What are the "ugly truths" about the football program?

[Bootsy]

Aren’t college kids always hungry, as a rule? Or was that just me?

[DenverOfTheEast]

Aren’t college kids always hungry, as a rule? Or was that just me?

No apparently App State football players aren't hungry or eat.

[CharlotteApp05]

DOTE- Are you a former player? If so I know who you are.

I’ve heard someone specifically advocate for the issues you advocate for

[BallantyneApp]

DOTE- Are you a former player? If so I know who you are.

I’ve heard someone specifically advocate for the issues you advocate for

what issues does he advocate for?

[CharlotteApp05]

This particular guy advocates heavily for better/ more food for athletes and was a supporter of Clarks.

Also an advocate for players and the university and has inside information.

And while a little bit "unique" on here, in real life this person does not act this way and most would consider him an ambassador for the university.

* Assuming DOTE is who I think he is, most everyone on this board would actually have very positive things to say about him.

[agentpaul001]

App will never compete with the "Power" schools on an NIL basis. The wisest move would be for Athletics to move in a different direction to attract and retain the best players for the program. Lean into some of App's media strength. Spend big on media (video / audio programs) and new media. Several current students and recent graduates have big social followings & have helped build App's social media presence to one far outsized for the size of our undergraduate program. Support them! Get creative. Literally. This shouldn't preclude having an NIL presence, but give prospective attendees another reason to attend. If we can't compete head to head on money (we can't) then find a different way to win instead of praying that some benevolent booster is going to step in.

[Pikapp79]

Aren’t college kids always hungry, as a rule? Or was that just me?

I lived on HB’s, beer and sugar. It was a glorious time.

[mike87]

Aren’t college kids always hungry, as a rule? Or was that just me?

College kids? I'm 60 years old and always hungry.

[T-Dog]

To me, as someone who watched every presser and every Mountaineer Talk, it seemed that Clark didn't put himself out there as much as he should. Most other coaches have two press conferences a week. Clark just had one and staff was ready to end it after 10-12 minutes. Have a presser on Wednesday.

I think that would help build more fan trust since he could give more injury updates. One of the biggest transgressions was saying "We came out of Clemson healthy" and then 5-6 starters were out at ECU due to injury.

I also remember how much whining he later did about doing all sorts of media after the Texas A&M game. He whined in that "I had to do XX interviews this week, but it wasn't a distraction" double speak.

Clark occasionally did off-mountain radio and such, but it seemed inconsistent. I know an App alum who was scheduled to have Clark in August, but then the Santana Hopper helmet incident leaked that day and the interview was canceled. No one called them to reschedule.

I want Loggains doing every radio hit possible this week. I know he'll be portal crootin hard, but this is immense. Have him do the rounds before the Yosef Club tour this spring promoting the vents. Same after the schedule release. Before and after spring practice. Get him out there.

Another media suggestion is to have Media Day on a Saturday, not a weekday. Reach out to Charlotte, Asheville, Triad and Tri-Cities media and invite them up. Invite some national reporters to spend a day and write a "Day in the life of the App State Head Coach" bits. And make sure to not have Media Day while the leafblower is running in the background again.

Make sure to coach him to never say "all of our goals are ahead of us" and "the standards is the standard."

Take advantage of that New Coach Smell.

So far Dowell has done a decent job at this. With Belichick at Chapel Hill and Charlotte's new coach, it's imperative to give as much access as possible.

[NewApp]

What was the Santana Hopper helmet incident?

[appstatealum]

App will never compete with the "Power" schools on an NIL basis. The wisest move would be for Athletics to move in a different direction to attract and retain the best players for the program. Lean into some of App's media strength. Spend big on media (video / audio programs) and new media. Several current students and recent graduates have big social followings & have helped build App's social media presence to one far outsized for the size of our undergraduate program. Support them! Get creative. Literally. This shouldn't preclude having an NIL presence, but give prospective attendees another reason to attend. If we can't compete head to head on money (we can't) then find a different way to win instead of praying that some benevolent booster is going to step in.

This exactly. I've been saying this for years. Embrace our marketability. Think Colorado, minus the obnoxiousness of a lot of what they did (and no Heisman Henry)

[appstatealum]

I have a lot of thoughts about this.
1:we give them a full scholarship and probably NIL. Is it Apps responsibility to feed them every single meal year round?
2: they mentioned that they tried to purchase a meal plan but was told they couldn’t because he lived off campus. I don’t know who told him that or if someone actually did, but either way, it’s incorrect. Anyone can buy a meal plan. There are a lot of options for plans both on and off campus students.

Yes nutrition is very important and I know we require a lot of very specific diets, but again is it reasonable to expect someone else to pay for every meal you eat for 3-5 years just because you play a sport?

It’s not about what App is and isn’t responsible for. It’s about the program doing everything it can to operate at the highest level. You would never find a nutrition situation like this at a school like Boise, and especially true higher up the food chain you go.

Now this is an UGLY TRUTH. If you can't feed the players properly - and #TEAMCLARK had to endure this?!?

What are we even talking about with all these expectations and blah blah -- This is a freaking AD problem of an Ugly Truth and needs to be moved to another thread.

This exposes all of my many many post about #TeamClark not getting the support he deserved from the Admin.

Now you have parents speaking out for players -- FINALLY!

DG is failing the student athletes and the coaches giving them no chance to be successful.

I have a feeling that this, like most things on Facebook, isn't the whole truth. The football team/athletic department may not provide all meals, but I had a buddy at App who was a walk-on and earned a scholarship his junior and senior year. An unlimited meal plan was part of the scholarship. So, if the dining hall was open, he could get as much food as he wanted. He bought me lunch a few times with it. I highly doubt that has changed in the 12 years since I graduated.

Yo - a recent parent of a graduate probably more apt at knowing than a buddy that graduated over years ago. --

Boise State, Army, Liberty, Navy, Memphis have their own football dining places and I am probably missing a few other for sure, probably Marshall JMU and Louisiana in the SBC as well.

But we want or think we should be leading the Group of 5.

We can't even get our boys fed properly.

And I will not let this Ugly truth die.

I recall the head atheltic trainer we had during Drinks tenure was huge into nutrition. Almost put more emphasis on diet than weight room stuff. The results showed back then. Perhaps you are suggesting the athletes need coaching on what to eat and what not to eat versus having a personal chef for the teams. A personal chef is lazy, teaching them proper nutrition should be a requirement.

[AppDawg]

It’s not about what App is and isn’t responsible for. It’s about the program doing everything it can to operate at the highest level. You would never find a nutrition situation like this at a school like Boise, and especially true higher up the food chain you go.

Now this is an UGLY TRUTH. If you can't feed the players properly - and #TEAMCLARK had to endure this?!?

What are we even talking about with all these expectations and blah blah -- This is a freaking AD problem of an Ugly Truth and needs to be moved to another thread.

This exposes all of my many many post about #TeamClark not getting the support he deserved from the Admin.

Now you have parents speaking out for players -- FINALLY!

DG is failing the student athletes and the coaches giving them no chance to be successful.

I have a feeling that this, like most things on Facebook, isn't the whole truth. The football team/athletic department may not provide all meals, but I had a buddy at App who was a walk-on and earned a scholarship his junior and senior year. An unlimited meal plan was part of the scholarship. So, if the dining hall was open, he could get as much food as he wanted. He bought me lunch a few times with it. I highly doubt that has changed in the 12 years since I graduated.

Yo - a recent parent of a graduate probably more apt at knowing than a buddy that graduated over years ago. --

Boise State, Army, Liberty, Navy, Memphis have their own football dining places and I am probably missing a few other for sure, probably Marshall JMU and Louisiana in the SBC as well.

But we want or think we should be leading the Group of 5.

We can't even get our boys fed properly.

And I will not let this Ugly truth die.

I recall the head atheltic trainer we had during Drinks tenure was huge into nutrition. Almost put more emphasis on diet than weight room stuff. The results showed back then. Perhaps you are suggesting the athletes need coaching on what to eat and what not to eat versus having a personal chef for the teams. A personal chef is lazy, teaching them proper nutrition should be a requirement.

This is exactly what our nutritionist on staff does. To the point of making weekly grocery lists for each player. The issue being raised is $$. Rather than Athletics providing the food, it is responsibility of player to purchase and prepare each meal.

Also agree with DOTE about an Athletics Chef/cook staff. A good friend I played HS Baseball with worked in Duke’s Athletics department for a number of years doing just that. He said they worked with both nutritionists and players to aligning on goals/plans in preparation of weekly menus at their training table. They provided this for all athletes, not a football only thing.

[Yosef10]

It’s not about what App is and isn’t responsible for. It’s about the program doing everything it can to operate at the highest level. You would never find a nutrition situation like this at a school like Boise, and especially true higher up the food chain you go.

Now this is an UGLY TRUTH. If you can't feed the players properly - and #TEAMCLARK had to endure this?!?

What are we even talking about with all these expectations and blah blah -- This is a freaking AD problem of an Ugly Truth and needs to be moved to another thread.

This exposes all of my many many post about #TeamClark not getting the support he deserved from the Admin.

Now you have parents speaking out for players -- FINALLY!

DG is failing the student athletes and the coaches giving them no chance to be successful.

I have a feeling that this, like most things on Facebook, isn't the whole truth. The football team/athletic department may not provide all meals, but I had a buddy at App who was a walk-on and earned a scholarship his junior and senior year. An unlimited meal plan was part of the scholarship. So, if the dining hall was open, he could get as much food as he wanted. He bought me lunch a few times with it. I highly doubt that has changed in the 12 years since I graduated.

Yo - a recent parent of a graduate probably more apt at knowing than a buddy that graduated over years ago. --

Boise State, Army, Liberty, Navy, Memphis have their own football dining places and I am probably missing a few other for sure, probably Marshall JMU and Louisiana in the SBC as well.

But we want or think we should be leading the Group of 5.

We can't even get our boys fed properly.

And I will not let this Ugly truth die.

I recall the head atheltic trainer we had during Drinks tenure was huge into nutrition. Almost put more emphasis on diet than weight room stuff. The results showed back then. Perhaps you are suggesting the athletes need coaching on what to eat and what not to eat versus having a personal chef for the teams. A personal chef is lazy, teaching them proper nutrition should be a requirement.

It’s not a personal chef. It’s having dedicated meals for athletes and is commonplace throughout college athletics - for programs that can afford it. Marshall was able to implement a training table last summer. It should be a priority for App.

https://herdzone.com/news/2023/8/17/gen ... shall-room

[BambooRdApp]

Now this is an UGLY TRUTH. If you can't feed the players properly - and #TEAMCLARK had to endure this?!?

What are we even talking about with all these expectations and blah blah -- This is a freaking AD problem of an Ugly Truth and needs to be moved to another thread.

This exposes all of my many many post about #TeamClark not getting the support he deserved from the Admin.

Now you have parents speaking out for players -- FINALLY!

DG is failing the student athletes and the coaches giving them no chance to be successful.

I have a feeling that this, like most things on Facebook, isn't the whole truth. The football team/athletic department may not provide all meals, but I had a buddy at App who was a walk-on and earned a scholarship his junior and senior year. An unlimited meal plan was part of the scholarship. So, if the dining hall was open, he could get as much food as he wanted. He bought me lunch a few times with it. I highly doubt that has changed in the 12 years since I graduated.

Yo - a recent parent of a graduate probably more apt at knowing than a buddy that graduated over years ago. --

Boise State, Army, Liberty, Navy, Memphis have their own football dining places and I am probably missing a few other for sure, probably Marshall JMU and Louisiana in the SBC as well.

But we want or think we should be leading the Group of 5.

We can't even get our boys fed properly.

And I will not let this Ugly truth die.

I recall the head atheltic trainer we had during Drinks tenure was huge into nutrition. Almost put more emphasis on diet than weight room stuff. The results showed back then. Perhaps you are suggesting the athletes need coaching on what to eat and what not to eat versus having a personal chef for the teams. A personal chef is lazy, teaching them proper nutrition should be a requirement.

It’s not a personal chef. It’s having dedicated meals for athletes and is commonplace throughout college athletics - for programs that can afford it. Marshall was able to implement a training table last summer. It should be a priority for App.

https://herdzone.com/news/2023/8/17/gen ... shall-room

This is a question I would like the press corp. to put to DG and the new football coach....

[Yosef10]

I have a feeling that this, like most things on Facebook, isn't the whole truth. The football team/athletic department may not provide all meals, but I had a buddy at App who was a walk-on and earned a scholarship his junior and senior year. An unlimited meal plan was part of the scholarship. So, if the dining hall was open, he could get as much food as he wanted. He bought me lunch a few times with it. I highly doubt that has changed in the 12 years since I graduated.

Yo - a recent parent of a graduate probably more apt at knowing than a buddy that graduated over years ago. --

Boise State, Army, Liberty, Navy, Memphis have their own football dining places and I am probably missing a few other for sure, probably Marshall JMU and Louisiana in the SBC as well.

But we want or think we should be leading the Group of 5.

We can't even get our boys fed properly.

And I will not let this Ugly truth die.

I recall the head atheltic trainer we had during Drinks tenure was huge into nutrition. Almost put more emphasis on diet than weight room stuff. The results showed back then. Perhaps you are suggesting the athletes need coaching on what to eat and what not to eat versus having a personal chef for the teams. A personal chef is lazy, teaching them proper nutrition should be a requirement.

It’s not a personal chef. It’s having dedicated meals for athletes and is commonplace throughout college athletics - for programs that can afford it. Marshall was able to implement a training table last summer. It should be a priority for App.

https://herdzone.com/news/2023/8/17/gen ... shall-room

This is a question I would like the press corp. to put to DG and the new football coach....

Agreed, and maybe this is harsh, but I’m not sure any of the folks outside of David Ware that cover App football understand what this is and why it’s important to have it.

[Bootsy]

App will never compete with the "Power" schools on an NIL basis. The wisest move would be for Athletics to move in a different direction to attract and retain the best players for the program. Lean into some of App's media strength. Spend big on media (video / audio programs) and new media. Several current students and recent graduates have big social followings & have helped build App's social media presence to one far outsized for the size of our undergraduate program. Support them! Get creative. Literally. This shouldn't preclude having an NIL presence, but give prospective attendees another reason to attend. If we can't compete head to head on money (we can't) then find a different way to win instead of praying that some benevolent booster is going to step in.

This is a very clever idea. App has enough horsepower on the creative front to do all kinds of promotion that others can’t or haven’t considered.

Example - App is well known for producing innovative, high-caliber pregame/uni reveal videos. These are so good that other schools have begun imitating their style and content.

Why not grant graphic design/videography students the opportunity to produce highlight reel videos for individual players on a regular basis? Maybe pair off an athlete or two with a two-person team to produce the video and other collateral. The players gain a professional-caliber highlight reel they can share on social media, and students could get internship credit and some great practical experience while they’re doing it.

Leaders in any field recognize it takes more than money to stay in front of the competition. App has a lot going for it, now it’s a matter of identify talents/resources that align with athletics programs and getting them together.