6 OFFENSE
14 KEY PLAYERS
22 GAME DAY
10 DEFENSE
THE TEAM Carl Blankenship @carl_r_blank EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Aleah Warner @aleahwarner MANAGING EDITOR Victoria Haynes @victoriahayness CHIEF COPY EDITOR Sammy Hanf @sammyhanf NEWS EDITOR Katie Murawski @murawskikm A&E EDITOR Jason Huber @_jasonhuber SPORTS EDITOR Lee Sanderlin @lee_sanderlin ENTERPRISE EDITOR
EDITORIAL MULTIMEDIA BUSINESS Jacob Oller @ollerifyouhearme BUSINESS MANAGER Olivia Wilkes @theappalachian ADVISER
Dallas Linger @dallingerphotos PHOTO EDITOR Maleek Loyd @maleekstuff VIDEO EDITOR Sydney Spann @spannooo GRAPHICS EDITOR Braxton Coats @brxcoats22 WEB MANAGER
SUBMIT ANNOUNCEMENTS App News is a service of the Division of Student Development. Email wilkeso@appstate.edu for submissions. Submissions should not exceed 100 words and must include the event title, date/time, location and cost, and a contact email, phone and/or URL. Announcements will be edited as needed and will run as space allows. Preference is given for events that are free or have a nominal cost.
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N E W S
WHAT TO DO VISITING WRITERS SERIES The Fall 2016 Hughlene Bostian Frank Visiting Writers Series will take place with craft talks and readings. Book sales and signings will follow each event. • September 9: Poet Jan Beatty, 2-3:15 p.m. Craft Talk in Table Rock Room, PSU. 7 p.m. Reading in Table Rock Room, PSU. • October 6: Poet and Essayist Bruce Weigl, 2-3:15 p.m. Craft Talk in Table Rock Room, PSU. 6-7:15 p.m. Pre-Reading Reception in Price Lake Room, PSU. 7:30 p.m. Reading in Table Rock Room, PSU. • November 3: Graphic Novelist Carol Tyler, 12:30-1:45 p.m. Craft Talk in Three Top Mountain Room, PSU. 7:30 p.m. Reading in Turchin Center Lecture Hall, TCVA-1102. • November 10: Novelist Robert Olen Butler, 2-3:15 p.m. Craft Talk in Table Rock Room, PSU. 7:30 p.m. Reading in Table Rock Room, PSU.
GET PUBLISHED Calling all artists, writers, desginers, musicians! The Peel Literature and Arts Review is accepting submissions for review and possible publication. Submit before September 30 for feedback on your submission. Final deadline is November 1.Visit thepeelreview.com for info!
APPSYNC AppSync, at appsync.appstate.edu, is your one-stop connection to engagement and leadership opportunities at Appalachian State. Every member of our campus has access to AppSync, and as a user, you can explore over 450 clubs and organizations, departments, and programs
on campus and around Boone. Once you get the hang of it, it may resemble a Facebook atmosphere for your leadership and involvement needs. We encourage you to browse the Involvement Directory, read and learn about our organizations and programs, and email the club president or faculty/staff member directly. Many of these groups advertise their open meeting times and will welcome you to attend - make sure you confirm with the president on their next meeting location, time and date.
STORY SLAM The Creative Writing program will sponsor the first ASU Story Slam in Crossroads Coffeehouse on Thursday, September 22, starting at 7 p.m. The Slam will be hosted by Ray Christian, ASU adjunct professor and host of the new podcast “What’s Ray Saying?” Ray Christian is also an award-winning storyteller whose stories have been heard live on stages, podcasts, and radio across the country, including the NPR shows The Moth and Snap Judgment. A Story Slam is an open mic competitive “story telling” event, in which members of the entire ASU community are invited to tell true personal stories without notes. FOR INFORMATION, email weinbergsc@ appstate.edu or call 262-2871.
UNIVERSITY WRITING CENTER The University Writing Center (UWC) offers free services to students, faculty, and staff of Appalachian State University and the Boone community. Anyone who would like to discuss a piece of writing with an informed, sensitive reader is welcome. We are here to work with
writers on a wide variety of projects: papers for academic courses; masters and senior thesis chapters; personal essays for job, graduate school, and law school applications; creative writing projects; grant or project proposals; and course syllabi. We work with writers at any stage of the writing process, from inventing topics to editing at the sentence-level. Please note, if you are working on a group assignment, all group members must be present. The UWC is open 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday. Visit writingcenter.appstate.edu to schedule an appointment.
SNCURCS The Office of Student Research would like to personally invite you and your students to submit abstracts of research and creative endeavors (performance, plays, readings, exhibits, displays, etc.) for presentation at the 2016 State of North Carolina Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium (SNCURCS) to be held at North Carolina Central University on Saturday, November 5, 2016. To submit an abstract or for more information please visit www.sncurcs.org.
FREE LEGAL ADVICE The Student Legal Clinic, in suite 324 in Plemmons Student Union, offers confidential advice, information, and referrals provided by a licensed attorney. The attorney can meet with any currently enrolled Appalachian State student and can advise students on any issue that is not directly adverse
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER
Bubble Soccer
Early Bird Wildflower Sale
Healing Arts Yoga
2-6 p.m. Duck Pond Field
6 a.m.-4 p.m. Biology Greenhouse
10:15 a.m. TCVA Mayer Gallery $10 non-students
Poet Jan Beatty
“Labyrinth” screening
Craft Talk, 2-3:15 p.m. Reading and Signing, 7-9 p.m. PSU Room 201B
7 p.m. Greenbriar Theater $1 door
An Evening with The Avett Brothers
“Me Before You” screening
8 p.m. Holmes Convocation Center SOLD OUT
7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. I.G. Greer Auditorium $1 advance, $2 door
to the university. Make an appointment by calling 828-2628284. More information at legalclinic.appstate. edu.
CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTER Stop by our contact tables for one-on-one time with a Career Counselor from our Career Development Center to have your resume reviewed. The tables will be set up in Plemmons Student Union September 12-23 11 a.m.-1 p.m. The Career Development Center also has drop-ins everyday 2-4 p.m. on the 3rd floor of the JET Building, or make an appointment with your Career Counselor on Career Gear. CareerFest will be held Tuesday, September 27 1-5 p.m. Over 100 organizations will be recruiting at this event in Holmes Convocation Center. Professional dress and Appcard required. Open to all majors.
FREE GUIDED MEDITATION Held Mondays 5:15 p.m. in Linville Falls Room, PSU. Hosted by App Sits Meditation Club. No meditation experience necessary. Drop-ins welcome. Benefits of meditation can include a decrease in anxiety and stress, an increase in emotional stability and creativity, increased ability to focus and concentrate, lower blood pressure, a decrease in tension related pain, and improved immune system.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
“Me Before You” screening 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. I.G. Greer Auditorium $1 advance, $2 door
“Me Before You” screening
Contra Dance
7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. I.G. Greer Auditorium $1 advance, $2 door
7:15-10 p.m. Legends
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER
App Sits Meditation Club
Tai Chi
Art in Meditation
Aha Thursday! (Open Studio)
5:15 p.m. Linville Falls Room, PSU
5 p.m. TCVA Mayer Gallery free, students only
5:30 p.m. TCVA Room 3200 free, students only
7 p.m. TCVA Room 3200 free, students only
“A Goofy Movie” screening
Bad Catholics
7 p.m. Greenbriar $1 door
9 p.m. Legends $4 advance, $6 door & non-students
RECAP
NEW YEAR NEW GOAL MONICA CRAWFORD SPORTS REPOTER With a last minute field goal by former kicker Zach Matics, Dec. 19, 2015 became a date that would go down in Mountaineer football history. The 31-29 win against Ohio University named the Mountaineers Raycom Media Camellia Bowl champs and gave the team a victory in their first ever NCAA bowl game. The Camellia Bowl win helped the team finish off a successful 2015 season with a record-breaking 11-2 record as well as a record for the number of victories as a Division I FBS team. The win also put the Mountaineers on the map as a winning football program. “People are going to remember us for how we finished the season,” head coach Scott Satterfield said at the end of last season. “We always talk about finishing strong, and they’re going to remember us for this bowl victory right here. They’re going to remember the 10 [previous] wins, but they’re really going to remember this bowl victory in the Camellia Bowl.” The game was broadcasted on ESPN and drew in 1.9 million viewers nationwide, increasing Camellia Bowl viewership by 73 percent from 2014 to 2015. It was also one of the three largest bowl games in terms of
viewership shown on Dec. 19. However, despite the strong finish to last season seen by millions of viewers, the team is hoping to keep the past from getting to their heads and move forward onto this season with the hopes of becoming Sun Belt champs. “The thing that we’ve been talking about this off season is that you learn from the past,” Satterfield said. “Whether it’s good or bad, you learn from it, but it does not matter about what happens this year what we did in the past. This is a new team, a new identity and new guys that are going to have to make their mark on the program this year.” Satterfield said the team has a tough schedule ahead of them this year, with three upcoming games against big name teams. What is important, though, is that the team treats each game the same. “It’s extremely challenging, what we have to do in these [next three] games,” Satterfield said. “We want to compete and be very successful against other teams in our peer conferences. We’ll take it one game at a time, and what’s our goal? To win the Sun Belt championship.” After a heartbreaking and close loss to the University of Tennessee,
the Mountaineers are on their way to a season that they hope will not be outshone by their success last year
and in the end will result in a Sun Belt championship ring.
Chris Deverell and App State Athletics
(Top) The Mountaineers celebrate after winning the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl. They defeated Ohio 31-29. (Right) The Mountaineers have five different uniforms this season: The all-white, all-black, a white and black combination, and two black and yellow combinations.
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OFFENSIVE
QUARTERBACK #11 Taylor Lamb (Jr.) – The redshirt junior quarterback is an experienced signal caller for the Mountaineers heading into the season with 23 career starts. With a 3-to-1 touchdown to turnover ratio, Lamb is known as a game manager for the App State offense. With a steady running game and top 25 defense, his job will be to limit mistakes by making good decisions. He heads into the season ranked as the nation’s No. 19 quarterback by Sporting News and No. 20 by Athlon. Lamb is ninth currently in passing yards in program history (4,768 yards) and is 17-6 as a starter.
#10 J.P. Caruso (So.) – The Florida native Caruso has proven in limited playing time he is a capable backup for starter Lamb. Appearing in five games in 2015 Caruso had impressive numbers, throwing 8-for-12 with 109 and two touchdowns. Also running for 141 yards on 19 carries, he has shown in small doses that he is ready if his name is called.
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Dallas Linger and Halle Keighton
(Top) Lamb breaks away from defenders last week against Tennessee. Lamb rushed for a touchdown in the game. (Bottom)Lamb releases for a pass. Lamb threw for 108 yards at Tennessee with a passing touchdown.
OFFENSIVE
RUNNING BACKS #14 Marcus Cox (Sr.) – As Cox goes into his senior season, school records may soon be in his name. He is the first running back to run for 1,000 yards each of his first three seasons at the school and is just 716 yards from breaking the school record in total rushing yards. The Georgia native enters the season as the nation’s No. 25 running back, according to Athlon and Sporting News, after averaging 119 (13th of best in country) rushing yards per game. He ran for a career high in rushing yards last season with 1,423 and was second-team All-Sun Belt Conference selection.
Dallas Linger and Halle Keighton
Taylor Lamb hands the ball off to Marcus Cox at Tennessee last week. Cox ran for 115 yards in the game with one receiving touchdown.
#25 Jalin Moore (So.) – After a breakout second half of his freshman year, Moore adds even more depth to a very strong running back position. He was on the 2015 All-Sun Belt Freshman Team while rushing for 731 yards (second on team) on 99 carries. He broke out against Idaho late in the season when Cox missed the game due to injury with 244 yards on 27 carries, (nine yards per rush), a school freshman record. Expect his workload to increase this year, making him and Cox a two-headed monster in the backfield.
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OFFENSIVE
WIDE RECEIVERS #6 Shaedon Meadors (Jr.) – Coming off of a season playing in 11 games with one start, Meadors is the most experienced receiver of the Mountaineers to return in 2016. After losing seniors Malachi Jones, Simms McElfresh and Bobo Beathard, Meadors will have to help bring leadership to the position. He caught 21 passes for 439 yards before missing the final two games due to a leg injury. He is the deep threat for the team averaging a best of 20.9 yards per reception last season.
#16 Jaquil Capel (Sr.) – Capel has been one of the standouts at camp as he heads into his senior season. He has limited playing time through his college career because of injury, but hopes to be able to play all season and shine for the Mountaineers. In the three games he appeared in last year, he caught two passes for 26 yards while also making an impact on special teams returning two kicks against Clemson for 73 yards. Expect him to not only start as a receiver but be present on special teams as well in 2016.
#4 Jaylan Barbour (So.) – The speedy sophomore receiver played in all 13 games last season and will get his opportunity to start this season. The Monroe, North Carolina native caught three passes for 49 yards in 2015 after playing in just two games in 2014 because of injury.
#3 Deltron Hopkins (So.) – Another young threat at receiver is Hopkins, who is expected to compete with Barbour for playing time. After playing in seven games in 2015, Hopkins had four catches for 27 yards along with two rushes for 31 yards on the season. With the loss of the three starting receivers from last season, Hopkins will be expected to help add to the depth to the receiving corp.
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Dallas Linger and Halle Keighton
Wide Receiver Shaedon Meadors looks on from the sideline last weeks game at Tennessee. Meadors caught two passes for 19 yards.
OFFENSIVE
TIGHT END #85 Barrett Burns (Sr.) – Coming off of a career year during his junior season, Burns has received all-conference recognition and comes back as a reliable target for Taylor Lamb. The third year starter had eight touchdown receptions in 2015, which tied a school record for most by a tight end. As his senior year begins he ranks ninth in school history with 11 touchdown receptions. With a 6-foot-4 inch frame, he is an important target inside the red zone for the team, and with the loss of the App State’s top three receivers, expect his role to become even greater.
Dallas Linger and Halle Keighton
(Top) Burns goes for a block on the offensive line against Tennessee. (Right)Burns heads off the field after a play. Burns led the team with 11 TD receptions last season.
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DEFENSIVE
#88 John Law (Sr.) – Undisputed defensive leader John Law was second on the team in tackles last season with 72, adding four sacks and two interceptions to fill out the stat sheet. Because of those numbers and the potential on and off the field, Law was named preseason Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year. Law has the most tackles of any active Sun Belt player. Before the season started his 236 career tackles had him at 20th in the country among active student athletes. Also, Law, who suffered from a nagging on-again-off-again lower-body injury has fully recovered.
#45 Eric Boggs (Jr.) – Opposite of Law is junior Eric Boggs, who led the team in tackles in 2015 with 104. He also led the team in tackles against Tennessee in the opener this season with 12 total. Boggs has played in all 25 games of his career at App State and is an All-America and All-Conference candidate. Last year, he was named second team AllSun Belt Conference honoree. The Mountaineers look for heavy contribution from Boggs, as well as Law, to remain consistent on the defensive side of the ball.
#28 Devan Stringer (Jr.) – Stringer is a speedster off the edge. He has started the last 20 games for the Mountaineers, adding more consistency to the lineup at linebacker. Stringer was honorable mention AllSun Belt and tallied 63 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks last season, as well as returning a fumble 77 yards for a touchdown.
LINEBACKERS #6 Kennan Gilchrist (Sr.)
Dallas Linger
Linebacker Kennan Gilchrist almost had one of the biggest plays in school history when he forced a fumble on Tennessee quarterback Josh Dobbs as time expired that was recovered by the Vols.
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– Gilchrist, whose tackle and forced fumble of senior Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs might have gone down as one of the biggest plays in school history had Appalachian State been able to secure the recovery, starts at the other outside linebacker position. The fourth and final ingredient to the experienced, talented linebacker corps, Gilchrist had 61 tackles a year ago, along with three tackles for loss and a sack.
DEFENSIVE
SAFETY
#3 Alex Gray (Sr.) – Gray continues the trend of consistent, healthy Mountaineer defenders. He has played in all 37 games since coming to Appalachian and takes over as the leader among the defensive backs, with former standout Doug Middleton moving on to the NFL. Gray had 53 total tackles in 2015. He also picked off two passes and had 1.5 tackles for loss. Other defensive backs, like Williams, have admitted that the group looks up to Gray’s maturity and leadership on and off the field.
CORNER BACKS
Hallie Keighton
Defensive end Caleb Fuller and cornerbacks Brandon Pinckney and AJ Howard high five the fans in Knoxville.
#4 Mondo Williams (Sr.) – Williams has already picked up this season where he left off the last one. After a clutch interception helped Appalachian State stun Ohio in the Camellia Bowl last season, Williams had another interception against Tennessee. With 32 tackles, two interceptions and six passes defended in a smaller role last season, the senior corner looks to shut down opposing Sun Belt opponents and add a couple more interceptions to his collection. #22 Clifton Duck (Fr.) – All eyes were on freshman Clifton Duck in the season opener, and he did not disappoint. Despite giving up the one long throw that went for a Tennessee touchdown, even though he was in great coverage, Duck awed the crowd at Neyland Stadium with his coverage against the SEC receivers. While only credited with two passes defended in the game, viewers could see the potential of the young corner. He also notched seven tackles, and expectations will continue to grow for the true freshman.
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OFFENSIVE
THE OFFENSIVE LINE The offensive line comes back anchored by seniors Parker Collins (C) and Jamie Collmar (OG), along with experienced juniors Beau Nunn (OT) and Colby Gossett (OG). Newcomer and redshirt freshman Victor Johnson (OT) will come in as the only starter with no experience. The other four starters have combined to make 64 starts in their careers at App State. Depth at this position is still in question with younger guys competing for backup roles, but senior nose tackle (defense) Tyson Fernandez is possibly playing both offensive and defensive line in 2016. This big offensive line will have the same expectations as they have had the last couple of years to be the anchor to the running game. Going 11-2 in 2016, the App State offense has a formula to win and that is not turning the ball over with quarterback Taylor Lamb, and running over people at the point of attack up front. Averaging 268.8 yards per game during the regular season on the ground, App State ranked fourth in the FBS. With this formula moving forward, expect a great season from the Mountaineers offense.
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Dallas Linger and Halle Keighton
(Top) Center Parker Collins defends the middle while protecting quarterback Taylor Lamb and running back Marcus Cox. (Bottom) Collins blocks Tennessee defenders. This was Collins ďŹ rst collegiate start at the center position. All offensive breakdowns and information was written and compiled by Adam Hothersall, sports reporter.
DEFENSIVE
DEFENSIVE LINE After the departure of Ronald Blair, who led the team a year ago with 19 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks and was drafted in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft, all eyes are on the Mountaineer front to see who will be the next to step up. Senior Nate Norwood, junior Caleb Fuller and sophomore Myquon Stout all look to have an impact up front this season. In the first matchup against Tennessee, the three linemen combined for 11 total tackles, 3.5 of those for a loss. Fuller, who finished last season with 21 total tackles and 2.5 sacks, also added a sack that pushed the Volunteers back 11 yards. Another name to watch for is senior Antonious Sims. Sims has shown some promise and had the Mountaineers’ only other sack against Tennessee.
Dallas Linger
(Top)The defensive line gives a thumbs up before lining up for a play. (Bottom) Linebacker T.J. Watkins (right) and Dezmin Reed (left) go for a tackle at Tennessee.
All defensive breakdowns and information was written and compiled by Colin Tate, sports reporter.
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KEY PLAYERS
RUNNING INTO THE RECORD BOOKS BROOKS MAYNARD SPORTS REPORTER
Senior running back Marcus Cox is coming off of his finest year for the Mountaineers. Last season, in an effort that earned him a second-team all-Sun Belt nod, Cox rushed for a career-high 1,423 yards and an average of 118.6 yards per game, 13th highest in the nation. In App State’s Camellia Bowl victory over Ohio, Cox rushed for 162 yards and a touchdown to cap off the season in style. Now in his final year with the Mountaineers, Cox is focused on finishing on his own terms. “I love these guys to death and I just feel like we have some unfinished business so I definitely wanted to come back and help the team win this first Sun Belt championship,” Cox said. Finishing with a record of 7-1 in conference, falling only to Arkansas State, who would go on to win the title last season, Cox and the Mountaineers look to finish the job this season. “You have to approach every game the same, you can’t have [any] let up or get too high for a game.
That’s how you beat yourself [and] have too many mistakes,” Cox said. Cox is also standing on the doorstep of App State football history in his own way. At the beginning of this season, he stood just 716 yards away from the school record for most rushing yards in a career, which is 4,804 yards, set by former Mountaineer Kevin Richardson. With the addition of App State’s game versus Tennessee, where he rushed for 115 yards, he is just over 600 yards away from passing the prestigious mark. Always humble, Cox said he will continue to keep a team-first mentality. “It definitely plays into thought but at the same time you can’t let it [take you over],” Cox said. “You have to worry about what’s best for the team. Yes I think about it, yes I’d like to get those records but at the same time I’d rather have a Sun Belt championship and a bowl win than all those records.” Cox is supported at the running back position by a talented core of underclassmen in sophomores Josh
Boyd and Jalin Moore. He acknowledges the push it gives him to have such depth at the position. “The guys behind me are a great group of guys, they’re very talented,” Cox said. “When you know you have guys like that behind you that are able to start, you’re going to have to give it your all.” Moore said that his close relationship with Cox has helped him improve on and off the field. “Over the summer I stayed with him and it brought us closer,” Moore said. “It helped me have more time with a leader on this team. Going into the season, that bond that we have will help a lot.” To keep the dream of winning the Sun Belt championship this year alive, the Mountaineers will need to rely on Cox to bring an offensive punch. Cox recorded nearly double the rushing yards of App State’s second leading rusher last season and scored the most offensive touchdowns of any player on the roster. With the loss of senior receivers in
Dallas Linger
(Top) Cox stands up after running with a carry against the Vols. Cox finished with 115 yards. (Left) Cox is tackled by defenders while rushing with the ball.
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Simms McElfresh, Malachi Jones and Bobo Beathard, App will need to find offense in other places. Several games on the schedule peak interest for offensive production, such as Georgia State, Idaho and New Mexico State, each of which have some of the lowest-producing offenses in the conference. The Mountaineers also have the highly touted home game with Miami on the horizon, which becomes increasingly more interesting after App State’s showing against Tennessee. In his last year with the Mountaineers, Cox will focus on soaking everything up and giving back to his teammates. “Just being able to spend one more year with these guys and teach them a little bit and help them and learn from them,” Cox said. “To just compete with each other and have fun with each other. I’m definitely going to miss them next year.”
KEY PLAYERS
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KEY PLAYERS
LAW SCHOOL JASON HUBER SPORTS EDITOR
Disobeying the Law is never easy. Especially when it comes to stopping preseason Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year senior inside linebacker John Law. Returning to a defense that ranked 14th in the country last season, Law enters his fifth and final season leading a strong Mountaineer defensive line alongside All-Conference candidate junior inside linebacker Eric Boggs to form arguably one of the best linebacker duos in the country. Despite missing the Camellia Bowl last season due to a lower body injury, Law had a breakout season in 2015 registering 72 tackles, 9.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks a game and was named to Sun Belt all-first team. Unable to play in the Camellia Bowl, the motivation is higher than ever for Law. “That was a game I really wanted to play, it being the first bowl game in school history,” Law said. “It is a game I had sacrificed a lot for in the season injury wise so it means a lot to me to be healthy this season, train this offseason and be 100 percent. I feel good and ready to go.”
Injuries are nothing to new to Law. After appearing in only three games his freshman year, Law suffered a freak accident and had to apply for a medical redshirt. Coming in as a redshirt freshman in 2013, Law played in all 12 games, but he was only able to start in three due to nagging injuries. “It is crazy looking back at the time I missed but that has made me the player I am today and mentally I am stronger,” Law said. Law is now the anchor of a defense that lost Sun Belt defensive player of the year, defensive-end Ronald Blair being drafted by the San Francisco 49ers and he hopes to step up into the void that Blair left. “I want to be a guy who can have that motivational mentality the whole time and keep everybody fired up,” Law said. “In order to be good we have to be consistent. If I see somebody in the same class as me struggling, I have to get on them and vice versa, we have to hold each other accountable.” Talking about working hard and being a leader is one thing, but taking action is another. Even being on the
sidelines at times as an underclassman, defensive-line coach Mark Ivey never doubted Law’s work ethic. “Nothing has changed as far as work ethic, training in the weight room, things in the classroom and going out there and getting after it and preparing for the next opponent,” Ivey said. “Win or lose, his preparation and his work ethic are an example of those things for younger and older players, and is what propels us from an average team to having an undefeated season.” Looking at the stats, you would think Law had some type of breakout moment from when he first arrived in Boone, but not being very superstitious, Law says he just had great moments that became more and more consistent. “I don’t like to necessarily say I had a breakout,” Law said. “There were certain games where I made more plays, but it wasn’t like a light bulb came on, it just would happen to be my day and I was able to capitalize on things and my teammates would help me be more free in certain games. I have just had moments where everything came together and
Dallas Linger
(Top) Law helps his teammates go for a tackle at Tennessee last week. (Left) Law helped off the field after suffering a cramp. Law was named preseason Sun Belt defensive player of the year.
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I started to realize the scheme of things and I just became more aware of how things were going.” Also being named preseason Sun Belt All-Conference first team alongside Law, Boggs credits a lot his own personal success to Law. “John is a great leader and when I came in on day one, he has helped me and showed me the ropes of the defense and helped me get comfortable and gain confidence in myself,” Boggs said. “I look up to these leaders to be more like them and have the leadership that it takes to leads a team like they have.” His play and stats have improved since he arrived at App State from Grady High School in Georgia, but had it not been for the strong and confident mindset, he would not be the player he is today. “As far as him having composure and a strong mental attitude, he has always been so steady and so good, but as far as the game course, he has worked hard and gained knowledge,” Ivey said. “He continues to get better everyday, and as far as good attitude, it has been there since day one.”
KEY PLAYERS
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KEY PLAYERS
MAKING A NAME FOR HIMSELF
Dallas Linger
(Top) Lamb goes back for a pass. Lamb threw for 108 yards at Tennessee. (Bottom) Lamb looks for an open teammate before making a play. NOAH GERRINGER SPORTS REPORTER Rewind two years and a week to Ann Arbor, Michigan. In the fourth quarter and on his own four-yard line in the largest college football stadium in America, Taylor Lamb stepped onto the turf replacing then starting quarterback Kam Bryant to begin the first drive in his career against the Michigan Wolverines, the team that put App on the map nine years ago. Nineteen plays and 96 yards later, Lamb managed to put his first seven points on the board for Appalachian State. Although the Wolverines refused
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to budge even the slightest bit, Lamb did manage to stake his claim to the starting QB position as a freshman. The squad struggled through the first half of the schedule, however, with Lamb putting up impressive numbers to solidify his role on the team. Fast forward to present time. “I was just a wide eyed kid and didn’t know quite what was going on out there,” Lamb, the now 6-foot-2-inch, 200lb quarterback, said. Lamb, now an experienced redshirt junior, reminisces on what his first taste of college football was like.
“I came in fighting for the job and didn’t get it,” Lamb said. “I came in at Michigan in the fourth quarter and it just felt natural.” Now, alongside his trusty sidekick senior running back Marcus Cox, Lamb is looking to do big things for the Mountaineers this season. Against No. 9 Tennessee last week, Lamb completed 15-23 passes for 108 yards against one of the best defensive lines in the country. One of which, a 33-yard pass to Marcus Cox up the sideline, was the only score of the second quarter and gave App a
13-3 lead before halftime. Although the pocket time for Lamb wasn’t ideal, it was enough time to show how lethal he can be when given a chance. In addition to his arm, Lamb managed to outrun his Volunteer counterpart and rush for 27 yards. Having edged the Volunteers into overtime, the experienced quarterback keeps one thing in mind when looking into the season: new year, new team. Having a nearly brand new receiving core, the passing game could fall on either side of the scale. How-
KEY PLAYERS
Dallas Linger
Lamb hands the ball off to running back Marcus Cox. Lamb and Cox have become one of the nations top offensive duos.
ever, if statistics hold up, Lamb should have no problem putting the ball in the hands of young talent. In App State history, Lamb ranks in the top 10 in nearly every category.Excluding the Tennessee game, the quarterback is ninth in passing yards (4,768) and eighth in completions (351). Alongside those numbers, he is also third in touchdown passes (48), seventh in total offense (5,687) and fourth in passing yards per game (190.7). Sporting News ranks the Black and Gold quarterback as
the nation’s No. 19 quarterback. Quarterback coach Frank Ponce considers his star a very relaxed guy. “He knows where everybody is supposed to be, so he calms everybody down and makes sure everybody is doing the right thing,” Ponce said. “He’s a coach on the football field and I think that’s one of the biggest aspects that he has.” No coach is perfect however, and this quarterback learned that the hard way last season. Lamb
accredits the Clemson game for teaching himself a few valuable lessons. “They taught me some things about what I can do and what I can’t do,” Lamb said. “More so what I can’t do.” Throughout the offseason, Lamb focused on two main things: dropping weight to get faster and not turning the ball over. Now that the season has arrived, five pounds are gone and the mobile QB looks to improve on his nearly 3-to-1 touch-
downs-to-interceptions ratio. Not only does he look to improve as a player, but he also looks to help the Mountaineers to their first ever Sun Belt Conference championship. Last season, the team made and won their first ever bowl game against Ohio yet falling short weeks before, unable to clench the conference title. This year Lamb and the team look for a different outcome.
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KEY PLAYERS
MAN IN THE MIDDLE
MATT KROMBACH SPORTS REPORTER Away from the field, senior offensive lineman Parker Collins carries a funny and lighthearted personality. But on a game day or at practice he flips the switch, becoming a loose cannon. His intensity is dialed up and he has the reputation of not only being a blue collar offensive lineman, but a hothead as well. “I like people to think I’m crazy,” Collins said.
Being a hothead on the offensive line can cause problems occasionally, like being flagged for a personal foul on the second play of the season against Tennessee last week, but for the most part, Collins keeps his fire under control. “We love the intensity and he brings a lot to the table,” roommate and right guard junior Colby Gossett said. “He plays harder than most
anybody on this field. It’s really nice to have out there on game day. He’s everything we need on the offensive line as a leader.” Collins is currently the longest tenured offensive lineman as he began his collegiate career as a true freshman with the Mountaineers in 2013, appearing in 10 games. “Coming into my freshman year I was really excited to be there and
Dallas Linger
(Top) Parker Collins takes his helmet off as he walks off the field. Collins is a key player on App’s offensive line. (Bottom) Collins looks to defend up the middle. Collins is slated to start at center this year for the first time.
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everything, but I knew I wanted to play early and I knew I wanted to contribute,” Collins said. Since then, although never content with his performance, Collins said he’s improved leaps and bounds now that he is in his senior season. One of the main differences that comes with the experience is how much easier the game is to read.
KEY PLAYERS “Freshman year you’re out there just playing, you don’t really know anything, you’re just out there going hard,” Collins said. “Now you’re out there seeing everything is part of a big puzzle and you put it together finally, it’s a lot easier and it slows down a lot.” Experience is key for any successful football team. Although this Mountaineers squad is retaining a good bulk from last season, one of the main issues for the offensive line has been depth. “It all starts with the center for us,” offensive line coach Shawn Clark said. “He has to understand the schemes, who we’re working to and where the protection is going.”
Collins played left guard for three years prior to this season, but his experience and leadership contribution had a part in making him the designated starting center. Being the anchor of the O-line is a role that requires more leadership, a challenge Collins is ready to take on. “Now being the center, ‘the go-to guy,’ I feel like I’ve got the keys to the offense. I feel like it’s my game to call, like I can call it whenever I want to,” Collins said. “If I don’t call it right, I don’t get to put our guys in a position to win. So there’s definitely a bigger responsibility. With that said, I’m definitely ready to take it on.” Although this is the first year Col-
lins is starting at center, he’s practiced at the position for the past two years, filling in when needed, so it’s nothing out of the ordinary for him. “He’s just more focused on it this year and you can tell that he’s more centered in,” Gossett said Staying focused is a big key for Collins. He likes to keep his personal goals close to the vest but believes he has what it takes to make it to the NFL. “It’s something that’s a lifelong dream and hopefully I can capture that this year but with that said, it’s one game at a time,” Collins said. “If you don’t perform well each week, that opportunity minimizes and I’m going to do everything to maximize
that chance.” Maximizing that chance also includes improving on what was a spectacular season for the Mountaineers’ offense that finished sixth in the nation and first in the Sun Belt. Collins made it clear that they won’t settle for anything less than first in the nation and first in the Sun Belt. “We don’t care who you are, what team you are, what conference you’re in, where you’re from, this that and the third, we’re out there to play every week,” Collins said. “We want to go out there and execute our plays, but with respect to the other team. They may be a good team but we’re going to go out there and do the best we can.”
Dallas Linger
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MOVE OVER, MONARCHS OFFENSE, OFFENSE, OFFENSE: LAST YEAR, QUARTERBACK TAYLOR LAMB THREW FOR FOUR TOUCHDOWNS ON 11 FOR 15 PASSING ATTEMPTS AND 187 YARDS. THAT INCLUDED A LONG TD PASS TO THEN-RECEIVER BOBO BEATHARD. NOT ONLY DID THE MOUNTAINEERS DOMINATE IN THE AIR AGAINST THE MONARCH’S LAST SEASON, BUT RUNNING BACK MARCUS COX RAN FOR 107 YARDS GIVING APP A TOTAL OF 501 OFFENSIVE YARDS. AFTER STRUGGLING IN THE PASSING GAME AGAINST A TOP RANKED TENNESSEE DEFENSE LAST WEEK, THE MOUNTAINEERS HAVE TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF OLD DOMINION AND SCORE FAST TO PUT THEM AWAY QUICKLY. THIS WILL ALSO BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR REDSHIRT FRESHMAN KICKER MICHAEL RUBINO TO REDEEM HIMSELF AFTER MISSING A CRUCIAL EXTRA POINT AND 42-YARD FIELD GOAL LAST WEEK. GOING AGAINST A SMALLER FBS SCHOOL THIS WEEK AT HOME, THE PRESSURE IS LOW AND RUBINO HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN SOME CONFIDENCE. APP’S OFFENSIVE LINE DOMINATED AGAINST THE VOLS LAST WEEK AND ODU’S DEFENSIVE LINE IS NO JOKE. HOWEVER, THE MOUNTAINEERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OFFENSIVELY.
TAKE THE MONARCHS OFFENSE SERIOUSLY: OLD DOMINION ONLY COMPILED 175 YARDS OF TOTAL OFFENSE LAST SEASON WITH STARTING FRESHMAN QUARTERBACK SHULER BENTLEY AND A BIG 77-YARD FUMBLED TOUCHDOWN RECOVERY FROM DEVAN STRINGER HELP GIVE THE MOUNTAINEERS A 35-0 HALFTIME LEAD. THIS YEAR, THE MONARCHS ARE STARTING SENIOR DAVID WASHINGTON AS QUARTERBACK AND HE PROVED HE IS A SOLID PLAYER LAST WEEK AGAINST HAMPTON, THROWING FOR FOUR TOUCHDOWNS AND 187 YARDS IN THE MONARCHS 51-21 WIN. THE MOUNTAINEERS CANNOT TAKE THEIR OFFENSE LIGHTLY AS THEY ARE MUCH BETTER THAN LAST YEAR. ODU’S RUNNING BACK RAY LAWRY WILL BE ANOTHER FACTOR. LAST YEAR THE MOUNTAINEERS HELD HIM TO UNDER 30 YARDS, BUT COMING OFF A 110-YARD GAME LAST WEEK, HE WILL BE LOOKING FOR REVENGE.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE HOME CROWD
THIS SATURDAY WILL BE THE FIRST EVER WHITE OUT IN APP STATE HISTORY AND IT SHOULD BE ONE TO REMEMBER. ONLY A WEEK AWAY FROM MIAMI COMING TO BOONE, FANS AND STUDENTS WILL BE PUMPED, ESPECIALLY COMING OFF SUCH A STRONG SHOWING AGAINST TENNESSEE. THE MOUNTAINEERS NEED TO LET THE CROWD GUIDE THEM TO TAKE A LEAD AND NOT LOOK BACK.
PIGSKIN PICK ‘EM
JASON HUBER Sports Editor The Appalachian 2-2
App State vs. Old Dominion East Carolina vs. NC State #16 Iowa vs. Iowa State #17 Tennessee ee vs. Virginia State te BYU vs. Utah
CARL BLANKENSHIP Editor-in-chief The Appalachian 4-0
SHERI EVERTS Chancellor App State 3-1
JAYLN HOWARD President SGA 2-2
GREG CALARCO Sports Dir. WASU 4-0
TRAVIS STANLEY App Sports Bar Host 0-0
GAME DAY GAME 2 | SATURDAY SEPT. 10 | 3:30 PM | KIDD BREWER STADIUM | ASN/ESPN 3
OLD DOMINION
0-1, 0-0, SUN BELT
50%
60%
1-0, 0-0, C-USA
#14
MARCUS
COX ONE RECIEVING TOUCHDOWN
33:29
23:30 115
4.3
5.6 24
12.0
10.9
RUSHING ATTEMPTS
TOTAL YARDS
C R AV E I T ~
S AV O R I T ~
C R AV E I T
SERIOUS DELIVERY!
TM
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