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Athletics looks to future with Peacock
by Erik Rhyne
Staff Writer
Appalachian State University is coming upon one of its most important times with the installation of Dr. Kenneth E. Peacock.
As Peacock prepares to take his oath tomorrow, there is a wide amount of support from coaches and other figures in the athletic department.
"We just want him to know that the baseball team and the athletic department are behind him," baseball head coach Chris Pollard said. "We will do whatever we can to further help the university."
As the university moves forward into a new era under Dr. Peacock, sports at Appalachian are improving, readying themselves to be very competitive for the years to come.
The men's basketball team had one of their best seasons since 2000. Finishing with a record of 18-12, the team brings back a majority of the team with more experience to contend for a conference title next year.
The women's team finished the year with one of their best seasons in many years. With a 2004 record of 11-17, head coach Adrienne Shuler will have her team ready for a bigger year in the fall.
The baseball and softball teams are both showing improvement this year. The softball team is improving each year under head coach Willie Rucker. The baseball team is having one of their better seasons under Pollard, who is in his first year.
The track & field team is a group consistently at the top of the Southern Conference. In the next few years, the team should continue to be consistent as they have always been.
The football team under head coach Jerry Moore, look prepared to perform better on the field next season to return to the playoffs.
"It's important to me to help integrate the sports department with faculty here to show we all want to improve the university," basketball head coach Houston Fancher said. "Sometimes it feels like we are on an island."
"I just want to wish him the best of luck," softball head coach Willie Rucker said. "He's surrounded himself with a number of good people already. I don't have any advice for him, but I will gladly take any advice he wants to give me."
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