BOT Chair comments about the game

[Yosef1986]

The BOT comments are reckless. No matter what the elites think - football and athletics as a whole at App have pushed our brand across the nation. From a small teachers college in the mountains to a household name. No doubt we have benefited from the success on the field. We need to continue to push our brand forward and build upon the past success - athletics and academics!

[t4pizza]

I’ve been wondering to myself why he would have said what he said in such a public forum and I am still perplexed. It could have just been an attempt at PR as has been suggested, if so he needs to leave that to the professionals because it missed the mark.
The thought that I just keep coming back to is…. What if he knows a lot more than most and isn’t telling, specifically in regards to NIL. He is our largest single donor and a membe of the 3333 collective and as such I am sure he knows exactly what our transfer recruits have been requesting. It has been reported in the past couple of years that we have lost multiple transfer portal recruits because we could not offer sufficient NIL. Many of those have gone onto start at larger school. Does his position in the 3333 allow him to see just how far behind we are? Is he trying to temper expectations because he knows we aren’t really competitive in NIL? Or was this just a really foolish comment to make at that time? I really don’t know the answer to this but whatever the answer is, he needs to learn to read the room because his comments missed the mark by a mile.

[Stonewall]

The Board members I have spoken to see things differently.

[bcoach]

Some folks really need to get a grip.

[Bigdaddyg1]

Perhaps those folks don’t see the App State Athletics program falling completely off a cliff like some here do. Maybe they try to use proper perspective with sports and academics as a whole. There also exists the remote possibility that the be all end all isn’t playing for a football national championship. Maybe there is slightly more to the college and specifically the App State experience.

[Saint3333]

Think of this as a business and products that App makes. One of the differentiating factors of how we market ourselves and one of the best mediums of advertising the product we have to sell has been on the football field. Now you can argue that in the grand scheme of things that shouldn't be the case as we have so many great academic programs and a resort setting from a geographical perspective. I'd agree with you in principal, but people identify App as a football school and that asset should be cultivated.

In business you make decisions to do two things for key asset, first protect those building moats around them, secondly feed that business unit with resources to grow.

Strong times breed weak men, don't lose sight of something special we have.

[AppfaninCAALand]

The BOT comments are reckless. No matter what the elites think - football and athletics as a whole at App have pushed out brand across the nation. From a small teachers college in the mountains to a household name. No doubt we have benefited from the success on the field. We need to continue to push our branch forward and build upon the past success - athletics and academics!

I can testify from 1st hand experience that this is absolutely correct. When I first moved to Richmond, Virginia in 2003, it was rare I would encounter someone else who had even heard of Appalachian State. When I would wear a hat with the App block A, I would often get asked "Did you go to West Point?" And this was in a state bordering North Carolina a short 5 hour drive from Boone. I used to say App was like NC's version of JMU and then they would understand.

Now, I don't have to say that anymore because multiple times each month someone sees my hat and says "Hey, my kid goes to App State! I love Boone." An administrator at my daughters' high school told me just like week that Appalachian State was second only to UNC Chapel Hill in out-of-state applications among this year's senior class.

Football did that.

[yosef69]

The BOT comments are reckless. No matter what the elites think - football and athletics as a whole at App have pushed out brand across the nation. From a small teachers college in the mountains to a household name. No doubt we have benefited from the success on the field. We need to continue to push our branch forward and build upon the past success - athletics and academics!

I can testify from 1st hand experience that this is absolutely correct. When I first moved to Richmond, Virginia in 2003, it was rare I would encounter someone else who had even heard of Appalachian State. When I would wear a hat with the App block A, I would often get asked "Did you go to West Point?" And this was in a state bordering North Carolina a short 5 hour drive from Boone. I used to say App was like NC's version of JMU and then they would understand.

Now, I don't have to say that anymore because multiple times each month someone sees my hat and says "Hey, my kid goes to App State! I love Boone." An administrator at my daughters' high school told me just like week that Appalachian State was second only to UNC Chapel Hill in out-of-state applications among this year's senior class.

Football did that.

It’s so obvious but people fail to see it.

Great post.

[Stonewall]

Fall out continues, and intensifies.

[yosef69]

Fall out continues, and intensifies.

So the BOT is divided and arguing about the line in the sand?

[Rekdiver]

Fall out continues, and intensifies.

How so?

[Saint3333]

Normal cycle of personalities on boards, not surprised.

Nothing to act upon until December so no need for board members to push back formally at this stage. The seasoned board members realize this and will play cards accordingly.

[BallantyneApp]

do we think this is actually how Ricks feels or this is just a public show of support since they are not going to make any move until December regardless of how the team performs?

I just can't believe someone who publicly stated the ONLY reason he is now connected to the university is because he saw that University's football team WINNING a game on national TV and it reawakened his passion for the school would also say this and believe it a few years apart.

[311neers]

Fall out continues, and intensifies.

The pressure to win that has built over the past 2-3 years seems very difficult to overcome. He overcame it last year.
But now, it seems that we're right back into every week is a "hot seat" week and almost feels like he is coaching for his job every game.
That's got to be hard on someone.

[ASUFan4863]

Fall out continues, and intensifies.

The pressure to win that has built over the past 2-3 years seems very difficult to overcome. He overcame it last year.
But now, it seems that we're right back into every week is a "hot seat" week and almost feels like he is coaching for his job every game.
That's got to be hard on someone.

Good point. I genuinely do feel bad for Clark at times. The time commitment to be a coach is off the charts and the appreciation if you don’t win is nonexistent. That doesn’t even factor the negativity shown towards his family last year. As I think BCoach said, the best solution for both may be a championship and mutual parting this year or next.

[PhillyApp1]

Think of this as a business and products that App makes. One of the differentiating factors of how we market ourselves and one of the best mediums of advertising the product we have to sell has been on the football field. Now you can argue that in the grand scheme of things that shouldn't be the case as we have so many great academic programs and a resort setting from a geographical perspective. I'd agree with you in principal, but people identify App as a football school and that asset should be cultivated.

In business you make decisions to do two things for key asset, first protect those building moats around them, secondly feed that business unit with resources to grow.

Strong times breed weak men, don't lose sight of something special we have.

We could end up like the Tarholes with weak leadership..... App State football has been great because they executed and expected certain results, On and Off, the field.... I have questions about that the last few years..... the next few games will answer them.

[appgrad95&97]

I've not said anything about this because it is so perplexing. Ricks' comments change nothing. They didn't change anyone's feelings. Why say anything? If we win the next three games (or 2 of 3) things will calm down. If we loose the next three (or 2 of 3), things will get much worse. The results will speak for themselves. I just don't get why he said anything.

[Stonewall]

He has ticked off several of the other Board members. That I’ve heard clearly. What I don’t know is whether his comments are having the opposite impact he seemed to desire. My intuition says he may have pushed them toward the opposite direction.

[BallantyneApp]

He has ticked off several of the other Board members. That I’ve heard clearly. What I don’t know is whether his comments are having the opposite impact he seemed to desire. My intuition says he may have pushed them toward the opposite direction.

lol I did not consider he was playing chess while we were playing checkers, but he is an Appalachian man after all. Frankly I don't think any subterfuge was needed. Most of the board members were probably heading in that direction anyway with or without a push.

[AppStFan1]

He has ticked off several of the other Board members. That I’ve heard clearly. What I don’t know is whether his comments are having the opposite impact he seemed to desire. My intuition says he may have pushed them toward the opposite direction.

I wondered if it would do just that. I know it did with me so I felt it would with others.