Appalachian State University and UNC Charlotte will begin a two-game football series with a head-to-head matchup on Sept. 8, 2018.
The two-game series begins at Jerry Richardson Stadium, home of the 49ers, and concludes in Boone on Sept. 7, 2019.
“Adding a series against an in-state opponent that has the tradition and history of Appalachian State is important to the continued growth of our program,” Charlotte Director of Athletics Judy Rose said in a statement from App State Athletics. “We can’t thank [Appalachian State Athletic Director] Charlie Cobb and [head football] coach [Scott] Satterfield enough. We know our fans have been looking forward to this possibility and it’s a natural step as both programs transition into FBS play.”
App State is entering its first season as an NCAA Division I FBS football team as it begins play as a Sun Belt Conference member this fall. Charlotte is set to join the FBS ranks in 2015 as a member of Conference USA.
When Charlotte played its first college football game in 2013, Cobb said he knew setting up a series with the upstart program would be something to look forward to.
“Since Charlotte announced it was beginning a football program several years ago, it has been a priority to try to arrange a series that would be great for our student-athletes and fans,” Cobb said in a statement from App State Athletics. “We hope that it is a series that will extend well past this initial two-year arrangement and become a showcase for FBS football in western North Carolina and beyond.”
App State head coach Scott Satterfield said he felt the two schools going head-to-head is a good fit.
“The proximity of our campuses, the similarity of our schools and the familiarity that our student-athletes have with each other from the high school level make it a natural rivalry,” Satterfield said in a statement from App State Athletics. “It will be a great series for both school’s fans and for college football in North Carolina.”
Along with Charlotte, Appalachian has scheduled three other home-and-home arrangements in which two games, one at each team’s home stadium, will be played, according to appstatesports.com.
Southern Mississippi (2014-15), Old Dominion (2015-16) and Akron (2016-17) are the other programs the Mountaineers will face once they join the FBS ranks.
Story: Nick Joyner, Senior sports reporter