Appalachian State Mountaineers football The Appalachian State Mountaineers football team is the college football team at Appalachian State University in Boone , North Carolina . The Mountaineers have competed in the Southern Conference since 1972 , and are currently a Division I Football Championship Subdivision ( FCS ) member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association ( NCAA ) . Appalachian plays its home games in Kidd Brewer Stadium , which is named after Kidd Brewer , whose 1937 squad was unbeaten and unscored upon during the regular season . The Mountaineers are the first FCS team to win three straight national championships since the playoffs began in 1978 . They are also the first Division I program to win three consecutive national championships since Army accomplished the feat in 1944 , 1945 , and 1946 , and the first Division I school in modern times to claim three straight undisputed national titles . Appalachian became the first FCS team to ever receive votes in the final Associated Press ( AP ) college football poll on January 8 , 2008 . The Mountaineers received five points in the poll , tying South Florida for 34th . At the conclusion of the 2008 season , Armanti Edwards became the Mountaineers ' first Walter Payton Award winner , given to the most outstanding FCS offensive player . Former head coach Jerry Moore also took home his sixth Coach of the Year award , the most in Southern Conference history . History . 1928 – 1971 . Appalachian State began playing organized football in 1928 . The coach during that first year was Graydon Eggers . The Mountaineers competed as an independent before joining the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics ( NAIA ) North State Conference as a charter member in 1931 . Kidd Brewer was the head coach of the Mountaineers from 1935 – 38 , leading the team to two postseason bowl games . Brewer ' s 1937 squad is best remembered for going unbeaten and unscored upon during the regular season , outscoring opponents 206 – 0 before losing a postseason game to the Golden Eagles of Southern Miss , 7 – 0 . Appalachian found continued success under coach E . C . Duggins ( 1947 – 50 and 1952 – 55 ) . During Duggins ' eight years as coach , the Mountaineers claimed three more North State Conference championships and played in seven bowl games . The Mountaineers again competed as an independent from 1968 – 71 before accepting an invitation to the Southern Conference . Stadiums . College Field . College Field was the home of Appalachian football from 1928 to 1961 . Located at the future site of Rankin Hall and Edwin Duncan Hall , the stadium was replaced by Kidd Brewer Stadium in 1962 . Kidd Brewer Stadium . Opened in 1962 , Kidd Brewer Stadium was originally named Conrad Stadium after former university trustee and R . J . Reynolds executive William J . Conrad . The stadium was renamed in 1988 for Kidd Brewer who coached the Mountaineers from 1935 – 38 . Nicknamed " The Rock " , Kidd Brewer sits at an elevation of but is measured at for NCAA qualifications . The stadium was the first venue in either North or South Carolina to install artificial turf . The Mountaineers and Elon staged the first game on fake grass in the Carolinas on October 3 , 1970 . After a 2002 First Round I - AA playoff loss to Maine , Appalachian compiled a 30 game unbeaten streak at Kidd Brewer Stadium that ended on October 20 , 2007 . The Mountaineers led the FCS in average attendance in 2007 , 2008 , and 2010 with totals of 24 , 219 , 25 , 161 and 25 , 715 respectively . Renovations . Completed in 2009 , the stadium has seen extensive renovations as part of a $ 50 million facilities improvement campaign . An upper deck with additional seating for 4 , 400 was added to the east ( visitor ) stands for the 2008 season . Additional restrooms and concessions have been added . Most significantly , rising behind the west ( home ) stands and replacing the former pressbox facilities , the KBS Complex was completed for the start of the 2009 season . The KBS Complex includes new stadium entrance plaza , strength and conditioning rooms , a hydrotherapy room , locker rooms , athletics offices , stadium suites and club seating . Championships . National championships . Appalachian has won three national championships in the NCAA Division I FCS , the highest division in college football to hold a playoff tournament to determine its champion . The Mountaineers became the fifth program in FCS history to reach the national title game three straight years joining Eastern Kentucky ( 1979 – 82 ) , Georgia Southern ( 1988 – 90 and 1998 – 2000 ) , Marshall ( 1991 – 93 ) and Youngstown State ( 1991 – 94 ) . Appalachian also had a thirteen game postseason winning streak , a record for consecutive wins in contiguous years that ended with a loss to Richmond in 2008 . Conference championships . Among current conference members , the Mountaineers are in second place with ten championships . The Furman Paladins lead the conference with twelve championships . Important games . Trophy games . Appalachian State plays the Western Carolina Catamounts annually for the Old Mountain Jug . The first game played between the two universities was in 1932 , and the Jug was first introduced in 1976 . Appalachian ' s record in games played is 54 – 18 – 1 , and 26 – 7 in the Jug era . The Mountaineers currently hold the trophy having won the 2009 contest . Notable games . 2002 Furman Paladins . The " Miracle on the Mountain " took place at Kidd Brewer Stadium on October 12 , 2002 and was selected as the " ABC Sports Radio Call of the Year . " A low scoring affair , the Paladins elected to attempt a two - point conversion after scoring the go - ahead touchdown with 7 seconds left in the game . Leading 15 – 14 , Furman quarterback Billy Napier ' s pass was intercepted by Josh Jeffries at the 4 yard line . He lateraled the ball to Derrick Black who returned it for a score giving the Mountaineers a 16 – 15 win . 2007 Michigan Wolverines . On September 1 , 2007 , the Appalachian State football team traveled to Ann Arbor to play their season opener at the University of Michigan . A sellout crowd of over 109 , 000 fans packed Michigan Stadium , becoming the largest crowd to ever witness an ASU football game . Appalachian State beat Michigan 34 – 32 and became the first Division I FCS ( I - AA ) football team to defeat a Division I FBS ( I - A ) team ranked in the AP poll . This victory was seen by some analysts to be one of the greatest upsets in NCAA football history . Following the win , they were featured on the cover of the following week ' s issue of " Sports Illustrated " . 2008 LSU Tigers . On August 30 , 2008 , Appalachian State opened its football season at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge , Louisiana against NCAA Division I FBS ( formerly Division I - A ) defending national champion Louisiana State University . The game , which was broadcast on ESPN Classic , was the first ever between defending FBS and FCS National Championship teams . The game against the Mountaineers saw the Tigers claim an early lead and victory by a score of 41 – 13 . Individual award winners . Other awards and honors . Kirkland Blocking Trophy National Statistical Champion