The cancer on this program is

[kornegaylw]

I don't believe Gillin or money is the problem. Gillin has proven he can identify talent and we have something incredibly marketable and attractive on the mountain.

Id also say Clark isn't 100% the issue either...He has had to battle against poor recruiting from Drink, COVID and an expectation to succeed with returning talent since 2020. That returning talent has been increasingly supplemented with transfers. Building a team with transfers rather than the traditional way is risky. What we've seen this year is a product of all of this.

I believe we need expect our team to be built from the ground up, the Appalachian way, with players and coaches that want to be on the mountain. There is no team in the Sun Belt that has the total package like us and there's no reason we can be that way soon.

Good structures are built in strong foundations. We need to focus on the foundation right now.

It’s going to have to be a hybrid approach with the portal. We can’t afford to completely build the traditional way because our developing talent will be sniped by P4 teams. We have to develop some of our talent and bring in some of the talent in order to make a complete team. It’s not easy.

Yes but you can't build entire units with transfers. Example is our OL and DBs

[Bigdaddyg1]

Agree on NIL. We will never afford the players like Georgia but we damn sure should hold our own against Marshall and South Alabama

[AppStFan1]

I don't think there is a cancer. Just a whole bunch of folks wanting the alumni and one of biggest fans of the program to be successful. It has failed to the point of embarrassment. Gillen is going to follow the directions of the big donors just like any other AD to keep a job. Gillen isn't a cancer and Clark isn't the answer. My fear is even at G5 level our limitations will be the players we can afford to hire in NIL. That may actually be the cancer that is killing us.

You have to remember that we are playing peer programs. So NIL isn’t the issue when USA and Marshall beat up on us. I wouldn’t have said this a few weeks ago but I think we are making too much out of the whole NIL thing. NIL will create an even greater gap between the P4 and the G5 but it shouldn’t hurt us against Sun Belt teams.

I don’t think we have a “cancer”. Just a really good guy who isn’t working out as a head coach.

It is definitely not just NIL but we have some folks on Jack Branch Drive that tell anyone who listen it is as a way to give them an out. Gillin is not our cancer now.

I really hate that Shawn is not working out because he is a good guy and App alumni but we need to move on at the end of the season.

[Stonewall]

It’s not Gillin’s decision.

[DenverOfTheEast]

I wasn't the first person to question the Clark hire in 2019, I was the ONLY person to do it. I'm telling y'all now, Doug did a great job, but now he is the problem. Say what you want. I've taken shit for my takes before.

We agree!!! Damn.

Nick Saban last week on Gameday "some of ya'll looking at teams and blame the coaches, you need to be blaming the administration"

[DenverOfTheEast]

Didn’t he hire Drink too? Was that a bad hire?

Drink was his 5th choice my guy. Drink fell in his lap -- don't act like he found Drink

and 100 different coaches coulda won with that 2019 team.

[311neers]

Didn’t he hire Drink too? Was that a bad hire?

Drink was his 5th choice my guy. Drink fell in his lap -- don't act like he found Drink

and 100 different coaches coulda won with that 2019 team.

Clark is not one of those 100.

[Snaggy]

Didn’t he hire Drink too? Was that a bad hire?

Drink was his 5th choice my guy. Drink fell in his lap -- don't act like he found Drink

and 100 different coaches coulda won with that 2019 team.

Clark is not one of those 100.

Have to agree here. I love that he loves App and he would likely stick around forever unless crazy money were thrown at him from another program, but he is not the guy. I really wanted him to be, but he just isn’t. It’s time to move on after this season.

[Bootsy]

Didn’t he hire Drink too? Was that a bad hire?

Drink was his 5th choice my guy. Drink fell in his lap -- don't act like he found Drink

and 100 different coaches coulda won with that 2019 team.

Clark is not one of those 100.

Yikes! That’s gonna leave a mark.

[falcoapp]

The scary part about this is I can't point to one singular person or issue as the reason for demise. Which tells me there are multiple issues with the program and it's going to take a program builder to get us back. Who that is, I have no idea.

[wb247]

I don't think there is a cancer. Just a whole bunch of folks wanting the alumni and one of biggest fans of the program to be successful. It has failed to the point of embarrassment. Gillen is going to follow the directions of the big donors just like any other AD to keep a job. Gillen isn't a cancer and Clark isn't the answer. My fear is even at G5 level our limitations will be the players we can afford to hire in NIL. That may actually be the cancer that is killing us.

[MrCraig]

I don't think there is a cancer. Just a whole bunch of folks wanting the alumni and one of biggest fans of the program to be successful. It has failed to the point of embarrassment. Gillen is going to follow the directions of the big donors just like any other AD to keep a job. Gillen isn't a cancer and Clark isn't the answer. My fear is even at G5 level our limitations will be the players we can afford to hire in NIL. That may actually be the cancer that is killing us.

You have to remember that we are playing peer programs. So NIL isn’t the issue when USA and Marshall beat up on us. I wouldn’t have said this a few weeks ago but I think we are making too much out of the whole NIL thing. NIL will create an even greater gap between the P4 and the G5 but it shouldn’t hurt us against Sun Belt teams.

I don’t think we have a “cancer”. Just a really good guy who isn’t working out as a head coach.

100%
NIL is just a scapegoat excuse. NIL hasn’t changed anything, it’s just put everything out in the light. Teams like App can still win despite not having the funds of big P4s. Just look at Boise State, UNLV, Memphis, etc.
App’s problems are all coaching related. Simple as that. Finish the season and hit the restart button with a new staff. Thanks to the transfer portal, teams can rebuild much faster. Just look within our conference at JMU and ULM.

[teller]

I don't think there is a cancer. Just a whole bunch of folks wanting the alumni and one of biggest fans of the program to be successful. It has failed to the point of embarrassment. Gillen is going to follow the directions of the big donors just like any other AD to keep a job. Gillen isn't a cancer and Clark isn't the answer. My fear is even at G5 level our limitations will be the players we can afford to hire in NIL. That may actually be the cancer that is killing us.

I agree with NIL limitations and admittedly don’t know the budgets of other G5s, but if Boise St has accomplished success at the G5 level, how can’t we bring in enough talent to win more ball games?

[Bootsy]

I don't think there is a cancer. Just a whole bunch of folks wanting the alumni and one of biggest fans of the program to be successful. It has failed to the point of embarrassment. Gillen is going to follow the directions of the big donors just like any other AD to keep a job. Gillen isn't a cancer and Clark isn't the answer. My fear is even at G5 level our limitations will be the players we can afford to hire in NIL. That may actually be the cancer that is killing us.

You have to remember that we are playing peer programs. So NIL isn’t the issue when USA and Marshall beat up on us. I wouldn’t have said this a few weeks ago but I think we are making too much out of the whole NIL thing. NIL will create an even greater gap between the P4 and the G5 but it shouldn’t hurt us against Sun Belt teams.

I don’t think we have a “cancer”. Just a really good guy who isn’t working out as a head coach.

Nice level headed post. It’s just not worked out.

The people that think that Marshall or south Alabama have some nil slush fund are completely wrong.

I agree with you both. Marshall is same boat as us, they aren't good either. I was thinking more JMU, Boise or even a TxSt coming from nowhere on the NIL part. There are G5 that will be showing up as we backslide due to lack of $$.

JMU and TxSt are not bigger NIL hitters than us.

Go ahead and add ULM to that list.

[teller]

Also… you’re telling me Ark St holds SoAla to 16 meanwhile they walked the dog on us for 48…??? Man, something has got to change!

[8993]

Just as a reminder: Doug isn’t going anywhere unless he is poached by another school or chooses to look elsewhere this year.

We have zero idea what will happen with the Chancellor role and that person will not want to come in and make major changes on day one, especially if it means rocking the boat and pissing off a fanbase that you’re just being introduced to. That goes for our Interim Chancellor, as well. She would want to win over the fans, donors, students, staff, faculty, and alums, so rocking the boat wouldn’t help her do that.

The Chancellor is the head honcho and what they say goes (for the most part). Our current high-level admin is here for the long-haul unless they choose to leave on their own accord.

[BallantyneApp]

I don't think there is a cancer. Just a whole bunch of folks wanting the alumni and one of biggest fans of the program to be successful. It has failed to the point of embarrassment. Gillen is going to follow the directions of the big donors just like any other AD to keep a job. Gillen isn't a cancer and Clark isn't the answer. My fear is even at G5 level our limitations will be the players we can afford to hire in NIL. That may actually be the cancer that is killing us.

You have to remember that we are playing peer programs. So NIL isn’t the issue when USA and Marshall beat up on us. I wouldn’t have said this a few weeks ago but I think we are making too much out of the whole NIL thing. NIL will create an even greater gap between the P4 and the G5 but it shouldn’t hurt us against Sun Belt teams.

I don’t think we have a “cancer”. Just a really good guy who isn’t working out as a head coach.

It is definitely not just NIL but we have some folks on Jack Branch Drive that tell anyone who listen it is as a way to give them an out. Gillin is not our cancer now.

I really hate that Shawn is not working out because he is a good guy and App alumni but we need to move on at the end of the season.

Not to mention Army/Navy who are literally not allowed to have NIL are a combined 10-0.

[DenverOfTheEast]

Didn’t he hire Drink too? Was that a bad hire?

Drink was his 5th choice my guy. Drink fell in his lap -- don't act like he found Drink

and 100 different coaches coulda won with that 2019 team.

Clark is not one of those 100.

This is a dumb take by you - now you have thrown off the thread..

the 2019 team was held together by Clark and Watts - and they also assisted Drink to a 12-1 record and Clark won that Bowl game.

[MrCraig]

I don't think there is a cancer. Just a whole bunch of folks wanting the alumni and one of biggest fans of the program to be successful. It has failed to the point of embarrassment. Gillen is going to follow the directions of the big donors just like any other AD to keep a job. Gillen isn't a cancer and Clark isn't the answer. My fear is even at G5 level our limitations will be the players we can afford to hire in NIL. That may actually be the cancer that is killing us.

You have to remember that we are playing peer programs. So NIL isn’t the issue when USA and Marshall beat up on us. I wouldn’t have said this a few weeks ago but I think we are making too much out of the whole NIL thing. NIL will create an even greater gap between the P4 and the G5 but it shouldn’t hurt us against Sun Belt teams.

I don’t think we have a “cancer”. Just a really good guy who isn’t working out as a head coach.

It is definitely not just NIL but we have some folks on Jack Branch Drive that tell anyone who listen it is as a way to give them an out. Gillin is not our cancer now.

I really hate that Shawn is not working out because he is a good guy and App alumni but we need to move on at the end of the season.

Not to mention Army/Navy who are literally not allowed to have NIL are a combined 10-0.

And if money/NIL were the only key to success, Stanford and Oklahoma State would be a lot better than they are.

[Bigdaddyg1]

I’m starting to agree with the rational NIL discussions. How many players do we have on our roster who actually get any NIL? How many on average do we have/get who realistically are worth anything significant beyond a full ride scholarship? Are there still a huge amount of college football players who are of the “traditional type” who still value the free ride? I’m sure every single one of our 85 would love an extra pay check and if those 85 a few see their “value” as being much higher than reality. We have had and always will have a few who are disgruntled with playing time, the weather, being far from home or any other issue. That stuff happens everywhere. I really hate the title of this thread because of the connotation but like people say repeatedly it’s a discussion board. It’s really hard to maintain a high level of consistency and it’s baffling to me that some have this unrealistic expectation that App should be a 10 plus win team every single year. I’m as disappointed and upset as most fans and don’t know what the answer is but to non stop call for firings is crazy. I go back to the threads years ago that called for Satt to be fired to include pictures of for sale signs- classy. Then there were two running threads to “Fire Roof”- overkill and stupid. I’m sure that in some archives there are Fire Moore rants. What amazes me the most are the “experts” on here who seem to know the answer and know who can and can’t coach but have never, ever coached before at any level. I’m not saying we have the right coach but I’m saying that the non stop bitching and crying gets worn out.