The Appalachian 9/6/19

The Appalachian Sept. 6, 2019

Special Section: Inside the Huddle

Get the play-by-play of this football season

Pages 9-16

Find your path at the Career Studio

Miss Moore County is a Mountaineer

Your toothbrush isn’t as clean as you thought

Page 5

Page 7

Page 19

News

Former Sanford Hall departments acclimate to new surroundings

Sept. 6, 2019

Erin O’Neill | Reporter

Spring and summer were full of changes for the English department and the languages, literatures and cultures department, formerly housed in Sanford Hall. Now that the school year has started and the dust has settled, the departments are acclimating to their new homes across campus.

The English department was largely moved into Edwin Duncan Hall, but Donna Lillian, an associate professor in the English department, said the department now has classes in nearly every building on campus.

“I think the university has provided the resources we need to make this transition, and I think it has actually gone amazingly well for our department,” Lillian said.

Lillian, who supervised the move for the English department and serves on the renovation committee, explained that only the English department will return to Sanford Hall after the renovation is completed in December 2020 because there will not be enough office space to accommodate both departments.

“Dean (Neva) Specht, the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, decided we needed to meet the current state standard for the size of offices. In the old-version Sanford, almost all the offices were smaller than what is now the current standard that the state sets,” Lillian said.

While the majority of English classes are now held in Edwin Duncan Hall, there were not enough classrooms for all of them.

“We’ve had to rely on the generosity of other departments to share space, and we’ve had to accommodate to when the space is available,” Lillian said.

Plemmons Student Union has allowed the department to hold classes on a regular basis, and some film class-

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es now meet in the Greenbriar Theater, which is not typical.

Lillian said many classes were moved to times they would not normally meet, such as 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., due to classroom availability.

Lillian said while it is different not having the entire department in one building, she has found it enjoyable to “meet the people in the building and talk to them.”

“People rise to the challenge, and the people who are already in Edwin Duncan and have been there all along have been very welcoming to us,” Lillian said.

Lillian said the move allows the department to meet student needs it may not have met before. She explained not

The whole move out of Sanford and anticipating the move back in is an opportunity for us as a department to renew ourselves... all students are the same, and there are increasingly more non-traditional students who may prefer online classes.

“One way that we are dealing with the challenge of classroom space is we are offering a number of sections online that haven’t previously been offered online,” Lillian said.

Professors who were interested in teaching online were encouraged to complete the training, but no faculty were required to teach online classes.

Despite the changes, Lillian views the renovation as a fresh start for the

A view of some of the windows that have been taken out of Sanford Hall. The construction on the building has displaced professors in both the English and languages, literatures and cultures departments. / Photo by Dakota Ussery

English department.

“The whole move out of Sanford and anticipating the move back in is an opportunity for us as a department to renew ourselves, and there is a kind of excitement about this. It feels very positive that the university has understood the importance of the space that we teach in English and being in an appropriate space,” Lillian said.

As for the students, Lillian said they are resilient and don’t mind the change. Junior communication sciences and disorders major and Spanish minor, Adrienne Luceri, agreed.

“It wasn’t the biggest transition; however, it did knock me off a little bit since I’ve had classes in Sanford before, and it is kind of weird navigating the first couple of days,” Luceri said.

Luceri said despite the new environment, she likes the location of LS Dougherty and how the entire languag-

es, literatures and cultures department is located in one building.

“It’s just convenient being in the center of campus still and still being able to easily navigate to go to one class and take a sharp left turn to go to the next one,” Luceri said.

Maria Patricia Ortiz, Spanish professor and assistant chair of the languages, literatures and cultures department said renovations in preparation for her department began this summer.

Ortiz said many of her colleagues have shared positive feedback about their new offices, and classrooms are now well-equipped with adequate space.

Classrooms were renovated into smart rooms, and industrial kitchens previously used by the college of health sciences were gutted to create additional space.

Ortiz explained that during this

transition, there was substantial support from different offices on campus.

In particular, Dean Specht, “was super receptive and super helpful and spent a lot of resources and time trying to understand our concerns,” Ortiz said.

Ortiz said that while it was a challenge to move away from a building that was familiar and comfortable, “It feels good to be in this new environment.”

The best part of the transition was the renovations in LS Dougherty were completed on time, allowing the department to move into the building a week before classes began, Ortiz said.

“I am really glad we did the move, and so far, I think it was a positive move. I’m very grateful to all the people involved who made possible that we had a building on our own with all we need,” Ortiz said.

News

Sept. 6, 2019

Watauga Residential Student Scholarship’s first recipient brings changes to the program Jackie Park | News Editor

Sophomore psychology major Jordan McKay is the first recipient of the Watauga Residential Student Scholarship. McKay hopes to introduce a “Harry Potter” house system into the Watauga Residential College this year. / Photo courtesy of Jordan McKay

Watauga Residential College and its dorms are often considered the “Hogwarts” of App State by students.

The first recipient of the Watauga Residential Student Scholarship is turning this joke into a reality.

Sophomore Jordan McKay said she applied for the WRC scholarship

because she felt WRC made her voice important.

“I hadn’t really ever been in a class where my opinion really mattered, and it really felt significant,” McKay, a psychology major, said. “I was able to have some really open and enlightening discussions with my peers

through those classes and also have really great relationships with the professors, as well.”

Started last year by two WRC students, the scholarship is “awarded to a Watauga Residential College student based primarily on demonstrated need and, secondarily, on merit,” according to the WRC website.

As part of her responsibilities as the recipient, McKay had to get involved with a project to improve WRC. She chose to introduce a version of the different houses from “Harry Potter.”

WRC has both a mentor/mentee program and a house system, but McKay said she noticed they could use improvement.

“My mentee experience was not as put together as I would have liked it to be, and my enthusiasm this year

is kind of based on wanting to change that end of it,” McKay said.

Currently, each sophomore is assigned two “mentees” as guides for their freshman year.

McKay revamped the “house” system students also participate in.

A few days after arriving at App State, freshman WRC students were assigned a “house.” Members earn points for their house by attending different WRC events and gathering for monthly meetings. At the end of the academic year, the house with the most points wins a cup.

Clark Maddux, director of WRC, said he often told students about his desire to start a scholarship in the program. When co-creators Katherine Webb and AK Klinck brought the idea of a scholarship to him, he felt “unmit-

igated delight.”

“I felt that Watauga should offer a scholarship to its students to help with the financial burden of college,” Webb, a junior nursing major, wrote in an email. “In my opinion, I feel that not only does Watauga bring a lot to its students, but the students also bring a lot to Watauga.”

The $500 scholarship was awarded to McKay, who is paying for college herself.

“The fact that it’s coming from a place that is so close to my heart is just really reassuring,” McKay said.

Women’s Influence Club creator brings determination for future of club Hayley Canal | Reporter

Last fall, freshman Emma Frye texted her Spanish class group chat looking for people interested in joining a women’s leadership club.

After months of planning, an under-attended Winter Club Expo and a semester of low turnout, she returned this semester with strong support, ready to grow the Women’s Influence Club with those she met along the way.

Frye, now a sophomore psychology major, came up with the idea of the Women’s Influence Club the summer before she started at App State. She said she hoped to create a community space where women and others who experience discrimination in the workplace could grow and celebrate their leadership positions openly.

Now that it’s up and running, the club provides opportunities for leadership education, service learning and community building.

At the club’s first fall meeting on Aug. 26, Vice President McKenna Feid, junior political science major and Treasurer Paloma Mejia-Vasquez, sophomore political sci-

ence major, emphasized the club is an inclusive and intersectional space.

“The name of our club is Women’s Influence Club, and ‘woman’ has a lot of specific gender implications with it,” Feid said. “We wanted to broaden that because women aren’t the only ones who face gender discrimination in the workplace.”

At meetings, the club addresses various levels of inequity people face. They intend to provide information, support and helpful resources for those feeling the effects directly.

“There is something very encouraging about a collective body that inspires other women or students that may not be aware of what resources they may have available,” said Maria Ortiz, club advisor and department assistant chair of the languages, literatures and cultures department.

Frye said she didn’t create the club to merely identify injustice in the workplace, but to help people thrive in leadership roles, even when they recognize the odds are systematically stacked against them.

Feid and Frye, drawing on their experiences as camp counselors, hope to partner with local school systems to help younger students find leadership opportunities in the community.

“Kids having strong role models who aren’t their parents; having adult role models who don’t have authority over them is so important,” Frye said.

Frye is a track coach at Hardin Park Elementary School and intends to connect the team and the club.

At the first meeting, students offered their own unique connections, skills and ideas for the fall semester. The executive board reiterated that each individual’s expectations will help navigate the club’s collective future. People shared what they hoped to do, including everything from “campfires” to “running a 5K” to “feminist literature nights.”

The Women’s Influence Club had nearly 40 people at the first fall meeting and an additional 86 who demonstrated interest at Club Expo.

“These venues, groups and collective work help our agency as

Junior chemistry major Nia Marshall (left) discusses her idea for creating an inclusive modeling agency on campus with women’s influence club president Emma Frye (right). / Photo by Hayley Canal

women; it happened with the women’s movement,” Ortiz said. “It was never the work of one person alone; it was a collective effort, and it’s just a beautiful thing.”

INTERESTED?

Women’s influence club meets every other Monday continuing Sept. 9 from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Plemmons Student Union Room 165.

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News Middle Fork Greenway Project hopes to bring community between Boone and Blowing Rock

Sept. 6, 2019

Cameron Stuart | Reporter A pedestrian-friendly commute from Boone to Blowing Rock is slowly becoming a reality on the Middle Fork Greenway.

The Blue Ridge Conservancy created the Middle Fork Greenway Project, directed by Wendy Patoprsty, to serve as a walking and biking nature trail connecting the two towns along the Middle Fork River.

Patoprsty said the project’s vision began in the ‘90s after Highway 321, the route connecting Boone and Blowing Rock, expanded from two lanes to four, which separated the communities.

“It’s a really important community asset,” Patoprsty said. “When you think about public space and public access, you might think there’s a lot in the High Country, but really a lot of it is private land.”

Approximately 1 mile of the proposed 6.5 mile trail is completed so far, connecting Tweetsie Railroad to Sterling Creek Park.

The next sections set for construction span from downtown Blowing Rock through the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Foley Center, and from Tweetsie Railroad to Goldmine Branch Park.

Joe Furman, planning and inspections director for Watauga County, said this project will have positive economic impacts for both Boone and Blowing Rock, physical health benefits for citizens and additional transportation between the two towns.

“We had an economic impact study done, and it showed a healthy economic impact based on money visitors would spend while they were here, businesses that can be started as a result of that, and so forth,” Furman said.

The economic impact study showed investing in the Middle Fork Greenway would result in $10 million in health benefits, a $296,000 increase in local property tax revenue per year and $947,000 annually in business activity benefits.

The study also highlighted the

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greenway could result in 12,000 tourist trips each year to the area, which would generate an additional $6 mil-

Expected to generate $6 million in local economy lion in the local economy.

According to the Middle Fork Greenway website, a case study on the Virginia Creeper Trail showed both local and non-local users of the trail spent $2.5 million annually, while businesses along the Swamp Rabbit Trail in Greenville, South Carolina have reported revenue increases between $200,000 and $400,000 annually.

Because the greenway lies on Middle Fork River, Patoprsty said the Blue Ridge Conservancy is making efforts to make the project sustainable.

“Last summer, we got a grant to do a stream restoration prioritization plan,” Patoprsty said. “And that plan is helping us to move forward on some of the restoration of the needs of the river.”

Patoprsty said the project includes planting trees and shrubs along the trail, as well as creating a green corridor for wildlife and people to enjoy.

Patoprsty said the biggest obstacle is fundraising, as the project costs about $2 million to $2.5 million per mile.

“It’s not being funded through the county, so we’re having to get private dollars from the community, foundation money, and a lot of grants from state agencies and even federal grants,” Patoprsty said.

Furman said the Blue Ridge Conservancy can apply for some grants as a nonprofit, and he is working with Patoprsty on additional grant applications.

Patoprsty said working with the community, including volunteers and

The Blue Ridge Conservancy initiated a project to establish a greenway nature trail that would connect both Boone and Blowing Rock together. The trail would be 6.5 miles and 1 mile is completed already. / Photo by Hayley Canal

other supporters, is one of the highlights of the project.

“It’s truly been breathtaking to see the wide breadth of people who are interested in greenway trails because they’re for everyone,” Patoprsty said. “It’s a lot of access for any per-

son of any physical ability.”

Patoprsty said she can’t remember another community project that has received this much support.

“The amount of volunteers that have been contributing for over 20 years really shows the core of what

greenways can do for community engagement and community involvement and changing lives of the community,” Patoprsty said.

News

Sept. 6 2019

Students help each other navigate the professional world at the Career Studio Emily Broyles | Reporter

Students can now seek advice on resumes, internships and other career tools without making an appointment or “suiting-up,” thanks to the new Career Studio in John E. Thomas Hall.

Susan McCraken, director of career development and economic engagement, said the Career Studio was inspired by campuses that practice professional development in an inviting and casual space.

“Think of it like a Google office setting,” McCraken said. “It’s constantly kind of like an organic setting all day long.”

The Career Studio allows students to drop-in for help from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, with at least two career guides available.

Career guides are usually juniors and seniors who help other students with professional needs and offer a peer perspective.

“It’s been a really nice atmosphere for us, but also hopefully for the students in this high-stress situation of resume reviews and finding the right internship or career,” Logan Camden, junior finance and banking major and career guide, wrote in an email.

Alex Young, a senior psychology major and career guide, said the openspace approach proves you can have a conversation is possible in a professional setting.

“I think sometimes if you’re talking to your peers, there’s maybe a little bit more of a connection,” Young said. “(It’s) kind of that oneon-one and less of a professional saying, ‘Here’s what you’ve got to do and here’s the only way to do it.’ It’s much more of like a conversation.”

Career guides are employed by the Career Development Center and have the opportunity to intern with their college. For Young, this is a step toward his desired job in student affairs.

“This is really kind of like a stepping stone for me,” Young said. “This is just another avenue to explore; it’s really exciting.”

Camden first came to the Career Development Center when he wanted his resume to stand out more. He has now worked at the center for nine months, sharing the advice he once learned as a drop-in student seeking help.

“I wanted to be a career guide because I’ve always wanted to help people in something specific that they may not have down 100%,” Camden wrote. “From the few people I have been part of helping, it’s made me feel like I’ve made just a small difference in their future, something that I can’t do in most settings aside from this one.”

McCraken said student have already used the studio since the studio’s soft opening at the beginning of the academic year. She said she is glad to see students come in because finding a career patch can cause stress.

“I think a career is sort of like your life pass, and it’s work, it’s service, it’s how you engage in a community,” McCraken said. “We really want students to come meet with us early on and think, ‘What is the life I want to live when I leave Appalachian?’”

McCraken referenced a lyric from The Avett Brothers’ song “Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise,” which goes, “Decide what to be and go be it,” as her hopes for students finding their path with the career studio’s help.

“That’s kind of what we want to help people do. What is it you want to be, not just the work you want to do?”

McCraken said.

Let us help you explore and define what that is.

The career studio provides a non-traditional approach to career counseling through student-to-student meetings. / Photo

by Megan McCulloh

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A&C

Sept. 6, 2019

Shawna BASIST Georgia Privott | Reporter At App State, people walk barefoot and wear shorts in the winter, but Shawna Basist is the only one with elf ears all year round.

“The world would be a little more magical, if we all looked a little more magical,” senior apparel design major Basist said.

Basist incorporates her love for history, musical theater and fantasy into her wardrobe. She said her style consisted of kneehigh socks and sailor skirts in high school because of her interest in anime.

When she got to college, she wore cat ears and a tail every day for the first year.

Basist said she confidently walks to class while everyone looks at her wearing her elf-ear earphones.

“I put in earbuds, and I strut like I know exactly what I’m doing. Just pretend you’re in some magical film where you’re the badass to be reckoned with,” Basist said.

Basist’s attire consists of clothing often sexualized by the media, like garter belts and corsets, but Basist said she wears them for self-empowerment and functionality.

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“I really like corsets. They are very tight, but I don’t tie them to the point where I can’t breathe or eat because I do need to run to catch the bus. They’re actually really great for back support,” Basist said.

Basist has a collection of eight corsets, which she pairs with homemade or thrifted skirts.

“I have two tablecloths that I cut a hole in with some safety pins, and I just add a corset,” Basist said.

Basist said every day she comes to class dressed up, but on the last day of classes each semester, she likes to surprise people by dressing in a hoodie and jeans. She said it’s funny when people she sees the whole semester don’t recognize her without her usual attire.

“That weird kid that you all know, they are probably pretty cool. Go talk to them. Go be nice to your local weird kid,” Basist said.

A&C

Sept. 6 2019

App State student crowned Miss Moore County Marlen Cardenas | Reporter “I went to 13 schools in 10 years,” sophomore Karolyn Martin said. “I have a lot of experience with the culture of being a military child.”

Martin, communication sciences and disorders major, was crowned Miss Moore County Aug. 24 at Pinecrest High School.

“Moore County is really close to Fort Bragg military base, and there are a lot of people in Moore County, especially where I live in Whispering Pines, that are military families,” Martin said.

Part of Miss Moore County’s role is presenting a social impact initiative, and Martin’s is called, “#SelfKare: Eat to Success.”

“As a child coming from a military family and being an athlete, nutrition was always really important to me,” Martin said. “But, when I was growing up, I felt like I put a lot of focus on eating well so that I looked a certain way or so that I was a certain weight and fit a certain dress size, and I want to make sure that kids aren’t growing up feeling that way.”

Martin said she wants to educate people on how to eat in a way that “fuels their minds and bodies to success, while taking the focus off weight and body image” through informational workshops and a cookbook.

“My long term goal is to release a cookbook and create an online community so that people have access to a tool that is there to help them eat to success,” Martin said. “We live in a

very digital world where we are all really worried about how we look, and I want to make sure that when people are eating and they’re thinking about nutrition, they’re not thinking about it for aesthetics. They’re thinking about it in a way that fuels them to go to school, or to go to work, or do sports, and really do well in the world.”

Miss Moore County is part of the Miss America Organization, which is the largest scholarship provider for women in the U.S. Martin won $2,000 in scholarships, including $500 for winning the talent show, where she sang “Think of Me” from “Phantom of the Opera,” her favorite musical.

Martin said the talent competition is her favorite part to compete in.

Competition for Miss Moore County also includes a 10-minute private interview with the judges, an evening gown competition, and an onstage question and response. The Miss America Organization removed the swimsuit portion of the competition last year.

“With Miss America 2.0, the national board felt that the changes they have made will propel the Miss America Organization into a more progressive era,” Martin said. “Although this came with the elimination of the lifestyle and fitness competition, it has not made nutrition, healthy living and physical fitness less important to the women of this organization.”

When I was growing up, I felt like I put a lot of focus on eating well so that I looked a certain way or so that I was a certain weight and fit a certain dress size, and I want to make sure that kids aren’t growing up feeling that way.

(Above) Karolyn Martin is a sophomore communication sciences and disorders major who was recently crowned Miss Moore County. Moore County and Whispering Pines, Martin’s hometown, are close to Fort Bragg and have a lot of military families, according to Martin. / Photo courtesy of David Sinclair

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A&C

Sept. 6, 2019

Cultural Ambassadors seek to provide education on international societies Camryn Collier | Reporter Coming to Boone from bustling Ho Chi Minh City with a population of almost nine million people, freshman Chau Nguyen experienced nothing short of culture shock.

Nguyen lived in Vietnam her entire life before coming to Asheboro to finish her senior year of high school as an exchange student.

“Where I lived in Ho Chi Minh City is like the New York of America,” Nguyen said. “The culture shock can hit you hard if you aren’t prepared for it.”

Nguyen said a lot of Americans don’t value Vietnam’s landscape, food or culture, and base their opinions about the country on the Vietnam War. Nguyen is a hospitality and tourism major and a cultural ambassador for the Office of International Education and Development.

“When I came to App and saw the cultural ambassadors, I was really excited and thought it would be a cool opportunity to introduce Vietnam to students, professors and the people,” Nguyen said.

Cultural ambassadors are international students, international visiting scholars, multicultural students and returning graduate students, said international student and scholar services and outreach assistant director Lindsay Pepper.

Pepper said cultural ambassadors represent a variety of countries including Vietnam, the Netherlands, Japan, Egypt, Ireland and Zambia.

“I thought that people would not be interested in learning about other parts of the world, but I’ve been so wrong about that,” Peppers said.

“There’s a real curiosity and openness to both sides that is really special. You

don’t find that everywhere.”

Cultural ambassadors participate in presentations and panels for classes, clubs and local school events.

Presentations are often small group discussions on a variety of cultural topics, such as food, home life, family dynamics and business etiquette.

“The students and scholars try to deliver presentations that promote an understanding of their culture,” Pepper said. “They don’t have set presentations. We try to cater to every single presentation to whatever the need of that class or group.”

Graduate student and cultural ambassador Jonnathan Penduka has presented 12 times representing Zimbabwe. He said his favorite presentation was a discussion about the relationship between music and spirituality.

“Music is really a part of the whole culture,” Penduka said. “With music, you are one person leading the song, and then everyone else begins to answer what they’re saying. It’s how people cope with things. We sing Christian songs for weddings, or when someone passes away, even when we have a joyous moments, like a newborn.”

Penduka said he learns a lot about himself and other cultures while presenting.

“I listen, as well, when (other cultural ambassadors) are speaking, and I’m part of the audience. I’ve learned a lot about their cultures and all from different continents and cultures. I will learn that I didn’t know about these similarities or these differences we share,” Penduka said.

In the future, Nguyen said she would like more professors, clubs and

organizations to utilize the cultural ambassadors, so she can talk about topics like women’s roles and LGBT rights in Vietnam.

“This program needs to be more advertised. I really hope the campus will be more interested in it. It’s always great to have a class to invite over and just talk,” Nguyen said. “I hope my professors will get to know it and use it. It’s always great to learn about the countries that aren’t just America.”

For anyone interested in becoming a cultural ambassador or would like to request a presentation, visit the cultural ambassadors website: https://international.appstate. edu/get-involved/cultural-ambassadors

An Intercollegiate Broadcasting System Radio Station of the Year Finalist

Your college Your station The Office of International Education and Development organizes the cultural ambassadors, who are international students that represent a variety of countries and provide presentations on cultural customs. / Photo by Christina Beals

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Your music

inside the

Huddle 2019-20

Wide reciever preview: page 10 zac Thomas leads offense : page 11 Special teams looks to build off strong year: page 14

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Those guys understand how to prepare, how to get themselves ready to play, and that’s the biggest thing right now

Junior wide receiver Jalen Virgil scores the first rushing touchdown of his career in the fourth quarter of App State’s 42-7 win over ETSU on Saturday. / Photo by Lynette Files

Sutton, Hennigan anchor experienced receiving corps Silas Albright | Sports Editor The 2019 App State pass-catching group is one of the most dynamic units on the roster with its depth and speed.

“It’s a brotherhood,” junior wide receiver Malik Williams said. “We know each other and we know what we have to do.”

Led by junior wide receiver Corey Sutton, the Mountaineers return seven of quarterback Zac Thomas’ top eight receivers from last season. Sutton led the Mountaineers with 10 touchdowns, 773 receiving yards, 44 receptions and an average of 17.6 yards per reception last season.

Sutton is a rare breed of receiver, combining above-average speed and great size with superb hands and route-running abilities. The 6-foot 3-inch, 200-pound Cornelius native is a very hard cover in the end zone, as well as in the open field.

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Along with Sutton, junior wide receiver Thomas Hennigan is set for a strong 2019 season. Hennigan started all 13 games in each of his first two seasons for the Mountaineers. Last season, he was second on the team with 29 receptions for 327 yards and one touchdown. In App State’s season opener against East Tennessee State on Aug. 31, Hennigan caught a career high seven passes for 79 yards and a touchdown.

Look for the multi-faceted Hennigan to also see work as a punt or kick returner and possibly a defensive back in the 2019 season. Last year, he picked off a deep pass in the end zone against Troy. He also served as one of the team’s regular punt and kickoff returners, taking a punt 59 yards for a touchdown against Charlotte.

Junior wide receivers Jalen Virgil and Malik Williams are also legitimate threats to opposing secondaries. Virgil is lightning-quick speed is only

improved by his role on App State’s track team as a sprinter. His personal record in the 100-meter dash is 10.29 seconds, which is the second best in school history. On the football field, Virgil racked up 238 yards on 17 catches in 2018.

Williams is another speedy wideout who adds depth to App State’s offensive attack. Last year, he caught 23 passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns. The former high school quarterback has also completed 3-of-5 passes for 65 yards in his two seasons. All three completions were for touchdowns.

“We have really good experience,” wide receivers coach Pat Washington said. “Those guys understand how to prepare, how to get themselves ready to play, and that’s the biggest thing right now.”

As for the tight end position, senior Collin Reed and sophomore Henry Pearson will like-

ly have the biggest on-field contributions. Reed was a 2018 third team All-Sun Belt selection after catching 12 passes for 134 yards and three touchdowns.

Pearson finished 2018 with 160 yards and two touchdowns on 14 receptions. The tight end group will also be very important to App State’s blocking game. The tight ends help create holes for running backs and add protection for quarterbacks when they are not running routes Junior Mike Evans, true freshman Ricky Kofoed and redshirt freshmen Trey Ross and Miller Gibbs add depth off the bench and round out the tight end group.

“It’s been an honor to be able to lead these guys on and off the field,” Reed said. “We have great talent and a lot of guys in the room that can play.”

2018 Sun Belt MVP Evans leads talented group of running backs Matthew Cosgrove | Reporter The boys are back and as lethal as ever. The App State running back corps is made up of juniors Darrynton Evans, Marcus Williams Jr., sophomore Daetrich Harrington, and redshirt freshman Camerun Peoples.

The group is led by the 2018 Sun Belt MVP Evans. Don’t blink when Evans is on the field; he had six carries of at least 50 yards last season. Evans averaged 6.6 yards per carry and finished the year with 1,187-rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns. Evans was also named to the 2019 Sun Belt Preseason First team.

Williams Jr. is no joke either. The Rocky Mount native rushed for over 500 yards in both his freshman and sophomore years. Williams has

glue for hands; he can catch the ball out of the backfield and make the most of it. Last season against Gardner-Webb, he totaled five catches for 84 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown reception. In the Sun Belt Championship game against Louisiana, Williams Jr. helped wrapped things up with a 34-yard reception.

Harrington is also set to bounce back after tearing his ACL last February.

In three games played, Camerun Peoples averaged 9.6 yards a carry and 54.7 per game.

He rounds out the talented running back group.

Thomas set to lead

Mountaineer offense Franklin Bogle | Reporter “It isn’t about preseason awards. It’s about postseason awards,” junior quarterback Zac Thomas said, understanding the pressure on his shoulders as App State heads into the 2019 football season.

Last year, Thomas had a different type of pressure on his shoulders — the pressure as a first-year starter replacing a four-year Mountaineer great Taylor Lamb. Thomas withstood that pressure and delivered one of the best years an App State quarterback has ever had. Thomas threw for 2,039 yards and 21 touchdowns. He also rushed for 504 yards and 10 touchdowns.

“Last year was great, but this is a new season, and you can’t think about the things you did last year when going into this season,” Thomas said.

Thomas, who wears No. 12, is operating under a new coach this season. as former head coach Scott Satterfield left for the University of Louisville and was replaced by former NC State offensive coordinator Eliah Drinkwitz.

“Obviously the offense is a little different,” Thomas said. “The passing game is more in depth this year; there are a lot more routes.

There will be more passing calls than (Satterfield) had, but obviously we still pound it on the ground.”

Despite the new face on the sidelines, Thomas has familiar and talented wide receivers surrounding him. Juniors Corey Sutton, Thomas

Hennigan and Malik Williams all return. Sutton and Hennigan were the team’s top two receivers last year, while Williams finished fourth.

“It is big time having those same guys around me,” Thomas said. “They know how I play, and I know how they play, and I think that will bring us more success.”

Thomas had a strong 2018 season and is expected to have an even stronger 2019, but he understands that nothing happens instantly.

“We take it game by game, and if we’re hoisting that trophy at the end of the year, if we have those awards, then we did our job,” Thomas said.

Four talented quarterbacks are stationed behind the Thomas on the depth chart. Jacob Huesman, who threw for 200 yards and two touchdowns last year, returns as Thomas’s backup. Talented recruit David Baldwin-Griffin from California also adds some flavor to the mix as a dual-threat, left-handed quarterback from IMG Academy in Florida.

“We are testing ourselves every week, knowing that if we do our jobs, then we get the wins,” Drinkwitz said.

A big 2019 season starts with No. 12. Thomas understands his job and what he needs to do.

If he does it, then he said all those preseason awards will likely turn into postseason awards.

They know how I play and I know how they play, and I think that will bring us more success.

Quarterback Zack Thomas in action during App State’s season opening 42-7 win over ETSU / Photo by Lynette Files

11

11

(Left) Senior safety Desmond Franklin makes a play on the ball in last years R + L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. Franklin had four interceptions and was named to the 2018 All-Sun Belt first team. (Right) Senior linebacker Jordan Fehr looks over to the sideline before a play against Georgia State Begins. / Photos by Moss Brennan

Trio of seniors

“Legion of Boone”

lead experienced App State linebacker group

back for more after departure of Duck, Hayes

Dan Davidson | Reporter

Zack Antrum | Reporter

After finishing the 2018 football season with the nations No. 5 defense in yards-against, App State seeks to pick up right where it left off. With three of four starters returning, the linebacker position should not miss a beat.

While the Mountaineers will have to manage the graduation of inside linebacker Anthony Flory, who piled up 95 total tackles during his senior year, a majority of the linebackers returning.

Former Duke defensive coordinator and 33-year college football coaching veteran Ted Roof is now the Mountaineers defensive coordinator and coaches the inside linebackers. Former App State linebacker D.J. Smith is in charge of the outside linebackers.

“It’s a new scheme, but with the football IQ that our guys have, and the front seven on the back end, it makes the transition pretty easy,” Smith told Appstatesports.com.

The linebacking corps is led by three standout seniors, Jordan Fehr, Akeem Davis-Gaither and Noel Cook. Fehr was voted one of three permanent captains by his teammates prior to the season. The trio recorded a combined 266 tackles last season and were three of the top four on the team in total tackles.

“Playing with Akeem and Noel last year is big, so coming back, we have that leadership experience both inside and outside, especially for

12

the younger talent that we have, and we have a lot of it,” Fehr said, according to appstatesports. com.

Junior linebacker Tim Frizzell will aid the seniors during their 2019 campaign, as he is positioned to have a breakout year after solid freshman and sophomore seasons.

The veterans also have a plethora of young talent joining them on the field at the linebacker position. Logan Doublin, Trey Cobb, Tyler Bird, Nick Hampton and D’Marco Jackson make up the deep and talented sophomore class, while freshmen Brendan Harrington, Jourdan Heilig and KeSean Brown have talent to contribute immediately.

Sophomores Jackson and Doublin will likely get the most opportunities out of their class, after a combined 50 tackles last season.

While the linebacker position is led by a star-studded senior class, the main strength of the position may be found in its depth.

...we have that leadership experience both inside and outside, especially for the younger talent that we have...

The saying “offense wins games; defense wins championships” rings true for the App State football team.

Known as the “Legion of Boone,” after the Seattle Seahawks’ Super Bowl-winning “Legion of Boom,” the Mountaineer’s defensive backs are forces for both Sun Belt and non-conference foes.

Last season, they finished No. 4 in the country in points allowed per game with 15.5, set a Sun Belt Conference record of 20 touchdowns allowed and tied for fewest in the country with eight passing touchdowns allowed.

Not only did they have talented players, but they also had a very talented coaching staff, highlighted by safeties coach Greg Gasparato, who was named a 2018 FootballScoop Defensive Backs Coach of the Year.

“I’m just excited to see this group play together,” Gasparato said. “We’ve got some underclassmen that may have played sparingly, but now it’s their time.”

Two key pieces of last year’s defense were defensive backs Clifton Duck and Tae Hayes, who both made names for themselves during the NFL preseason. However, they weren’t the only ones to contribute, as several of last season’s key players are taking on bigger roles this year.

Safeties Josh Thomas and Desmond Franklin now look to lead an App State defense hungry

for another Sun Belt Championship.

Both seniors intercepted four passes each last season, and both were named to the preseason watchlist for the Jim Thorpe Award, which is given annually to the top defensive back in college football.

Josh Thomas was one of three players voted as a permanent captain by teammates.

“It’s been a great five years here, and I’m just excited for the last one,” Thomas said. “I feel like the guys don’t look up to me, but they watch what I do, and if I’m doing everything right, that’s going to force them to do everything right, as well.”

Other returning defensive backs include junior Kaiden Smith, who earned his first career interception last season against Gardner Webb, and Shemar Jean-Charles.

...they watch what I do, and if I’m doing everything right, that’s going to force them to do everything right, as well.

defensive line look to wreak havoc in opposing backfields Zack Antrum | Reporter Linemen are some of the most underappreciated yet most important players in football.

Whether they are on offense or defense, they are active during every play and a single mistake can change the game in the blink of an eye.

For the Mountaineers, mistakes are not something they have to worry about from their defensive linemen.

A big reason why App State’s defense was ranked No. 4 in the country in points allowed was because of the defensive line’s ability to pressure the opposing quarterback and stop the other team’s run game.

“I inherited a hard-working group, and these young men, they love the game and play hard. I think it’s an honor for me to be able to put my spin on it and help these guys continue to grow as young men and players,” App

State defensive line coach Anwar Stewart told appstatesports.com.

The line is led by junior Elijah Diarrassouba, who started all 13 games for the Mountaineers last season. He finished the season with 15 tackles, including a sack on the first play of last year’s Sun Belt Championship game.

“We’re family. There’s no other word for it,” Diarrassouba said. “We hold each other to high expectations and high standards.”

Juniors Demetrius Taylor, Caleb Spurlin and Tommy Dawkins look to fill in the gaps Chris Willis, who is out for the season due to injury, leaves open. Taylor has the most experience behind Diarrassouba with 6.5 sacks and 9.5 tackles in 25 career games.

Veteran offensive line group looks to maintain recent success Garrett Wold | Reporter

(Top) Junior defensive lineman recorded 2 total tackles including one tackle for loss in the Mountaineers’ 42-7 victory over ETSU on Aug. 31. / Photo by Lynette Files (Bottom) Members of the offensive line prepare for a play in the game against ETSU. / Photo Courtesy of App State Athletics

The Mountaineer offensive line has ranked in the nations top 25 for fewest yards allowed and sacks every year since 2014.

Despite all the changes to the team this off-season, assistant head coach/offensive line coach Shawn Clark is still in Boone with a group of talented veterans ready to create space and protect the quarterback.

“We’re not the fastest o-line. We’re not the strongest o-line, but we’re going to be in every picture, running down the field to block, wanting to be in every pile,” senior captain and left tackle Victor Johnson told Appstatesports.com.

“How hard we play is our strength.”

Clark has 10 players returning from the 2018 season including, Johnson, junior center Noah Hannon, and junior left guard Ryan Neuzil.

Johnson has started in 38 consecutive games for the Mountaineers and was recently named the best pass blocker in the Sun Belt.

Juniors Cole Garrison and Baer Hunter are looking to secure their spots on the line this

year after making appearances in 2018. Garrison played left tackle for most of the Sun Belt Championship game and the R+L Carrier New Orleans Bowl.

True freshmen 6-foot 6-inch, 275-pound Craig McFarland and Lyle Hiers are newcomers who have potential to impact the game right away with their size.

With junior quarterback Zac Thomas under a new play caller, the offensive line will have more pressure to perform.

“To have an offensive line with a lot of experience is great, especially in down times,” Johnson told appstatesports.com. “If stuff’s not going well on the field and you’ve got guys with experience, you can come back to the sideline and draw something up, and you know it’ll get going eventually.”

App State’s narrative this year is all about change, thanks to the departure of former head coach Scott Satterfield. Despite all the changes and new faces, the consistency of the o-line is something Mountaineer fans can rely on.

13 13

App State stresses importance

of strong

special teams

Franklin Bogle | Reporter Special teams is often overlooked on the football field. Most people believe games are won and lost by offense and defense, disregarding special teams. But a good special teams group can set teams apart from the rest.

“We have to win the game in three phases: offense, defense and special teams,” senior defensive back Josh Thomas said. “We have a new saying, ‘one for 11.’ One plays for the 11, so that 11 play as one, and that starts on special teams.”

Last year, the Mountaineers scored four special teams touchdowns in the first three games, including a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by now-junior Darrynton Evans against Penn State. App State was the most successful team in the Sun Belt on special teams last year, which showed in the Sun Belt championship game against Louisiana when Evans set up a touchdown with a 97-yard return, along with junior defensive linemen Caleb Spurlin recovering a fumble during a punt to set up another App State score.

New App State head coach Eliah Drinkwitz understands special teams needs to continue the same excellence this year if the Mountaineers want to compete at the same level.

“We are always trying to score and that starts with stopping them on defense and then creating plays on special teams, and that’s what we have to do to set our offense up in the best position to score,” Drinkwitz said.

This year, App State has a new special teams coordinator, Erik Link.

Link inherits many returners on the special teams roster. Junior kicker Chandler Staton, who has made 20 of 25 field goals in his career, returns. Staton has made all 98 of his point after attempts, tied for second longest streak in App State history. Sophomore punter Clayton Howell also returns after a successful freshman campaign, averaging nearly 43 yards per punt last season.

App State returns all of its kick and punt returners, aside from former All American cornerback Clifton Duck, who left school a year early for the NFL Draft. Link understands he has talent on his special teams roster and knows how important it is for his unit to succeed.

"We're just really trying to emphasize the importance of it, bringing great energy and effort, being the most exciting team to be on the field and then executing at a high level in everything that we're doing," Link told appstatesports. com.

If App State can continue its 2018 special teams excellence in 2019, they have the potential to not only remain atop the Sun Belt, but also compete with Power Five opponents UNC and South Carolina.

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Coach Drinkiwitz charges the field with the team to kick off Saturday’s first game of the season. This was Drinkiwitz regular season debut with the Mountaineers’. / Photo courtesy of App State Athletics

Drinkwitz adds six new coaches, four coaches return to staff from 2018 Silas Albright | Sports Editor Including new head coach Eliah Drinkwitz, the App State football coaching staff has seven coaches in their first year with the program, while four members of the staff return from last year’s team.

Some App State fans were surprised and some were disappointed when former head coach Scott Satterfield accepted the same position at Louisville just before the Mountaineers played their bowl game in 2018. When Drinkwitz was named the 21st App State head football coach on Dec. 13, reactions were mixed.

Some were expecting the new coach to have more personal ties to App State than Drinkwitz did, but his resume spoke for itself. Although Drinkwitz was not a head coach before arriving in Boone, he racked up an 8-0 bowl record as an assistant.

In 2010, he was a quality control assistant for the 14-0 Bowl Championship Series champion Auburn Tigers. In 2014, Drinkwitz helped Boise State to a 12-2 overall record and a Fiesta Bowl win over Arizona as the tight ends coach.

After a promotion to offensive coordinator/ quarterbacks coach in 2015 at Boise State, he accepted the offensive coordinator position at NC State in 2016. The Wolfpack offense thrived under Drinkwitz, averaging 35.6 points per game in 2018.

Its quarterback passed for nearly 3,800 yards and the team had a 1,000-yard running back for the third straight year. NC State also had two 1,000yard receivers.

Before the start of his first season at App State, Drinkwitz named Ted Roof his defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach. Roof

brings over 30 years of college football coaching experience.

“I’m really excited to be part of the App State family,” Roof told appstatesports.com. “I’ve admired and respected the success of the football program here for a long time because of the great coaches and players that have come through here.

It’s our job to uphold that standard and enhance it.”

Drinkwitz named Charlie Harbison his associate head coach and cornerbacks coach. Harbison is in his 27th year of coaching and his teams have made 20 bowl appearances.

“Coach Harbison has great wisdom and insight,” Drinkwitz told appstatesports.com. “He understands that it is bigger than football and is a great role model to our players.”

Erik Link was named special teams coordinator, Garrett Riley coaches running backs, Anwar Stewart coaches the defensive line and Pat Washington is the wide receivers coach.

Although Satterfield took a few of his assistants with him to Louisville, four of Drinkwitz’s coaches were with the team last season. Shawn Clark is back as an assistant head coach/O-line coach, Greg Gasparato returns as the safeties coach, D.J. Smith coaches outside linebackers for the second year and Justin Watts is the tight ends coach/recruiting coordinator. Last year, Watts was the wide receivers coach as well as recruiting coordinator.

Drinkwitz and his new staff moved to 1-0 after the Mountaineers blew by East Tennessee State 42-7 in their season opener Aug. 31.

Mountaineers add 18 freshman, three grad-transfers for 2019 Dan Davidson | Reporter Heading into the 2019 football season, App State ranks 22nd in the country in returning production, returning 74% of last year’s total production. With such a low percentage of loss, the Mountaineers have only added to last year’s accomplished squad, with a number of graduate transfers and freshmen.

The team added three graduate transfers, who are able to play at the start of the season.

Wide receiver Keishawn Watson from Wheaton, Illinois played his first three years of college football at Western Michigan University. Watson recorded 728-receiving yards and nine touchdowns during his tenure with the Broncos, and all but 24 of those yards came during the past two seasons.

Graduate student Joey Cave is a 6-foot-4inches, 300-pound offensive tackle from the University of Tennessee. Cave initially was a defensive lineman for the Vols but made the switch to the offensive line in 2017.

Cornerback Willie Edwards transferred from Illinois State University after starting for the past two years. Last season, Edwards registered 40 total tackles and one interception.

Not only has the team gained talent through graduate transfers, but also through a strong 2019

recruiting class.

David Baldwin-Griffin is a dual-threat quarterback out of IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL, who threw for 532 yards and rushed for 244 during his senior season. While the Compton, California native might not see the field much this year, current starter Zac Thomas is a strong mentor.

Three-star running back Raykwon Anderson chose the Mountaineers over Florida, UNC, and UCF. Initially, Anderson verbally committed to UNC, but withdrew his commitment after the firing of head coach Larry Fedora. The shifty running back made an impact at Charlton Country High School on both the offensive and defensive ends of the ball. Anderson totaled seven passing touchdowns, 12 rushing touchdowns, 21 receiving touchdowns and four interceptions in high school.

In total, App State brought in 18 commits this year, with a recruiting class ranked 101st in the nation and fifth in the Sun Belt, according to 247sports.com, and three immediately eligible graduate transfers. Many of these newcomers will get opportunities on the field this year, even with App State’s massive talent returning.

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GAME DAY

Game 2 | Saturday, Sept. 7 | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN+ | Kidd Brewer Stadium | Boone, N.C.

Appalachian State (1-0, 0-0 Sun Belt)

VS

UNC Charlotte (1-0, 0-0 C-USA)

Game Notes:

The Mountaineers look to continue the solid start to the season on Aug. 31and build off the ground work set in a 42-7 victory over ETSU last Saturday. Last year App State manhandled the 49ers 45-9 in Charlotte. App State has a bye week, then they head to Chapel Hill to face UNC on Sept. 21. Charlotte is a good opponent to shake off any rust before heading into a huge matchup in Chapel Hill.

In-State rivalry:

App State has had the most successful transition in NCAA history from FCS to FBS, but Charlotte hasn’t been as fortunate. The 49ers struggled facing Division 1 competition and live in the shadow of the stellar Mountaineer program. This is just the second meeting between the two programs as Division 1 schools, last year’s was the inaugural matchup for what is an already budding rivalry.

POINTS PER GAME

42 OPP. POINTS PER GAME

7

YARDS PER GAME

444.0

OPP. YARDS PER GAME

292.0 16

16

Build off the success of the season opener: As always, the goal for the App State team this season is to win every game they play, and capture the Sun Belt Championship again. The Mountaineers opened well last week with a 42-7 victory over ETSU and look to continue that winning excellence on Saturday. App State has two huge opponents this year outside of the Sun Belt: UNC and South Carolina, both of whom are talented, athletic teams. The Sun Belt has also gotten deeper and many teams now threaten to prevent App State from winning another conference title. In week one, Georgia State beat Tennessee in Knoxville. A season ago, the Panthers went 2-10 and 1-7 in Sun Belt action. The Mountaineers have to win the games and continue to sharpen their abilities, which starts with beating the 49ers at home.

PLAYER TO WATCH

Keep home win streak alive:

App State’s home winning streak is now at 11 games at Kidd Brewer Stadium and a big win in front of their home crowd in the first game of the season would be a great way to start the Drinkwitz era as well as the 2019 football season. Although the end of every season is more important than the beginning, this is basically a must-win game for the Mountaineers. A lot of people will be extremely surprised if App State doesn’t take care of ETSU easily in week one.

POINTS PER GAME

#5 Thomas Hennigan

49

Jr. Wide Reciever

OPP. POINTS PER GAME

Career-high seven catches against ETSU in the season opener

28

Had a 59 yard punt return for a touchdown at Charlotte last year Charlotte was not tested through the air in week one against Gardner-Webb, App State will look to turn up the passing game and Hennigan has poised himself as one of QB Zac Thomas’s top targets

YARDS PER GAME

508.0

OPP. YARDS PER GAME

219.0

Sports

Sept. 6 2019

After up-and-down 2018, field hockey looking for more in 2019 Silas Albright | Sports Editor With the team’s largest roster size ever, a strong core of returning players and a talented group of seven freshmen, the App State field hockey team is set to build off of its up-and-down past year.

Although they finished 7-14 overall and 1-5 in Mid-American Conference play, the Mountaineers showed flashes of brilliance throughout the season before catching fire in the MAC tournament.

“We peaked at the right time,” head coach Meghan Dawson said.

“But, I’d rather peak and maintain and keep growing.”

App State entered the MAC tournament seeded sixth and beat seventh-seeded Central Michigan 5-2 in the first round. Next, the Mountaineers shutout third-seeded Longwood to advance to the semifinals, where they fell to second-seeded Kent State.

“Beginning the Longwood game, we knew it was going to be tough, but we believed in ourselves, and it was possible,” junior midfielder Veerle Van Heertum said. “As long as we believe in ourselves and in each other, I think we can win all our games.”

After starting the 2018 season by winning four of the first five games, App State lost nine games in a row and 12 of their next 13 games to finish the regular season at 5-13.

“How do you manage those low times?” Dawson said. “We talk about it all the time — you’re going to have lows; you’re not always going to be on top. So, how do you manage being low and getting out of that and coming back up? We did that at the end.”

The Mountaineers were able to learn a lot from the ups and downs of the 2018 season.

“One thing that I’ve really learned is how to be mentally tough, how to push myself to that next level,” junior midfielder/defender Meghan Smart said.

Junior midfielder/defender Meghan Smart has scored three goals in the first two game of the Mountaineers' season. App State sits at 2-0 after wins over Towson and Georgetown. / Photo courtesy of App State Athletics, Tim Cowie Photography

In the team’s first two exhibition games of the year against Davidson and Liberty, Smart netted three goals.

“This year in preseason, we’ve had a good emphasis on going together and going as a team instead of individually,” Smart said. “All of my goals have come because of my teammates’ support. It wasn’t just me going by myself, they were there with me.”

She followed up her preseason performances by scoring two goals in App State’s season opening 3-0 victory at Towson on Aug. 30. Smart also scored the only goal of the game in the 1-0 Mountaineer victory at Georgetown on Sept. 1.

Of the 2019 squad’s 28 players, 21 are returning players, giving the Mountaineers a significant amount of experience.

Van Heertum was a first team All-MAC selection as well as a National Field Hockey Coaches Association second team all-region selection.

Van Heertum is the focal point of the Mountaineer offense, leading the team with 11 goals and 27 total points last season.

“What I’m expecting from her is to be a good leader and to share the ball,” Dawson said. “When you have those stats, everyone’s going to know that, and so, that’s who they’re going to focus on.”

Smart has already shown that she is a key player on the field for the Mountaineers this season, and she understands that her role is larger now that she’s a junior.

“Being an upperclassman, you do have a bigger role to take,” Smart said.

“You have to lead by example, and I think that’s a huge thing. I think the underclassmen are responding well to that.”

The Mountaineers have an away game against Lafayette College on Sept. 6 before their home opener against Davidson on Sept. 8.

17

Sports

Sept. 6, 2019

game day grades

My last

App State (1-0, 0-0 Sun Belt) vs. ETSU (0-1, 0-0 SoCon)

Player of the Game Thomas Hennigan

Thomas Hennigan had a career-high in receptions against the Buccaneers, hauling in seven balls for 79 yards and one touchdown. Last year, Hennigan totaled the second-most receiving yards on the team with 327. Hennigan was Thomas’ top target and catch five more balls than any other receiver.

Quarterbacks: A Zac Thomas began his junior season with a 16-24 passing day for 150 yards and two touchdowns. Thomas’ long on the day was a 31-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Thomas Hennigan late in the third quarter. Thomas also ran for 32 yards and a touchdown. Fellow junior quarterback Jacob Huesman checked in for Thomas during the fourth quarter and threw a 17-yard touchdown pass on his single attempt.

Running Backs: A-

Defensive Line: A The defensive line played nearly as well as the coaching staff could have asked for in the first game of the year.

They put constant pressure on ETSU’s quarterback and came away with two sacks. Junior Tommy Dawkins recorded the lone solo sack on the day.

Linebackers: A+

Junior Darrynton Evans led the deep group of running backs as he rushed for 99 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. Sophomore Daetrich Harrington rushed for 48 yards on six carries, and junior Marcus Williams Jr. added 41 yards on seven carries. Camerun Peoples, a redshirt freshman out of Alabama, left the game injured after a 17-yard carry just 3:11 into the second half. He’s out against Charlotte.

The linebacking core had an outstanding showing, with Akeem Davis-Gaither, Noel Cook and Jordan Fehr putting up five or more tackles each. Davis-Gaither had a team-high seven tackles, including one tackle for loss.

Sophomore inside linebacker Trey Cobb also added three tackles with one for loss.

Wide Receivers: B+

App State’s secondary had a good performance against ETSU, despite coming away with no interceptions. ETSU didn’t give the “Legion of Boone” many opportunities at picking them off, mainly sticking to shorter pass and run plays. Safeties Desmond Franklin and Josh Thomas combined for 12 tackles, and sophomore cornerback Shaun Jolly recorded six tackles.

Seven different players had receptions for the Mountaineers. Junior Thomas Hennigan pulled in a career-high seven catches for 79 yards and one touchdown. Receivers Christian Wells and Malik Williams each caught a touchdown, as well. Aside from Hennigan, the other 10 receptions for the game were spread out among six receivers, each with one or two receptions. The receiving core certainly held its own while star junior Corey Sutton sat out due to violation of team rules.

Tight Ends: B Sophomore tight end Henry Pearson was the only tight end with any receptions, bringing in two catches for 12 yards. The tight ends were primarily used as blockers and aided the offensive line in allowing zero sacks in the game.

Secondary: A-

Special Teams: A While the special teams did not have any major plays, all members were solid. No kickoff or punt returns for touchdowns were allowed or any big returns. Malik Williams had the long punt return for the Mountaineers on the day with a 33-yard return late in the game. Junior punter Xavier Subotsch only punted three times, with an average of 44.3 yards per punt. Junior kicker Chandler Staton connected on each of his six extra-point attempts.

Overall Team Grade: B+ Offensive Line: A+ The offensive line played a terrific game, not allowing ETSU any sacks. The great work by the offensive line is a large reason why Thomas had a strong day passing, as he was only hurried twice the whole game.

18

App State played very well, particularly in the second half.

However, a slow start in the first half and sloppiness at times result in an overall B+. App State has a much higher ceiling than how they played on Saturday, but showed the potential as a great team after a 42-7 victory in the season opener.

word Brooks Maynard | Columnist

This past Saturday, App State opened its football season with a 42-7 win over former Southern Conference rival East Tennessee State. This brings App State’s lead in the alltime series record to 32-14-1, including a 17-6 home record. This was the first time the Mountaineers and the Buccaneers have played since 2003.

While some saw this game as a throwaway, guaranteed win for App State, it was an important one, and I think a good number of the 25,147 fans who attended the game would agree. While leaving the Southern Conference has brought benefits for App State, it also saw the loss of many longtime rivalries fans loved.

The most obvious of these is the famed “Battle for the Old Mountain Jug,” which pitted App State against Western Carolina nearly 80 times since 1932. The Mountaineers haven’t played the Catamounts since 2013, and it’s sad this rivalry and others that have ended due to conference realignment.

App State should rekindle some of its old rivalries alumni loved. To this day, the Mountaineers’ biggest rival is a former SoCon opponent, the Georgia Southern Eagles, who moved to the Sun Belt the same year as App State. Too many non-conference games are dedicated to teams Mountaineer fans just don’t care about, such as Old Dominion, Akron and Wyoming.

Less than 20,000 fans attended the game against the Wyoming Cowboys in 2014 and even fewer attended Akron in 2016. Renewing one or two of the old rivalries, even if they can’t be played every year, would be a good way to sell a few more tickets to the early season games and bring a little bit of classic App State football back to The Rock.

Opinion

Sept. 6 2019

The

Tea

Trump goes bed shopping with hurricane money Tommy Mozier | Columnist

For people who grew up in the southeast, August and September mark more than just the transition from summer to autumn. It also marks hurricane season, when residents of almost every southeastern state can be assured they’ll be impacted by at least one hurricane.

Hurricanes are an inevitable part of life in the South, but only slightly more inevitable than the Trump administration making grossly incompetent and cruel decisions.

A week before then Category 5 Hurricane Dorian’s 185-mile-per-hour winds and 23-foot storm surge pounded the Bahamas before turning north toward mainland U.S., the Trump administration thought it smart to move $271 million in funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Coast Guard to buy more beds for the asylum seekers held in detention centers on the U.S.-Mexico border.

Don’t forget that the Trump administration is forcing asylum seekers to stay in detention center. In the past, the government allowed them to work as they awaited their date in a terribly back-logged immigration court. Vice President Mike Pence justified this by falsely claiming 90% of asylum seekers do not show up to their court date, when Department of Justice figures show the majority do. Not showing up is normally a one-way ticket out of the country.

Trump is taking money from organizations that support people after natural disasters to try to fix a problem he created out of cruelty and xenophobia, as the second-strongest hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean threatens millions. No wonder App State alumnus Brock Long resigned as FEMA director last year.

The only threat that will make Trump take the annual threat of hurricanes seriously is a direct hit on Mar-a-Lago. If Trump faces the realities of losing a home that many southerners and Caribbeans fear every year, our selfish, impressionable and impulsive leader might realize his mistake.

But only after he loses his crown jewel.

Plastic toothbrushes: a wasted opportunity Amy Waas | Opinion Writer Toothbrushes are the first thing most of us use in the morning and the last thing most of us use before bed. They’re important for human hygiene, a very profitable invention and an incomprehensibly large portion of plastic waste produced worldwide, contaminating our beaches, landfills and marine life.

“A whopping 91% of plastic isn’t recycled,” wrote Laura Parker, a specialist in climate change and marine environments for National Geographic. According to the N.C. Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Service, the cost of plastic waste in North Carolina alone is over $41 million each year. Plastic bags, straws and bottles are the standard culprits.

Sustainability is a focus at App State. Most students limit their waste by switching to reusable straws, bags and water bottles. But, in the battle against our nation’s trash problem, even the smallest opportunities for change are important.

The average person replaces their toothbrush every few months. According to Boie, a sustainable personal hygiene company, disposable toothbrushes create 50 million pounds of waste a year.

Electric plastic toothbrushes are no better; the bulky base proves even harder to dispose.

On average, each toothbrush takes approximately 400 years to properly degrade. They’re found in turtles, seals, whales and marine mam-

mals all over the world.

Getting rid of your toothbrush seems radical, but there are plenty of alternatives. Companies, such as Boie USA, offer antibacterial, revolutionary thermoplastic, 100% recyclable brushes that rarely need replacing.

Foreo, a skincare company, has an electric toothbrush made with similar biodegradable material that only needs charging twice a year.

For those who prefer a more rigorous brush, bamboo toothbrushes are available in almost any drugstore or supermarket, and, of course, online. Bamboo decomposes much faster than plastic, creating a safer, green alternative.

Combatting single-use toothbrushes would have been a daunting task a few years ago when sustainability was still a niche interest among most Americans. But, thanks to social media, low-waste lifestyles have skyrocketed in popularity.

Now, sustainable alternatives for toothbrushes exist almost anywhere you can purchase plastic ones. They are far better for the environment, and ultimately, every little change matters.

A whopping 91% of plastic isn’t recycled.

Boie USA eco-friendly toothbrush. / Photo courtesy of boieusa.com

19

Opinion

Sept. 6, 2019

trump’s trade war with ChinA

hurts everyone

Caleb Garbuio | Opinion Writer Trump’s imposition of tariffs on China, our largest trade partner, is akin to shooting yourself in the foot.

Tariffs are taxes on imported goods, serving as a protective barrier against foreign competitors, and resulting in higher prices for consumers because price signals rely on scarcity and consumer demand. As production of goods and services reaches a global audience, the price of competing goods drop due to the rising number of goods produced. Consumers ultimately benefit from global competition because they have more freedom to choose products and cheaper prices.

While many take issue with buying foreign products, only 21% of Americans would be willing to pay 10% more for domestic goods, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found.

This means despite raising objections to foreign-manufactured items, people still choose the cheaper product over the more expensive one. Therefore, consumers bear the brunt of the

trade tariffs because they now have to pay higher prices.

Although consumers are affected most, producers also experience negative economic effects. This is due to the symbiotic relationship caused by the global supply chain producers now rely on to produce their goods and services.

For example, General Motors may rely on steel from China to manufacture its vehicles.

The cheaper cost of steel results in a cheaper cars, which keeps companies from losing profit.

For the past couple years, China has retaliated against Trump’s tariffs by imposing sanctions of its own that hurt domestic industries. For example, farmers and other agricultural manufacturers experienced a $24 billion decrease in export sales as a result of China’s retaliatory tariffs.

This deals a serious blow to America’s leading export, since imposing a tariff on the world’s most populous country increases the price of goods making other countries’ goods,

appear better. In essence, Trump has succeeded in weakening the market position of America’s biggest contributor to the global market, leading to an even larger trade deficit.

Trump seems incapable of grasping the fact that a trade imbalance is not bad since Americans are purchasing goods at a cheaper rate and increasing foreign investments in the economy, which grows gross domestic product.

An analysis of NAFTA by the Council on Foreign Relations concluded the addition of Mexico in the “free trade zone” contributed to mild economic growth. Critics argue that NAFTA resulted in companies outsourcing jobs to Mexico for cheaper labor.

However, economists Gary Clyde Hufbauer and Cathleen Cimino-Isaacs found an increase in trade produces economic gains. Further research suggests NAFTA creates 200,000 jobs annually, resulting in a 15-20% increase in wages from lost jobs. According to the Peterson Institute, the 200,000 jobs lost to NAFTA are re-

placed with newer, better- paying ones.

This leads to low-skilled manufacturing jobs moving overseas, where developing economies have a competitive advantage, since their workers earn less. This results in cheaper products returning to the U.S. for assembly. As the supply of goods becomes cheaper, companies produce more, leading to higher employment and cheaper products.

In the global scale, this results in economies becoming more efficient because they specialize in different things. This gives less developed economies a competitive advantage because they can specialize in simple products and compete against larger economies on a global stage. This benefits all parties involved because multiple nations now have reached full production, meaning higher employment and cheaper products for all.

Trump’s actions have consequences not just for the U.S., but for the rest of the world. As nations invest in each other, they are, in essence, gambling on the future success of each other.

trump’s tariffs Tariffs announced on Aug. 1 Begin according to schedule

September 1, 2019

Chinese companies suspend new U.S. agricultural product purchases

August 23, 2019

China announces US$75 billion in tariffs on U.S. goods, Trump threatens tariff increases on Chinese goods

20

August 6, 2019

China increases tariffs on U.S. $60 billion worth of products

August 1, 2019

Trump says U.S. will impose 10% tariffs on another U.S. $300 billion of Chinese goods starting Sept. 1

June 1, 2019

May 10, 2019

U.S. increases tariff on Chinese goods from 10% to 25% Source: china-briefing.com

Opinion

Sept. 6 2019

Congress can slow illegal immigration By making legal immigration easier Connor Hughes | Opinion Writer In today’s age of politics, consensus is exceedingly rare — particularly in national politics. However, one has emerged: the United States’ immigration system is broken.

Conservatives point to caravans of people coming to the U.S., tearing down fences and showing little regard for U.S. rules.

In March, President Donald Trump tweeted, “We are apprehending record numbers of illegal immigrants – but we need the Wall to help our Great Border Patrol Agents!”

More recently, liberals observed the inherent cruelty of Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids ripping families apart and devastating local communities.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York, made headlines for calling detention centers on the border “concentration camps,” invoking imagery of the Holocaust by using the phrase “Never Again.”

Yes, both sides engage in hyperbole, but not equally. Trump’s immigration policy frequently dances the line of xenophobia, often crossing it with comments calling “some” immigrant Mexicans “rapists and criminals.” Ocasio-Cortez’s comments absolutely dripped in political rhetoric and begged the question, where was the outrage regarding these camps under President Barack Obama’s administration?

Liberals have proposed a variety of solutions – the most asinine belong-

ing to Julian Castro, who proposed making illegal entry into the country a civil, rather than criminal, penalty, which would decriminalize the border.

Liberals, if you would like four more years of Donald Trump, follow Castro’s approach — the attack ads will write themselves.

Here are the facts: according to the Fiscal Year 2018 ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Report, ICE booked 396,448 people into custody, be it from waiting for an asylum claim or detaining them due to illegally entering the U.S. In 2017, the Pew Research Center estimated 10.5 million immigrants were in the U.S. without legal permission. The ACLU tracked at least 2,654 children detained by the Trump administration due to the family separation policy. In 2017, ICE arrested or sent back over 400,000 people at the U.S. southern border.

Illegal immigration has largely declined since 2000, but, as the statistics show, a large number of individuals are still affected by immigration policies.

However, the venerated wall of Trump’s dreams is not a good solution. Immigration policy experts believe a combination of technology, including more surveillance and radar

systems, and increased numbers of border patrol agents are better solutions than a massive wall.

Janet Napolitano, Obama’s Homeland Security Secretary from 2009 to 2013, was ahead of her time when critiquing President George W. Bush’s border policy, saying, “You show me a 50-foot wall, I’ll show you a 51-foot ladder.”

The same is applicable to Trump’s infamous border wall.

One area we all can agree on is this: taking families out of established living in the U.S. is significantly more cruel than preventing entrance in the first place. Imagine establishing a life, creating a family and giving back to the community — all for it to be ripped away one day. We should do as much as possible to prevent these scenarios — one way is by decreasing the number of immigrants that successfully enter the country illegally in the first place.

It is important to keep the offense at hand in mind. Illegal immigration violates both the principle of

state sovereignty and the rule of law.

Many of these immigrants come from terrible situations, but it is not fair to allow them to cut the line to our country when the U.S. has an established system, particularly when people wait for years on end to acquire the documents necessary for legal entry.

Immigration laws are created by representatives elected by the people — to ignore them is to ignore the living will of the people, a basic affront to our system of government that we hold dear.

So, how do we stop this? Invest more money specifically for border patrol and technology. Congress has the power of the purse, hop to it. Invest in more immigration judges to process asylum claims quicker, thus reducing the average stay in detention centers. Speed up and reduce costs of the legal immigration system to elimi-

nate incentives for illegal entry.

Lastly, conservatives should look to the not-too-distant past regarding immigration policy: Ronald Reagan was the last president to grant mass amnesty to illegal immigrants. There should be some penalty paid for breaking U.S. law — but uprooting families is psychologically damaging, morally reprehensible and prohibitively costly. Perhaps being able to contribute but not receive social services, outside of programs for children, repays the crime committed.

The U.S. is simultaneously a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws, we should honor both traditions going forward. Rather than a wall or political rhetoric, it’s time for legitimate solutions to come to the forefront to prevent devastating cruelty in the U.S.

21

Et Cetera

MOSS BRENNAN EDITOR IN CHIEF

IRA DAVID LEVY ADVISER

EDITORIAL RACHEL GREENLAND MANAGING EDITOR

HARLEY NEFE CHIEF COPY EDITOR

JACKIE PARK NEWS EDITOR

CHRISTINA BEALS A&E EDITOR

SILAS ALBRIGHT SPORTS EDITOR

TOMMY MOZIER OPINION EDITOR

MULTIMEDIA MICKEY HUTCHINGS VISUAL MANAGING EDITOR

BRENDAN HOEKSTRA PHOTO EDITOR

EFRAIN ARIAS-MEDINA JR. GRAPHICS EDITOR

ANNA MUCKENFUSS VIDEO EDITOR

SADIE MADDOCK NEWS PRODUCER

BUSINESS STEVEN CAUGHRAN BUSINESS MANAGER

SHELLY BANZ

ASSISTANT BUSINESS MANAGER

MELISSA ALSUP MARKETING DIRECTOR

Front page caption: Coach Drinkiwitz charges the field with the team to kick off Saturday’s first game of the season. This was Drinkiwitz regular season debut with the Mountaineers’. / Photo courtesy of App State Athletics

Sept. 6, 2019

App News

Sept. 6 2019

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A free monthly event for the campus community to discuss timely issues and their impact on the community in small groups over a free dinner. The Sept. 9 event is the first in a series of fall 2019 events.

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Friday, Sept. 6

Saturday, Sept. 7

Sunday, Sept. 8

Monday, Sept. 9

Volunteer with the Children’s Playhouse 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

The Children’s Playhouse

App State V. UNCC Tailgate Substance Free Food, Games, and Swag Provided!

11-3 pm Between the library and Chapel Wilson Hall Contact: Kiauhna Haynes, Haynesk@appstate.edu, 828262-6917

Men’s Soccer vs. American 3-5 p.m.

Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex

Taste of Dialogue: The Portrayal of Violence in Marginalized Communities 6-9 p.m.

Plemmons Student Union Room 233

Men’s Soccer vs. George Mason 7-9 p.m.

Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex

Football vs. Charlotte 3:30-6:30 p.m.

Kidd Brewer Stadium

Tuesday, Sept. 10

Wednesday, Sept. 11

Thursday, Sept. 12

Walk for Awareness 6-7:30 p.m.

Beginning on Sanford Mall

Volunteer with the Children’s Playhouse 10-5 p.m.

Children’s Playhouse

Volleyball vs. Western Carolina 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Holmes Convocation Center

Evening of Encores 8-9:30 p.m.

Rosen Concert Hall

Anthropology Fall 2019 Brown Bag Series 12-1 p.m.

Harmonia Baroque 8-9:30 p.m.

Rosen Concert Hall Barefoot Modern 8-11 p.m.

Legends

BE ON THE FIELD

WRITE FOR THE APPALACHIAN SPORTS SECTION PSU 217 AT 7 P.M. EVERY THURSDAY AND SUNDAY

PHOTO: HAYLEY CANAL