Lack of Pride and Leadership

[AppGrad20]

There are no doubt issues with the coaching staff. However, the coaches can’t play for the player. As a team, we no longer have true vocal leaders or even hype men. We no longer have backups and walk-ons engaged, pumping up the crowd, or sprinting up and down the sidelines. Gone are the days of backup lineman jumping up and down on the metal bleachers just like the students. When the offense is on the field, the defense is no longer standing on the sideline cheering them on. Vice versa. Feels like there’s no more cohesiveness.

We no longer have leaders like Hennigan, Victor Johnson, Fehr, the list goes on. Love him or hate him, even players like Cam Peoples who would engage so much with the fans. We miss having tight knit groups like our old secondary units that flew around with so much pride, passion, and swagger. If you are keeping up with the X posts of former players, you can see examples of Darrynton, Duck, Meech, and others share this sentiment. I truly believe the only real leader left is Brendan Harrington. When Kevin Abrams-Verwayne went down, Brendan was the only one to go over to support him. Throughout the game, he was trying to hype up the guys on the sidelines to no avail. Must be incredibly frustrating for him to know what we once were to who we have become now.

The transfer portal has drastically changed the cohesiveness of teams. Also, most kids are different post COVID. A lot less vocal leaders in general in society. However, that needs to be something that our coaches are looking for when recruiting. Someone that GIVES THEIR ALL. A player who isn’t afraid to lead or to call others out on their shortcomings.

Players aside, there are other little things that are off. For example on kick offs last night, there were graduate assistants pointing the wrong direction on multiple occasions. Could ramble on about the new marketing members coming in and trying to change in-game traditions.

At the end of the day, I want to see players giving their all for App. If players were giving their all, the team was all together on one page, and we could just stick to the basics (both with football and traditions), I’d be much happier and have more pride as a grad and fan. Feel a lot of you share the same sentiment.

[KentHogan]

I think we are going to continue to see side effects of NIL, and one of them is that players are now putting money first on their list.

How could players develop any pride or loyalty to their coach, teammates or program with endless transfers as they chase the money.

Sure, there will always be some players who are not affected by the money, but as a whole, the game I loved is disappearing quickly.

We have pro football in college with no salary cap, no contracts, and basically unlimited transfers.

It’s not only changing the spirit of the game, it’s also changing the players as your post points out.

I’ve post before that in another couple seasons, for me, it may not be worth watching any more. Especially if App can’t afford the talent needed to compete.

Call me old school, but I despise NIL. These kids were never victims. Kids on scholarships were once considered the lucky ones, now they’re victimized.

Okay, that’s enough.

[appstatealum]

This exactly what I said on another post. Glad I'm not alone in this thinking

[T-Dog]

The only captain at the coin toss next game should be Christan Horn for chasing that goal line interception down.

[appstatealum]

The only captain at the coin toss next game should be Christan Horn for chasing that goal line interception down.

He's a great kid. I have a fantastic picture with him and my son on the field after "the catch" a few years ago. His eyes are glazed over. It's a classic