Appy State, Delaware set in FCS championship game tonight

The Mountaineers are trying for an unprecedented third straight title.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) — At Appalachian State, it’s called “The Game For The Ages.” Fans wanting a way to commemorate the Mountaineers’ shocking upset of Michigan can get limited edition artwork, travel mugs, posters and T-shirts.

As for the most important part of Appalachian State’s season, a T-shirt with a three-word slogan is all that’s need to sum it up: “QUEST FOR 3.”

Appalachian State, the first FCS school to beat a ranked major college team, has returned to Chattanooga to become the first Division I-AA team to win three consecutive national championships.

The Mountaineers (12-2) play Delaware (11-3) tonight. A possible good omen for Appalachian State: The Blue Hens wear helmets patterned after Michigan’s famous winged design.

Appalachian State quarterback Armanti Edwards is irritated by fans who think beating Michigan is more important than winning a title.

“They try to put that up with a national championship. Beating Michigan was a great win for our school history. Winning the national championship? That shows we were the best team in our D I-AA this year,” Edwards said.

Running back Kevin Richardson said Appalachian State coach Jerry Moore asks how they want to be remembered.

“Winning [tonight], that right there will do it there. You’ll be remembered for that always,” Richardson said. “You always want to go out with a bang. We’re going to come out and play our hearts out and hopefully be successful.”

Appalachian State is one of only three programs that have won back-to-back titles in Division I-AA, which is now known as the Football Championship Subdivision. The Mountaineers are only the fifth team to play in the title game three straight years.

Delaware coach K.C. Keeler sent Moore congratulations after the Michigan victory even though he is a fan of the Wolverines. He said people forget the other FCS victories over FBS teams, including his Hens beating Navy 59-52 on Oct. 27.

“I think it gives credibility to our level of football,” he said.

The Blue Hens, from the Colonial Athletic Association, are back here for the second time in five years, looking to add another title to the 2003 one they earned by beating Colgate 40-0. Keeler calls it their shot at immortality.

“To be the best, you have to beat the best. Now’s our chance to see if we can beat the defending national champions, and the only fitting way to be national champion is to beat the defending national champions,” Keeler said.