Appalachian State coach humbles South Carolina, Will Muschamp with budget comparisons

After beating South Carolina on Saturday, Appalachian State has two victories against Power 5 competition this season. That’s in two games, and the Mountaineers have lost just once, to Georgia Southern, who nearly beat No. 7 Minnesota in Week 1.

If there is ever a time to gloat a little bit, Monday was probably the day for Appalachian State coach Eliah Drinkwitz, and he took advantage.

During his Monday press conference, he pointed out that South Carolina coach Will Muschamp’s salary is “probably bigger than my football budget” and then said the Gamecocks football budget is “probably greater than our entire athletic department.”

But money isn’t everything. Drinkwitz says elite talent and belief drives Appalachian State’s success.

Drinkwitz: Coach Muschamp's salary is probably bigger than my football budget as a whole. The South Carolina football budget is greater than that of our entire athletic department. They have some massive advantages, but we have elite level talent and a team that believes.

— David Glenn Show (@DavidGlennShow) November 11, 2019

Appalachian State has built a tremendous program over the last several years. The program left Division I in 1982 but returned in 2014, seven years after the Mountaineers shocked Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Since 2015, Appalachian State is 49-12 and has won at least nine games every season. They are one win away from that plateau again this year at 8-1.

Dave Holcomb

Dave covers SEC football for Saturday Down South.