Athletics announced White Out for Old Dominion

[/\PP ST/\TE GRAD 09]

A "white out" is a trend today just like the black/gold stripe-it last year. It has nothing to do with disrespecting other traditions.

I have a white APP golf polo that I wear in early season games because I sit on sunny East side. I will most likely will wear kaki shorts that day showing my milk-white old man legs, so if you are near the 212 - wear sunglasses.

I don't think having a white out would be as big of a deal to people if other things in the recent past didn't get under their skins. I think people are just tired of all of this sudden and what seems to be constant change, that they bring in the word tradition. I feel as though the athletic office is trying to play catch up with other G5 schools. Difference is they're been here for awhile. Hell, we still have fans just now coming around to accept the move to FBS and get back to purchasing season tickets. We need to stick to one thing, and be known for that one thing. Why not focus on having a true Black Out for Black Saturday? If we can't 100% master that (I still see various colors worn by people on Black Saturday) how the hell do they expect a White Out to be of any success?

[PhillyApp1]

New people always want to do new things. It doesn't make it good.
Scott Satterfield has kept the foundation of old with some new wrinkles. That is working. He gets it.
In the end the white out doesn't kill tradition but some people in marketing department may want to listen and not disenfranchise many long standing fans.

In sales there is a saying : it's harder to get a new customer than keep an old, so work at keeping the old while growing the new.

[EastHallApp]

It's crazy to see how much App State has changed since I have graduated in 2009. Some for the better, but most for the worst. ... What was wrong with the way things were? Why do we need to do all of this extra stuff? The tradition is slowly slipping away with all of these attempts to try new stuff. ... I hate all of these changes. The Appalachian State my kids will know will be completely different than the Appalachian State I know. Sad, but likely true.

Welcome to adulthood. You are echoing the time-honored sentiments of generations of people once they are removed from their teens by a certain number of years.

If it makes you feel better, older alumni were saying the same things about "the Appalachian State you knew" when you were in school. And when I was in school in the '90s. etc. etc. etc.

[Rekdiver]

I'm soon to be 65. You have no idea what change is. Enrollment had changed, Boone has changed, Our team uni's have changed, Our conferences have changed. Mascot has changed. Coaches have changed. Thank God AD's have changed Laney to Cobb to Gillen. Hell my waistline and hairline have changed!!!! If you are not failing you are not trying. What has not changed is my loyalty to my school and my friends. New music, promotions, prices .... Change is constant. Not all the changes are universally popular but I embrace them the majority of the time. So focus on what's important...the product on the field.

[S.Lewis15]

You know what they say...Nostalgia ain't what it used to be.

Here's a mock up white out uniform I came up with using EA sports teambuilder. I took liberties on the "mystery helmet" but I think this would look pretty awesome.

[/\PP ST/\TE GRAD 09]

It's crazy to see how much App State has changed since I have graduated in 2009. Some for the better, but most for the worst. ... What was wrong with the way things were? Why do we need to do all of this extra stuff? The tradition is slowly slipping away with all of these attempts to try new stuff. ... I hate all of these changes. The Appalachian State my kids will know will be completely different than the Appalachian State I know. Sad, but likely true.

Welcome to adulthood. You are echoing the time-honored sentiments of generations of people once they are removed from their teens by a certain number of years.

If it makes you feel better, older alumni were saying the same things about "the Appalachian State you knew" when you were in school. And when I was in school in the '90s. etc. etc. etc.

Except, my father who graduated in 86 took me to many games through my childhood, eventually turning me on to App State. Many of the things I experienced in the 90s, were the same when I attended school. When quoting my posts, it's best to quote the entire point I was trying to make....

I knew there would be change when we moved up, however it seems as though too much is trying to be done at once. If you want to implement a new thing, you should slowly roll it out, not throw all these ideas out at once as they have over the past few years.

Acknowledging things ain't what they used to be, but my issue is with the pace at which these changes are happening. Slow and steady is all I am suggesting. It is also a more effective approach.

[9Steelman]

This would make a good 6 or 6:30 KO game, probably the only home game that might be at night. Sept 10 in Boone can be really hot!!!

[JTApps1]

It's crazy to see how much App State has changed since I have graduated in 2009. Some for the better, but most for the worst. Outside of Hi Hi Yikas playing, I feel not much tradition exists from when I was in school. We move to FBS level, and all of a sudden want to get fancy, however we have a terrible PR and marketing teams that plan, implement, and fails with attempts at trying to do cookie cutter stuff. What was wrong with the way things were? Why do we need to do all of this extra stuff? The tradition is slowly slipping away with all of these attempts to try new stuff. I am friends with many of the players from the "Glory Days", and many refuse to visit Boone for football games, because they feel the excitement and tradition of Appalachian State has dwindled away. Players like Kendall Lamm get it, because he was recruited by a man who really pushed Appalachian State traditions. Jerry Moore. I hate all of these changes. The Appalachian State my kids will know will be completely different than the Appalachian State I know. Sad, but likely true.

I knew there would be change when we moved up, however it seems as though too much is trying to be done at once. If you want to implement a new thing, you should slowly roll it out, not throw all these ideas out at once as they have over the past few years.

I agree to some extent, but also want to point out that there were plenty of things that needed to change. Somethings I do miss are the band playing more, black end zones, white A's, and going back further having Black Saturday EVERY Saturday. Other changes such as changing the price structure for seats, ticket packages, and ultimately some new faces in the athletic department were needed to get us in line with other FBS schools.

As far as the players from the "glory days" goes they were fortunate to be at App during an unbelievable time (much of it earned by them). There was a lot of excitement, growth, and success during those years. All of that can be linked back to two major changes at the university level with a new Chancellor and AD. Those changes lead to many new ideas which helped create that atmosphere the players mentioned. Those changes along with the outstanding play on the field starting with the 2005 team all combined to make it a special time. It sounds like they are still mad about Coach Moore being let go more than anything. If they really want the atmosphere to get back to their days then they need to stop complaining and start showing up to the games to support the current players. Some of that also falls on the new admin to reach out to the past players, but I know our football staff have made efforts in keep past guys involved.

You mention too much at one time which may be true, but we also made a huge change in level of competition that required many changes. I don't agree with everything taking place, but I'll still be there every week to do my part in growing this program.

[EastHallApp]

It's crazy to see how much App State has changed since I have graduated in 2009. Some for the better, but most for the worst. ... What was wrong with the way things were? Why do we need to do all of this extra stuff? The tradition is slowly slipping away with all of these attempts to try new stuff. ... I hate all of these changes. The Appalachian State my kids will know will be completely different than the Appalachian State I know. Sad, but likely true.

Welcome to adulthood. You are echoing the time-honored sentiments of generations of people once they are removed from their teens by a certain number of years.

If it makes you feel better, older alumni were saying the same things about "the Appalachian State you knew" when you were in school. And when I was in school in the '90s. etc. etc. etc.

Except, my father who graduated in 86 took me to many games through my childhood, eventually turning me on to App State. Many of the things I experienced in the 90s, were the same when I attended school. When quoting my posts, it's best to quote the entire point I was trying to make....

I knew there would be change when we moved up, however it seems as though too much is trying to be done at once. If you want to implement a new thing, you should slowly roll it out, not throw all these ideas out at once as they have over the past few years.

Acknowledging things ain't what they used to be, but my issue is with the pace at which these changes are happening. Slow and steady is all I am suggesting. It is also a more effective approach.

I get it, and I wasn't trying to take your words out of context. Just having a little fun with you. From your graduation year, I assume you are still in your 20s, but the parts I quoted sound like what I read from people decades older than me.

After I graduated, I moved out of state for three years, so I didn't visit Boone for a while. When I came back, the changes to campus were stunning - new library, expanded science building, new Living Learning Center, new bookstore, and I'm sure I'm forgetting some. Not to mention whatever businesses had come and gone on King St. It didn't feel slow and steady. But overall, it was an improvement.

And believe me, I don't blame you - I feel the same way sometimes. Some change is good, some isn't. (Of course that's largely subjective.) I'm already on record as saying I think the whiteout is a bad idea. But I do think the changes to Appalachian and Boone since I was in school are far more good than bad.

[bigdaddyg]

It is easy to see the generational gaps when reading responses. I graduated in 1986 and am okay with many of the changes. I have no desire to move back to FCS and don't want us to tear down the extra seats in order to go back to 16K seating (I realize that is extreme). As far as the "white out" thing. I had already expressed my thoughts and am a supporter of just wearing black (every game), blaring "Back in Black" when the players come out, etc. I am also a supporter of the band playing versus piped in music. Several folks have made reference to Penn State. As far as tradition goes we can look at several big schools. I don't see Alabama with multiple uniforms and players seem okay with that. Oregon seems to have 100 different combinations. If that is what it takes to bring in big time athletes so be it. I agree with some of you guys. If the players wanted purple uniform day do we go with it? I just don't see the "coolness" of a white out. Could be my age talking. Stuff like this is okay with, say an NBA team with 41 home games. You can change it up with so many opportunities but with only 6 home dates I vote for locking into one thing- BLACK!

[ASU84]

Where is white in school colors of black and gold?

[bigdaddyg]

Where is white in school colors of black and gold?

only the name and number part on a black jersey. does that count?

[scatman77]

If I may sort of hijack this topic, the band playing more was alluded to in an earlier post. Black Saturday is enhanced by the BOD playing more and canned music less IMO. That being said I'd like to see KBS set up some type of microphone system in front of the band to make them sound bigger and louder inside the stadium. I believe Clemson did that; their band was sounding good in their stadium.

[/\PP ST/\TE GRAD 09]

It's crazy to see how much App State has changed since I have graduated in 2009. Some for the better, but most for the worst. ... What was wrong with the way things were? Why do we need to do all of this extra stuff? The tradition is slowly slipping away with all of these attempts to try new stuff. ... I hate all of these changes. The Appalachian State my kids will know will be completely different than the Appalachian State I know. Sad, but likely true.

Welcome to adulthood. You are echoing the time-honored sentiments of generations of people once they are removed from their teens by a certain number of years.

If it makes you feel better, older alumni were saying the same things about "the Appalachian State you knew" when you were in school. And when I was in school in the '90s. etc. etc. etc.

Except, my father who graduated in 86 took me to many games through my childhood, eventually turning me on to App State. Many of the things I experienced in the 90s, were the same when I attended school. When quoting my posts, it's best to quote the entire point I was trying to make....

I knew there would be change when we moved up, however it seems as though too much is trying to be done at once. If you want to implement a new thing, you should slowly roll it out, not throw all these ideas out at once as they have over the past few years.

Acknowledging things ain't what they used to be, but my issue is with the pace at which these changes are happening. Slow and steady is all I am suggesting. It is also a more effective approach.

I get it, and I wasn't trying to take your words out of context. Just having a little fun with you. From your graduation year, I assume you are still in your 20s, but the parts I quoted sound like what I read from people decades older than me.

After I graduated, I moved out of state for three years, so I didn't visit Boone for a while. When I came back, the changes to campus were stunning - new library, expanded science building, new Living Learning Center, new bookstore, and I'm sure I'm forgetting some. Not to mention whatever businesses had come and gone on King St. It didn't feel slow and steady. But overall, it was an improvement.

And believe me, I don't blame you - I feel the same way sometimes. Some change is good, some isn't. (Of course that's largely subjective.) I'm already on record as saying I think the whiteout is a bad idea. But I do think the changes to Appalachian and Boone since I was in school are far more good than bad.

I agree with you. I should channel my emotions before I type. 3 more months of enjoying my 20s...haha

[appbio91]

If we ever get rid of Back in Black before kickoff I will lead a riot.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk

[dlh71]

Let's step back a minute. I can remember when Coach Moore came to town and went all black with the uniforms and away from gold pants. Had App ever not worn gold pants at home? That was the question asked by many. I have a white App polo that I ware to away games because we ware white on the road most of the time. It may have helped to keep me out of first aid at the ECU game as well as the 2007 Wofford which was worse. Each to his own. I can not wait for App State football. Wait a minute should that not be ASU football or Appalachian football.

[APPdiesel]

Let's step back a minute. I can remember when Coach Moore came to town and went all black with the uniforms and away from gold pants. Had App ever not worn gold pants at home? That was the question asked by many. I have a white App polo that I ware to away games because we ware white on the road most of the time. It may have helped to keep me out of first aid at the ECU game as well as the 2007 Wofford which was worse. Each to his own. I can not wait for App State football. Wait a minute should that not be ASU football or Appalachian football.

Either you're from Ware Shoals, SC or your auto correct is drunk.

[moonshine]

As fans, we can make it our own tradition. Everyone wears a white shirt underneath their black and/or gold shirt. Keep your top shirts on until the team begins to walk down the ramp and in solidarity, everyone rips off their top shirt Hulk Hogan style to reveal to the players that we stand united behind them.

As a great North Carolinian philosopher once said,

"Take your shirt off, twist it 'round yo head...Spin it like a helicopter!"

#BlackShirtsMatter

[AppAlum1]

No no no no no no no no no.

Black. Period. White bad.

Let's take whosever idea this was & take 'em up to Cullowhee & leave them there.

The only thing in my wardrobe that is white are a few tidy white-ees.

I won't have nuthin to wear. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhiiieeeeeeeeeeee!!!

It should be Black Saturday every home game.

[WVAppsfan]

The WSJ reported that the players requested this. So I say support the concept, it is new. It is fresh, and it may or may not work. Wear what color you want, just BE THERE AND SUPPORT THE MOUNTAINEERS.