KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — It was one of the biggest upsets in college football history.

Appalachian State, then an FCS program, went into the Big House and shocked No. 5-ranked Michigan Wolverines to kick off the 2007 season. The score, 34-32, remains a magic number. The game-winning blocked kick a shining moment.

More than the Mountaineers’ signature victory, it still stands of a permanent reminder of what can happen on any given Saturday.

The Mountaineers were in their final season of winning three consecutive FCS national championships from 2005-2007, and current Appalachian State head coach Scott Satterfield remembers the upset very well.

“The memories of that game were that we had the ball, third down, and threw a touchdown on the first drive,” Satterfield said during a conference call leading up to the Tennessee game Thursday night at Neyland Stadium. “From that point in time, we felt we could play with those guys (Michigan).

“Obviously we did really well in the first half and scored a lot of points. We knew they were going to make a run in the second half, which they did, and we were able to hold on there at the end.”

Satterfield was the Mountaineers’ quarterback coach that day, a position he held from 2002-2008. The now fourth-year head coach has worn many hats for the program. He was their quarterback from 1991-1995, became their wide receivers coach in 1998, was the running backs coach from 1999-2002, and offensive coordinator in 2012.

Satterfield was the ideal replacement following long-time Appalachian State head coach Jerry Moore’s departure.

Satterfield can relate all of his past experiences to his staff and players, including playing Power 5 schools and how Power 5 schools view the Mountaineers after their upset win over Michigan.

“Every time we play a Power 5 school, it gets brought up about the Michigan game,” Satterfield said. “I think in a way it kind of hurts us. Everyone that we’re playing references that game to their team. …

“I think back in 2007, we got overlooked a little bit. Michigan was coming off a Rose Bowl and lost several players off of that Rose Bowl team, so they were a little bit different team.

“I think this Tennessee team has so many players back off of a team that was so close last year to being one of the best teams in the country, so I think it’s totally different scenarios, but nevertheless it gets brought up every year when we do play the Power 5 schools.”

There’s zero chance these Vols will overlook the Mountaineers.

Nine years to the day of that upset, Tennessee assistants Mike DeBord and Steve Stripling again will come face to face with college football’s giant killer. Both were part of Michigan’s staff that fateful afternoon in Ann Arbor. Butch Jones was just 2 hours north, the head coach at Central Michigan.

“I think coach Jones and his staff, they have done a great job this offseason of not overlooking us,” Satterfield said. “Obviously they have Virginia Tech next week and playing at Bristol in front of one of the biggest crowds in the history of college football, but they have done a really good job of having their kids focused on us.

“They’re not going to overlook us at all.”