The “U” may be coming to Boone to play football next season, according to a report from Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
The report, which surfaced around 10 p.m. Tuesday, said Jackson’s sources indicate that the University of Miami and Appalachian State are finalizing a deal to play at Kidd Brewer Stadium next season, as well playing in Sun Life Stadium at a later date, as part of a home-and-home agreement between the two universities.
To date, the Hurricanes only have three non-conference games scheduled, and it’s believed that App State’s ability to accommodate Miami’s schedule on short notice made them a prime candidate for scheduling.
Despite the report, Appalachian State athletics officials wrote in an email early Wednesday that nothing has been finalized regarding any potential game. They neither acknowledged nor denied the validity of the original report.
“We’re constantly working on future football schedules and have had conversations with several schools about scheduling opportunities. Our goal is to continue to schedule opponents that will resonate with everyone associated with our program, including our coaches, student-athletes, students, alumni, the local community and fans. However, there is no news to report at this time,” officials wrote in an email to The Appalachian.
To accommodate playing Miami, App State would have to adjust their current 2016 schedule, as the team is already slated to play their four non-conference games against Tennessee, Old Dominion, NC Central, and Akron.
If the deal is completed, it would be the first ever meeting between the two teams, and the first time the Mountaineers have hosted a current ACC member at Kidd Brewer Stadium.
Appalachian State is 7-30-1 all-time against current members of the ACC, with its last victory coming against Wake Forest in a 20-16 win on Aug. 31, 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.
Story by: Chris Warner, Sports Editor