Why we should get ready to hear "Appy State"

[wncapp78]

Appy State. Expect to hear it a lot Thursday. And 99% of the folks who say it have no intent to be disrespectful. Appy is just the commonly used name in East Tenn. The baseball minor league that many towns have teams is almost universally called the Appy League. No one says it with malice. A small coal mining town in SW Virginia is Appalachia, and their power house football teams were Appy (the school has since been consolidated). The local media has used the Appy State monicker many times because they never thought otherwise. When I was in school at App and would go home for holidays my teachers and other well meaning locals would ask "How are you doing at Appy State?" Folks there would consider it no different than calling Missouri "Mizzou" or Vanderbilt "Vandy". I wonder how many of us has ever referred to Vanderbilt as Vandy without a second thought. Is Appy State how I prefer to be called? No. Do I think most people do it in a condescending way. No. I guess when we hear Thursday, and we will, we will each have to decide its intent.

[/\PP ST/\TE GRAD 09]

This has never annoyed me. It's being picky. Incorrect pronunciation of Appalachian State annoys me.

[DaphneUrquhart]

Agreed. I even saw a UT published coupon of some sort advertising the game with Appy St. I don't think they're out to be ugly or rude. That said, the first time I hear "App-a-LAY-shun" I will feel compelled to offer a polite correction.

[Cincy App]

I actually dislike "Appy" worse than App-a-LAY-shun. You will definitely hear Appy alot. I live in Knoxville and politely corrected it for awhile but have mostly given up in vain. While it is in part innocent, it is also part indifferent. Not much respect for any non-Power 5 conference team in Knoxville.

[bigdaddyg]

I keep saying it in my head and the connotation that I get is that we are a cute little football school. A little boy named Michael might be called Mikie (spelling). Maybe that's just me. App State just sounds tougher than Appy. Maybe it just feels like we are being patted on the head.

[EastHallApp]

I get that there's no offense intended. I remember seeing at least one of our players when I was in school wearing an "Appy State football" shirt. But it still annoys me.

[Rekdiver]

Say it all you want just don't let me hear Rocky Top 50 times. That is the most annoying fight song"......

[wncapp78]

App a LAY shun is said by people who are not connected to this special region. You know immediately the person isn't one of us.

[Rekdiver]

Uh you can look at UT people and tell they are not one of us.....wearing that Dreamcicle orange....I'm gonna puke.

[Goapps15]

Appy drives me crazy and always will. I will correct people every time I hear it.

[AppState89]

I like App State....Appy.....NO

[CVAPP]

The first time I heard "Appy" was at a Circuit City store in Gastonia many moons ago. The salesperson told me I should purchase their warranty because one of my soon to be "Happy Appy" brethren might damage my stereo equipment. I was not the least bit offended by it but he managed to apologize for using it anyway as he thought it was derogatory. I think he was aspiring to enter UNCC as a commuter student sometime in his late twenties or early thirties. My point is, Appy has never bothered me and never will.

[hapapp]

Appy drives me crazy and always will. I will correct people every time I hear it.

That's the approach to take. No reason to get indignant, just let folks know that Appy is generally frowned upon.

[hapapp]

The first time I heard "Appy" was at a Circuit City store in Gastonia many moons ago. The salesperson told me I should purchase their warranty because one of my soon to be "Happy Appy" brethren might damage my stereo equipment. I was not the least bit offended by it but he managed to apologize for using it anyway as he thought it was derogatory. I think he was aspiring to enter UNCC as a commuter student sometime in his late twenties or early thirties. My point is, Appy has never bothered me and never will.

Heard that phrase often when I was at App in the late 60s and early 70s. I never really thought much about it. It seems as the university and it's football program has grown in stature, it has become more objectionable. I think the official move to App State for our athletic identification will help alleviate some of that useage.

[BUTCH1991]

Not a fan of Appy, but it beats being called Neers.

[JTApps1]

I see where you're coming from with the Vandy comparison, but we already have two shortened nicknames with App or App State that sound much better than Appy. We just have to make sure we correct people and educate them.

[proasu89]

Not a fan of Appy, but it beats being called Neers.

Fear the Neers!

[MtnDevil95]

I'm not a fan of Appy, but it doesn't really bother me. Appa-LAY-shun makes my skin crawl, and I know it's a regional thing. The Yinsers up in western PA who live in that stretch of the mountain range pronounce it that way, but to me it's still just wrong.

I was not thrilled with 'Neers at first, but it's kind of gown on me. Living in a part of that state that's over run with Pirates, Puppies and CHeaters, it's nice to hear "Go "NEERS" every once in a while when I'm wearing App merch.

[appchicago]

Not a fan of Appy, but it beats being called Neers.

What's wrong with 'Neers?

[BUTCH1991]

My opinion - sounds stupid, makes me think of a shaving cream, and is just a lazy way of saying Mountaineers.