Not everyone on the Spartanburg, S.C., campus is happy about it.
A story in Monday's Spartanburg Herald-Journal said news of who Wofford drew in the first round of the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoffs was met by silence and a few groans inside Leonard Auditorium.
Wofford, ranked 11th in the latest Sports Network poll, won the Southern Conference's automatic bid into the FCS playoffs thanks to 42-31 win over No. 5 Appalachian State in September.
Appalachian State, the two-time national champion that averaged an FCS-best 27,140 fans at home this season, got an at-large bid and is hosting James Madison Saturday.
Wofford, which averaged 8,319 fans at home this season, is on the road.
“I felt as if we were disrespected in a way,” Terriers' quarterback Josh Collier said. “It's like everybody's counting us out already. But as long as we know that we can go out there and win, that's all we need.”
Terriers' coach Mike Ayers, who shared the SoCon coach of the year award, is mindful that Wofford has yet to earn an at-large bid. The Terriers' previous playoff berth came after winning the SoCon title in 2003. They won two home playoff games that year before losing at eventual champion Delaware in the semifinals.
“When we get to Missoula and we play Montana, we'll have an opportunity to earn our respect,” Ayers said.
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