Today's Article in Asheville Paper - ASU vs LSU

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BOONE – “No excuses.”

That’s the message Appalachian State quarterback Armanti Edwards wants to send to LSU.


Not boastful, just a reminder that the shock-the-world, huge underdog card has already been played.

“Last year (after the 34-32 upset at No. 5 Michigan), people said we won because they weren’t prepared and they didn’t practice for us,” said Edwards, who will lead his team into Tiger Stadium Saturday in the season-opener pitting the two 2007 Division I national champions.

“But LSU knows we are coming. We won’t be sneaking up on them, and we’re going to find out how we do against (FBS) competition when they are ready for us. I like it that way.”

ASU coach Jerry Moore knows that LSU counterpart Les Miles will have his team ready to play.

“He’s a Michigan man (Miles played and coached there), and he’s not going to let his players forget what happened up there a year ago,” Moore said.

“I’m sure a lot of (FBS) schools are tired of hearing about Appalachian.”

Senior defensive back Leonard Love, who had eight tackles and a key fourth-quarter interception at Michigan, also is anxious to see how his team matches up with LSU.

“Knowing that you have that level of competition the first week, and you have to be prepared right off the bat, that really motivates you,” said Love.

“Our mindset is the same as it was against Michigan and every other team we play. We want to compete and give ourselves a chance to win.”

If ASU has any hope of pulling off another stunning upset against the 7th-ranked Tigers, Edwards will probably have to produce some big numbers.

The 6-foot junior left-hander who has bulked up to a still-small 184 pounds, is 24-2 as a starter and has accounted for 68 touchdowns and 6,940 yards of total offense in two seasons.

“If we lose (at LSU), everyone is going to say the Michigan game was a fluke,” said Edwards, 20.

“A lot of us play with a chip on our shoulder because we didn’t get recruited by those big schools, and that chip is even bigger now.”

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