BOONE, N.C. (Aug. 30, 2024) – A new era of ETSU football will kick off on Saturday as the Buccaneers will make the short trip to take on Appalachian State in their 2024 season opener. Kickoff between the Bucs and Mountaineers is set for 3:30 p.m.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, Aug. 31
Time: 3:32 p.m.
Location: Boone, N.C. | Kidd Brewer Stadium
Teams: ETSU (0-0) at Appalachian State (0-0)
Weather: 74° | Cloudy | Winds WSW @ 3-5 mph
Live Video: ESPN+
TV Crew: David Jackson (pbp), Avery Hall (analyst)
Live Audio: WXSM-AM 640 | HD radio can listen on 101.5 WQUT HD-2
Radio Crew: Jay "Voice of the Bucs" Sandos (pbp), Matt Wiljelm (analyst), Robert Harper (sideline), Don Helman (stats)
Live Stats: ETSUBucs.com (StatBroadcast)
X: @ETSUFootball
Weekly Press Conference: Click
HERE
THINGS TO KNOW – Please click
HERE for all the "Things to Know" for Saturday's matchup with App State, presented by Citizens Bank.
A NEW ERA OF ETSU FOOTBALL – ETSU will be under new leadership this fall as
Tre Lamb takes the reigns of the Buccaneer program following back-to-back 3-8 seasons. Lamb, who was named the 20th head coach in program history on November 27, 2023, comes to Johnson City after spending the last four seasons at Gardner-Webb. During his time with the Runnin' Bulldogs, Lamb helped the program to back-to-back appearances in the FCS playoffs, win its first conference championship in 20 years (2022) and win its first ever FCS playoff game (52-41 over Eastern Kentucky).
NEW IS THE WORD FOR THE BUCS – In a busy offseason for the Bucs, Coach Lamb has brought in an entirely new coaching staff and several new players. Of the 105 players currently on ETSU's roster, just 34 were with the program a season ago. The Bucs added 41 transfers during the offseason, including 24 from Gardner-Webb to go along with 30 true freshmen.
BUCS THAT ARE BACK - Even with all the new faces, the Bucs do have some key returners from the 2023 team. Among the returners are All-SoCon Second Team players safety
Chris Hope and center
Luke Smith. ETSU also brings back wide receiver
Xavier Gaillardetz, linebackers
Ray Coney and
Dre Delinois, defensive lineman
Jaylen George, and defensive back
Jayvon Henderson, who all earned All-SoCon Freshman Team honors in their first collegiate seasons. ETSU also returns its All-SoCon First Team punter in
Nate Brackett and its kicker
Ewan Johnson, who earned All-SoCon Freshman Team honors as well.
BUCS AGAINST THE FBS - Since restarting its football program in 2015, ETSU has faced off against five FBS programs. During this time frame, the Bucs have clashed with Tennessee (2018), Appalachian State (2019), Vanderbilt (2019, 2021), Mississippi State (2022) and Jacksonville State (2023). Among current SoCon schools, the Bucs are the last to defeat a FBS opponent as they upended Vanderbilt in 2021, 23-3. That victory over the Commodores sparked an 11-2 record for ETSU where it reached the quarterfinals of the FCS Playoffs.
BUCS WITH BOONE CONNECTIONS - Saturday's game in Boone will mark a homecoming of sorts for four Buccaneers. Linebacker
Zach West, defensive backs Carlton and
Cole Horine and offensive lineman
Eli Greene were all born and raised in Boone, N.C. All four players are graduates of Watauga High School as well.
ONCE A MOUNTAINEER, NOW A BUC - ETSU also has some connections with the Appalachian State program on its roster. Center
Luke Smith is a graduate of Appalachian State after spending four seasons in Boone. Smith, who was selected as a Preseason All-SoCon First Team pick last month, played in 19 games for App State from 2021-23 before transferring to ETSU ahead of last season. Newcomer
Seth Williams is another former Mountaineer offensive lineman taking his first trip to Boone as a visiting player on Saturday. Williams played 14 games for App State over the past three seasons before coming to Johnson City ahead of the 2024 campaign.
COACH LAMB'S HISTORY/TIES WITH APP STATE - In an odd scheduling coincidence, Head Coach
Tre Lamb's first game leading the Bucs will be against the same opponent as his 2023 Gardner-Webb's team had in their season opener a year ago. GWU battled the Mountaineers tough in that contest as it trailed App State by seven, 31-24, entering the fourth quarter before a pair of touchdowns led to a 45-24 win for the Mountaineers. Coach Lamb has another connection to Appalachian State's program as his cousin Taylor Lamb was App State's starting quarterback from 2014-17. Following his playing days in Boone, Lamb also got into coaching as he is currently the quarterbacks coach at the University of Virginia.
SEASON OPENER STAT - The Bucs are 44-42-3 all-time in season openers, including a 6-3 mark since restarting the program in 2015. ETSU's last season-opening victory came against Mars Hill to kick off the 2022 campaign, 44-7.
A LOOK BACK AT A GAME/SERIES VS. APPALACHIAN STATE - The Buccaneers will be looking for their first win in Boone since 1997 (0-4 since). ETSU's last win at Kidd Brewer Stadium was by a 51-28 final score on October 4, 1997. Quarterback Todd Wells set ETSU's all-time single game record for total offense (447 yards) and passing yards (377 yards) in leading the Bucs to a victory over #6 Appalachian State. It was one of two road wins for the Bucs over ranked teams during the 1997 season (October 25 @ #16 Furman - 58-28). Overall, ETSU is 14-32-1 all-time against App State.
For more information on Buccaneer football, visit
ETSUBucs.com and click on the football tab.
