Western Carolina completed its 2011 football schedule by adding a home game against Coastal Carolina on Nov. 19, the final Saturday of the regular season.
Western Carolina University will introduce a new head football coach on Thursday and it reportedly will be Appalachian State inside linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator Mark Speir.
Appalachian State wide receiver Brian Quick and cornerbacks Asa Jackson of Cal Poly and Ryan Steed of Furman will participate in the Senior Bowl Jan. 28 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.
Derek Heyden, a senior safety for top-ranked Georgia Southern, is out indefinitely with a non-life threatening neck injury suffered against Western Carolina this past Saturday, the university announced Monday.
The talk of the Southern Conference's offseason has been about the impending departures of Appalachian State and Georgia Southern, and to a lesser extent Elon, next season.
The top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide take a break from FBS action this weekend, as they welcome FCS foe Chattanooga to Tuscaloosa for the home finale at Bryant-Denny Stadium.