AFM Subscribers Ask...with Jerry Moore

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Appalachian State Head Coach Jerry Moore led the Mountaineers to one of college football’s all-time upsets last fall: ASU beat Michigan, in Ann Arbor, 34-32. Additionally, Moore and the Mountaineers completed last season as the first ‘three-peat’ in the history of Division I-AA or FCS football. ASU won their third consecutive National Championship beating Delaware, 49-21. Appalachian’s head man since 1989, Moore has an overall 167-70 record. In 2006 he was selected the Schutt Sports FCS Coach of The Year. Moore also was a head coach at both North Texas and Texas Tech and as a high school player in Bonham, TX earned 14 varsity letters. It doesn’t get any easier for the Mountaineers this fall--they open up at LSU on August 30th. Coach Moore answers your questions...

Q. Going into the Michigan game as a significant underdog, what did your staff feel you definitely needed to have an opportunity to win and how did you sell your chances to your players? Chad Brubaker, Offensive Coordinator and Wide Receivers Coach, Wilson High School, West Lawn PA. AFM subscriber since 2006.

The number one factor we thought could make a difference in the game was conditioning. We knew we were going to play a limited number of players and actually played a total of 29:15 on offense and 14 on defense. The other factor we thought important was the play of special teams. We spent an enormous amount of time in our preparation for the game on special teams which is so important that early in the season. Our coaches kept telling our players that their play in special teams could determine the outcome of the game. And while we blocked a field goal at the end of the game, it was actually our second blocked field goal of the game.

Q. What made you change from a more traditional offense to the shotgun spread a few years ago and what suggestions would you give to other coaches contemplating a similar change? Tony Costello, Head Coach, Lansing Catholic High School, MI. AFM subscriber since 2005.

The original plan was just to change the tempo of the game but continue to do what we've been doing offensively. I was intrigued by Utah's play and also West Virginia's as we made the decision to go from the I formation to the Spread. Coach Rodriguez and Coach Stewart opened the doors to us and we spent a week up there watching them practice. We then came back and installed it in the spring of 2004 and went strictly shotgun spread with an attacking style. We studied more in the summer and both the coaches and players felt we were on the right track. After our first game against Wyoming that year, it began to take off. This offense gave us another running back – the quarterback – just like at West Virginia.

With regard to other coaches contemplating such a change, I think it really depends on your personnel. But regardless, there comes a time where you have to make a decision on your offense – whether you change it or not – and then go with it.

Q. Why do you think your team arguably plays its best football in the playoffs the past few years? Jim Young, Assistant Coach, Grace Christian School, Loris, SC. AFM subscriber since 2007.

I believe we play in one of the best I-AA conferences so it’s always extremely competitive. But we also traditionally play a I-A opponent early on. We played LSU and Kansas one year, NC State another year and Michigan this past fall. I think summer preparation and fall camp helps the mental approach to our season and carries us through. I think the turning point of last season was our fourth quarter comeback against Georgia Southern. Even though we lost the game, the players bought into the potential this team had. I think you have to overcome adversity and it makes you a better coach, a better player and a better team.

Q. With all the success ASU has had, there must have been some point in the program when you made some decisions to make changes with the overall program. What were the major facets that convinced you to make changes and what got you through the challenge of making changes in the program? Robert Stovall, Head Coach, DGF HS, Base Naval, Rota, Spain. AFM subscriber since 2006.

The biggest change, as I mentioned earlier, was going from the conventional I to the Spread in the spring of 2004. Our overall program has really changed since then. We now have the leading attendance in I-AA and our stadium is under a $40 million reconstruction phase. Our following has been good but it has really picked up over the last four years. Our overall marketing and promotions and merchandising have grown tremendously.

Q. With the offense that you run, what are the mental and physical skills you look for in finding the right QB to run your attack? Bob Carson, Assistant Coach, Lexington HS, TX. AFM subscriber since 2007.

I think the most important thing is that he has to be athletic. He has to be able to run the football and pass it. He has to be physically tough, a good decision maker, and be coachable. We've been blessed with some great quarterbacks but you also have to have a quarterback that's durable. The toughness factor is crucial.

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Coming Soon: Last fall Oregon State led all Football Bowl Subdivision teams in rushing defense, allowing only 70 yards per game. The Beavers also finished fourth in the nation in quarterback sacks, sixth in tackles-for-loss and eighth in total defense. The architect of the OSU defense is DC Mark Banker. Next month Coach Banker answers your questions about his defense. Go to AmericanFootballMonthly.com/askacoach or send your question to AFM’s Managing Editor Rex Lardner at rlardner@lcclark.com.

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