ASU's Roman is player of week

Appalachian State junior MLB Jacque Roman was named the Southern Conference Player of the Week despite LSU's 41-13 victory over the Mountaineers in Baton Rouge Saturday.

While ASU couldn't stop the bigger and faster Tigers, Roman certainly did his share, piling up a game-high 12 tackles. He also had his first career interception, which he returned 13 yards to set up an Appalachian field goal.

* Despite a dismal first half that left them trailing 31-0, the Mountaineers regrouped and played LSU tough after the break, even outscoring the Tigers, 13-10. That was enough to keep Appalachian ranked No.1 in the Sports Network Poll, which rates the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), formerly the NCAA's Division I-AA.

ASU's lead in the poll was trimmed, though. The preseason version saw the Mountaineers collect 97 of 101 first-place votes. This week, they received 62 of 110. No. 2 North Dakota State got 42 votes for the top spot. Appalachian is second behind NDSU in the American Football Coaches Association FCS poll.

* The Mountaineers' home opener with Jacksonville is set for 3:30 p.m.
Saturday in Kidd Brewer Stadium. The team will raise its national championship flag from last year before the kickoff. It's also Lettermen's Day, and more than 200 former payers are expected to attend. The current team will wear throwback uniforms of the style the school was using in 1989, coach Jerry Moore's first year on the job.

- Stan Olson