Appalachian State at Western Carolina Saturday at 3 p.m. is more than just a college football game -- it's a battle for the Old Mountain Jug.
The winner gets the jug for a year, along with rivalry bragging rights. They've been passing the jug around since 1976, although it stays in Boone most of the time. The Mountaineers have won it 25 times to WCU's seven.
As far as ASU coach Jerry Moore is concerned, the jug is an impressive prize.
"It’s a real jug to begin with; it’s not something they went down and bought at a tourist place," Moore said. "I didn’t know what the Jug was when I first got here 20 years ago. But it’s got a real cork in it and everything and we were real curious to get that cork out of there and see it was real. It’s a great battle and a great tradition. It’s one of those things that everyone points toward whether you are an Appalachian person or from Western.”
Still, it has to be won again each fall, and the Catamounts under new coach Dennis Wagner are considerably improved over last year's edition. But with a 3-8 overall record to compare with Appalachian's 9-2, Wagner is worrying less about the jug than the status of his young team.
“This is the biggest game of our season because it’s the game this week and it’s the last game of the season," he said. "It’s a huge game for us in that aspect. It’s a building block to go into next season. They are going to the playoffs and they won the conference. We want to get to where they are at and we’re going to get there."
-- Stan Olson
Friday, November 21, 2008
App, WCU hope to swig from Jug on Saturday.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
14 comments:
Lets go Cats.
Does anyone know if this game will be televised this year?
Game is on SportsSouth.
Western, Western, GOOOOO Western, GOOOOOOOOOO CATS!
I live in Florida, Home of the Gators (oops I just threw up, sorry) but my daughter goes to App and is in the band. So we have been to every home and the Michigan/App game.I grew up in Michigan and was fortunate to watch a lot of good football growing up. But I have never seen as an exciting team as The Mountaineers! In the last 3 years that I have been attending games we may not have won every game but we WON the games we needed to! So when you ask what is that bright light coming from NC it is the glare from all the diamonds in all those National Championship rings in Boone. Go Apps!
I can't believe the letters WCU showed up in the Observer!! Tons of Alum here in town, but rarely a mention. Hey guy from Florida.....wanna see the best Band in the Carolinas? Wait till you see Western's "Pride Of The Mountains" marching band. They make Apps band look like a high school band.
Congrats to WCU for a great band. But if they line up with the "NC Band of Distinction" from Boone I suspect the outcome will be about the same as the two football teams squaring off. Western is a nice school, but not in the same "league" as App!
West Carolina's band uses electronics...how pathetic. To all you cantamounts, when it comes to academics and football, West Carolina is nowhere near the level of ASU. I hope our team keeps scoring until your coach learns how to pronounce Appalachian. The only reason App may not score a lot of points today is because Armanti Edwards is hurt. GO APPs!
They literally try to prove their better because of their band. I love the Band of Distinction, but I have no idea what would make them better than another band. They've played at 3 straight national championship games though. That's impressive.
Complaining that WCU doesn't get enough sports coverage? Brad Hoover and then what's to talk about? You do get your publicity though. Remember that bear with the Obama signs?
Prediction?
App by, I don't know, a lot.
The WCU band uses electronics and speakers to amplify their sound. They also only do one show all season. The ASU band learns a new show for each home game.
Hey its the Florida guy again. And I can not say that WCU's band is not good or bad. But I do know the musicians in the Marching Mountaineers and they are some great ones. Example: My daughter, trumpet player, playing since the 6th grade, section leader and soloist senior yr in HS, and a marching mountaineer! Wait you say there is more.....oops I forgot she marches with the World Champions of DCI, The Phantom Regiment! I am Spartacus! Seems to be a lot of CHAMPIONS in Boone. My prediction? Apps by 20.....be thankful that the game is not at the ROCK!
Wow. Interesting to see so many comments about the bands. As a "Band of Distinction" alumni from way back in '85, it's great to see both the football and band rivalries between ASU & WCU are as strong as ever. Good first half today Western! You caught us napping and looking ahead to the play-offs. Too bad they play four quarters, not two!
Why are you all talking about the bands. And guy form FL no one cares.
Why not talk about the bands seems it might be more of a battle for App St. We have the football thing pretty wrapped up.
Post a Comment