Mike Strickland appreciates the way the timing of his arrival at Appalachian State connects a successful past with a tradition-rich present.
The future remains bright thanks to the support of alums and Yosef Club members such as Mike and his wife, Haley, who have contributed a gift to A Mountaineer Impact, A Drive for Excellence.
A 1990 graduate of Appalachian, Mike grew up in Lawrenceville, Ga., and helped the Mountaineers' football team claim its first Southern Conference championship in 1986. Roughly three decades later, he lives in Georgia and is the Vice President of Metro Waterproofing, the largest single-office commercial waterproofing company on the East Coast.
"I wanted to go to a school where I would have the opportunity to win," Mike said. "At that time, App hadn't won even a single (Southern) conference championship, but I knew being around them that it was about to explode and good things were coming. It was truly the start of what Appalachian has become today."
Mike said he chose to attend App State and play football for the Mountaineers over offers from a lot of other FCS-level schools in the Southeast because of the mountain climate, the beauty of the campus, the kindness of the people and the chance to win a breakthrough title.
Coached by both Sparky Woods and Jerry Moore, part of what made playing for App State so special to Mike was the fact that his parents never missed one of his games — in Boone or on the road — despite living in Georgia. They joined the Yosef Club while he was in school.
Mike dated Haley when he was in both high school and college before reconnecting with her five years after his graduation from Appalachian.
"One of the first things we did was plan a trip for Homecoming," Mike said. "We saw so many good friends and had the time of our life. Man, being a spectator was almost as fun as being on the field."
Shortly thereafter, Mike focused much of his attention on business as he blazed his own trail in the construction industry. While his brother, Kenneth, provided sporadic Appalachian updates, Mike pointed to 2005 as the year he reestablished a deep connection with his alma mater.
App State Hall of Famer Dino Hackett was leading a fundraising effort at the time, and Mike included a check in a letter he mailed to Moore to let his coach know what was happening in his life.
"Of course, I sent an extra check just to outdo the legend — it was a joke, but I still like winning," Mike said. "Coach got a kick out of that."
After the championship-winning team from 1986 was honored, Mike learned that Moore had shared his letter with the current team.
"Driving up the mountain then and every time I drive to Boone is like a real-life time machine for Haley and I," Mike said. "I feel young again, and all the wonderful memories just fill my mind and heart. Since making the trip, I have made App a huge part of my life."
Like his parents decades earlier, Mike joined the Yosef Club even though he lives in Georgia. He became a season ticket holder, and the contributions made to his alma mater are tied to the lessons in stewardship that he learned from his parents.
"My parents taught me by example how to give with an open heart," Mike said. "I love to give back to App more than any place because I have a very deep love for the institution and the football program. I give to a place that has given me so much.
"It taught me how to work hard and become a winner in a competitive world. It gave me relationships that will last a lifetime. I have seen what a scholarship means to so many young men that might not otherwise have the opportunity to attend college. Being a businessman, I know what it takes to run an organization, so I understand that the school needs help from every alumni, no matter what their social standing or income level is. Haley feels the same way."
A Mountaineer Impact, A Drive For Excellence is a vision of Appalachian State Athletics to provide resources for identified funding needs of more than $60 million. Comprehensive in nature, the initiative is designed to impact every Mountaineer student-athlete and sports program. A Mountaineer Impact, A Drive for Excellence will construct and enhance athletic facilities, provide critical scholarship support and affect the overall athletic experience for student-athletes and fans while strengthening the campus and community. To make a gift in support of A Mountaineer Impact today, contact
Suzette Mauney, Assistant Athletics Director for Development, at
828-262-3108 or visit
www.appstatesports.com.
