WKU Football: Gameday Info vs. Appalachian State
Your comprehensive guide to your visit to Boca
Tyson Helton and the Tops have climbed from a 5-7 disappointment in the COVID stricken 2020 season with virtually no ability to move the ball to the brink of a nine win season. After starting 1-4, things looked bleak to sniff a bowl game, let alone nine wins.
Now WKU (8-5, C-USA East Division Champions) sits ready to make program history and perhaps NCAA history in the RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl with a couple of offensive players looking to sit atop the mountain (or at least in the top five) in multiple offensive categories. Despite a defense that early in the year couldn’t stop a concrete block from jumping itself out of the pavement and hitting Defensive Coordinator Maurice Crum straight in the forehead, WKU’s Bailey Zappe needs a 300 yard game to beat the all-time record by 12 yards. He only needs five touchdowns to break Joe Burrow’s all-time touchdowns record outright. And Burrow did it in 15 games.
Jerreth Sterns “only” needs 19 receptions against Appalachian State to set the all-time single season receptions record, and only needs ten to get to third all-time. If he gets his average in yards, he would climb from 27th all-time in a single season to eighth. He only needs 12 yards to break Taywan Taylor’s all-time single seasons mark at WKU. He does need well over 300 yards to get the all-time record for yards in a season, but hey break some big ones this game and you never know. WKU’s offensive line also has the opportunity to grade out as the best pass-blocking offensive line in the past three seasons of college football.
WKU takes on Appalachian State (10-3, Sun Belt East Division Champions). The Mountaineers, without two losses to #23 Louisiana-Lafayette, would be a ranked team and would have been more in the national conversation. And by the way, the Sun Belt Conference should get some major kudos for the top of the conference’s strength. Three teams had ten or more wins. Conference USA had one team with more than eight (UTSA) but much more depth in the middle. So App. State comes out of a brutal division in the Sun Belt, wins ten games, and is seemingly loaded at almost every position.
Defensively, this should be the best unit WKU has faced all season top to bottom. Statistically, the defense is 18th in the country, only giving up 325 yards per game. Each level is loaded with stars and NFL talent, including a freakish linebacker, #52 Inside Linebacker D’Marco Jackson. The man has made big plays his entire career, but this year he has produced defensive lineman-type numbers in the backfield and produces elite middle linebacker-type numbers in volume (18th in total tackles, 7th in TFL, 6 sacks). But there’s more than just him. Every level has a standout, top-25-in-at-least-one-statistic player.
Offensively, there is no massive superstar position player, but they’re all good enough to hurt anyone. And they’re deep. Two running backs average 75+ per game. Three receivers routinely go for nearly 100 yards, although the leading receiver is hurt and will not play (see below). Perhaps the biggest consistency question mark is at quarterback, although QB Chris Brice (232 ypg, 23 TD, 10 INT) played at both Clemson and Duke, so he’s no slouch, either. Talent is there to go off if he clicks in vs. WKU.
WKU has a tough task, facing one of the deepest teams in the country, certainly at the Group of Five level. Both teams feel like they could have had more spectacular seasons, but both are pleased with where they are and know they have a worthy opponent opposite them. On paper, this should be a really good one.
Location
FAU Stadium
Capacity: 30,000
Located at the north end of FAU’s main campus, FAU Stadium is a Group of Five beauty. Opened in 2011, this is one of the newer stadiums in all of college football, and it’s a gorgeous setup in a gorgeous destination. All chairback with a good view from everywhere, Howard Schnellenberger Field at FAU Stadium is a wonderful setting for a bowl game during the holidays.
Parking
Parking was not difficult in 2016, when WKU faced Memphis. We did park fairly far away from the stadium, so be prepared to walk. It’s not very obvious where to park, or at least it wasn’t a few years ago, so be prepared to just say “screw it” and walk. But there is plenty of parking around, and whatever walk you may make is not that far from the stadium.
Time
Saturday, December 18, 10 AM EST
Weather Forecast
It looks like around kickoff, there is a very slight chance of precipitation. Farther into the game, chances for stray showers increase somewhat. If you’re unfamiliar with Florida coastal weather, just prepare for it being warm and rainy. Then if you’re surprised, you’re ok with warm and sunny, too.
TV
ESPN
Play-by-Play: Clay Matvick Analyst: Rocky Boiman Sideline: Tiffany Blackmon
Radio
Play-by-Play: Randy Lee Analysts: Terry Obee and Lexi Schweinert Sideline: Jared Holland
Also, you can listen to the radio call anywhere in the world on the WKU Gameday App! WKU All Access is also covering a live video feed from the radio booth on the app now, as well.
Gameday Information
WKU
WKU vs. Appalachian State Announcement
WKU HC Tyson Helton and Todd Stewart Press Conference
Appalachian State
Around C-USA
Betting Lines from Sportsline.com
App. State: -3
O/U: 67
ESPN.com Match-up Predictor
WKU-40% Chance to Win
Current Records
WKU: 8–5 (C-USA East Division Champions)
App. State: 10-3 (Sun Belt East Division Champions)
Last Time Out…
WKU looked like the favorite against UTSA, but if ever there was a pee-down-the-leg type of performance, that was the championship game against UTSA. WKU came in having won seven straight, all by 15 or more. UTSA was seemingly reeling, barely winning some of their games and getting blown out at North Texas. UTSA came in motivated and did what they had to do, executing their opportunities. WKU turned the ball over in its own territory twice, missed key field goals, settled for field goals in the red zone, and had opportunities to score in crucial moments that fizzled out. Western fans had to feel as deflated as they have in a long time for any sport. This felt like a surefire opportunity to go win a championship, and the Tops didn’t execute like they should have.
Appalachian State has two losses against Louisiana-Lafayette, one of which happened in the C-USA Championship. ULL controlled the game for the most part, leading 14-0 and never allowing App. State closer than a touchdown, ultimately depositing the Mountaineers, 24-16. Quarterback Chase Brice was only 12-of-30 with only 119 yards passing. He likely cannot repeat that performance against WKU. App State was just not any good offensively this game, so throw it out. They’re capable and were playing a really good team that just matches up really well against them. Expect a really good team in all three phases Saturday.
Coaches
Tyson Helton- 3rd Season- 22–16 (22-16 Overall)
Shawn Clark- 2nd (full) Season- 20-6 Overall
Series
4-1 App State (neither on neutral field; no game played since 2000)
Last Meeting
WKU and App State met in the 1-AA playoff quarterfinals in 2000. Appalachian State came out on top in Bowling Green in a low scoring affair, 17-14. App. State would go on to lose its next game in overtime in the semis vs. Montana.
Relevant Reading
Conference USA Preseason Media Prediction
WKU Keys to Victory vs. App State
Injury Report
WKU
Out indefinitely: TE Joshua Simon (foot) may not return this season. He has now missed every game since coming up gimpy near the end of the UT-Martin game. After seeing him on the sideline for several games, it appears he has a significant leg brace that he wears under his clothes. After consulting with Devin Stewart from RedOut Podcast (former WKU Football trainer), it is most likely to protect a severe ligament strain or meniscus tear. Given that potential, it would be an iffy proposition as to whether he could come back before the end of the season. But theoretically possible. Tyson Helton never reveals injury info, so your guess is as good as mine.
It would now make sense to keep him out of the bowl game and hope to find another year or two of eligibility. With COVID years and other exemptions, surely Simon could hang around another year or two, especially if he didn’t come back (if he even can) for the bowl game. Then again, what a huge addition he would be!
App. State
Out: WR Corey Sutton (upper body); Impact: Extremely significant (App. State Leading Receiver and 3rd all-time in receiving TDs at App. State)
Excitement Level — 8
This is a really good matchup in an exciting location. But you know what sucks? WKU is playing Louisville in basketball in Diddle Arena at 2:00 on CBS. So overall, this is a really exciting day for WKU Athletics. Are fans more excited about beating Louisville or Appalachian State? Outsiders may think it should be to win a huge bowl game. But honestly with the Tops being on primetime on a Saturday on CBS, arguments could be made in the other direction. This would be a ten if there wasn’t the distraction of the basketball game. For those wondering how Western fans aren’t out of their minds excited for this game, it’s just a lot of things right now. But I would suspect a smaller crowd from WKU made its way down. With COVID, travel has slowed down to away games, anyway. Now that there’s this distraction of playing on the same day as the Louisville game, the tornado relief, and the fact that WKU didn’t win the C-USA Championship, there is a little bit of a letdown from not being champions.
But WKU fans are definitely excited to possibly see an NCAA record (or two or even up to four if Sterns goes bonkers) held by a Topper. And it’s an exciting matchup against a borderline top 25 team. So the worthiness factor is there. It’s an exciting matchup, but as WKU prognosticators were forecasting, playing on the 18th is just not ideal for the football side of the equation. Fans may not be terribly thrilled that they will be scrambling to see both games. However, WKU as an institution is overjoyed with an all of the exposure this day will bring to this beautiful university, and also to the tornado relief effort, which will surely be blasted and plastered all over both broadcasts. And rightfully so.
To those of you suffering in whatever way from the tornados, God Bless You and we wish you and your families well. From Mayfield to Cave City, to Central City, Dawson Springs, and Smiths Grove, we love you, and this one’s for you.
Take the time to enjoy your family this Saturday and cheer on the Tops, whether in person at one of the games, or at home or at the bar or restaurant of your choice.
God Bless.
Go Tops!
We’ll be providing live coverage and reaction. If you made it to the Boca, please send us your best pictures from tourist sites, tailgating, and in-game via Twitter at @TheTowelRackWKU or on our Facebook page and we’ll share.