The $400,000 Upset

by Richie Rich, Home Run Derby

As I'm sure you know, on Saturday, the Michigan Wolverines hosted the Appalachian State Mountaineers in both schools' first game of the 2007 NCAA Football Season.

I'll bet you knew that Michigan was the fifth-ranked 1-A team in the nation.

You probably knew that Appalachian State is a Division 1-AA school, although it is the two time defending champion in that Division.

And I'd bet my left one that you know that the Mountaineers pulled off what many people consider to be one of the biggest College Football Upsets of All Time. No Division 1-AA team has ever beaten a ranked team from Division 1-A.

But did you know that the ASU Mountaineers left Ann Arbor with something besides that incredible victory and a place in NCAA History?

Like a $400,000 check?

According to the New York Times, "the teams agreed to a contract in February that paid Appalachian State $400,000 for the contest.

It's not unusual for elite teams in Div 1-A to "pad" their schedules with cupcakes in the early part of the season. Michigan's done it for years. The only game I've ever seen at the Big House was a 49-0 whomping of San Diego State.

It's like NFL preseason football, except the games count and a loss could kill a team's BCS hopes - so programs need to tune-up against patsies. Ever wonder how they get a third tier football program to come up to their house for what will likely be an ass-whuppin' ?

Simple. Pay them off.

Michigan just picked a team that wasn't a pushover. And ended up writing a check their butts couldn't cash.