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App State flipped off CCU players. See the photo Coastal put up in the football office

CCU wide receiver Jameson Tucker and now USC wide receiver Jared Brown celebrated a touchdown against Appalachian State during the two schools’ 2023 rivalry game. At the same time, some Mountaineer fans responded with obscene gestures. There’s a photo of the incident in the Marrio & Josh Norman Field House at Coastal Carolina.

The third floor of the Marrio & Josh Norman Field House features many photos and other representations of Coastal Carolina’s previous success on the football field.

Many walls are covered with pictures of former players and trophies from the Chants’ prior glories. However, one photo stands out and hangs between the offices of Coastal Carolina’s football staff. Ahead of CCU renewing its rivalry with Appalachian State Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, this photo captures a CCU triumph on the gridiron and the anger of Mountaineer fans.

The game starts at 7 p.m. and will air on ESPN. According to a Coastal Carolina press release, ESPN SportsCenter anchor Matt Barrie will co-host the programs’ 2-3 p.m. show from Coastal before providing play-by-play commentary for CCU and App State’s night time match-up.

With showboating and obscene gestures, the image best demonstrates the two schools’ growing rivalry.

It shows CCU wide receiver Jameson Tucker and former Chant Jared Brown celebrating and taunting App State fans, with many Mountaineer faithful flipping the two players the bird in response. The photo was taken during the October 2023 rivalry match-up between the two schools, which CCU won on a walk-off field goal.

Coastal Carolina Associate Athletics Director for Media Relations Rixon Lane said he did not know when the photo was put up in Marrio & Josh Norman Field House. He added the photo is significant, as it is from CCU’s first-ever away win against App State in Boone, N.C., at Kidd Brewer Stadium.

“It’s a pretty intense rivalry,” Lane added.

Tucker had just caught a 51-yard touchdown pass from former Coastal quarterback Grayson McCall. It was one of McCall’s last touchdown throws before a concussion in CCU’s next game ended his career at Coastal Carolina.

A bottle was thrown at Tucker and Brown as the two celebrated Tucker’s catch. After Coastal secured the last-second win, App State fans threw more trash onto the field, and former CCU offensive lineman Evan Jumper went viral by taking a swig from one of the cans hurled onto the Kidd Brewer turf.

More than a year later, the teal turf of Brooks Stadium will be the rivalry’s stage. Instead of Mountaineer fans, it will be Chanticleer diehards who will dominate the stands. Coastal Carolina and App State have taken two approaches to the game before kickoff.

Even after Saturday’s tough loss at Troy University, CCU Head Coach Tim Beck mentioned the upcoming game against App State without naming them directly.

“We have to turn around and get ready for a team that we don’t like, and they don’t like us,” He said.

Appalachian State Director of Athletics Doug Gillin said that many alums live in the Myrtle Beach area, have second homes there or vacation along the Grand Strand.

He added that the Mountaineers plan to hold alumni engagement activities in the Myrtle Beach area before this year’s game.

“They love coming to Myrtle Beach, and it’s a really good opportunity for us to engage folks where they are,” Gillin said.