What has Clark done right

[1997CLT]

With the abundance of "Fire Shawn" threads I thought it would be good to focus on some of his positive traits and things he has done right.

I'll start:

Shawn Clark definitely gets the team ready for big games. See UNC the last two years, A&M last year, Miami a few years ago, ECU multiple years (yes I know they are bad and another G5 school, but they are still big games).


Shawn Clark has put us in a position to win most of the games we lost. UNC both times, Wyoming this year, Coastal this year.
In 2020 (9-3) we lost to Marshall by 10 and Coastal by 1, UL by 3. In 2021 (10-4) lost to Miami by 2, blown out at UL by 28, , lost again to UL by 8, then blown out in the bowl game by 21. In 2022 (6-6) lost to UNC by 2, JMU by 4 (worst loss I can remember because we dominated the first half), Texas state by 12, Coastal and Marshall each by 7 and GSO by 3 in 2 OT. From 2020 - 2023, we were 25-13 with only 4 of those losses more than 1 score. This year so far, each of the losses have been on the last possession of the game. Maybe there is an execution problem, maybe it's coaching, bad play calls, etc.. but he has put us in a position to win.

[appstatealum]

No. Just don't.

[Saint3333]

By all accounts he loves App and was an excellent position coach for us.

[Bigdaddyg1]

With the abundance of "Fire Shawn" threads I thought it would be good to focus on some of his positive traits and things he has done right.

I'll start:

Shawn Clark definitely gets the team ready for big games. See UNC the last two years, A&M last year, Miami a few years ago, ECU multiple years (yes I know they are bad and another G5 school, but they are still big games).


Shawn Clark has put us in a position to win most of the games we lost. UNC both times, Wyoming this year, Coastal this year.
In 2020 (9-3) we lost to Marshall by 10 and Coastal by 1, UL by 3. In 2021 (10-4) lost to Miami by 2, blown out at UL by 28, , lost again to UL by 8, then blown out in the bowl game by 21. In 2022 (6-6) lost to UNC by 2, JMU by 4 (worst loss I can remember because we dominated the first half), Texas state by 12, Coastal and Marshall each by 7 and GSO by 3 in 2 OT. From 2020 - 2023, we were 25-13 with only 4 of those losses more than 1 score. This year so far, each of the losses have been on the last possession of the game. Maybe there is an execution problem, maybe it's coaching, bad play calls, etc.. but he has put us in a position to win.

Leads to a question I've asked. Who was the last legit good team we beat by 10 or more points? My definition of legit is an FBS team who finished the season with 7 or more wins. I'd like it to be 14+ points but I'll stick with 10+.

[Yosef1986]

He is a great ambassador for all things App. However, bottom line is wins and losses. No head football coach is recognized for "almost". I like Clark - however, I am not sure he is the one to move us forward. I have refused to see the team going down the path of mediocracy - however - it is starting to look as if that is the path we are on. I believe we should have higher aspirations than 6/7 wins a year.

Just my opinion - the winners are the ones that are not talking about being in a position to win - they adapt and win.

[BeauFoster]

I will give him credit-I think he has grown into a strong clock manager. He did a great job at the end of the first half of the WYO game getting us into position for a field goal attempt. I think at this point, he’s better than Satt may have ever been at that.

[1997CLT]

Leads to a question I've asked. Who was the last legit good team we beat by 10 or more points? My definition of legit is an FBS team who finished the season with 7 or more wins. I'd like it to be 14+ points but I'll stick with 10+.

I'd have to look, but ECU 2021?

[/\PP ST/\TE GRAD 09]

He's consistently kept goals in front of him

[RaleighApp27609]

Shawn Clark has put us in a position to win most of the games we lost. UNC both times, Wyoming this year, Coastal this year.
In 2020 (9-3) we lost to Marshall by 10 and Coastal by 1, UL by 3. In 2021 (10-4) lost to Miami by 2, blown out at UL by 28, , lost again to UL by 8, then blown out in the bowl game by 21. In 2022 (6-6) lost to UNC by 2, JMU by 4 (worst loss I can remember because we dominated the first half), Texas state by 12, Coastal and Marshall each by 7 and GSO by 3 in 2 OT. From 2020 - 2023, we were 25-13 with only 4 of those losses more than 1 score. This year so far, each of the losses have been on the last possession of the game. Maybe there is an execution problem, maybe it's coaching, bad play calls, etc.. but he has put us in a position to win.

A loss is a loss regardless of close the score is. Close won't cut it as it leads to feelings of moral victories and satisfaction with mediocrity.

[Bigdaddyg1]

Leads to a question I've asked. Who was the last legit good team we beat by 10 or more points? My definition of legit is an FBS team who finished the season with 7 or more wins. I'd like it to be 14+ points but I'll stick with 10+.

I'd have to look, but ECU 2021?

Did some research on the past several seasons and they were just about the only one. We thumped some average to bad Belt teams in 2021 but we also got destroyed by La and Western Kentucky. I think the answer to the question is basically ECU and not really anyone else in a long time. What that tells me is that we were awesome in FCS, transitioned easily to the Belt (that was weak and possibly the lowest rated G5) but have struggled to keep up the pace with a much improved Belt. Either we just aren't getting the talent overall or we are getting left behind.

[asu1988]

Seriously? We've recruited good. He's an App guy, but he's not head coach material. 1 Bowl win, 4-7 vs. Coastal, JMU, GSU, Marshall. We have gotten progressively worse every year he's been at the helm. December 1 can't get here soon enough.

[AppWyo]

Regardless of what anyone says or thinks, Shawn Clark is continuing to build upon a program that will stand the test of time. Any fan that is willing to just settle for a NY6 bowl is not setting their goals high enough. Anything less than a National Championship will be a disappointment.

Maybe the coach is not the problem. Maybe we need better fans that expect to win every game, but do not gage their happiness on whether App wins or looses.

If you get rid of Clark now you may be just like UNC-Ch get rid of Mack Brown for someone that can win and then praise his return. Heck the coaches after Brown could not even win when they cheated. If you are going to cheat at least win.

[AppWyo]

Seriously? We've recruited good. He's an App guy, but he's not head coach material. 1 Bowl win, 4-7 vs. Coastal, JMU, GSU, Marshall. We have gotten progressively worse every year he's been at the helm. December 1 can't get here soon enough.

Maybe Coastal, JMU, Marshall, and Georgia Southern are good too. Remember Drinkwitz lost to Georgia Southern too.

[DenverOfTheEast]

2020:
Went 9-3
Beat CLT by 15
Beat Stink by 8
Won a Bowl Game

2021:
Won 10 games (5th double figure win season in FBS history). Satt had 3, Drink 1.
Beat ECU
Beat #14 Coastal
Beat Stink
SBC East Division Champs
Made a Bowl (can't win every bowl, bound to lose one)

2022:
Hired Frank Ponce and Scott Sloan back
Beat #6 Texas A M
ESPN COLLEGE GAMEDAY 1st Ever
(Missed FG in Double OT to lose to Stink in Statesboro)

2023:
Beat ECU


Clark is 2-0 vs ECU
Clark is 1-0 vs CLT
Clark is 1-3 vs P5 teams
Clark is 2-1 vs Stink
Clark has a SBC East Division Title
Clark has beaten 2 teams ranked inside top 15

[RaleighApp27609]

Seriously? We've recruited good. He's an App guy, but he's not head coach material. 1 Bowl win, 4-7 vs. Coastal, JMU, GSU, Marshall. We have gotten progressively worse every year he's been at the helm. December 1 can't get here soon enough.

Maybe Coastal, JMU, Marshall, and Georgia Southern are good too. Remember Drinkwitz lost to Georgia Southern too.

Coastal and Georgia Southern (along with App) do not appear to be good teams this year.

[311neers]

Seriously? We've recruited good. He's an App guy, but he's not head coach material. 1 Bowl win, 4-7 vs. Coastal, JMU, GSU, Marshall. We have gotten progressively worse every year he's been at the helm. December 1 can't get here soon enough.

Maybe Coastal, JMU, Marshall, and Georgia Southern are good too. Remember Drinkwitz lost to Georgia Southern too.

Coastal and Georgia Southern (along with App) do not appear to be good teams this year.

We make every team look like world beaters. Southern hung 500 yards on us last year and they'll do it again. Let's not talk smack to anyone if we can't back it up.

[Black Saturday]

Everybody in the Belt is better than they used to be this season by getting 30+ players from the portal. The Belt's performance against outsiders has been amazing so far. Balance shows up this season through the portal in the P5s too. There aren't exactly any dominant P5s. I think this is the new trend for G% and P5.

Turnovers and an erratic exlax defense are the reason we maybe aren't 6-0. We've been in all games to the last drive. We all love our APP team, but maybe we expect us to be better than we actually are yet because of the balanced playing field. As much as I have to admit I'm wrong about Coastal being bad up until last night- they looked on par with us. Our level of programs are getting the quality of players that wouldn't sniff their programs out of high school, but now are for PT. Clark is a manager and the players and play calls and schemes are only good as our assistants. T/Os have kicked our ass in 3 games. Who is to blame for those.
I wasn't excited about the 4th quarter call at midfield, which ended up not costing the game, but had it, I was thinking Clark may have pulled his own lynchpin.

[BambooRdApp]

Positive - the humor I get from reading Yosef's Cabin on the perceived fall of the Roman Empire on seven different threads in YC.
When Coach Clark goes for 4th down and doesn't make it (not this part)...but the posts on the weekly game threads of folks going into mental cardiac arrest about the decision after the fact....and then the same reaction when Coach Clark decides not to go for it on 4th down...he is then accused of playing not to lose....these things make me laugh....and Jimmy V once said you should laugh a bit every day.

[AppStFan1]

Positive - the humor I get from reading Yosef's Cabin on the perceived fall of the Roman Empire on seven different threads in YC.
When Coach Clark goes for 4th down and doesn't make it (not this part)...but the posts on the weekly game threads of folks going into mental cardiac arrest about the decision after the fact....and then the same reaction when Coach Clark decides not to go for it on 4th down...he is then accused of playing not to lose....these things make me laugh....and Jimmy V once said you should laugh a bit every day.

Agreed on that. I like the guts to go for it in situations where there is no real downside at that moment. I think you have to watch the entire game and sit back for a few hours or a day and assess before making off the cuff comments during a game.

[Mjohn1988]

Regardless of what anyone says or thinks, Shawn Clark is continuing to build upon a program that will stand the test of time. Any fan that is willing to just settle for a NY6 bowl is not setting their goals high enough. Anything less than a National Championship will be a disappointment.

Maybe the coach is not the problem. Maybe we need better fans that expect to win every game, but do not gage their happiness on whether App wins or looses.

If you get rid of Clark now you may be just like UNC-Ch get rid of Mack Brown for someone that can win and then praise his return. Heck the coaches after Brown could not even win when they cheated. If you are going to cheat at least win.

I see this a lot, why does it always get worse if we get rid of Coach Clark? I hear money issue’s won’t let us hire a better coach. I hear we will just be getting someone who will use us as a stepping stone. For me there is something between NY6 or failure. But no legitimate fact based argument can say we are better or are getting better under Coach Clark. For the most part we beat bad teams and we even struggle to beat some of those bad teams. But I’ll go back to my initial question, why can’t we get a head coach that will have us at the top of the Belt again? As for good things under Coach Clark, he has run the program with class.