STATESBORO, Ga. — The modern history of the Appalachian State-Georgia Southern football rivalry started on one of the coldest days in Kidd Brewer Stadium history, with a snow and ice-slicked field helping the top-ranked Mountaineers end the two-year I-AA championship run of the Eagles, 19-0, in the quarterfinals of the playoffs.
There won’t be any ice outside of tailgate and concession-stand beverages when ASU and GSU meet Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. in a packed Paulson Stadium for an annual conflict that has been mostly white-hot in the years that have followed.
For the third straight year, a national television audience will also be watching on ESPNU, as these two Sun Belt Conference newbies battle to establish themselves as league title favorites.