WSJ: Apps find leader in Bryant

[asu66]

Appalachian finds leader in Bryant

Scott Hamilton/Winston-Salem Journal

BOONE –– A cold rain fell hard Saturday in Boone — and the Appalachian State football team didn’t head for cover.
The Mountaineers chose to grind their way through the storm for a two-hour intrasquad scrimmage, their final such workout before Friday’s spring game. The rain provided Coach Scott Satterfield’s young team a soggy glimpse of what it is like to play in adverse weather. Appalachian will have Saturday’s experience banked should similar conditions appear this fall.
Dealing with the unusual has been a theme of sorts for the Mountaineers this spring. Nothing about these workouts has been normal, at least by Appalachian State standards.
Far from it.
For the coaches and players –– and the fans and the football program, in general –– practice this spring has been much different than in seasons past. Perhaps not the personnel or the offensive and defensive systems, but at least the aura surrounding practice is unfamiliar.
Much uncertainty looms over Appalachian State football these days. It isn’t a dark cloud of impending doom, but it is definitely a fog that has the Mountaineers feeling their way around.
There is the obvious anxiety of the move up to the Football Bowl Subdivision. That means new opponents, new stadiums and many other adjustments that come with life in a higher division and a new conference.
Appalachian is also coming to grips with wearing a scarlet label that reads: “Coming off a losing season.”
Breaking with the past
The move to the FBS level forced an adjustment in scholarship numbers before last season. That made the Mountaineers ineligible for the Southern Conference championship, a title they had won or shared 10 times since 1991, including seven of the previous eight seasons. Appalachian was also ineligible for the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.
With no postseason berth or title to shoot for, each game on the schedule was merely part of a standalone weekend. And whether it was because of bad breaks, injuries or merely a lack of focus, a 4-8 record resulted.
It was Appalachian’s first losing season since going 4-7 in 1993.
“I talked to some of the young guys and we can’t feel pressure because we weren’t here for those years (with winning records),” quarterback Kameron Bryant said. “A lot of these guys only know coming off a 4-8 season, so they don’t feel the pressure, which is good. It’s weird for some of the older guys who’ve been through it, but the younger guys just want to come in and get better each day. And that’s what you need to grow as a team.
“We’ve got to take our game to another level, especially coming off that 4-8 season. That was unacceptable up here at App.”
Bryant speaks like a leader and that is a good sign for Appalachian. Different leadership at the quarterback position is another one of those changes to which the Mountaineers are adjusting.
This adjustment isn’t as jarring, however.
Pointing to the future
Gone is Jamal Londry-Jackson, an All-SoCon performer before surrendering snaps to Bryant last season. He eventually lost the job altogether to Bryant, now a redshirt junior.
Under Bryant’s direction, Appalachian finished the season by winning their last two games and three of their final five. Bryant completed more than 71 percent of his passes for 2,713 yards and 14 touchdowns against four interceptions.
The bulk of those numbers came while still occasionally looking over his shoulder to see if he would be asked to defer to Londry-Jackson. But Bryant is now the unquestioned incumbent and he isn’t shy about voicing his desire to direct the Mountaineers.
“Coming in and being the starter is different,” Bryant said, “but as a team, it’s just a different mindset. We’ve got to get ourselves together and we’re excited to do that and have the opportunity. This spring we’re maybe a little more focused and understand the importance of what’s going to happen this fall. We’ve got to really step up to play better all around.”
His coach doesn’t seem hesitant to hand Bryant the keys.
“Kam has had a really solid spring,” Satterfield said. “It’s his first spring as the starter, but he’s picked up where he left off last fall on the field –– with a solid understanding of the offense and where the ball needs to go. He’s also becoming a leader, which is huge for us because we still have such a young team. Veteran leadership is going to be vital for us to keep the momentum that we had at the end of last season rolling through the rest of the spring and summer and into our first FBS season.”

[asutrnr81]

Appalachian finds leader in Bryant

It’s weird for some of the older guys who’ve been through it, but the younger guys just want to come in and get better each day. And that’s what you need to grow as a team.
“We’ve got to take our game to another level, especially coming off that 4-8 season. That was unacceptable up here at App.”
Bryant speaks like a leader and that is a good sign for Appalachian. Different leadership at the quarterback position is another one of those changes to which the Mountaineers are adjusting.

Under Bryant’s direction, Appalachian finished the season by winning their last two games and three of their final five. Bryant completed more than 71 percent of his passes for 2,713 yards and 14 touchdowns against four interceptions.
The bulk of those numbers came while still occasionally looking over his shoulder to see if he would be asked to defer to Londry-Jackson. But Bryant is now the unquestioned incumbent and he isn’t shy about voicing his desire to direct the Mountaineers.
“Coming in and being the starter is different,” Bryant said, “but as a team, it’s just a different mindset. We’ve got to get ourselves together and we’re excited to do that and have the opportunity. This spring we’re maybe a little more focused and understand the importance of what’s going to happen this fall. We’ve got to really step up to play better all around.”
His coach doesn’t seem hesitant to hand Bryant the keys.
“Kam has had a really solid spring,” Satterfield said. “It’s his first spring as the starter, but he’s picked up where he left off last fall on the field –– with a solid understanding of the offense and where the ball needs to go. He’s also becoming a leader, which is huge for us because we still have such a young team. Veteran leadership is going to be vital for us to keep the momentum that we had at the end of last season rolling through the rest of the spring and summer and into our first FBS season.”

Well this says all the right things....I was actually quite proud of Kam last year as he persevered in some really interesting circumstances. I do not think he looked over his shoulder as much as he alluded...as JLJ was not healthy.

As he was the only QB to take real snaps late in the year I hope he understands where the ball is supposed to go. I also hear that Lamb and JP have looked good.....Like with the running game....having more than one QB is really important!