Mike Strange

USA TODAY NETWORK

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — On Sept. 1, 2007, Tennessee and coach Phillip Fulmer had a bad day. The Vols lost 45-31 at California. Butch Jones had a worse day.

In his debut as Central Michigan’s head coach, Jones and the Chippewas got obliterated 52-7 at Kansas.

But Lloyd Carr had a worse day yet.

His Michigan team, coming off a Rose Bowl, suffered the unthinkable upset, losing in Ann Arbor to then-Division I-AA upstart Appalachian State, 34-32.

Scott Satterfield, himself a former Appalachian State quarterback, was the Mountaineers’ quarterback coach that day. Nine years to the day of that jaw-dropping victory, Appalachian State head coach Satterfield will bring his team into Neyland Stadium on Thursday night (7:30 ET, SEC Network), with the goal of lightning striking again.

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However, he knows it’s unlikely.

"I think it’s totally different scenarios,’’ Satterfield said this weekend during a media conference call.

Instead of playing the FCS, Appalachian State is entering its third year as an FBS program and is coming off coming off an 11-2 season and its first bowl win. With 17 starters back, the Mountaineers are a popular pick to win the Sun Belt Conference title.

The school will cherish that glorious day in Michigan forever. But in six subsequent games against Power Five conference schools, Appalachian State hasn’t come close to another upset.

Arkansas State might sneak up on one of the big boys, but Appalachian State’s stealth days are long gone.

"Every time we play a Power Five school it gets brought up," Satterfield said. "I think in a way it kind of hurts us because everybody always references that game to their team."

Like, for instance, Jones.

"Obviously," Satterfield said, "they have Virginia Tech the next week and they’re playing at Bristol. But they’re not going to overlook us at all. Back then, in ‘07, I think we probably got overlooked a little bit."

Jones' background helps too. "I think it helps when you’ve coached at Central Michigan,’’ he said. "I understand what it’s like to go on the road and do those types of things."

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Two of Jones’ assistants, Mike DeBord and Steve Stripling, were on the Michigan staff in 2007. DeBord clammed up when the topic was raised last week. So did defensive end Corey Vereen on Saturday when asked if Stripling has mentioned the game. Vereen’s succinct answer: "No."

So when it comes to lessons from Ann Arbor, the official game-week policy appears to be mum’s the word.

Perhaps that’s because 2007 is ancient history to a current college athlete.

Perhaps it’s because Appalachian State presents more relevant challenges.

"All you have to do," Jones said, "is watch them on video. They have the respect of our players and coaching staff.’’

This is the third consecutive season Jones has opened against a feisty opponent from a Group of Five conference. In 2014 the Vols thoroughly dispatched (38-7) a Utah State team that finished 10-4. Last year, it took a half to get a grip (59-30) on Bowling Green, the eventual MAC champion.

There’s no reason to think Jones would allow Tennessee to overlook this feisty underdog. Whether anybody will admit it or not, Satterfield believes the Vols have been schooled on the Mountaineers’ most famous victory.

Butch Jones, once an underdog himself, will have a much better Sept. 1 than he did nine years ago.

Mike Strange writes for the Knoxville News Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK.

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