THE GAME: UNI vs. APPALACHIAN STATE Friday (Dec. 16) in Chattanooga, TN. Finley Stadium (21,000/Artificial) is the site, with kickoff set for 7:06 p.m. Central. 1-AA CHAMPIONSHIP.

TELEVISION: Friday's game is being telecast live by ESPN2. Play-by-play specialist will be Dave Pasch, analysts are Rod Gilmore and Trevor Matich, and sideline reports will be provided by Stacey Dales-Schuman.

THE SERIES: This will be the first meeting between UNI and Appalachian State.

THE COACHES: UNI head coach Mark Farley (UNI '86) is in his fifth year at the Panther helm, 11-3 this year, 44-19 overall. Prior to being appointed at UNI, he served as the linebackers assistant and punt block/return specialist at Kansas from 1997-2000.

A UNI player from 1983-86 and a co-Gateway Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 1985, he then was a Panther graduate assistant from 1986-88 and a fulltime assistant from 1989-96, coaching linebackers and special teams while also serving as Strength and Speed Coordinator, in addition to Recruiting Coordinator for one year.

Farley is a candidate for this year's Eddie Robinson Award, and was a candidate for 2003's Award, finishing 10th in the balloting. He was named Bruce Craddock Gateway Coach of the Year and AFCA Region 4 Coach of the Year in 2001 when the Panthers advanced to the 1-AA semfinals. He placed third in the Eddie Robinson balloting in 2001.

ASU head coach Jerry Moore (Baylor '61) is in his 17th season with the Mountaineers, 11-3 this year, 139-67 overall. Prior to being named head coach, he was head coach at Texas Tech from 1981-85, where he compiled a 16-37-2 record, and at North Texas from 1979-80, where he was 11-11. His career record is 166-115-2.

POLL TALK: UNI, which ranked 25th in the final 2004 Sports Network poll, was ranked no. 12 in TSN's and the ESPN/USA Today preseason polls. It also was tied for ninth in the AGS poll, 10th by Sports Illustrated.com, was 17th in Don Hansens' National Weekly Football Gazette, and was tied for 18th by Lindy's. Dopke.com had UNI ranked ninth preseason.

The Panthers climbed to no. 7 from no. 10 in the final regular season Sports Network poll behind New Hampshire, Hampton, Furman, Texas State, Appalachian State and Georgia Southern. Southern Illinois is ranked eighth, Youngstown State 13th, Eastern Washington 15th, and Illinois State is 23rd. The Panthers are ranked sixth by ESPN/USA Today.

Don Hansen's National Weekly Football Gazette has the Panthers ranked second this week behind Appalachian State.