Appalachian State University announced Tuesday that the team has agreed to host the Miami Hurricanes at Kidd Brewer Stadium on Sept. 17, 2016, part of a home-and-home agreement that will also send the Mountaineers to Miami for a rematch in 2021.
The agreement marks the first time in team history that the Mountaineers will host a member of a “Power Five” conference, and the first time that Hurricanes will play a Sun Belt opponent on the road.
“One of our goals is to play opponents in all sports that generate excitement among our University community, students, alumni and fans,” Athletic director Doug Gillin said. “Miami definitely fits the description.”
The agreement comes roughly three weeks after Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported the Mountaineers and Hurricanes were discussing a potential game in Boone for 2016, part of a potential home-and-home agreement that would help the Hurricanes fill the void of their fourth non-conference game of the season on short notice.
A member of the ACC conference, the Hurricanes are a historical NCAA football powerhouse, winning AP national championship in 1983, 1987, 1989, 1991 and 2001 — making them easily the most storied program that the Mountaineers have ever hosted at Kidd Brewer Stadium.
“As someone who has been at Appalachian State for more than 20 years, I feel that bringing an opponent as recognizable as Miami to Boone is a milestone for our University,” Head coach Scott Satterfield said. “We have great respect for Miami — not just for its tradition but for the very talented team it will bring to The Rock next season.”
The Mountaineers are 7-30-1 all-time against current members of the ACC, with their last victory coming against Wake Forest in a 20-16 win on August of 2000. Their most recent loss against an ACC opponent took place earlier this season on Sept. 12, when the Clemson Tigers snapped the Mountaineers’ seven-game winning streak in Death Valley 41-10.
In order to accommodate the game against Miami, App State and North Carolina Central have agreed to postpone their game to an undetermined later date.
The Hurricanes are the latest household name the Apps have announced in non-conference scheduling. In addition to the home game against Miami, the team is slated to play Tennessee in 2016, Georgia in 2017, and Penn State in 2018 — all on the road, however.
“I’m excited for our student-athletes to have the opportunity to compete at home against such a terrific program and for our fans to be a part of the experience,” Satterfield said.
Story by: Chris Warner, Sports Editor