App Family,
I hope you are all staying healthy and safe.
Here is an update on a few things going on in App State Athletics:
While we await university, state and national guidelines on what it will look like to return to regular operations, we look forward to when it is deemed safe for our teams to be back playing in front of our great fans.
The deadline for
football season ticket renewals is April 30, and I hope that everyone who is able will continue to support our great student-athletes and help us carry on the Mountaineers' championship tradition. Football season ticket sales are a vital part of what helps us serve our student-athletes in every sport and play a proud role in the greater educational mission of Appalachian State University. Thank you to everyone who has already purchased your 2020 season tickets and premium seats in the new north end zone!
I am so proud of the leadership our coaches and staff have been showing during these trying times. Since mid-March, our coaches have been vocal supporters of local businesses and have publicly recognized healthcare and essential workers for all they are doing.
You may have seen on social media that Kidd Brewer Stadium was
lit up in blue last Thursday as we joined with venues across the country in a sign of support for front line workers. Our athletics department, in conjunction with Ransom Pub and App State Sports Properties, was able to deliver an
Easter brunch to App Regional hospital workers on Sunday.
We have been able to provide nutritional aid to our student-athletes in need, both in Boone and at their homes across the country. Our faculty and staff have been doing amazing work to support student-athletes while they adjust to online learning and being away from the structure of campus life.
We received great news this week with five of our football graduates being named to the
National Football Foundation's Hampshire Honor Society for their excellent work in the classroom. Several sports have also been highly ranked in Helper Helper's annual listing of Division I college sports teams who volunteer the most in their community.
From a construction standpoint, the north end zone facility is still on schedule to open in phases this fall. We are hopeful to proceed at the appropriate time with football turf replacement, removing the track around the football field and enhancing a portion of the Quinn Center for our use by our men's and women's basketball and volleyball programs.
In order to plan for the sustained comprehensive excellence of App State Athletics in the midst of an uncertain financial future, we are exploring multiple options to reduce our operations budget as well as creative ways to generate new revenue.
We will continue to engage with our fans during this time when we are physically apart. Stay tuned for upcoming announcements on a Virtual Mountaineer Spring Tour and our annual Football Fan Survey.
Go App!
Doug Gillin
Director of Athletics
