Home Season Moving Forward

[1997CLT]

I'm curious what people actually in the area that drive around Boone daily think of adding the influx that would come for a game, and take accounting that there will be no hotels available for people to stay so its an in and out deal.

Some are not happy about students coming back next week....

Those are the same people that would bring beers , armchairs and cheer while watching the school if it burned. they are convinced App destroyed their charming little Mtn town

And exactly 0 were alive when App was established and not many were alive when it was changed to a teacher's college. That's such a tired argument for me. Boone would not be as "charming" without App State.

[AppDub]

I'm curious what people actually in the area that drive around Boone daily think of adding the influx that would come for a game, and take accounting that there will be no hotels available for people to stay so its an in and out deal.

Some are not happy about students coming back next week....

The students bring a good deal of financial support to the local businesses and provide a lot of staffing for local restaurants and establishments. Seems to me the town needs the students back there. When you say some aren't happy about it, do you think they are the same ones who already complain about the traffic, the university and the impact the football games bring to town or are they people that just think the students are in the way while more clean up and safety assessments are done post Helene?

Caveat prior to responding. I have a daughter currently at App. and I would like her back as soon as possible primarily as her senior year has been impacted by something beyond her and everyone else's control and the aftermath related to it.
You always have the constant complaining from some that do not have any affiliation to university...and sure some may be former disgruntled employees. However, I try to see it from both sides...as there have been some well thought out responses about the need to come back in comparison to infrastructure being ready (beyond App. St proper infrastructure). Some professors and other employees have lost housing and scrambling just like students to find housing..and personal preservation will come first and may impact the classroom and overall student life experience.
I do not have the answer on the right timing...my brief comment was more related to some responses that were properly discussed....and not the typical a$$hats that would rather App. St. never existed or was much smaller...that train left the station a long time ago and is not coming back.. however some will never let it go. I discount those responses...the others have had valid concerns on timing, etc. The university and town leaders have more information to make the appropriate decision on timing. I will leave that up to them.
Just from an economic standpoint, not having students back and the annual migration of leaf peepers, it does have a a significant bad impact on economy. However, there are other considerations besides short term economy.
I will trust in the university and town. With that said, this is definitely a significant decision needed to be made by Norris early in her role while leading the university. I, personally, am in the camp that the interim tag should be removed...

Thank you for the well thought out response. My daughter is a freshman there and by no means has it been the a normal freshman experience or a normal moment in time for the residence of that area. It truly is a tough moment for those in decision making roles and I agree with you on the interim tag for Norris. Hoping that all parties work together, the university, local officials, residents, students etc. to make this whole thing work out for the better.

[Stonewall]

App State is Boone. Boone is App State. Without the University , Boone would be Newland. Not that there’s anything wrong with Newland …..

[BeauFoster]

App State is Boone. Boone is App State. Without the University , Boone would be Newland. Not that there’s anything wrong with Newland …..

I’m not sure it would even be that big. There would certainly be no 4 lane roads coming up the mountain and the ski industry might be 1/4 of what it is now.

[rbarthle17]

I'm curious what people actually in the area that drive around Boone daily think of adding the influx that would come for a game, and take accounting that there will be no hotels available for people to stay so its an in and out deal.

I reckon their perceptions/feelings are directly related to their source of income. Businesses that rely on tourism and/or the presence of students probably welcome it.

I'm sure there there are some who hate game days no matter what and will use this as an excuse to complain more.

Why do you say there will be no hotels available? Are most hotels shut down or are they booked to capacity with of support folks? Perhaps both? I have a family cabin in Todd so have never had to get a hotel room.

My understanding is they are filled with out of town support staff of all varieties. I would assume that's going to be the case for a long time hence my taking into consideration that people normally making an overnight trip for games won't be able to. How many is that, does that further play into the decision.

[rbarthle17]

I'm curious what people actually in the area that drive around Boone daily think of adding the influx that would come for a game, and take accounting that there will be no hotels available for people to stay so its an in and out deal.

20k students coming back over the weekend for good is probably more of their concerns than having 10k come up for 4 hours and go back home.
You try to mitigate peak travel times and the non-need for a hotel with a mid day kickoff. 1-2pm. Gives travelers a 6am-1pm travel time window to get up the mountain creating less stress and impact on infrastructure. Game over by 530p so most wouldn't need a hotel that night and would all have ample time to get down the mountain.

The problem with that is TV is the primary driver of kickoff times. Since we won't be on network TV that should not be much of an issue I would think, but you never know with ESPN.

[T-Dog]

I'm seeing people in season ticket FB groups asking about the Oct. 26 game because today is the last day they can cancel their cabin rentals without penalty.

[boonetodd]

15 days out. They need to be making some kind of decision really soon.

[Bootsy]

I'm curious what people actually in the area that drive around Boone daily think of adding the influx that would come for a game, and take accounting that there will be no hotels available for people to stay so its an in and out deal.

Some are not happy about students coming back next week....

The students bring a good deal of financial support to the local businesses and provide a lot of staffing for local restaurants and establishments. Seems to me the town needs the students back there. When you say some aren't happy about it, do you think they are the same ones who already complain about the traffic, the university and the impact the football games bring to town or are they people that just think the students are in the way while more clean up and safety assessments are done post Helene?

Caveat prior to responding. I have a daughter currently at App. and I would like her back as soon as possible primarily as her senior year has been impacted by something beyond her and everyone else's control and the aftermath related to it.
You always have the constant complaining from some that do not have any affiliation to university...and sure some may be former disgruntled employees. However, I try to see it from both sides...as there have been some well thought out responses about the need to come back in comparison to infrastructure being ready (beyond App. St proper infrastructure). Some professors and other employees have lost housing and scrambling just like students to find housing..and personal preservation will come first and may impact the classroom and overall student life experience.
I do not have the answer on the right timing...my brief comment was more related to some responses that were properly discussed....and not the typical a$$hats that would rather App. St. never existed or was much smaller...that train left the station a long time ago and is not coming back.. however some will never let it go. I discount those responses...the others have had valid concerns on timing, etc. The university and town leaders have more information to make the appropriate decision on timing. I will leave that up to them.
Just from an economic standpoint, not having students back and the annual migration of leaf peepers, it does have a a significant bad impact on economy. However, there are other considerations besides short term economy.
I will trust in the university and town. With that said, this is definitely a significant decision needed to be made by Norris early in her role while leading the university. I, personally, am in the camp that the interim tag should be removed...

^this^

So many small businesses in Boone and the High Country are already struggling with hurricane damage and lost revenue. To lose leaf-lookers, football games, Valle Fair/Wooly Worm, etc. on top of that will cause more than a few to close up shop. My heart goes out to these folks, who add so much value and character to the area and community!

[BambooRdApp]

Norris just gets it from the emotional intelligence ...

Today at 5 p.m., we will reopen the university, after being closed for more than two weeks. This is a significant event in our 125-year history, marking just how devastating the effects of Hurricane Helene have been on our community.

We witnessed amazing acts of kindness and humanity during this time. Members of our community rescued others from rising and rapidly moving water. When landslides and downed trees blocked access, those who were able dug and chainsawed their way through to get others to safety. They walked, boated and rode horses and mules to deliver supplies to family, neighbors, friends and strangers.

During the time we were officially closed, more than 1,000 students and a core group of employees remained safely on campus. Many more returned as soon as they could, in person and online. Campus dining, housing, facilities, landscape services, building maintenance, police, emergency management, communications, medics, lineworkers, counselors, financial aid advisors, accountants, payroll, purchasing, health care providers, academic advisors, case managers, library staff, legal advisors, administrative support staff, parking and traffic, gift processors, deans, department chairs, faculty members, coaches, student employees and volunteers, and so many others kept our university running while also managing the turmoil caused in their personal lives.

Thank you for continuing in the face of adversity, for coming to work without the benefit of having had a shower, with muddy shoes and clothing, with children in tow, with tears in your eyes, and for sharing a laugh, a smile, a thank you or a hug with someone who really needed it.

This afternoon, students, faculty and staff will receive an operations update, which will share facilities hours, resources and other important information related to the return to classes on Oct. 16.

Missing two weeks of a semester means our faculty and students have lost 15% of their instructional hours this semester. For some, this is compounded by being displaced from their homes. Many are working on replacing lost homes, vehicles, computers, clothing, children’s toys and more. We’re still working with students, faculty and staff who have been displaced. Many live in neighboring communities, where recovery efforts are taking more time. Some have families who are managing the effects of both Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton.

Our Disaster Relief Hub opened on Tuesday, Oct. 1, and remains operational for those in need. As students and employees regain communications and are returning to campus, we are working to help those displaced find housing and to connect people with resources — from FEMA assistance, financial aid and insurance guidance, to counseling and academic advising.

To date, we have distributed more than $1.1 million to members of the university community who are facing hardship because of Helene. The immediate funding we are able to provide to bridge students, faculty and staff to recovery has been donated. The importance of these gifts cannot be overstated.

While it’s not possible to force lost hours back into a semester, deans and department chairs have been working to ensure students are able to move forward and will remain involved in assisting faculty and students in making adjustments as we continue to learn what they need. This week, Academic Affairs provided faculty with guidance for adapting syllabi and assignments and working with students facing challenges compounded by the aftereffects of the hurricane. How that is done will vary from discipline to discipline and class to class. For lab-intensive courses, student teaching, practicums and supervised trainings required for certifications and accreditation, a lot of individualized adjustments will be needed. Our job of education and student success is the core of our mission — we will do everything we can to meet the learning outcomes of each course this semester, to help our students reach graduation, and to ensure they have the knowledge, skills and abilities to be successful.

Local infrastructure continues to improve and we continue coordination with leadership in the Town of Boone and Watauga County. In the past two weeks, power has been restored to 97% of Watauga County residents. Communications have vastly improved as internet and cell service providers continue working to reestablish service to homes and businesses throughout the county. Entire roads have been rebuilt. On campus, restoration and cleanup from flood damage will mean that all but one academic building, Rankin West, will be ready for our community to return to when classes resume. All residence halls remain fully operational. While students were never asked to leave, many chose to do so, and those who live in and are returning to residence halls have been provided logistical information about returning to campus.

Despite the great progress in our area, we are keenly aware that when we reopen the university later today, we won’t be returning to “normal.” For many members of our university community, life won’t be normal for quite some time.

The scars left on our beloved landscape by Hurricane Helene remind us that the impacts of this storm have left scars on each of us as well. Some are deeper and more visible; others are minor and already healing. In a community of 24,000 people on two campuses and online, whose members live, work and learn in communities that were hard hit and some that were less so, the consequences for each of us have been different, and recovery for each of us will be different.

Facing extreme difficulties together can bring members of a community closer. As we reopen and come back together, I ask that we continue the spirit of overcoming together that got us through the initial hours and days of this crisis, extending grace to one another as we have good and bad days, recognizing that no one is perfect as we endeavor to overcome challenges, and being as flexible as we can in our expectations of one another. Our university and our mountains have a long road of recovery ahead, but we must remember that we have a long,125-year history of perseverance and resilience. We have demonstrated — and we continue to demonstrate in the face of the most difficult of adversities — that we can and will move forward together.

My heartfelt thanks goes out to each of you, and I’m looking forward to seeing you again soon.


Heather Norris
Interim Chancellor

[BambooRdApp]

Some additional information posted by one of the home rental companies

As many of you know, Hurricane Helene brought significant impact to the High Country a couple of weeks ago. We have been diligent in our recovery efforts to rebuild and restore. Today, we are pleased to announce that local authorities, along with the State of North Carolina, have decided to welcome folks back to our beautiful area.

[proasu89]

@BambooApp

You are 100% correct about Chancellor Norris and her emotional intelligence. She’s got my undivided support and if she wants the job, it should be hers. Not going to lie, I got choked up reading her update.

[AppinVA]

Would she be the easy hire? [throws grenade, runs away]

Actually, she’s aced the audition in my book.

[biggie]

Town of blowing rock also posted on FB today about inviting visitors to town. It certainly is leaning like a game in Boone.

[biggie]

https://www.boonechamber.com/news/the-r ... zjNEk5a51A

[fjblair]

Norris just gets it from the emotional intelligence ...

Today at 5 p.m., we will reopen the university, after being closed for more than two weeks. This is a significant event in our 125-year history, marking just how devastating the effects of Hurricane Helene have been on our community.

We witnessed amazing acts of kindness and humanity during this time. Members of our community rescued others from rising and rapidly moving water. When landslides and downed trees blocked access, those who were able dug and chainsawed their way through to get others to safety. They walked, boated and rode horses and mules to deliver supplies to family, neighbors, friends and strangers.

During the time we were officially closed, more than 1,000 students and a core group of employees remained safely on campus. Many more returned as soon as they could, in person and online. Campus dining, housing, facilities, landscape services, building maintenance, police, emergency management, communications, medics, lineworkers, counselors, financial aid advisors, accountants, payroll, purchasing, health care providers, academic advisors, case managers, library staff, legal advisors, administrative support staff, parking and traffic, gift processors, deans, department chairs, faculty members, coaches, student employees and volunteers, and so many others kept our university running while also managing the turmoil caused in their personal lives.

Thank you for continuing in the face of adversity, for coming to work without the benefit of having had a shower, with muddy shoes and clothing, with children in tow, with tears in your eyes, and for sharing a laugh, a smile, a thank you or a hug with someone who really needed it.

This afternoon, students, faculty and staff will receive an operations update, which will share facilities hours, resources and other important information related to the return to classes on Oct. 16.

Missing two weeks of a semester means our faculty and students have lost 15% of their instructional hours this semester. For some, this is compounded by being displaced from their homes. Many are working on replacing lost homes, vehicles, computers, clothing, children’s toys and more. We’re still working with students, faculty and staff who have been displaced. Many live in neighboring communities, where recovery efforts are taking more time. Some have families who are managing the effects of both Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton.

Our Disaster Relief Hub opened on Tuesday, Oct. 1, and remains operational for those in need. As students and employees regain communications and are returning to campus, we are working to help those displaced find housing and to connect people with resources — from FEMA assistance, financial aid and insurance guidance, to counseling and academic advising.

To date, we have distributed more than $1.1 million to members of the university community who are facing hardship because of Helene. The immediate funding we are able to provide to bridge students, faculty and staff to recovery has been donated. The importance of these gifts cannot be overstated.

While it’s not possible to force lost hours back into a semester, deans and department chairs have been working to ensure students are able to move forward and will remain involved in assisting faculty and students in making adjustments as we continue to learn what they need. This week, Academic Affairs provided faculty with guidance for adapting syllabi and assignments and working with students facing challenges compounded by the aftereffects of the hurricane. How that is done will vary from discipline to discipline and class to class. For lab-intensive courses, student teaching, practicums and supervised trainings required for certifications and accreditation, a lot of individualized adjustments will be needed. Our job of education and student success is the core of our mission — we will do everything we can to meet the learning outcomes of each course this semester, to help our students reach graduation, and to ensure they have the knowledge, skills and abilities to be successful.

Local infrastructure continues to improve and we continue coordination with leadership in the Town of Boone and Watauga County. In the past two weeks, power has been restored to 97% of Watauga County residents. Communications have vastly improved as internet and cell service providers continue working to reestablish service to homes and businesses throughout the county. Entire roads have been rebuilt. On campus, restoration and cleanup from flood damage will mean that all but one academic building, Rankin West, will be ready for our community to return to when classes resume. All residence halls remain fully operational. While students were never asked to leave, many chose to do so, and those who live in and are returning to residence halls have been provided logistical information about returning to campus.

Despite the great progress in our area, we are keenly aware that when we reopen the university later today, we won’t be returning to “normal.” For many members of our university community, life won’t be normal for quite some time.

The scars left on our beloved landscape by Hurricane Helene remind us that the impacts of this storm have left scars on each of us as well. Some are deeper and more visible; others are minor and already healing. In a community of 24,000 people on two campuses and online, whose members live, work and learn in communities that were hard hit and some that were less so, the consequences for each of us have been different, and recovery for each of us will be different.

Facing extreme difficulties together can bring members of a community closer. As we reopen and come back together, I ask that we continue the spirit of overcoming together that got us through the initial hours and days of this crisis, extending grace to one another as we have good and bad days, recognizing that no one is perfect as we endeavor to overcome challenges, and being as flexible as we can in our expectations of one another. Our university and our mountains have a long road of recovery ahead, but we must remember that we have a long,125-year history of perseverance and resilience. We have demonstrated — and we continue to demonstrate in the face of the most difficult of adversities — that we can and will move forward together.

My heartfelt thanks goes out to each of you, and I’m looking forward to seeing you again soon.


Heather Norris
Interim Chancellor

I don't know if she wants the job, but I have advocated for her to become the chancellor from the beginning. She understands the culture of ASU and the community, it's something an outsider can never fully grasp.

[1997CLT]

Not sure if everyone has seen this statement or not

https://www.boonechamber.com/news/the-r ... uga-county

[T-Dog]

Gillin said on the pregame show no decision on the Oct. 26 game yet, other than it will be on Oct. 26. Will depend on student integration this week.

[DenverOfTheEast]

I want the game in Boone so we can see what attendance will look like..... come on, play in Boone!!

[311neers]

I want the game in Boone so we can see what attendance will look like..... come on, play in Boone!!

I’ll be there. That 90% confidence that the game would be in Winston is now what? 10%?