Football Southern Conference

Appalachian State to play Kansas in 2005

BOONE,N.C.-Appalachian State University athletics agreed on Wednesday to fill one of the open dates on its 2005 football schedule with a matchup versus the University of Kansas. The Mountaineers and the Jayhawks are set to square off on Sept.10,2005 at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kan.

Already with an open date scheduled for Sept.10, Appalachian was left with a second idle week when Northwestern State opted out of the return game of a home-and-home series, slated for Oct. 1 in Boone. The addition of Kansas to the slate is part of a rebuilding of ASU's schedule due to NSU 's decision. A finalized 2005 schedule is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

"The loss of the Northwestern State game was unfortunate, especially this late in the year," ASU interim athletics director Dr.Linda K. Robinson said. "Our efforts to replace that game with another I-AA opponent were far-reaching.The addition of Kansas once again reflects our commitment to field a strong schedule featuring only D-I opponents. This coincides with the recent I-AA Football Committee recommendations for playoff consideration."

Kansas marks Appalachian's first-ever opponent from the Big XII, one of the nation's most prestigious football conferences. The Jayhawks finished with a 4-7 record in 2004, one season after advancing to the 2003 Tangerine Bowl, their first postseason appearance in eight years.