Pete Thamel- App State Fires Shawn Clark

[ASUTodd]

Now that the deed is done and all the anti-Shawn Clark folks are tickled pink I have a few comments. First, I hope that we somehow find the $$$ to pay the next HC a 7 figure salary like some of our SB brethren are doing. Second, all YC members need to make sure that they back-track on the threats to withhold contributions and/or season ticket. Third to all the anti-Shawn Clark people who are not YC members and were equally if not more vocal than the YC club donors I say pony up or shut up. Join the YC club and let your pocket book back up your desire to fire him.

To Shawn Clark I say: the overall results were not what we or you wanted but we couldn't ask for a better Mountaineer ambassador. Thank you Coach.

People don't have to give to YC to have opinion. That's about as dumb as saying people aren't fans if they don't xyz.....

No you don't have to give but your opinion is meaningless to me. If someone complains about the outcome of an election but doesn't vote then they have no right to complain. Same thing with the YC. What really disappoints me is the number of Mountaineer fans who on social media openly cheer (loudly with all CAPS) that he's finally fired and out on the street. Forget the fact his family is affected and the team is affected. Show some grace and class like a true Mountaineer. Some of the stuff I read was identical to a lot of stuff on the stink's pages and JMU. Mountaineers should be way above that.

How's the view up on that high horse?

NO HIGH HORSE HERE (using all caps on purpose.......). Just stating my opinion just as you have yours. What's really sad is that as a Mountaineer you cheer the misfortune and demise of a fellow Mountaineer. Sad....

When did I cheer for misfortune?? I never once, ANYWHERE, wished him any misfortune. He just needed to go.

[scatman77]

Now that the deed is done and all the anti-Shawn Clark folks are tickled pink I have a few comments. First, I hope that we somehow find the $$$ to pay the next HC a 7 figure salary like some of our SB brethren are doing. Second, all YC members need to make sure that they back-track on the threats to withhold contributions and/or season ticket. Third to all the anti-Shawn Clark people who are not YC members and were equally if not more vocal than the YC club donors I say pony up or shut up. Join the YC club and let your pocket book back up your desire to fire him.

To Shawn Clark I say: the overall results were not what we or you wanted but we couldn't ask for a better Mountaineer ambassador. Thank you Coach.

1. No one on this board was "anti-Shawn Clark". People were advocating for change after reviewing the past 4-5 seasons. I assure you I would much rather Shawn was more successful and we wouldn't be in this position.
2. We already found the $$$ to pay SC $950,000 in 2023, so a $50k/year bump doesn't seem to be too much of a stretch.
3. This would be like saying "maybe if you "pro-Shawn Clark" people had donated more, we wouldn't have to fire him" its kind of stupid and doesn't accomplish anything.
4. agreed HC SC was and is a great ambassador

"No one on this board was "anti-Shawn Clark.""
I'm not too sure asuTodd would agree with that.

[ASUTodd]

Now that the deed is done and all the anti-Shawn Clark folks are tickled pink I have a few comments. First, I hope that we somehow find the $$$ to pay the next HC a 7 figure salary like some of our SB brethren are doing. Second, all YC members need to make sure that they back-track on the threats to withhold contributions and/or season ticket. Third to all the anti-Shawn Clark people who are not YC members and were equally if not more vocal than the YC club donors I say pony up or shut up. Join the YC club and let your pocket book back up your desire to fire him.

To Shawn Clark I say: the overall results were not what we or you wanted but we couldn't ask for a better Mountaineer ambassador. Thank you Coach.

1. No one on this board was "anti-Shawn Clark". People were advocating for change after reviewing the past 4-5 seasons. I assure you I would much rather Shawn was more successful and we wouldn't be in this position.
2. We already found the $$$ to pay SC $950,000 in 2023, so a $50k/year bump doesn't seem to be too much of a stretch.
3. This would be like saying "maybe if you "pro-Shawn Clark" people had donated more, we wouldn't have to fire him" its kind of stupid and doesn't accomplish anything.
4. agreed HC SC was and is a great ambassador

"No one on this board was "anti-Shawn Clark.""
I'm not too sure asuTodd would agree with that.

Do you and newapp share a home?

[mtoddsolomon]

I don’t dislike Shawn Clark, but I thought he was a Lazy “App Guy” hire. I’d take 100 Drinkwitzs leaving us high and dry after very successful seasons over ho hum “App Guy” that we’ve had for the last 5 years

[diehardapp18]

How long will it be before everyone wants Shawn Clark back?

We can win 5 games in the next 2 years combined. It doesn’t mean this still wasn’t the right thing to do

[MrCraig]

I don’t want to speak for bcoach but it sounded like he took umbrage with the comparison to losing a high school coaching position, which is akin to a second job, to a professional coach. This is Shawn’s source of providing for his family. He can’t just go down the road and find a coaching job that allows his family to stay where they are. He will have to uproot two teenage kids from their lives, which anyone will tell you isn’t easy, pack a house and find somewhere else to live.

The man made over $750k a year since 2020 and he's getting a $500k buyout. If he doesn't have enough money socked away to take a lower paying job and provide a comfortable life for his family, then he's worse at managing his money than managing the game clock.

No one is saying he can't do that. Its not about the money, its about the disruption to his family's life. He's been in Boone since 2016, his kids have grown up here, they have likely lived here longer than anywhere else. This is home. Yes, its part of the coach's life and they will adjust but it's not something that happens overnight.

Exactly, it's the life of a coach. And this Christmas he is probably going to get to spend more time with his family than he ever has before. He's not going to miss Christmas plays or choir recitals or whatever to go coach a football game in a literal hurricane like last year. I'd say that's a real nice silver lining.

He’s probably happy to be fired. I like the spin you are throwing on it.

Y’all are intentionally being obtuse. I never said he was glad to be fired. The point I was making is there’s a silver lining to everything. You don’t think it’s at least a LITTLE BIT of a relief to be at home for Christmas instead of watching film, practicing and prepping for a bowl game, doing exit interviews, recruiting high school players, and watching the portal?

Again, he’s made over $3 million the last few years, he can afford to chill for a bit. He may not. He may want to find a new job immediately and get right back into it. My point is, he doesn’t HAVE to, and we shouldn’t feel bad for him being gainfully unemployed.

[APPdiesel]

My guess is he ends up in Columbia. Which one, I’m not are but I’d bet Columbia, MO.

[Seattleapp]

How long will it be before everyone wants Shawn Clark back?

We can win 5 games in the next 2 years combined. It doesn’t mean this still wasn’t the right thing to do

That makes zero sense.

[Seattleapp]

The man made over $750k a year since 2020 and he's getting a $500k buyout. If he doesn't have enough money socked away to take a lower paying job and provide a comfortable life for his family, then he's worse at managing his money than managing the game clock.

No one is saying he can't do that. Its not about the money, its about the disruption to his family's life. He's been in Boone since 2016, his kids have grown up here, they have likely lived here longer than anywhere else. This is home. Yes, its part of the coach's life and they will adjust but it's not something that happens overnight.

Exactly, it's the life of a coach. And this Christmas he is probably going to get to spend more time with his family than he ever has before. He's not going to miss Christmas plays or choir recitals or whatever to go coach a football game in a literal hurricane like last year. I'd say that's a real nice silver lining.

He’s probably happy to be fired. I like the spin you are throwing on it.

Y’all are intentionally being obtuse. I never said he was glad to be fired. The point I was making is there’s a silver lining to everything. You don’t think it’s at least a LITTLE BIT of a relief to be at home for Christmas instead of watching film, practicing and prepping for a bowl game, doing exit interviews, recruiting high school players, and watching the portal?

Again, he’s made over $3 million the last few years, he can afford to chill for a bit. He may not. He may want to find a new job immediately and get right back into it. My point is, he doesn’t HAVE to, and we shouldn’t feel bad for him being gainfully unemployed.

No. No he’s not happy to be fired from his alma mater at 49. You act like he’s some 100 millionaire. Guys get into coaching because they believe in it and like it. I Guarantee Clark is not preferring sitting around fired instead of getting ready for a bowl game. If that was his attitude he wouldn’t be a head coach. Honesty the more you talk about how relieved you think Clark is to not be app’s head coach anymore feels like you are projecting your own feelings on your coaching experience.

[MrCraig]

No one is saying he can't do that. Its not about the money, its about the disruption to his family's life. He's been in Boone since 2016, his kids have grown up here, they have likely lived here longer than anywhere else. This is home. Yes, its part of the coach's life and they will adjust but it's not something that happens overnight.

Exactly, it's the life of a coach. And this Christmas he is probably going to get to spend more time with his family than he ever has before. He's not going to miss Christmas plays or choir recitals or whatever to go coach a football game in a literal hurricane like last year. I'd say that's a real nice silver lining.

He’s probably happy to be fired. I like the spin you are throwing on it.

Y’all are intentionally being obtuse. I never said he was glad to be fired. The point I was making is there’s a silver lining to everything. You don’t think it’s at least a LITTLE BIT of a relief to be at home for Christmas instead of watching film, practicing and prepping for a bowl game, doing exit interviews, recruiting high school players, and watching the portal?

Again, he’s made over $3 million the last few years, he can afford to chill for a bit. He may not. He may want to find a new job immediately and get right back into it. My point is, he doesn’t HAVE to, and we shouldn’t feel bad for him being gainfully unemployed.

No. No he’s not happy to be fired from his alma mater at 49. You act like he’s some 100 millionaire. Guys get into coaching because they believe in it and like it. I Guarantee Clark is not preferring sitting around fired instead of getting ready for a bowl game. If that was his attitude he wouldn’t be a head coach. Honesty the more you talk about how relieved you think Clark is to not be app’s head coach anymore feels like you are projecting your own feelings on your coaching experience.

I am absolutely projecting my own feelings about my coaching experience. I have admitted that much already. Literally my first post could be summarized as, "this is how I felt when I was abruptly no longer coaching, maybe he feels the same way."
I also quite literally never said that he was happy. I said that there's always a silver lining. All of a sudden having a lot of money in the bank and a lot of free time on your hands might not be the worst thing in the world. Read to understand, not just to react.

[mike87]

Some folks like to give to other entities. I give any extra money I have to my church and to religious missions. That's just me. While I'm passionate about football and App State..... I know it's just a business/game and people's eternal life far exceeds the outcome of sports. Not everyone does that and that's all well and good. What I dont say is that it makes them less of a Christian because they don't give nor does it make anyone less of a person of they don't do what I do.

Being a Christian has far greater implications in life than being a fan. Hard to even relate the two although that was a noble attempt.

It's still an excuse. I think if you support the program, which you do, you should join the YC. I really don't accept any excuses. But that's just me, I'm a pay to play guy.

Not an excuse in the least.... just for you I signed up and paid my Yosef Club membership.

You're a good dude. I thank you on their behalf. Now we need to team up on Diesel

I draw the line at NIL money. And if the college doesn't bring back men's soccer I may not renew! Lol

I still don't understand the soccer decision. Great sport and we seemed to have momentum at the time with a good young coach and building support. IDK. They seemed to have misread the tea leaves on that one.

[Seattleapp]

Exactly, it's the life of a coach. And this Christmas he is probably going to get to spend more time with his family than he ever has before. He's not going to miss Christmas plays or choir recitals or whatever to go coach a football game in a literal hurricane like last year. I'd say that's a real nice silver lining.

He’s probably happy to be fired. I like the spin you are throwing on it.

Y’all are intentionally being obtuse. I never said he was glad to be fired. The point I was making is there’s a silver lining to everything. You don’t think it’s at least a LITTLE BIT of a relief to be at home for Christmas instead of watching film, practicing and prepping for a bowl game, doing exit interviews, recruiting high school players, and watching the portal?

Again, he’s made over $3 million the last few years, he can afford to chill for a bit. He may not. He may want to find a new job immediately and get right back into it. My point is, he doesn’t HAVE to, and we shouldn’t feel bad for him being gainfully unemployed.

No. No he’s not happy to be fired from his alma mater at 49. You act like he’s some 100 millionaire. Guys get into coaching because they believe in it and like it. I Guarantee Clark is not preferring sitting around fired instead of getting ready for a bowl game. If that was his attitude he wouldn’t be a head coach. Honesty the more you talk about how relieved you think Clark is to not be app’s head coach anymore feels like you are projecting your own feelings on your coaching experience.

I am absolutely projecting my own feelings about my coaching experience. I have admitted that much already. Literally my first post could be summarized as, "this is how I felt when I was abruptly no longer coaching, maybe he feels the same way."
I also quite literally never said that he was happy. I said that there's always a silver lining. All of a sudden having a lot of money in the bank and a lot of free time on your hands might not be the worst thing in the world. Read to understand, not just to react.

You should just say how you felt after you got canned and leave out your theories on how Shawn Clark may be handling his firing. And you keep harping on the money. Clark makes more than the average Joe, but he doesn’t have millions upon millions in the bank. He’ll need to work again. He’ll have to interview for jobs then move to a place he
May not like as much as Boone and uproot his family and all that goes with that regarding his kids and wife social ties. That’s not gonna be easy for them. It’s not easy for anyone. My Position has nothing to do with whether he should or shouldn’t have been let go. My
Position is there a person with a family behind this life altering change and I’d be shocked if Clark is sitting at home counting his money and lamenting how doesn’t have to get ready for a bowl game and can go to a
Christmas play instead. So in that respect, yeah I do feel bad he was not able to continue coaching at app. As I know the ripple effect it will most likely have on him and his family. I think he earned the money he made. He wasn’t as successful as I’m sure he wanted to be but I’m not as callous as some on here about his termination. I’m would say he gave his all for App for a pretty
Long time.

[ericsaid]

The SC HC record at App:
- 5 full seasons as HC
- Overall record 40-24 (25-15 SBC)
- 2 SBC championship game appearances
- 3 bowl bids in 5 years (3-1 bowl record)*includes 2019 NOLA bowl win
- 4-0 vs in state peer programs (3 vs ECU, 1 vs Charlotte)
- 2 top 25 wins (1 top 10)
- 1-4 vs P5 schools (3 very memorable losses (@Miami, 2 UNC) and 1 loss would like to forget (Clemson)
- 7-2 vs G5 schools (include bowl games)
- Zero FCS losses

This was Shawn Clark's first tenure as a head coach. 1st year dealt with a 100 year global pandemic and last year a 100 year unimaginable storm that disrupted the entire region.

5 years there were a lot of great memories coupled with several setbacks, but that is sports...Coach should feel good about his accomplishments....see everyone next season!

a lot of schools would be thrilled with that. Including some in North Carolina

You are right, there are a lot of schools that would be thrilled with that but we are not a lot of schools when it comes to football. We are App State and we expect more.

You also have to go back and look at Satterfield’s record and then Drinkwitz to compare. You’ll see the slippage.

I would argue that the conference got much better under SC's tenure...which, if I am not mistaken, many on this board argued in favor of during App's initial entry and subsequent reign. I for one was happy when the conference re-aligned and got much better knowing full well that meant ASU would not be in the SBC championship game every year.

I agree that he did not necessarily set the world on fire (especially lately) but I have argued that his record and how he ran the program did not warrant termination. A staff shakeup for sure, but not termination.

Anyway, what's done is done....I wish him well in the future and look forward to supporting the new coach and staff during this transition.

I do not rejoice in seeing peoples lives turned upside down and neither should anyone here. It would be great if he could stay and coach the offensive line because you're not going to find a better OL coach, but that clearly won't be happening.

Regardless of whether the conference got better isn't of consequence. When Boise came in and was playing well, they continued to ascend build on their success, eventually leading to BCS Bowl Wins. App reached the cusp in 2019 and, I believe, should have been the NY6 bowl team that year (I will die on that hill), and every since then it's just been meh. And honestly, you can see that reflected in Clark's demeanor. He just lacks the juice, and the substance, I think. He is an ideal position coach and maybe even coordinator.

Depending on who the hire is, I think many of you will be surprised at just how little the program actually slipped, and how much it was related just to coaching on game day and game week.

[MrCraig]

He’s probably happy to be fired. I like the spin you are throwing on it.

Y’all are intentionally being obtuse. I never said he was glad to be fired. The point I was making is there’s a silver lining to everything. You don’t think it’s at least a LITTLE BIT of a relief to be at home for Christmas instead of watching film, practicing and prepping for a bowl game, doing exit interviews, recruiting high school players, and watching the portal?

Again, he’s made over $3 million the last few years, he can afford to chill for a bit. He may not. He may want to find a new job immediately and get right back into it. My point is, he doesn’t HAVE to, and we shouldn’t feel bad for him being gainfully unemployed.

No. No he’s not happy to be fired from his alma mater at 49. You act like he’s some 100 millionaire. Guys get into coaching because they believe in it and like it. I Guarantee Clark is not preferring sitting around fired instead of getting ready for a bowl game. If that was his attitude he wouldn’t be a head coach. Honesty the more you talk about how relieved you think Clark is to not be app’s head coach anymore feels like you are projecting your own feelings on your coaching experience.

I am absolutely projecting my own feelings about my coaching experience. I have admitted that much already. Literally my first post could be summarized as, "this is how I felt when I was abruptly no longer coaching, maybe he feels the same way."
I also quite literally never said that he was happy. I said that there's always a silver lining. All of a sudden having a lot of money in the bank and a lot of free time on your hands might not be the worst thing in the world. Read to understand, not just to react.

You should just say how you felt after you got canned and leave out your theories on how Shawn Clark may be handling his firing. And you keep harping on the money. Clark makes more than the average Joe, but he doesn’t have millions upon millions in the bank. He’ll need to work again. He’ll have to interview for jobs then move to a place he
May not like as much as Boone and uproot his family and all that goes with that regarding his kids and wife social ties. That’s not gonna be easy for them. It’s not easy for anyone. My Position has nothing to do with whether he should or shouldn’t have been let go. My
Position is there a person with a family behind this life altering change and I’d be shocked if Clark is sitting at home counting his money and lamenting how doesn’t have to get ready for a bowl game and can go to a
Christmas play instead. So in that respect, yeah I do feel bad he was not able to continue coaching at app. As I know the ripple effect it will most likely have on him and his family. I think he earned the money he made. He wasn’t as successful as I’m sure he wanted to be but I’m not as callous as some on here about his termination. I’m would say he gave his all for App for a pretty
Long time.

You and bcoach are literally doing the same thing. You are assuming that Clark is completely despondent and his family life is in turmoil and this is all just so incredibly difficult for them all. I'm simply offering a slightly opposing view. You know, a whole "when a door closes a window opens" type thing. Despite what you say, there CAN be positives to losing one's situation.
But fine, you're right. This is the worst thing that's ever happened to Shawn Clark and his family will be forever negatively impacted and it's all our fault.

[bcoach]

Y’all are intentionally being obtuse. I never said he was glad to be fired. The point I was making is there’s a silver lining to everything. You don’t think it’s at least a LITTLE BIT of a relief to be at home for Christmas instead of watching film, practicing and prepping for a bowl game, doing exit interviews, recruiting high school players, and watching the portal?

Again, he’s made over $3 million the last few years, he can afford to chill for a bit. He may not. He may want to find a new job immediately and get right back into it. My point is, he doesn’t HAVE to, and we shouldn’t feel bad for him being gainfully unemployed.

No. No he’s not happy to be fired from his alma mater at 49. You act like he’s some 100 millionaire. Guys get into coaching because they believe in it and like it. I Guarantee Clark is not preferring sitting around fired instead of getting ready for a bowl game. If that was his attitude he wouldn’t be a head coach. Honesty the more you talk about how relieved you think Clark is to not be app’s head coach anymore feels like you are projecting your own feelings on your coaching experience.

I am absolutely projecting my own feelings about my coaching experience. I have admitted that much already. Literally my first post could be summarized as, "this is how I felt when I was abruptly no longer coaching, maybe he feels the same way."
I also quite literally never said that he was happy. I said that there's always a silver lining. All of a sudden having a lot of money in the bank and a lot of free time on your hands might not be the worst thing in the world. Read to understand, not just to react.

You should just say how you felt after you got canned and leave out your theories on how Shawn Clark may be handling his firing. And you keep harping on the money. Clark makes more than the average Joe, but he doesn’t have millions upon millions in the bank. He’ll need to work again. He’ll have to interview for jobs then move to a place he
May not like as much as Boone and uproot his family and all that goes with that regarding his kids and wife social ties. That’s not gonna be easy for them. It’s not easy for anyone. My Position has nothing to do with whether he should or shouldn’t have been let go. My
Position is there a person with a family behind this life altering change and I’d be shocked if Clark is sitting at home counting his money and lamenting how doesn’t have to get ready for a bowl game and can go to a
Christmas play instead. So in that respect, yeah I do feel bad he was not able to continue coaching at app. As I know the ripple effect it will most likely have on him and his family. I think he earned the money he made. He wasn’t as successful as I’m sure he wanted to be but I’m not as callous as some on here about his termination. I’m would say he gave his all for App for a pretty
Long time.

You and bcoach are literally doing the same thing. You are assuming that Clark is completely despondent and his family life is in turmoil and this is all just so incredibly difficult for them all. I'm simply offering a slightly opposing view. You know, a whole "when a door closes a window opens" type thing. Despite what you say, there CAN be positives to losing one's situation.
But fine, you're right. This is the worst thing that's ever happened to Shawn Clark and his family will be forever negatively impacted and it's all our fault.

IT IS NOT AN ASSUMPTION. It is a fact that he is not at all happy and does not see a silver lining AND IT IS NOT ABOUT MONEY!!!. You very obviously did not feel the same about your hifgschool as Shawn does about APP. Just stop because you just don't know what the hell you are talking about. Now this horse has been beat to death and creamated.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

[ASUTodd]

No. No he’s not happy to be fired from his alma mater at 49. You act like he’s some 100 millionaire. Guys get into coaching because they believe in it and like it. I Guarantee Clark is not preferring sitting around fired instead of getting ready for a bowl game. If that was his attitude he wouldn’t be a head coach. Honesty the more you talk about how relieved you think Clark is to not be app’s head coach anymore feels like you are projecting your own feelings on your coaching experience.

I am absolutely projecting my own feelings about my coaching experience. I have admitted that much already. Literally my first post could be summarized as, "this is how I felt when I was abruptly no longer coaching, maybe he feels the same way."
I also quite literally never said that he was happy. I said that there's always a silver lining. All of a sudden having a lot of money in the bank and a lot of free time on your hands might not be the worst thing in the world. Read to understand, not just to react.

You should just say how you felt after you got canned and leave out your theories on how Shawn Clark may be handling his firing. And you keep harping on the money. Clark makes more than the average Joe, but he doesn’t have millions upon millions in the bank. He’ll need to work again. He’ll have to interview for jobs then move to a place he
May not like as much as Boone and uproot his family and all that goes with that regarding his kids and wife social ties. That’s not gonna be easy for them. It’s not easy for anyone. My Position has nothing to do with whether he should or shouldn’t have been let go. My
Position is there a person with a family behind this life altering change and I’d be shocked if Clark is sitting at home counting his money and lamenting how doesn’t have to get ready for a bowl game and can go to a
Christmas play instead. So in that respect, yeah I do feel bad he was not able to continue coaching at app. As I know the ripple effect it will most likely have on him and his family. I think he earned the money he made. He wasn’t as successful as I’m sure he wanted to be but I’m not as callous as some on here about his termination. I’m would say he gave his all for App for a pretty
Long time.

You and bcoach are literally doing the same thing. You are assuming that Clark is completely despondent and his family life is in turmoil and this is all just so incredibly difficult for them all. I'm simply offering a slightly opposing view. You know, a whole "when a door closes a window opens" type thing. Despite what you say, there CAN be positives to losing one's situation.
But fine, you're right. This is the worst thing that's ever happened to Shawn Clark and his family will be forever negatively impacted and it's all our fault.

IT IS NOT AN ASSUMPTION. It is a fact that he is not at all happy and does not see a silver lining AND IT IS NOT ABOUT MONEY!!!. You very obviously did not feel the same about your hifgschool as Shawn does about APP. Just stop because you just don't know what the hell you are talking about. Now this horse has been beat to death and creamated.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!