BOONE, N.C. ? After racking up a game-high 12 tackles and intercepting his first career pass in Saturday's 41-13 loss to No. 7 (FBS) LSU, Appalachian State University linebacker Jacque Roman was named the season's first Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Week, the league office announced on Monday.
In addition to the 12 stops from his middle linebacker position, Roman also intercepted a Jarrett Lee pass deep in LSU territory and returned it 13 yards to set up an Appalachian field goal. The interception was the first in 30 career games for the junior from Kingsland, Ga.
The SoCon Player-of-the-Week recognition is the first of Roman's career.
APPS REMAIN NO. 1 IN SPORTS NETWORK POLL: Despite the season-opening loss at defending BCS champion LSU, Appalachian remained ranked No. 1 in The Sports Network FCS national media poll this week.
The Mountaineers' cushion at the top of poll was narrowed, however, as it received 62-of-110 first-place votes in this week's poll, compared to 97-of-101 in the preseason rankings. No. 2 North Dakota State was the primary beneficiary, as it received 42 first-place votes this week. Richmond, Massachusetts and Delaware round out the top five.
In the American Football Coaches Association FCS poll, ASU fell to No. 2, behind NDSU. The Apps received 12 first-place votes in the AFCA poll, compared to 13 for the Bison.
GAMEDAY EVENTS: There are many special events scheduled for Saturday's home opener versus Jacksonville (3:30 p.m. ? Kidd Brewer Stadium).
? National Champions Day ? Appalachian will commemorate the Mountaineers' third-straight NCAA Division I national title by raising the 2007 national championship flag prior to kickoff.
? Lettermen's Day ? More than 200 former Mountaineer gridiron stars will be on hand for the festivities, which includes a salute to those who have played under 20th-year head coach Jerry Moore scheduled for halftime.
? Throwback Uniforms ? In commemoration of Moore's 20th season at ASU, the Mountaineers will don throwback uniforms for Saturday's game. The throwbacks, which were designed and produced by Nike, are replicas of ASU's uniforms from 1989, Moore's first at the helm of the Apps. Next week, the throwback jerseys will auctioned online at GoASU.com.
For more gameday information, including both teams' rosters, depth charts and game notes, links to TailgateAtTheRock.com, live audio, video and stats, Kidd Brewer Stadium seating charts, parking and FAQ and much more, visit the Gameday Central page right here at GoASU.com.
MOUNTAINEER TALK AIRS LIVE FROM BEEF ?O' BRADY'S ON THURSDAY NIGHT: Beginning this Thursday, Mountaineer Talk, the Appalachian ISP Sports Network's weekly radio call-in show, airs live from Beef ?O' Brady's at the Watuaga Village Shopping Center on Blowing Rock Blvd. in Boone. The show will air from Beef ?O' Brady's every Thursday evening from 7-8 p.m. for the rest of the 2008 football campaign.
The “Voice of the Mountaineers” David Jackson and head coach Jerry Moore will be joined by ASU chancellor Dr. Kenneth E. Peacock for this Thursday's edition of Mountaineer Talk. For those who can't be a part of live audience at Beef ?O' Brady's, Mountaineer Talk can be heard live on the 100,000-watt flagship station of the Appalachian ISP Sports Network, WKBC 97.3 FM (North Wilkesboro, Charlotte, Hickory, Statesville, Winston-Salem, High Country), as well as WATA 1450 AM in Boone and online at GoASU.com. WPCM 920 AM in Burlington broadcasts Mountaineer Talk on tape delay Fridays at 6 p.m. and WEEB 990 AM in Southern Pines airs the show Saturdays at 7:30 a.m.
