1000 x 90

‘Old Mountain Jug’ Battle Takes Place Saturday, Chancellor Peacock To Be Recognized at Halftime

peacock_0236 (1)
Peacock holds up the national championships from 2005 and 2006. The Appalachian State Mountaineers would go onto win a third. Photo by Ken Ketchie

By Jesse Wood

Nov. 22, 2013. Who’s going home with the Old Mountain Jug on Saturday?

If outgoing Appalachian State Chancellor Ken Peacock has his way, the outgoing Mountaineers will end its SoCon rivalry with Western Carolina victorious. “The Battle for the Old Mountain Jug” takes place at Kidd Brewer Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 23, and kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m.

At halftime, a ceremony recognizing Chancellor Peacock will occur. A video honoring Peacock is expected to be shown on the big screen and his family will be present, according to Jacki McInturff, a staff member of the Office of the Chancellor.

Mike Flynn, sports information officer with Appalachian State Athletics, couldn’t provide any other details of the halftime show, although he encouraged people to stay in their seats at halftime.

Nobody has been a bigger fan of Appalachian State Athletics, and in particular, App State Football, than Peacock. Throughout his tenure as the chancellor, Peacock watched the football program grow from anonymity to winning football games on the biggest stage in college football.

During a press conference announcing the move to FBS, Peacock said, “The future is so bright, sometimes we have to wear shades.”

A very limited number of reserved seats remain for Saturday’s game. Tickets for both reserved and general-admission, grass seating can be purchased by clicking HERE. The cost of tickets ranges from $17 to $32.

The Mountaineers (3-8) and Western Carolina (2-9) have met 72 times since 1932, meeting every year with the exception of a four-year period during World War II. The Mountaineers have a 58-18-1 advantage in the longtime series.

Saturday’s game is also the final contest for the 14 members of Appalachian State football’s senior class. Eleven (Karl Anderson, Josh Anding, Ian Barnard, Patrick Blalock, Michael Frazier, Jamal Londry-Jackson, An- drew Peacock, Adam scott, Drew stewart, Rodger Walker and Tony Washington) are closing out their fourth and final collegiate season while three (Rommel Andre, Austin Chambers and Tucker Lee) are fourth-year juniors that have elected to forego their final season of eligibility.

Other Notes of Saturday’s Matchup:

• After 42 seasons, Appalachian State is playing in its 296th and final Southern Conference game. The Mountaineers, who are 203-87-5 (.697) in SoCon games since joining the conference in 1972, will join the NCAA Division I FBS Sun Belt Conference in 2014.

• Since the inception of the Old Mountain Jug in 1976, Appalachian won 30 of the 37 contests versus WCU, including eight-straight and 26 of the last 28 meetings.

• Appalachian State has won 14-straight home games versus Western Carolina, with WCU’s last victory in Boone coming in then-Conrad Stadium on Oct. 6, 1984, a 34-7 win over first-year head coach Sparky Woods’ Mountaineers.

• Saturday’s game is also the final contest for the 14 members of Appalachian State football’s senior class. Eleven (Karl AndersonJosh AndingIan BarnardPatrick BlalockMichael FrazierJamal Londry-JacksonAndrew PeacockAdam ScottDrew StewartRodger Walker and Tony Washington) are closing out their fourth and final collegiate season while three (Rommel AndreAustin Chambers and Tucker Lee) are fourth-year juniors that have elected to forego their final season of eligibility.

• Saturday’s game is a homecoming of sorts for Western Carolina head coach Mark Speir. Speir, who spent nine years as an assistant coach at Appalachian State from 2003-11, is making his first appearance at Kidd Brewer Stadium since he took the reins at WCU prior to the 2012 season.

RADIO 
Saturday’s game will be broadcast live on the Appalachian IMG Sports Network. Live coverage begins at 1:30 p.m. with Pigskin Prelude. Click HERE for a full list of Appalachian IMG Sports Network affiliates or click HERE to listen live online.

LIVE VIDEO 
Saturday’s game can be seen live on App State TV. Click HERE to become an App State TV premium subscriber.

For more info, click to Game Day Central here