Florida's Meyer had hand in Appalachian success

BOONE, N.C. — Jerry Moore was struggling at Appalachian State in 2003 when the football junkie kept seeing Utah roll up points late at night on Saturdays with this spread offense perfected by Urban Meyer.

Moore, in his mid 60s and firmly entrenched with the I-formation from his time working under Tom Osborne and Hayden Fry, decided to make the dramatic change.

Seven years later, after three national championships, a monumental upset of Michigan and six straight Southern Conference titles, Moore's Mountaineers (9-1) are ranked No. 2 in both Football Championship Subdivision polls and again an offensive juggernaut.

Now Moore for the first time will face Meyer's nearly identical offense when Appalachian State visits struggling Florida (6-4) on Saturday.