NEWS » CYCLONES DEFENSEIowa State has 10 playe

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee defensive line coach Steve Stripling believes the ninth-ranked Volunteers are more locked in for its game against Appalachian State than Michigan was in 2007.Stripling and Vols offensive coordinator Mike DeBord were on Michigans staff nine years ago when the fifth-ranked Wolverines lost 34-32 to Appalachian State in a game that marked the first time a Football Championship Subdivision program had ever beaten a Top 25 team.Now the Mountaineers are heading to Neyland Stadium on Thursday looking to upset another top 10 squad, but neither DeBord nor Stripling have talked much about that 2007 game to players.Its nine years ago, a long time ago, DeBord said. Ive done a lot of things since (then). I dont like to go back in the past with anything -- anything good or bad. I try to live (for) today, and Ive done that my whole life.Stripling said he had brought up the 2007 result just in passing to his players. Stripling hasnt spoken more about the game because he believes Tennessees players already understand the danger of overlooking Appalachian State.I have not sensed that it needed to be brought up, Stripling said. I think were a very mature and focused defense right now. Im sure it will be brought up between now and game time, but I think at this point were really locked in.Stripling said Michigan didnt have that same type of focus heading into the 2007 game with Appalachian State.I think we were looking at press clippings back that year, Stripling said.Appalachian State, which went on to win its third straight FCS title in 2007, has since moved up to the Football Bowl Subdivision ranks. The Mountaineers went 11-2 last year and made their first bowl appearance, a 31-29 Camellia Bowl victory over Ohio.But the program remains best known for that victory over Michigan. Appalachian State has gone 0-6 against Power Five teams since, including a 52-14 loss to Michigan in 2014. Those six games had an average margin of 37.8 points.Michigan remains the highest-ranked team ever to lose to an FCS program. The only other instances of an FCS school beating a Top 25 team came when James Madison upset No. 13 Virginia Tech 21-16 in 2010 and Eastern Washington edged No. 25 Oregon State 49-46 in 2013.Every time we play a Power Five school, it gets brought up -- the Michigan game, said Appalachian State coach Scott Satterfield, who was an assistant coach with the Mountaineers in 2007. It kind of hurts us in a way because everybody that were playing always references that game to their teams.Tennessee defensive tackle Kahlil McKenzie said Stripling has made sure the defensive linemen understand Appalachian States potential.Strips been a guy whos been on us about this game since I dont even know when, just making sure were completely locked in and focused on App State and just making sure were ready to go, working drill after drill only about their offense and that type of stuff, McKenzie said.Tennessees schedule makes it tempting to look ahead. Tennessee follows this game by facing Virginia Tech at Bristol Motor Speedway in a matchup expected to draw the largest recorded crowd in college football history. Yet the Vols have insisted all summer theyre not looking beyond their opening game.Appalachian State has won 17 of its last 19 games, a statistic that Tennessee head coach Butch Jones, DeBord and offensive guard Jashon Robertson have made sure to mention during separate weekend media sessions.Theyve done a really good job of having their kids focused on us, on App State, Satterfied said. Theyre not going to overlook us at all. I think in 07, we probably got overlooked a little bit.---AP college football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org Air Max Plus Outlet Ireland .ca! Hi Kerry, Heres an interesting one. I know its common knowledge that all players are responsible for their sticks. We witnessed that when Zack Kassian hit Edmontons Sam Gagner in the face after a missed check. Cheap Air Max Plus Ireland . Malkin got tangled up with Detroits Luke Glendening early in the third period and his left skate took the brunt of collision with the boards behind Pittsburghs net. http://www.airmaxplusireland.com/ . Clarke was injured while practicing on the Doha Golf Club range after the pro-am on Tuesday. The Northern Irishman arrived at the course on Wednesday hoping to start, but after hitting a few balls on the practice putting green Clarke advised officials he was not fit to play. Cheap Air Max Plus Wholesale . Calgary scored on the first shift, and Michael Cammalleri scored twice as the Flames cruised to a 5-2 win over the Washington Capitals on Saturday. Air Max Plus Outlet Online . The 31-year-old Spain midfielder hasnt played since Madrid lost in the Copa del Rey final to Atletico Madrid in May due to back and foot injuries. AMES, Iowa -- New coach Matt Campbell has brought nothing but excitement to Iowa State in the eight months since he took over.The long-suffering supporters of Iowa State will begin to see this weekend if its worth all the fuss.The Cyclones (3-9 in 2015) will kick off a new era Saturday when Campbell, at 36 the youngest Power Five coach, leads them out against FCS rival Northern Iowa. Campbells latest new idea will be to replace Deep Purples Smoke on the Water, the Cyclones entrance song for years, with something more modern.None of it will matter if Iowa State loses -- and thats certainly a possibility.The Panthers have beaten the Cyclones five times, most recently in 2013. Theyre ranked No. 5 in the FCS, and Aaron Bailey is considered one of the best quarterbacks in the subdivision.UNI coach Mark Farley has a very talented football team coming back, led by a dynamic quarterback and then some really dynamic defensive players, Campbell said.Here are some keys to consider as Iowa State and Northern Iowa, separated by just 100 miles, prepare to open the season:WARREN TIMEIf the Cyclones inexperienced line can gel, sophomore running back Mike Warren could emerge as one of the nations breakout stars in 2016. Warren led all freshmen in rushing yards last season with 1,337 despite essentially playing just 10 games. But Iowa State is also prepared to go with a pair of true freshmen, David Montgomery and Kene Nwangwu, when Warren needs a rest. You tell every one of your kids, `Make me play you. And those two guys have made me play them, Campbell said.SCOUTING THE PANTHERSBailey led the Panthers with 1,334 yards rushing and 19 TDs. But he averaged less than 120 yards per game passing, and Iowa States secondary is perhaps its strength defensively. Northern Iowas defense should be strong after allowing less than 20 points a game in 20015, but the Cyclones have a pair of high-quality Big 12 skill position players in Warren and receiver Allen Lazard.dddddddddddd I know what we are. I know what we can be. I just dont know what we are today, Farley said Monday.THAT LINE THOUGHIowa States offensive line is brand new -- and thats typically bad news for an offense. Graduations, defections and injuries decimated the Cyclones line, leaving the unit to a group of veteran backups thrust into starting jobs for the first time. Minnesota graduate transfer Brian Bobek, a center, started five games for the Gophers last year, making him the senior statesman for Iowa States most troubling position group. I have absolutely no worries. Well be fine, quarterback Joel Lanning said about his blockers.CYCLONES DEFENSEIowa State has 10 players with starting experience on defense, including Big 12 defensive newcomer of the year Demond Tucker, safety Kamari Cotton-Moya and cornerback Brian Peavy. But Peavy was the second freshman defensive back to lead the Cyclones in tackles in 2015, and thats not exactly a good sign. The job of fixing the unit has fallen to veteran defensive coordinator Jon Heacock, who helped Toledo lead the MAC in scoring defense last year.THOSE PESKY PANTHERSNorthern Iowa ruined former coach Gene Chiziks debut, pounding the Cyclones 24-13 in 2007. The Panthers terrified Iowa State in 2011, losing just 20-19, and three years ago they rolled to a 28-20 win. The Cyclones did dominate Northern Iowa last year, thumping their rivals 31-7. But they won just twice more, leading to coach Paul Rhoads ouster.---Follow Luke Meredith on Twitter at www.twitter.com/LukeMeredithAP---Online: AP college football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '