Area college notebook: App State-ECU set for Charlotte in '29

The Charlotte area’s App State football fans won’t have to leave the Queen City to see the Mountaineers play in 2029.

The Charlotte Sports Foundation has announced that App State and East Carolina will open their seasons with a game Sept. 1, 2029, at Bank of America Stadium.

“We’re excited to add another matchup with ECU and to engage with App Nation again in Charlotte,” App State athletics director Doug Gillin said. “The Charlotte area represents a major home base for App State alumni and fans.”

The Mountaineers are 4-0 as an FBS program against East Carolina.  That includes a 2021 game at Bank of America Stadium, which App State won 33-10.

In case you’re wondering, here’s the App State nonconference schedule in upcoming seasons:

Next year: Boise State (home, Sept. 4); at South Carolina (Sept. 11); at Charlotte (Sept. 18).

2028: Western Carolina (home, Sept. 2); Charlotte (home, Sept. 16); at Toledo (Sept. 23); N.C. State (home, Sept. 30).

2029: East Carolina (in Charlotte, Sept. 1); at South Carolina (Sept. 8); at Charlotte (Sept. 15).

Another bowl for the ACC

Guess what, football bowl fans?  You have another game on the schedule.

The ACC and Sun Belt announced last week that they’ll be part of the new San Juan Bowl, to be played Dec. 16 at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Earlier this year, ESPN announced that the Puerto Rico Bowl, to be played Dec. 22, would be the first-ever bowl game on the island.  But now there will be two bowl games in San Juan, with the ACC and Sun Belt being the first to play there.

The game will be sponsored by TransPerfect, a global firm that specializes in language and technology solutions.

‘Treats’ from 49ers, Wildcats

The Charlotte 49ers and Davidson Wildcats each will have Halloween-themed events connected with home sporting events Friday evening.

The 49ers face Tulane (7 p.m. kickoff, ESPN2), and events will include trunk-or-treating at 4:30 p.m. in the tailgate parking lots; a 5:30 p.m. scavenger hunt in the stadium concourse (with free popcorn); an autograph session, featuring men’s and women’s basketball players, at 6 p.m.; and a meet-and-greet at 6 p.m. with NASCAR driver Daniel Suarez.

The Davidson men’s soccer team faces Saint Louis (7 p.m.) in the home regular-season finale.  Davidson College athletes will host trick-or-treating at 6:30 p.m.

49ers hoops tickets

Single game tickets are on sale for Charlotte 49ers basketball. Tickets start at $17 for men’s games and $9 for women’s games.

Men’s basketball also is offering mini plans – three-game, four-game and weekend packages. For ticket information, check here.

The 49ers have announced tipoff times for their men’s and women’s basketball games. The men’s team will be on national television eight times this season, including their American Conference opener at 6 p.m. New Year’s Eve against Florida Atlantic.

Men’s and women’s schedules can be found here.

The 49ers’ men’s team plays an exhibition game Tuesday night in Chapel Hill against the Tar Heels.

Players of the week

Two App State players, linebacker Colton Phares and kicker James London, were named Players of the Week in the Sun Belt Conference.

Phares had a team-high 13 tackles in the Mountaineers’ 34-31 overtime victory last week over previously unbeaten James Madison.  And London kicked four field goals, including the game-winning 40-yarder in overtime.

And Lucie Bertrand and Harlee Head of the Charlotte 49ers’ women’s soccer team were named American Conference Players of the Week.  Bertrand was named Midfielder of the Week, and Head was picked as Goalkeeper of the Week.

ACC Preseason honors

In case you missed it, Duke was selected by media members as the preseason favorite in ACC men’s basketball.  The Blue Devils got 45 of the 48 first-place votes.

Rounding out the top five are Virginia, Louisville, Miami and North Carolina.

The preseason all-ACC first team was Duke’s John Blackwell and Patrick Ngonba II; Virginia’s Thijs De Ridder; Miami’s Sheldon Henderson; and Louisville’s Flory Bidunga.

De Ridder was the pick as preseason Player of the Year.