.

STAY HYDRATED. An no, that doesn’t mean just add another ice cube to your “soda.”

Think water. And lots of it.

“Don’t wait until you get out there Saturday and start trying to drink a lot of water and PowerAde,” Jeff Burnham said Tuesday. “Do that at least 48 hours ahead of time, 2 to 3 liters a day. It’s very healthy.”

LSU announced plans to provide misting tents at five spots outside Tiger Stadium, to give the first 30,000 through the gates a hand-held fan, to provide free sunscreen at Tiger One Village (near the PMAC) and provide free PowerAde samples near the airplane on the south side of the stadium.

Officials said 12-ounce bottles of water will be available at a 2-for-1 price of $3 and that concession stands will have three times the usual amount of drinking water. LSU promised extra doctors at First Aid stations and said event staff, security personnel and EMS will be on site watching for fans in heat distress.

The gameday forecast is high in the low 90s, with a chance of rain continuing to linger.

And yes, there is a big storm brewing in the Gulf. But it appears Gustov won’t impact the game. (And hopefully, won’t impact much else otherwise).

Battle Royal brewing. Great roundup of links here.

App State deep at RB. Good to know. We’re going to need some fresh legs.

Hyping another DL transfer. He’s got the size but can he stop the run?

More swoosh. Looks cool.

No Battle Royal betting line. But that’s one big check!

Another old Tiger. Sixth year in stripes for one DE.

Heisman Poll. Yep, AE is there.

The Dirty ‘Nooga has no chance. Mocking them Mocs.

Terps better beware them Hens. J.P. Giglio knows not of what threat you speak.

Fear the Penguins. Then again, how scary is an actual buckeye?

Wal-Mart ‘Whee. Aw, come on. Who wouldn’t want fans to call their plays?

Look who’s back! For all your Stink news.

Respectful, but dismissive.

The difference in this game is going to be the LSU defense. Unlike Michigan this is a defense that’s used to defending the spread. This is a defense with speed that can tackle in the open space. They are not going to be surprised by the speed and athleticism of Appalachian State.

As was recently documented, App State coach Jerry Moore is a man in demand. He’ll be in Baton Rouge this Saturday night. But he’s also got big plans back home in Boone Sunday.

Last week the ol’ AppFan had a wee bit of a tit-for-tat with J.P. “I speak for the fans” Giglio at the ACC Now blog. Soon after fellow ACC Nower Caulton Tudor took our side. He gave us a little hug.

Oh sure, the heavyweights usually flatten the lightweights. But when they don’t, it’s a ton of fun.

Give ‘em heck, Apps. Don’t stop dreaming.

Tudor went further yesterday, actually making out in public with our QB, AE. Love is in the ink.

He’s not big, at 6 feet and 185 pounds, but people who have watched him for years invariably point to Edwards’ toughness, how he seems to be more rawhide and steel than muscle and bone.

Sure, he’s tough; the good ones usually are. Yes, he can take a hit; the good ones usually can. But there must be something else, and Appalachian strength and conditioning coach Jeff Dillman offers his best assessment.

“It’s his long torso,” Dillman said. “He’s got long legs and a long arm span; he’s kind of built like a spider. That helps him to change direction real well. He’s very shifty. He’s got real good flexibility.”

There’s also this nugget.

The word, spurred by the Michigan game and national titles, is getting around. Recently, the New York Times, ESPN and USA Today visited Boone, looking for the story that is Edwards and the Mountaineers.

There are impressive statistics to be found. Appalachian is 22-2 when Edwards starts. He has been involved in 89 plays of 20 or more yards — 62 passes and 27 runs. Big plays, of course, are only a part of it. Overall, Edwards has run for 36 touchdowns and thrown for 32 more in less than two full seasons (he missed 4 1/2 games to injury last season).

Yet even he doesn’t know how he does it.

“Once we watch the film, I get amazed sometimes at how I get away; I don’t know,” Edwards said, a hint of a smile behind the words.

Doesn’t matter how he does it, as long as he continues to do it. But can he do it in the Bayou?

Moore’s quote of the day. “I think we’ll have to play as close to our peak as we can for an opening ballgame. We start of with playing one of the best football teams in the country, if not the best. Very few teams play any harder than LSU.”

Straight from Miles mouth. “One of their big playmakers, CoCo Hillary, is also a great returner and a great receiver, and certainly, we will have to know where No. 6 is at.”

Battle Royal forecast. High of 86 degrees with chance for rain relief.

Tigers have seen the Alltime-Upset. Nice graphic.

Sorry AE. Coach Moore still lovin’ that UM feelin’.

Meet our new safety. Battle Royal will feature green corners on both sides.

Tigets missing a kicker. Still near full strength.

Waiting for the QB to ‘Hatch.’ LSU officially mum on starter.

Purple pleasure. Felton stickin’ with Detroit Lions.

A rebuilding they will go. Hatcher wishes he didn’t have to count so high.

Scouting out that Stink coach. Great line - “Chris Hatcher uses the running game both to stave off the Georgia Southern fans who would come after him with lanterns and pitchforks if he didn’t use the phrase “Hamm-bone” at least once a day provide a change of pace and to control the ball.”

Some good and bad in the NFL:

- Superman is at it again. Check out these Bengal-Saints highlights (just go to 3:15). In short, “Rookie safety Corey Lynch came up with his first interception and had a couple of more passes defensed.”

- The Blur is getting hammered.

It’s early yet and you can’t call any rookie a bust in the preseason. But there are some people in the Bucs’ organization who are having doubts about second-round choice Dexter Jackson.

Against Jacksonville last weekend Dexter had two returns for 32 yards.