Inside App State Athletics: 10.28.25

App Family,
 
It's been a memorable start to the 2025 fall semester at App State. Electrifying home crowds and program milestones have filled the start of the academic year. Our biggest win was when Chancellor Norris was formally installed as the eighth chancellor of the university!
 

 

Chancellor Norris Formally Installed

October 3 marked a historic day as Dr. Heather Norris was formally installed as the eighth chancellor of Appalachian State University, after being elected to the position by the University of North Carolina System Board of Governors on March 1. 

The ceremonial event — held in Holmes Convocation Center on the Boone campus — formally recognized and celebrated the beginning of Chancellor Norris' leadership tenure at App State. UNC System President Peter Hans presided over the installation and hundreds of App State students, staff, faculty, alumni, university friends and leaders — both past and present — as well as visiting UNC System chancellors and delegates were in attendance. Read more about this milestone moment in the university's 126-year history here.
 

 

Football Moves Forward

We will all be cheering on Coach Dowell Loggains and the Mountaineers as they enter the final third of the season. Next Thursday's matchup against Georgia Southern will be televised nationally on ESPN2, and three of our last four regular-season games will be played at Kidd Brewer Stadium. Coach Loggains and his staff remain focused on growth, consistency and finishing the season strong in front of our home crowds.
 
App Nation has shown its passion with arguably the best home crowd turnouts in college football, selling out The Rock in each of the first three home weekends. Last week, The Athletic named Kidd Brewer Stadium one of college football's best 25 stadiums – the same accolade ESPN gave our home last year. We will continue to invest resources to support the football program's championship goals and provide a world-class experience for our team and fans.
 
How can you help push the program forward?

• Give to the Football Support Fund (to recruit and retain elite talent and provide a world-class experience).
• Donate the Score after each App State victory (proceeds go toward the Football Support Fund)
• Continue to buy tickets and App State merchandise
• Arrive early, be loud and continue to bring the energy in the stands for the Mountaineers at The Rock
• Visit MountaineersAthleticFund.com to learn more about premium seating options and pursuing philanthropic opportunities
• The East Tower project is currently in the Advanced Planning phase, as announced on October 1. If you are interested in premium seat options in this future facility, contact mountaineersathleticfund@appstate.edu.

 

 

Upcoming at The Rock

Mark your calendars for these upcoming games. Limited tickets are still available. Help us continue to sell out The Rock!

• Thursday, Nov. 6 vs. Georgia Southern – App State's first Drone Show!
• Saturday, Nov. 22 vs. Marshall – Black Saturday, Heroes Day, and recognition of the 2005 National Championship team
• Saturday, Nov. 29 vs. Arkansas State – Senior Day

 

 

Fall Sport Success

This has been one of the strongest all-around starts to a season in App State's Sun Belt era.
 

• FIELD HOCKEY: 12-5 record with a first-ever Big Ten win (vs. Michigan State) and a victory over then-No. 18 James Madison … Has been ranked as high as No. 17 in the national coaches poll
• VOLLEYBALL: 13-8 record with ACC wins over Virginia and Duke (first ACC wins since 2015)
• SOCCER: First-ever ACC win (vs. Miami)
• CROSS COUNTRY: Both the men's and women's teams look to repeat as Sun Belt Champions on Friday
• TENNIS: Savannah Dada-Mascoll has defeated eight nationally ranked players (including the nation's No. 1-ranked woman), won the ITA Carolina Regional Championship and became the first Mountaineer woman to qualify for the NCAA Singles Championships
• WOMEN'S GOLF: Set school records for lowest team round, lowest 54-hole team score, lowest individual round, and lowest individual 54-hole score. Zoe Duval finished the team's fall season as individual co-champion at the Terrier Intercollegiate
• MEN'S GOLF: Top-six team showings in each of their last three tournaments, with a record-tying lowest individual round score

 

 

Hoops on the Horizon

Basketball season will begin next week. We recently enjoyed tremendous preseason events – the Men's Basketball Tip-Off Dinner, headlined by Hall of Fame coach Tubby Smith, and Women's Basketball's inaugural Denim and Diamonds fundraiser (pictured above).
 
Get your season tickets or single-game tickets today to support both hoops programs and our reigning Southern Conference Champion Wrestling team.
 
If you would like to donate directly to any App State sport's support fund, visit this donation page.


 

Honoring Shawn Clark

Our hearts are heavy for Shawn Clark's family and all who miss him deeply. It was fitting that immediately following a stadium-wide standing ovation moment of celebration in his honor, our Mountaineer kickoff unit forced a fumble on the very next play vs. Oregon State to put a poetic exclamation point on the tribute.
 
We will continue to honor Shawn and his No. 61 throughout the season with helmet stickers and the "61" painted on the south hill.
 
Once a Mountaineer, Always a Mountaineer.
 
Go App!
 


Doug Gillin
Director of Athletics