Hmmm – “Vilarino played in 25 games as a freshman at GU. He averaged 7.8 minutes and 2.3 points. He made 47.4 percent of his field-goal attempts. “This particular situation is one that they’re going to build a team around him basically,” Gerry Vilarino said.” Dad’s laying it on a bit thick, huh?

What economy? – “The N.C. General Assembly passed a bill last week that allows the school to borrow $40 million for the construction of a new 15,000-seat football stadium, field house and practice fields to house the Charlotte 49ers’ new football program, scheduled to start play in fall 2013.”

Money is coming to Kannapolis. /tingle up the leg

The Greatest App Ever and newest Carolina Panther will be at Scott’s Collectibles next Saturday.

Ya in ya out? Ya in ya out? Ya in ya out?

We will be having Armanti Edwards, 3rd Round Draft Pick of the Carolina Panthers in our store signing autographs on Saturday July 24th at 1 pm. Cost is $20 per item and personalizations or inscriptions are a $5 donation to a charity of Armanti’s choosing. Tickets go on sale Monday July 5th.

We will have plenty of App State and Panthers Items available including Photos, Posters, Helmets, Mini Helmets, Footballs and more. If you prepuchase your ticket you may reserve memorabilia at that time as well.

There will be an exclusive 5X7 Armanti Edwards 2010 Prestige Card available that day as a wrapper redemption for purchasing packs of 2010 Panini NFL trading cards.

There will also be door prizes and we plan to have a pack wars event at 5 PM with the grand prize being a Panini Black Box which includes 3 printing plates (2 of which are autographed) plus other low numbered cards.

Call 704.784.2277 for more info. (Tell ‘em AppFan.com sent ya!)

Some ads will be running in Charlotte papers this weekend. No word on whether tailgating outside the store will be allowed, BUT JUST TRY AND STOP US!

Sports Yapp happened to have as a recent guest former App bballer Matt Jones. (/deep sigh .. So dreamy … ). He mentions his time with Fancher and jerk, and what he’s doing now with Carolina Courts. The Yappers also discuss the post-AE era at App. No new ground really, but hey! FOOTBALL TALK!

Note: Comments on FBS/FCS follow. Read further at own risk of groundless annoyance.

During our recent course of random squabbling intense debate on making like the Jeffersons, it has often been pointed out that rare is the I-A FBS program that leaves the penthouse to play in I-AA FCS.

Sure, few big boys make money and fewer still play in “meaningful” (ie. games ESPN talking heads care about) postseason contests. So if life there is so bad, why not “drop” a notch? We now have an answer, thanks to that proud FBSer Wyoming.

The Cowboys haven’t finished a football regular season above .500 since 2004. (Coincidentally, that’s the same year App State made an appearance there). Administrators wondered if the expense of FBS was worth mediocrity. So they did some research. And issued a report.

The school listed several reasons to stay FBS and only two – 2(!) – to reclassify as FCS. Actually, more like one and a half. (Thanks to Appfan Yosef1969 for posting the link)

Some Potential Cost Savings due to competing at Division I-AA

I. Reduction of student-athlete scholarships for football by 22 (from 85 maximum scholarships at Division I-A to 63 maximum at Division I-AA). At a cost of approximately $19,612 per scholarship, that would result in a savings of $431,464. This, however, is misleading because UW actually receives scholarship funds from athletics…back through the university financial aid office, so reducing scholarship in athletics also reduces a cash flow source to the university as a whole.

II. Reduction in athletic department expenditures due to smaller game guarantees paid to opponents, decreased travel expense, slight reduction in coaching /support staff

On the flip side, Wyoming found 11 primary reasons to keep the status quo. But broken down logically, only one plays the trump card. It’s not football. It’s not bball. And it ain’t prestige.

It’s conference affiliation. We’ll paraphrase from the report.

Loss of bowl revenue and Bowl Championship Series (BCS) revenue. In the 2008-09 academic year, Wyoming received $550,000 from the BCS for being a member of a Division I-A conference and as a result of Utah participating in a BCS bowl game. Even in a typical year, however, Wyoming receives approximately $130,000.

Bball revenue would be reduced if UW was not a member of the Mountain West Conference. Wyoming received $435,599 from the 2009 NCAA Tournament – a year that saw two MWC teams earn bids. Comparing that figure to a I-AA conference in the region, that share could drop by as much as 35% to 40% based on the MWC receiving three bids and a like I-AA conference receiving only one.

The Mountain West (bball tournament) consistently generates profits that are shared between all member schools. Wyoming’s share from the 2009 MWC Basketball Tournament was about $100,000.

Wyoming’s share from the Mountain West TV package in the 2009-10 academic year will be $1.2M. By comparison, a I-AA conference in the region receives no money from its league TV partner and approximately 50% of the corporate sponsorship revenue allocated to Division IA schools.

So in a good year of conference accomplishment, every member of the MVC cleared at least $2M by doing nothing more than showing up.

/whistles

According to this federal government database, that $2M represents roughly 8% of the overall Wyoming athletics budget ($24.6M). Yet, as is the case with most every athletic budget in the country, we have no clue what that really means.

For example, that particular database reports total football revenue at $8.8M and bball at $2.9M. Yet the bulk of the department’s intake – $9M – is simply listed as revenue “not allocated by gender/sport.” According to other databases*, that would seem to be “institutional support.” That FBS report does not comment on that.

But the Wyoming report does give evidence that while FCS play is cheaper, overall athletic revenues could fall to a greater degree then expenses. And it appears to be due more to the sum of individual parts than the individual parts themselves.

* an example of why databases confuse us. USA Today says Wyoming reported $2.9M in tickets sales and $12M in “direct institutional support” in a $26M budget. Yet Wisconsin is listed with $26M in ticket sales and $3.3M in direct institutional support for a $89M budget(!). That may be accurate, but seems off to us.

New football assistant to be named soon. Link goes to hint. SECOND HINT. Right here. Now we hear a hire will not be coming. Drat!

We have a night game! El Cid under the lights.

Why the delay? Tickets to App State at ‘Whee being held back.

Orlebar gets chance at another ring. Baltimore advances to American Indoor Football Association title game July 25.

The “watch” list. And some of the nominees for best player in the country before a down is played are …..

The 2010 interdivisional games. Over/under 5, number of FCS wins.

Fancher goes full-time. We’re still a fan.

Speaking of fan. He was raised Black and Gold but … /sigh …

App takes over at Cherokee. Craig Barker at the helm.

And the coaching ranks grow. Charles Shields head man at McMichael High in Va.

Did you know there was a women’s football league? And an App coaches a team?

Former Furple coach retiring. Kinda odd timing.

Another school may move on up. North Alabama lookin’ at D1.

Uh-oh – “UNC system President Erskine Bowles has approved tuition increases for the coming academic year, an attempt to mitigate budget cuts recently imposed by the General Assembly.” App State tuition is going up $468 a year, which we believe puts total annual cost in-state at $5,461.

/giggle

Comes in black or white. And look! A charm!

We still heart our SHHHH! light switch cover.

Respect the kilt.

Two Grandfather Mountain field records were set as well, both by Larry Brock of Fayetteville N.C., who got the competition off to a rousing start with a new record in the first event, the 56-pound weight thrown for distance. His new mark of 45’ 10” broke his old record of 45’ set in 2004.

Brock was in a tight race for overall Athlete of The Games honors so he made sure he took home his second straight title by setting a record in the 56-pound weight toss for height, the last event of the day. His toss of 17’ 8” wiped out the previous record of 17’ 6” held by four people.

It’s not just at Grandfather that Brock wins. Earlier this year he won the world championship event in Victoria, British Columbia.

Not bad for a three-time All-SoCon offensive lineman. Not bad at all. And just how did he get that strong?

Dude.

I went to Appalachian State on a Full football scholarship and they allowed me to participate in track when football was not going on……and if you know anything about college football you know that it never is not going on so my track career in college was really hit or miss. I was always tired from running and lifting from football so I never got to train much. At one point I was waking up at 5:30am and running for two hours with football from 6:00am-8:00am then going to class all day then I would go to track practice at 2:00-3:30- then I would lift from 4:00pm-5:00pm then collapse and eat and then wake up and do it all over again. I lost so much weight I was being accused of trying to pursue underwear model adds. I went from 305 to 258 in a matter of a couple of months….it was rough stretch

From the land of Tebow and tar balls comes another assessment of future Florida foe App State.

And again, much respect due.

By most accounts, the pieces appear to be in place for another dominant run. Moore and Smith represent arguably the conference’s best offensive and defensive players, respectively, and there’s no denying the job done by Moore, who in his 21 years as the Mountaineers’ coach has turned the program into an annual juggernaut.

Common sense tells us that the Mountaineers’ chances of an upset over the Gators are more than slim – with a wealth of talent bolstered by a number of top-three recruiting classes in recent years, UF remains a dark horse candidate for a national title game berth this season – but if ‘07 taught us anything, it’s that, when Appalachian State is concerned, you just never know.

For those wondering, this game is the regular season finale for App State. You gotta wonder what gets more focus – Florida or potential playoff run. Meanwhile for the chompers, this game comes between South Carolina and the cheaters Florida State.

As we all know, Money is now, officially, moe-nay.

/starts humming

So how’s his payday rank with his fellow third rounders? Let’s see.

81. Houston Texans – Earl Mitchell, DT, Arizona – Signed (4-years, $2.578M; $788,500 signing bonus)

82. Pittsburgh Steelers – Emannuel Sanders, WR, Southern Methodist – Signed (3-years, $1.801M; ~$586,000 signing bonus)

83. Atlanta Falcons – Corey Peters, DT, Kentucky – Signed (4-years, $2.55M; $767,000 signing bonus)

86. Philadelphia Eagles – Daniel Te’o-Nesheim, DE, Washington – Signed (4-years, $2.531M; $741,258 signing bonus)

89. Carolina Panthers – Armanti Edwards, WR, Appalachian State – Signed (4-years, $2.5M; ~$710,000 signing bonus)

90. New England Patriots – Taylor Price, WR, Ohio – Signed (4-year, $2.494M; $704,600 signing bonus)

98. Atlanta Falcons – Mike Johnson, G, Alabama – Signed (4-years, $2.432M; ~$642,000 signing bonus)

With regard to more recent App draftees and their pay days, no terms were ever disclosed for Superman or the Blur.

Meanwhile, just because you’re not drafted doesn’t mean you can’t eventually get paid.

And note, long-term NFL contracts are not guaranteed. You don’t produce, and you can be cut, no bucks attached.

Somebody’s gettin’ PAID! – “The Panthers are about to reduce their remaining workload again, as they’re set to sign third-round pick Armanti Edwards as soon as this afternoon. Edwards will sign a four-year deal, with approximately $710,000 in signing bonus.”

NOT YET CONFIRMED. Word, is …. wait for it …. w a i t … f o r … i t … $2.5M.

SoCon Saturdays on SportsSouth will be back. On the schedule, App gets two road games and one at home. At least.

The final two matchups set for November 13 and November 20 will be selected jointly by the conference and SportSouth to choose games that figure to have the greatest impact on the league race.

Six games set, with App State the most popular.

Sept. 4 App State at UTC, 3 p.m.
Sept. 25 Swag at Stink, 6 p.m.
Oct. 9 Swag at App State, 3 p.m.
Oct. 16 Furman at Lil Sammy, 2:00 p.m.
Oct. 23 App State at Whee, 3 p.m.
Oct. 30 El Cid at Wofford, 1:30 p.m.

The November 13 and 20 Saturdays are TBA. Wooford is in Boone November 13. The Apps are in Florida the next week.

Sorry. Can’t help it. uh-gin.

Athletics is promoting a “Paint the High Country Black and Gold” deal, in which businesses can fill the budget holes pay to promote App State football and/or bball.

We got a giggle out of this.

You see, buy the football package and you get, among other benefits, season tickets!

But not foozball season tickets. Instead,

Two men’s and women’s basketball season tickets.

O. Kay.

And if you support the basketball teams, you get …

Two baseball season tickets

Errrr … cool, we guess.

Word is, if you purchase a baseball promotional package, you get 15 season tickets to field hockey.

A semi-regular feature in which we spotlight an App State star from back in the day who many fans may not remember, but should know.

NAME: Matt Stevens

POSITION: Defensive back

WHY HE’S A GREAT: The only Mountaineer to ever play in a Super Bowl and win a ring, he was a two-time All-American at App State, a Hall of Famer, and member of the 75th Anniversary team.

WHY HE’S AN INSPIRATION: He’s walking again.

In 2007, Stevens was going about 130 mph on a motorcycle when he left the road and met a speed limit sign. The admitted “stupid” act left him paralyzed.

Earlier this year, Stevens was selected as one of 12 people to participate in a clinical trial of ReWalk, which is described as a “a wearable device that enables wheelchair users to stand, walk, and climb stairs.”

And that’s just what he’s done.

“It’s exhilarating and motivating just to be able to stand up from my wheelchair and walk upright with ReWalk – it really improves my mental attitude and enables me to focus on what I can do, instead of what I can’t do,” said Stevens.

“I have my fiancée and my family to thank for their encouragement to try ReWalk and to reinforce my strength and determination. I’m thrilled to be able to participate in this trial at MossRehab, and I hope that in some way, I can help to advance the development of ReWalk, so other paraplegics can have the chance to walk again,” he continued.

HoustonTexans.com just posted an update on Stevens. (Apparently he was interviewed before the clinical trial)

Football still holds a special place in Stevens’ heart. He followed his passion into the coaching ranks before the accident and won’t let his disability stop him now. He helped the Temple coaching staff last year, when the Owls went 9-3 and made a postseason appearance at the EagleBank Bowl.

He’s also a dedicated Texan fan.

IN THE NFL: Stevens played in 159 career games, starting 116. He nabbed 13 INTs, including six in 1999 with the Redskins. He played for the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVI, which New England won over St. Louis, 20-17. He was then taken 10th in the expansion draft by the Houston Texans, where he played two seasons.

BAD TIMING: App State went 11-0 in 1995 and looked to be on course to compete for a national title. But during the season Stevens suffered a year-ending knee injury. App lost in the second round to Stephen F. Austin.

GLORY DAYS: Remember when App State and Marshall tangled, and App had Dexter Coakley and Marshall had Chad Pennington? Adds Dexter – “We had [future Houston Texans defensive back] Matt Stevens going against [future Minnesota Vikings wide receiver] Randy Moss. Imagine that battle.” (NOTE – Yes, you would have to imagine it. As pointed out in comments, Stevens’ last season was ‘95, Moss first in green was ‘96)

UNANSWERED QUESTION: Whatever happened to that ring?

The American Indoor Football Association playoffs continues this week! After enjoying a bye, the undefeated Baltimore Mariners is lookin’ to kick some indoor booty Saturday night!

And why should we care? Cause anchoring a stout Mariner D is multi-champion Daniel Orlebar.

Awww yeah.

(The Mariners) have now won 15 regular season games in a row, are 19-1 in the regular season dating back to May 23, 2009, and are 23-5 since the start of the 2009 season.

The defensive line of former Minnesota Viking Fearon Wright, rookie and former Appalachian State standout Daniel Orleber, and Brown along with former college All-American linebackers Brian Bradford and Adam Goloboski helped lead the Mariners to a league leading 45 sacks and currently the #2 ranked scoring defense, allowing just 28.4 points per game.

Through 14 games, Orlebar is among league leaders in sacks (9) and tackles for loss (12)

The team’s website is hella-lame. But here’s a brief Q&A with Orleber.

what should others know about you that most don’t [fun fact]

DO: “I have two extra teeth under my tongue that were originally thought to be two out of an extra full row of teeth. However, it is just the two teeth and no extra row.”

Dude!

*image stolen from BRB