ASU Notebook: Baton Rouge likely to be steamy

By: JournalNow Staff | COMPILED BY TOMMY BOWMAN
Published: August 28, 2008

■ Appalachian State will head to LSU for Saturday's season-opener anticipating hot and humid weather, typical for the deep South in August.

"At 4 o'clock (Central time) it will be hot," Coach Les Miles of LSU said. "Everybody in the state understands what humidity is about. I don't know that it will play any significant factor. I know that temperature is something that both teams have to deal with."

The National Weather Service predicts temperatures in the low 90s for Baton Rouge, La., on Saturday.

Jerry Moore, Appalachian's coach, said of the almost-certain hot conditions: "There's not much you can do about that. We've worked hard here, during the heat of the day here. But the heat of the day up here is probably a cool time down there.

"We've run a lot, but tried to get (the players') legs back now where they're fresh and ready to go play."

Armanti Edwards, Appalachian's quarterback, said he doesn't anticipate a problem.

"The air is pretty thin up here," Edwards said. "I think it will be better for us when we get off the mountain."

■ Expectations are high for Appalachian State this season, on the heels of three straight national titles. But next season could be off the chart.

Only five of the projected 22 starters for this season are seniors. Three play offense -- linemen Jonathan Beischke and Brad Coley and receiver T.J. Courman -- and two play defense – linebacker Pierre Banks and nickel Leonard Love.

Only two other players on the two-deep charts are seniors -- receiver James Hill and nickel Billy Riddle.

■ Moore knows that his team will go into Saturday's game with some confidence after last season's victory over Michigan, but he isn't about to downplay the underdog role.

"Our chances are even worse than David against Goliath," he said.

■ Appalachian will receive $550,000 for playing LSU.