Duane Burleson / AP

Appalachian State reciever Dexter Jackson celebrates after a touchdown. The Mountaineers stunned the No. 5 Wolverines on Saturday.

Appalachian State’s win does seem to trump the game second-tier programs used to regard as their crowning achievement — The Citadel’s season-opening win in 1992 over Arkansas that led to the firing of Razorbacks coach Jack Crowe following the game.

Carr will not get fired after this upset, but he might be wishing he had retired after last season when the Wolverines won 11 games before closing with losses to Ohio State and USC.

When it was over, he didn’t second-guess decisions to go for 2-point conversions twice in the final 15-plus minutes, but did lament many mistakes, penalties and missed opportunities.

“We were not a well-prepared football team,” Carr said. “That is my job, and I take full responsibility.”

The Mountaineers improved to 7-36-1 against top-tier teams since 1978, the previous six victories all over Wake Forest.

Armanti Edwards threw for 227 yards, three scores and two interceptions, and kept Michigan guessing with his mobility. He also ran for 62 yards. Jackson caught three passes for 92 yards, and scored twice, including his 68-yard reception that tied the game early and provided a glimpse of what was to come.

Hart, who went almost two quarters without a carry because of a thigh injury, ran for 188 yards and three touchdowns. Henne was 19-of-37 for 233 yards in a lackluster game that included a TD and an interception in Mountaineer territory.

Ordinarily those numbers should’ve been good enough for a win over a small school. Not on this day and not against Appalachian State.

“Someone said it might be one of the big victories in college football,” Moore said. “It may be the biggest.”

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