Published: 11:34 AM, 09/08/2009

Last updated: 12:52 PM, 11/17/2009

By Steve Behr
sports@wataugademocrat.com
Appalachian State linebacker Jacque Roman is not exactly the high-octane type off the field.
He has a quick smile and, like many of the Mountaineers, will shake a reporter's hand before and after an interview. He doesn't seem like a guy who plays a position that requires him to hit like a defensive end and cover running backs like a cornerback.
"That's just my personality," Roman said. "I'm a laid-back, cool guy. That's just my personality. I turn my intensity on the field. It's not good to have that same intensity on and off the field. My personality is totally different than when I'm on the field. On the field, it's at a different level."
Roman's intensity allows him to be one of the top defenders not only on the Appalachian State roster, but in the nation. The senior linebacker led the Mountaineers with 130 total tackles in 2009, which ranked sixth nationally, and was named the Southern Conference's Defensive Most Valuable Player.
Nationally, Roman is a first-team All-American and a Buck Buchanan Award finalist.
He also is the latest in a long list of linebackers who have roamed the Kidd Brewer Stadium turf, that includes two-time Buchanan Award winner Dexter Coakley, Dino Hackett, Rico Mack, Brent David, Joe Best, Justin Seaverns and most recently, the other half of Appalachian's "French Connection" Pierre Banks.
"I've been with Pierre for three years, so the chemistry was there," Roman said. "We have players coming into that spot, so we should be OK."
Roman had been teammates with Banks for three seasons. Roman knows that replacing Banks won't be easy, but feels confident that it can be done. The Mountaineers already have junior linebacker D.J. Smith, who is a three-year starter.
"We have a lot of talent coming in to take Pierre's spot," Roman said. "It's a competition for that spot and I think we have the talent to cover that spot. Pierre's a great player. What can you say? But we have other guys who can come in and play."
Roman is more than just a football player.
A communications major, he also is a song-writer who has grabbed the attention of others in the Appalachian athletic department. In fact, the song that the athletic department would play for former ASU centerfielder Rand Smith before Smith would go to the plate to bat, was written by Roman.
Roman would like to go back to his native Georgia and be a civic leader organizing events for the town he selects to live.
"I'd probably like to get my own club organization going," Roman said.
Until then, Roman knows that expectations are high for Appalachian State's defense. The Mountaineers return nine players from last year's team that went 11-3 and into the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs.
But high expectations are nothing new to Roman, who has been a part of two national championships. Even though Richmond, which eliminated Appalachian State from the playoffs last year, won the 2008 national championship, it was Appalachian State that was on top of the FCS coaches and The Sports Network polls when the season started.
The Mountaineers slipped to No. 2 following their 29-24 loss to East Carolina. Richmond, No. 2 at the start of the season, was elevated to No. 1 after its 24-16 win over Duke on Saturday.
But that doesn't mean the Mountaineers do not have the attention of opponents. Three national championships will do that.
"We always know that we have a target on our backs," Roman said. "We try to go out and focus on what we have to do. Everybody's been here for a while and everybody knows what everybody else is going to do."
Up next is McNeese State, another longtime FCS power from the Southland Conference. The Cowboys invade Kidd Brewer Stadium Saturday with a 3:30 p.m. kickoff.

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