Marshall..?

[JTApps1]

If we could run the ball, Joey all of a sudden would be amazing.

Exactly. Nobody is worried about us running and yet he is still putting up solid numbers. I don't understand why Marshall hasn't been getting more carries.

[Yosefus]

I don’t see a single post that would support being an “apologist” (whatever that means). There is a segment who want coaches fired constantly and there is a segment with realistic and cooler heads. I doubt that any fans are either happy or satisfied with results. I doubt that any coaches are either happy or satisfied. Folks can be upset and disappointed with game results without being over the top vocal about firing people. The lunatic fringe who wants the entire staff fired is just that- lunatics.

I get what you're trying to say, but you are writing off critics the same way some of the write off those of you who always seem to find an excuse for why App keeps losing.
You can go back and look through my post history, I've defended Clark and his staff a good bit. However, there are no more excuses now. This is 100% Clark's team, and it isn't a very good one. Each year of Clark's tenure the results have been slightly worse than the year before. That's the opposite of what should be happening. Time to move on. Unless the team miraculously wins out, Clark and Co. should be gone at the end of the season. There are plenty of FCS head coaches and FBS offensive coordinators who would love a chance to head coach App State.

Agreed here. I think you give a staff 3 years to show improvements. After 5 years that is plenty of time. I love Shawn as a person and appreciate his effort but if we don't win out the remainder of this year then I think we should move on. There are many quality coaches who would take this job.

The 3 years / 5 years thing makes perfect sense as a rule of thumb, but the last 4 years have been way outside the norm and are significant factors to consider in judging the progress of a new coach. No, not "excuses"....factors used by any reasonable AD in an analysis and conclusion. Basing a "fire him now" decision that some (not saying you) put forth early on is more than stacking Wins and Losses against previous blocks of time. In his first year, Clark dealt with Covid...completely screwy situation. It was a frustrating season on multiple levels. That was immediately followed by both the Portal and NIL, which were new to college football and again...complicating factors. Clark was slow to use the portal which cost us badly in 2022. Last year started off with some poor performances but showed a turn around and strong finish. That would indicate good coaching. He never "lost the team" which was favorable. Most people have been of the opinion this was his measurement year. I've been a Clark supporter, but I can say that I've been very frustrated. I think Sloan is a good DC but this is the worst performance by an App D that I've ever seen.

Some folks feel like considering the above is being an apologist I disagree. I believe it's being a fan and supporting the team and coaches in light of facts and circumstances. Truth is that changing coaches is not without risk....just ask Georgia Southern. This season is baffling to me, which is why I've been largely quiet. I acknowledge that I don't have the information to explain what is happening. Clearly, something is wrong whether it is the talent, the coaches, or a combination of the two. It's rarely just one factor. Barring some major change, I expect a change at the top. It's hard to argue. Until that decision is made, I'll support the team and coaches to finish out this season. I think that if Clark were told today that he's done in December, he would still bust his ass to try to finish strong. People are entitled to their opinions but the personal insults that a few (not most) have posted towards Clark are unwarranted and he deserves better.

Sorry for the lengthy post It clearly wasn't targeted at you other than the response to the 3/5 years thing which again...is a bit simplistic.

The truth is this guy and his staff are in the middle of an epic collapse of a football program. Anyone thinks otherwise isn't seeing what I am each week. I feel for the guy he is a Mountaineer that bleeds black and gold, I get that. He is also probably the loneliest guy in the room right now and could use a friend.
Bottom line though, it's time to make the tough decision for the good of Appalachian State Football and the University to make a change in leadership on the team. This isn't going to get any better. We can all see it and feel it. This team will be lucky to win 1 or 2 more games tops. Time for change!

[Pikapp79]

I don’t see a single post that would support being an “apologist” (whatever that means). There is a segment who want coaches fired constantly and there is a segment with realistic and cooler heads. I doubt that any fans are either happy or satisfied with results. I doubt that any coaches are either happy or satisfied. Folks can be upset and disappointed with game results without being over the top vocal about firing people. The lunatic fringe who wants the entire staff fired is just that- lunatics.

I get what you're trying to say, but you are writing off critics the same way some of the write off those of you who always seem to find an excuse for why App keeps losing.
You can go back and look through my post history, I've defended Clark and his staff a good bit. However, there are no more excuses now. This is 100% Clark's team, and it isn't a very good one. Each year of Clark's tenure the results have been slightly worse than the year before. That's the opposite of what should be happening. Time to move on. Unless the team miraculously wins out, Clark and Co. should be gone at the end of the season. There are plenty of FCS head coaches and FBS offensive coordinators who would love a chance to head coach App State.

Agreed here. I think you give a staff 3 years to show improvements. After 5 years that is plenty of time. I love Shawn as a person and appreciate his effort but if we don't win out the remainder of this year then I think we should move on. There are many quality coaches who would take this job.

The 3 years / 5 years thing makes perfect sense as a rule of thumb, but the last 4 years have been way outside the norm and are significant factors to consider in judging the progress of a new coach. No, not "excuses"....factors used by any reasonable AD in an analysis and conclusion. Basing a "fire him now" decision that some (not saying you) put forth early on is more than stacking Wins and Losses against previous blocks of time. In his first year, Clark dealt with Covid...completely screwy situation. It was a frustrating season on multiple levels. That was immediately followed by both the Portal and NIL, which were new to college football and again...complicating factors. Clark was slow to use the portal which cost us badly in 2022. Last year started off with some poor performances but showed a turn around and strong finish. That would indicate good coaching. He never "lost the team" which was favorable. Most people have been of the opinion this was his measurement year. I've been a Clark supporter, but I can say that I've been very frustrated. I think Sloan is a good DC but this is the worst performance by an App D that I've ever seen.

Some folks feel like considering the above is being an apologist I disagree. I believe it's being a fan and supporting the team and coaches in light of facts and circumstances. Truth is that changing coaches is not without risk....just ask Georgia Southern. This season is baffling to me, which is why I've been largely quiet. I acknowledge that I don't have the information to explain what is happening. Clearly, something is wrong whether it is the talent, the coaches, or a combination of the two. It's rarely just one factor. Barring some major change, I expect a change at the top. It's hard to argue. Until that decision is made, I'll support the team and coaches to finish out this season. I think that if Clark were told today that he's done in December, he would still bust his ass to try to finish strong. People are entitled to their opinions but the personal insults that a few (not most) have posted towards Clark are unwarranted and he deserves better.

Sorry for the lengthy post It clearly wasn't targeted at you other than the response to the 3/5 years thing which again...is a bit simplistic.

The truth is this guy and his staff are in the middle of an epic collapse of a football program. Anyone thinks otherwise isn't seeing what I am each week. I feel for the guy he is a Mountaineer that bleeds black and gold, I get that. He is also probably the loneliest guy in the room right now and could use a friend.
Bottom line though, it's time to make the tough decision for the good of Appalachian State Football and the University to make a change in leadership on the team. This isn't going to get any better. We can all see it and feel it. This team will be lucky to win 1 or 2 more games tops. Time for change!

Amen!

[Stonewall]

Given the other pressing needs , it will wait until the season’s end. Unless someone steps up to write the check. My take.

[Seattleapp]

2019:
Need a new coach. Budget is busted.
1: App guy
2: Wants to be at app
3: We can afford him
4: By all measure a good hire.
Only question left was, can he he be a head coach?


2025:

Where are we now?

Where all have you donated this week

[Pikapp79]

Given the other pressing needs , it will wait until the season’s end. Unless someone steps up to write the check. My take.

As it should be. The season is lost no need making it worse.

[NewApp]

Are some of you guys talking about firing Clark mid season?

[appdaze]

The really delusional ones. No moves will happen until January at the earliest, unless a donor comes out of the blue and makes them an offer they can't refuse.

[Bigdaddyg1]

I don’t think I’ve seen one single comment regarding injuries which to me appears to have been fairly significant. While that’s “no excuse” and the standard next man up is always the mantra there is often an explanation as opposed to an excuse. Didn’t we lose at least 2 defensive linemen before the season started and haven’t we lost a few more significant players as well? We have a linebacker who has missed most of two seasons due to significant injury and surely he’s playing more on grit and determination rather than 100% health. I personally always want to trust the highly paid and highly experienced coaching staff to make personnel decisions rather than a 50 year old dude on a keyboard so I’d like to believe that the guys playing the most are the best we have. I don’t think saving guys with a redshirt is really much of a thing anymore so I’d hope we don’t have freshman secondary guys in particular standing on the sideline watching us get burned repeatedly if they are better.

I completely agree that it’s up to the coaches to “make guys better” and that standard post game stuff about giving up big plays and watching film… has gotten both tired and unfortunately expected there seems to be a tough reality that we simply don’t have the players particularly on defense to get it done. Offensive line was a major concern by many before the season started but many were excited about the increase in size. I’ve been of the opinion for years that many G5 big linemen appear to be more fat and slow rather than athletic. It should be cautionary when considering a portal lineman who never sniffed the field. Years ago we seemed to do ok with recruiting and developing linemen as several moved up to the NFL. Have we completely abandoned that approach?

[Pikapp79]

Are some of you guys talking about firing Clark mid season?

IMO that would be a horrible mistake. Day one after the season.

[pop5app]

2019:
Need a new coach. Budget is busted.
1: App guy
2: Wants to be at app
3: We can afford him
4: By all measure a good hire.
Only question left was, can he he be a head coach?


2025:

Where are we now?

Where all have you donated this week

Well if I must explain, I live I Vilas. One of the hardest hit areas of the mountains. This week I’ve spent my week digging out and trying to help my neighbors dig out. Been a Yosef Club member since the 70’s. Have you an answer to the question?

[311neers]

How does the process of a buyout work? Does App State reach out to just donors they know that have money? Do they reach out with an interest form? Do they send out a link similar to YC or NIL but for buyout instead?

No, I do not have the funds to put a dent in the buyout pot, but am interested to learn how the process works. Don’t think we’ve ever been involved with a buyout.

[MrCraig]

How does the process of a buyout work? Does App State reach out to just donors they know that have money? Do they reach out with an interest form? Do they send out a link similar to YC or NIL but for buyout instead?

No, I do not have the funds to put a dent in the buyout pot, but am interested to learn how the process works. Don’t think we’ve ever been involved with a buyout.

I have no idea how Clark's contract is structured, but I know a lot of teams that have fired their coach don't give the coach their buyout all at once. Usually, there's something like if your buyout is $1 mil. the team pays the coach $250k a year for 4 years, but if the coach finds a new job, the buyout is voided. That's why you'll see some coaches get fired, disappear for a while or become an "analyst," then come back to coaching once they've gotten all their buyout money.

[appdaze]

We let Capel finish his contract. Clark will finish the season. We aren't the school of buyouts. This is why a part of me wouldn't be surprised if he coached next season. If we continue the meteoric downfall then he will have to be gone come January, but if he manages 5-6 wins I could see them letting him finish the contract.

[MrCraig]

We let Capel finish his contract. Clark will finish the season. We aren't the school of buyouts. This is why a part of me wouldn't be surprised if he coached next season. If we continue the meteoric downfall then he will have to be gone come January, but if he manages 5-6 wins I could see them letting him finish the contract.

If App manages to get to 6-6, beats GA Southern, and gets a bowl win, then I could see him keeping his job. Pretty much any other result, and I think he gets let go. And based on what we've seen so far, I don't think they get to 6-6.

[JTApps1]

Given the other pressing needs , it will wait until the season’s end. Unless someone steps up to write the check. My take.

I don't see any reason to make a change before Dec 2 when the buyout drops. Either we have a great turnaround (seems highly unlikely given the last two games), or we spend a bunch of extra money to buyout the staff a few weeks early. The ONLY reason to move earlier is the recruiting calendar and first portal window. I'm not sure it's worth the increased buyout though.

[Pikapp79]

We let Capel finish his contract. Clark will finish the season. We aren't the school of buyouts. This is why a part of me wouldn't be surprised if he coached next season. If we continue the meteoric downfall then he will have to be gone come January, but if he manages 5-6 wins I could see them letting him finish the contract.

You could very well be right and if so will start the beginning of the end of sellouts. Better be careful with a loyal fan base.

[BambooRdApp]

We let Capel finish his contract. Clark will finish the season. We aren't the school of buyouts. This is why a part of me wouldn't be surprised if he coached next season. If we continue the meteoric downfall then he will have to be gone come January, but if he manages 5-6 wins I could see them letting him finish the contract.

You could very well be right and if so will start the beginning of the end of sellouts. Better be careful with a loyal fan base.

Not very "loyal" if that is the case. If the decision is to keep coaching (not advocating one way or the other) through next year to finish out contract....and many fans abandon the program...the term should not be termed "loyal" fans as they were not to begin with...

[appgrad95&97]

We let Capel finish his contract. Clark will finish the season. We aren't the school of buyouts. This is why a part of me wouldn't be surprised if he coached next season. If we continue the meteoric downfall then he will have to be gone come January, but if he manages 5-6 wins I could see them letting him finish the contract.

You could very well be right and if so will start the beginning of the end of sellouts. Better be careful with a loyal fan base.

Not very "loyal" if that is the case. If the decision is to keep coaching (not advocating one way or the other) through next year to finish out contract....and many fans abandon the program...the term should not be termed "loyal" fans as they were not to begin with...

Time and money are finite. People get to choose how to use both.

[BambooRdApp]

We let Capel finish his contract. Clark will finish the season. We aren't the school of buyouts. This is why a part of me wouldn't be surprised if he coached next season. If we continue the meteoric downfall then he will have to be gone come January, but if he manages 5-6 wins I could see them letting him finish the contract.

You could very well be right and if so will start the beginning of the end of sellouts. Better be careful with a loyal fan base.

Not very "loyal" if that is the case. If the decision is to keep coaching (not advocating one way or the other) through next year to finish out contract....and many fans abandon the program...the term should not be termed "loyal" fans as they were not to begin with...

Time and money are finite. People get to choose how to use both.

And my statement still stands. We have not been in a 10 year losing season drought....