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Why was Jason Kelce Rooting for App State Against James Madison?

Samnur Reza
Published

NFC center Jason Kelce (62) of the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2024 Pro Bowl at Camping World Stadium.

This weekend, Jason Kelce jetted 500 miles south of home to Charlotte where the Kansas City Chiefs are set to take on the Carolina Panthers. With a good few hours to spare before that game, the former Philadelphia Eagles center decided to take a two-hour drive to the town of Boone to catch the action between App State and James Madison. And he was rooting for the Mountaineers.

But why was the former Super Bowl champion cheering for App State instead of the Dukes? Appalachian Weekly News, in its post on X, explained that Kelce wanted to support Western North Carolina, which is still reeling after getting hit by the devastating Hurricane Helen. It was the least he could do.

After reaching the Kidd Brewer Stadium, also known as The Rock, the future Hall of Famer took pictures with several students. Kelce also made it to the Mountaineers’ social media post, sporting a big smile while hugging the mascot of the team, Yosef.

In the pictures shared, the signs of winter were visible. Recent weather reports had stated that some areas near Boone saw up to three inches of snow. Kelce would have thoroughly enjoyed the ‘Snow Game’, especially since the side he backed, App State, won 34-20.

The home team had gone into the game on the back of a 14-point loss against the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. The Dukes, were, on their part, trying to build on their three-game winning streak.

However, the App State players showed why their home is called The Rock. It has a reputation for being a tough venue for visiting teams, and it turned out to be the same for James Madison.

The result could possibly have been predicted looking at Kelce, who has an uncanny ability to pick the right team to support.

About the author

Samnur Reza

Samnur Reza

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Samnur Reza is an NFL editor for The SportsRush. He holds a degree in English Honors and joined The SportsRush editorial team in 2023. Having previously worked as a freelancer and several media outlets, Samnur has been religiously following the National Football League for the past six and a half years. Samnur first started following football after Tom Brady's cameo in Ted 2. It wasn’t long before he found himself grabbing a bucket of popcorn to enjoy football games. He still vividly remembers his first-ever fixture: a 2011 matchup between the Patriots and Raiders, where Brady led his team to a 31-19 victory. Even so, Samnur believes Brady’s best performance came against the Falcons in Super Bowl LI, a game he still revisits from time to time. Samnur diligently follows most NFL athletes, their family members, and even the NCAA. Thus, he considers himself a diverse writer, having covered almost every corner of the football world. He does, however, have a special interest in athlete-centric stories. Whenever they engage in off-field ventures or charitable activities, Samnur enjoys reading and writing about them. Samnur had already authored over 850 NFL-based articles before becoming an editor. His editorial journey began just a little over a year ago. Beyond football, Samnur is a true cinephile with an extensive repertoire of films. He’s also fond of cats and has a furry friend named ‘Eva.’ During his free time, Samnur enjoys playing video games, currently immersed in God of War: Ragnarök. Having recently learned how to ride a bike, he now wishes to travel almost everywhere on it.

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