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Gunning for Four: Courman, senior receiver, has helped ASU to 3 national titles
Appalachian State Photo
Wide receiver T.J. Courman had 58 receiving yards in his Appalachian State debut in 2005.
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Published: August 21, 2008
BOONE
Appalachian State's insistence to avoid talk of winning a national championship until playoff time has worked well over the past three seasons.
T.J. Courman agrees with that approach, but he can't help but think ahead a little bit. If the Mountaineers were to win a fourth straight NCAA Football Championship Subdivision title this year, Courman could gain a special distinction among his teammates.
He has played in every national-title game since his arrival at ASU. A repeat would make him 4 for 4.
"That's kind of what drives me right now," said Courman, a senior wide receiver. "It's definitely something I think about. It's one of those things you don't want to get too ahead of yourself, because we always take things one game at a time, but it's something I can't help thinking about.
"It would just be awesome to do that. To play in every single national-championship game, it would be a tremendous honor to leave here with. I do think about it a lot."
Pierre Banks is the only other ASU player to have participated in all three national-title games, but he was part of the 2004 team that didn't win a title.
Courman, a former high-school quarterback at East Carteret, arrived in 2005 and made an immediate impact -- leading the Mountaineers with 58 receiving yards in his college debut against Kansas. He went on to play in 13 games, the final of which was a national-title victory over Northern Iowa.
"I remember thinking, ‘Wow, I'm part of this,' " Courman said. "It was so exciting.
"The thing I will never forgot was when Jason Hunter picked up that fumble and, when he got in the end zone, Jeremy Wiggins grabbed him and basically tackled him pretty much. That was one of the funniest things I've ever seen."
Courman caught one pass in that first title game, and followed with catches in both the 2006 title win against Massachusetts and 2007 title win against Delaware.
"I know not to take it for granted," Courman said. "Just like last year's (first-round) game against James Madison. We could have lost that game and it would have been over. A lot has to happen this year for us to get another chance."
The Mountaineers will begin the new journey on Aug. 30 against LSU in a first-ever meeting between FCS and BCS defending champions.
Courman has 50 career receptions for 534 yards and three touchdowns. He also has 35 rushing attempts for 210 yards and a touchdown. He will be counted on if the Mountaineers are to make it to a fourth straight title game. He has played in 43 games, second only to Banks' 47.
"Just in talking to the coaches and things, I think my role will increase as far as maybe catching more balls and being involved in the offense a little more," Courman said. "From a personal standpoint, I am a senior and this is my time. Not being arrogant about it, but I feel like I can make plays when the ball is in my hands."
Jerry Moore, the Mountaineers' coach, said of Courman: "When he came here as a freshman I was really impressed with how hard he worked. That hasn't changed. And you couple that with his athletic ability. He's made a lot of clutch plays for us over the years and we're looking forward to his senior season."
■ Tommy Bowman can be reached at 727-7320 or at tbowman@wsjournal.com.
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