In Our Words... 
32 years in Varsity Gym, thankyou for the memories 

The 1999-2000 squad handily defeated rival Western Carolina 101-83 on Saturday, and there to see it were four former Appalachian State coaches: Francis Hoover (1946, 1948-57), Bob Light (1958-72), Bobby Cremins (1976-81) and Kevin Cantwell (1982-86). Also there were representatives from every year that Varsity Gym has been open. Thirty-two years of greats were crowded onto center court at halftime. These representatives were honored for their service, just as we honored the gymnasium for its silent watch over our sports.  

Bobby Cremins was proud of Appalachian’s progress in the years since he left. “I am very impressed with the Appalachian State team. Buzz Peterson has done a great job with this team,” he said.  

There were many familiar faces, but one man stood out from the crowd, Alan Price. For those who do not remember him, he was the first player to ever hit a shot in Varsity Gym. That game was won against Lenior Rhyne. 

It was a meaningful and moving experience for those of us in attendance.  Bringing together the decades of basketball in Varsity Gym was a memorable way to end the gym’s years of service.  Even players of today feel the warmth and family atmosphere of Varsity Gym. 

“It was a great atmosphere for basketball. The community has been real supportive of us all year and having all the former players and former coaches come back who laid the ground work for this program made the day,” said Matt McMahon. “It kind of turned into a homecoming game for basketball.” 

Fans turned out en masse: 6,244 fans, in fact. Banners hung around the gym praising its 32 years of service.  Such a turnout is the sort we should come to expect in the future.  

The culminating shot that scored 101 points caused an uproar Appalachian fans past and present can be proud of. Varsity Gym was certainly sent out in style thanks to the coaches, players, fans, and organizations who came to show their support and appreciation. 

We now look forward to the opening of the Convocation Center, beginning a new era for our basketball program and Appalachian State University. 
 
 

Part II - the resident food critic 
Anthony Holdried  

I know this is the moment everybody’s been waiting for.  Okay, so I might only be a sportswriter, I’ve actually only written one other editorial all year long, but it seemed like most people enjoyed it. 

What exactly is it that everybody has been waiting for? Well, since this is the last opinion piece I will be writing for The Appalachian, I thought it would be to everyone’s benefit that I disclose Part II of my invaluable restaurant critic.  After all, what goes best with sports besides beer? That’s right, food. 

This episode, however, will not be directed at the letdown of our community in trying to provide us with economical and expedient service, yet will be aimed at the places we unfortunately eat at most. 

You guessed it, our friendly campus services. 

Where should we start first? Oh yes, let’s begin with my favorite. It was only about my second day at Appalachian during my freshman year when I first heard the term “Schwag Court.” Otherwise known as the Food Court, it may get my vote for worst eats on campus. 
I know this of course because I ate there just about every day during my freshman year. Let’s see, there’s chicken tenders and mashed potatoes, and there’s chicken tenders and mashed potatoes. 

I guess they tried to change it up somewhere during my sophomore year with the induction of the beef and chicken wraps. The idea went well until the 200th vomiting victim was counted during the third month. 

The salads aren’t bad I guess, if you’re partial to that good old fashioned potato salad like grandma made back in 1946. 

My personal favorite, which always had me salivating with the mere thought, is the double-schwag burger.  That sizzling two-and-one-half pounds of whatever it is gives new meaning to the famous phrase in that good old Nickelodeon program we all used to watch with Alanis Morrisette, “What do you think’s in the burger?” 

Take that nice little stroll upstairs and you’ve got Welborn Cafeteria where the milk is curdling and the Chic-Fil-A is always in effect.  And what’s up with the highly regarded “Steak Night?”  You couldn’t get a cannibal cow to eat one of those slabs of rubber. 

The breakfast is usually not bad if the eggs were cooked that day and the bacon and hashbrowns aren’t charbroiled well done. 

Since we don’t sell ads to Food Services, I’ll continue with Trivette’s finest, home to the best campus pizza in the town of Boone. Caldwell doesn’t serve pizza on their campus, do they? Okay, just making sure. 

Aside from the breath-taking scenic Duck Pond view, there is much to be desired from Trivette including that economical little market they have over there. Yeah, that’s the one, with the moldy bread. 

We’ll finish off with Cascades because as much as I hate to say it, this is the better of the four venues if you’re going to spend eight dollars for a meal.  You can’t go wrong with a good clean sub, even the egg salad is reputable. I pray for those that get up on the chili dogs, however. 

I purposely left off the Mold Room, I figured you could handle that one on your own. 
 

Bob Jones University is not a place where one learns to be a bigot 
Mike Botteilho 

Can the Republican primaries stoop any lower than they have now? 

During the Republican primary, presidential hopeful George Bush went to speak at the controversial Bob Jones University in Greenville, S.C., to speak about his views. 

This is nothing new folks. 

Presidential hopefuls for many years have gone to BJU to speak their mind for all of those ‘ole time Republicans in the great state of South Carolina.  

It’s tradition. 

Not surprisingly something went awry. Senator John McCain turned Bush’s visit into a tirade about Bush being anti-Catholic and a bigot. 

McCain went on to win Michigan on this very wave, since Michigan is a very Catholic state. 

This kind of politics has not been used since John F. Kennedy won the Democratic ticket in 1960. 

Bringing religion into politics is going too far, even for our Republican friends. 

At no time during the Bush speech did he say that he supported any of the things that McCain said he did. 

The public has just grown into the complacency that whatever a candidate says is gospel. 

As a Catholic who has visited Bob Jones University, I do not see the bigotry and hatred that McCain said existed there. 

There has been no cry from the Pope that Catholics should stand united against Bob Jones, nor has any local priest, deacon or parishioner. 

So why should McCain tell us all, and especially Catholics, how we should believe, or even vote? 

For people that have never seen Bob Jones University, let me give you the quick run of the school. 

Bob Jones is a place for students that choose to go there to learn about their way of living. And even though I know many people that go there, they do not treat me differently or act any differently than me or you act. 

They like to party on Saturday nights and have a good time, they just choose to base their learning on the Bible and the way they interpret it on how Jesus wanted us to live. 

And although the whole school is guarded by a gate, it is not that bad of a place to go to school, and it is certainly not a place where one learns how to be a bigot, and ridicule people as McCain would like us to believe. 

It’s all about winning votes. 

Because if the next state wasn’t Michigan, which is predominantly Catholic, this would not be an issue, and believe me, when the primaries go back down South, this will all be in the forgotten past. 

Religion should never be used to be a way to influence voters to vote for or against someone, it is just morally wrong. 

Jesus taught us to love everyone. Not to just love people that believe the same way you do, but to love everyone. 

With that being said, religion has no place in politics. Because the majority of the candidates all believe in a higher being, they may just have different views on facts 
 

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