Nuggets from UMaine vs Appalachian State

The last few weeks I've been covering basketball, so it was nice to get back out doors for the 2nd round of the FCS Playoffs!  I will say I'm a total wuss when it comes to cold weather(45 degrees is cold to me sorry), and thank goodness for layers, and the heaters on the Appalachian Side line! I have a few nuggets to share with you from both UMaine and App. State.  I'll be covering UMaine vs Georgia Southern this Saturday at 2pm on ESPN3 so hopefully I come up with some additional feature stories for the Black Bears.

In the beginning, the energy from the student section of Appalachian State was one of the best I've seen this year, but  buy the third quarter this was the quietest stadiums I've been at all year!  Regardless, what really stood out was this guy!

This is the first time in my life that I thought back hair was cool, and this guys gets my vote!  Notice the guys around him, they all have had the pleasure of carving the "A" masterpiece.  You should have seen the look on their faces when I asked why a young lady hasn't been appointed to the shaving task of the "A"....They basically said it scares most girls off and they have to break them in slowly LOL! 

The Black Bears silenced the Mountaineers both offensively and defensively.  Appalachian State had 3 rushing yards for the entire game compared to UMaine's 216.  Coach Moore said at the half that his team was lethargic and he was concerned about consistency in his offense; Moore also mentioned that they were fortunate that the score was 14-6 at the half. Appalachian State never got any momentum in this game!

At half time, Coach Cosgrove talked about his team finishing plays, and how the Black Bears were fortunate to hold the Mountaineers to just 6 points in the 1st half.  We know how this one ended 34-12 and Maine advances to play Georgia Southern on their home turf Saturday at 2pm on ESPN3

On to the nuggets.....Here's one I hope to get in this coming weekend for the Black Bears.

Linebacker Aaron Achey, was the roommate of Charles Kyeremeh who passed away this summer in a moter cycle accident.  These two young men were both from Pennsylvania and grew up about 15 minutes apart.  They had heard of each other, but officially met on a visit to UMaine.  They figured they would go ahead an room together.  Charles and Aaron became great friends and would often talk in their dorm room about wrecking havoc this year on the football field.  In honor of Kyeremeh's absence, Achey is wearing  his friends #33 jersey.  You will notice a number #33 on all the UMaine helmets. 

Jack Cosgrove made the point that up in their neck of the woods "H" comes before "F" in the dictionary; Meaning, hockey and hunting before football. Perhaps now that the Black Bears have made it to the 3rd round of the FCS playoffs to play Georgia Southern the people of Maine will take notice :)

Last two nuggets:

App. State's #2Deandre Presley-
This is a guy who at QB in 2010 was the runner up in the Walter Payton award and Southern Conference Player of the year.  After a slow start in 2011 and and injury during the Wofford game, Coach Moore made the switch at QB giving Sophomore Jamal Jackson the job.  Two things happened after that. One, Presley went to Coach Moore stating that he would like to help his team any way he can, and he would be willing to do so at any position. Secondly, he went straight to team Chaplin Reggie Hunt(who has his own office three doors down from Coach Moore) to discuss matters.  Presley ended up playing all over the field in 2011 to help his team make it to the 2nd round of the FCS playoffs, and Reggie Hunt helped Presley see how this change if taken with a proper attitude can be a positive that prepares Presley  for lives real lessons down the road. 

I learned of this story on the conference call with Coach Moore last week.  #77 Center Alex Acey is a true freshman, who was a walk on this past summer! Coach Moore was actually recruiting a running back from Acey's high school in Alabama, when the high school coach told Coach Moore about Alex.  He made a hard sell on Acey being an Honor student and having a great work.  Since it was going to be out of state tuition, Coach Moore knew it was be hard for Alex's mom who is a single parent.  So Coach Moore called Alex's mom and told her...Mam, I believe in your son, and if you will pay for him to be in summer school so he can come to practice and be evaluated, I will give you fair warning if he will make the team or not.  I believe in your son so much, that if you have to go pick up cans on the side of the road to pay for this you should, because your son has a chance!  Well, Alex did great at summer camp and won the starting position at Center and a full scholarship :)  Coach Moore loves this story, because he says this is what Appalachian State football is all about.

Lastly, Coach Moore is one of the nicest people I have ever met, and the story between he and his lovely lady  is just remarkable!

These two have been married 52 years!  Margaret has never missed a practice or a game even when her children were little.  Yes practice too :)  Margaret also sits in the stands with the fans, not just in the stands outside the nice box with private bathrooms, I mean in the stands!  How wonderful to have a support system like that and be in the coaching profession!  RARE!!

See you all next week after the UMaine vs Georgia Southern match up 2pm December 10th on ESPN3