The Journal • 24th January 2026

Tigers’ Swinney lashes out, accuses Ole Miss of tampering

Over the course of 17 minutes, Swinney went day-by-day — sometimes even minute-by-minute — detailing accusations of Ole Miss tampering with Ferrelli, calling out head coach Pete Golding and Ferrelli’s agent, Ryan Williams, and criticizing the lack of oversight in the current landscape of college football.

The Journal • 27th April 2024

Falcons trade up for Clemson’s Orhorhoro

The Journal • 26th December 2023

Clemson’s Carter aims for ‘legend’ status

Among those he spoke to during the process was teammate Jeremiah Trotter Jr., the Tigers’ other star third-year linebacker who did opt to move on to the NFL, and Jeremiah Trotter Sr. The elder Trotter, who spent years in the NFL as a linebacker, told Carter to follow his heart and to not look back on whatever decision he made.

The Journal • 15th November 2023

Shipley talks about hits to head

2023 FWAA Writing Contest Best Feature honorable mention

The Journal • 1st November 2023

Swinney doubles down after caller criticism

“I’m sure you didn’t want me to get this job, and 15 years later, I’m still here,” Swinney said. “And I’d say the results are what they are, and I stand on them. If you don’t like how I run the program, don’t be a fan. I don’t care. But I’m the head coach, and I’m going to do what I believe is right for the long term of this program, what’s best for the players and what I think is the best for the moment. If you’ve got a problem with that, that’s fine.”

The Journal • 18th October 2023

As debut nears, Clemson gymnastics is ready

“It's amazing, being able to start this program with this team and just building the culture already,” Wells said. “We've already had so many good meetings and conversations about who we want this team to be in a few years and starting this year.”

The Journal • 11th March 2023

West-Oak’s Towe named area’s best

Going from sophomore role player to junior star, Towe averaged 14.9 points, seven rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.7 steals per game and was the driving force behind a turnaround that saw West-Oak compete for the Western 3A region title this year, ultimately finishing second and earning a home playoff game.

The Journal • 13th January 2023

Streeter out, TCU’s Riley in as Tigers’ offensive coordinator

After just one season on the job, Brandon Streeter is out as Clemson’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, and head coach Dabo Swinney is poised to replace him with a big-name hire this afternoon.

The Journal • 16th December 2022

Turner the latest young receiver to turn heads, just as Swinney predicted

It made sense Swinney would think highly of Turner, he’s known the receiver for years. Swinney and Turner’s father, Kevin, were teammates at Alabama and worked together selling commercial real estate after Kevin Turner retired from football and Swinney was in between coaching at Alabama and Clemson in the early 2000s.

The Journal • 16th November 2022

Swinney: Elliott will do ‘as good a job as anybody could’ in dealing with Virginia tragedy

“My heart goes out to (Virginia head coach Tony Elliott) as well in having to really lead his team through this," Swinney said. "Nobody is better equipped than that man. Definitely heavy hearts all throughout college football and certainly our league.”

The Journal • 16th September 2022

Sister of Tigers’ Bresee dies of brain cancer

Fans, players and programs from around the country have been voicing their support of Bresee and his family through #ELLASTRONG since the announcement.

Watauga Democrat • 26th February 2022

Pioneers' season ends as Wildcats win 55-44

“It’s sad that this team doesn’t get to practice and prepare for the next round. The fun we were having together is over, and that’s the hard part,” Barry said after the Feb. 26 game. “There’s a lot of competitive feelings about what just happened, but the overwhelming big picture is that we just finished our season and that period is tough to swallow.”

Watauga Democrat • 15th February 2022

Pioneer boys forced to forfeit all conference games

According to athletic director Dustin Kerley, Watauga learned they had inadvertently fielded an ineligible player before their Friday, Feb. 11, game against the Ashe County Huskies.

Watauga Democrat • 9th February 2022

Ponce leaves App State, Watts tabbed as interim OC

Clark stated that assistant head coach/recruiting coordinator/tight ends coach Justin Watts would serve as the interim OC for the time being. Whoever takes the reins will be the third offensive coordinator in just three years at App, following Ponce and Tony Peterson — who left for Illinois in December, 2020.

Watauga Democrat • 4th February 2022

Pioneers to Mountaineers: Everett, Leon set sights on App State football future

“I always kept my mentality into what’s next,” Everett said. “College coaches aren’t going to sit there and feel bad for you. They’re going to look at who’s the best option out of what they have and I was able to meet that criteria, and so it’s nice to finally have this dream come true.”

Watauga Democrat • 4th February 2022

JMU jumping to Sun Belt early, conference drops Little Rock and UTA

The conference’s additions set it up to be a 16-team league, so some subtractions were made to make it easier to manage.

Watauga Democrat • 21st October 2021

Staton hits last second field goal, App State upsets No. 14 Coastal Carolina

Staton said after the game that kicks like the one he made against Coastal are not the main reason he returned, but as a kicker they are the moments he dreams of.

Watauga Democrat • 11th October 2021

Carter kicks again as he returns from injury

Although he was limited to a pair of extra points — both of which he made — Everett said that helping the team pull off the 28-21 win was as good as it gets.

Watauga Democrat • 2nd October 2021

Pioneers get 56-22 win in 'chippy' game against Spartans

The game saw two teams seeking their first win of conference play, but the contest would be marred by an injury to Colin Phelps that led to the Watauga running back later leaving the stadium on a stretcher.

Watauga Democrat • 25th September 2021

App State fans berating Marshall players denounced by school

In two videos posted on Twitter by SidelineSass Podcast host and sports reporter Emily Van Buskirk, fans wearing App State clothing can be seen leaning over the railing above the entrance to the tunnel next to the south end zone yelling expletives at Marshall players and giving them the middle finger as the players headed back into their locker room.

Watauga Democrat • 28th September 2021

Mahagan sentenced for Lindamore deaths

Just over one year after two pedestrians were killed after being hit by a car, the driver plead guilty in Watauga County Superior Court on Sept. 8. Madison Jane Mahagan, 22, pleaded guilty to two counts of felony death by vehicle in the Sept. 4, 2020, deaths of Tracy Marie Lindamore, 52, and James Leroy Lindamore Jr., 54, of Frostburg, Maryland.

Watauga Democrat • 29th April 2021

Five dead including two deputies after April 28 standoff

Watauga County is in mourning following an April 28 standoff with law enforcement that left five people dead — two of which were WCSO deputies.

Watauga Democrat • 4th March 2021

Flores pleas guilty, sentenced for 2019 hit and run

Ashe Post & Times • 2nd December 2020

Hubbard dies before murder case concludes

Ashe Post & Times • 27th August 2020

Ashe County Commissioner Larry Dix charged with crimes against children

Ashe Post & Times • 5th February 2020

911 calls, ACSO reveal more about January standoff

Ashe Post & Times • 3rd December 2019

July manhunt subjects indicted on murder charges in Florida

Ashe Post & Times • 30th July 2019

Suspects in Boone robbery caught in Ashe after daylong manhunt

The Journal • 26th December 2023

Clemson’s Carter aims for ‘legend’ status

Among those he spoke to during the process was teammate Jeremiah Trotter Jr., the Tigers’ other star third-year linebacker who did opt to move on to the NFL, and Jeremiah Trotter Sr. The elder Trotter, who spent years in the NFL as a linebacker, told Carter to follow his heart and to not look back on whatever decision he made.

The Journal • 11th March 2023

West-Oak’s Towe named area’s best

Going from sophomore role player to junior star, Towe averaged 14.9 points, seven rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.7 steals per game and was the driving force behind a turnaround that saw West-Oak compete for the Western 3A region title this year, ultimately finishing second and earning a home playoff game.

Watauga Democrat • 4th February 2022

Pioneers to Mountaineers: Everett, Leon set sights on App State football future

“I always kept my mentality into what’s next,” Everett said. “College coaches aren’t going to sit there and feel bad for you. They’re going to look at who’s the best option out of what they have and I was able to meet that criteria, and so it’s nice to finally have this dream come true.”

Watauga Democrat • 11th October 2021

Carter kicks again as he returns from injury

Although he was limited to a pair of extra points — both of which he made — Everett said that helping the team pull off the 28-21 win was as good as it gets.

Watauga Democrat • 8th October 2021

As awareness grows, teens speak out on mental health

Kurt Michael, a professor in Appalachian State University’s department of psychology who specializes in mental health in K-12 students, counseling and rural school mental health, said that mental health issues in young people are not only more prevalent than some may think, but are also the same issues affecting older people.

Watauga Democrat • 21st September 2021

App soccer legend Thompson Usiyan dies at 65

“If I close my eyes, I can see Thompson blazing down the sideline of the stadium, leaving opponents in his dust,” Steibrecher said. “I can see his smile.”

Watauga Democrat • 8th July 2021

Crawley family set for 102 miles of fundraising

Ayla Crawley said the support they have received not only gives the family encouragement going into the hike, but also for their future endeavors. “It’s really amazing,” she said. “Honestly, being able to pretty much do whatever I want, and help whatever organization or cause I want, it’s amazing.”

Watauga Democrat • 21st June 2021

Marker commemorating Junaluska community unveiled

Following the American Civil War, freed slaves in the Watauga area began to coalesce on the slopes of Howard’s Knob, forming a tight-knit community that would be known as Junaluska. As the years went on, the area transformed from a handful of farms to a fully-formed community featuring Black-owned businesses and neighborhoods.

Watauga Democrat • 29th March 2021

NICA working to get girls on bikes through GRiT program

Standing for Girls Riding Together, the program aims to see a 33 percent female participation number by 2023, but that number has already been eclipsed by the NICA team in Watauga. According to team director Jeff Cathey, 14 of the 34 riders are girls while women hold nine of the 22 coaching positions in Watauga.

Watauga Democrat • 16th March 2021

How the Mountaineers went from eight-straight losing seasons to March Madness

When Justin Forrest arrived at Appalachian State University in 2017, the freshman basketball player from Decatur, Ga., was not joining a powerhouse program. The Mountaineers had not been a winning team in years, with six losing seasons in a row.

All About Women • 11th July 2017

Sarah Grady of Sunny Day Homes

The Appalachian • 5th October 2016

The patience of Capel

“I wanted to be on special teams so bad early on in my career and I want to be on it now. There’s no need for me to say, ‘I don’t want to be on special teams,’” Capel said. “My thing is, I’ll do whatever I have to do for the team. So if it’s special teams, it’s special teams. If it’s catching passes, it’s catching passes. So as far as being a team guy, it is something I feel like I should do.”

Watauga Democrat • 21st September 2021

App soccer legend Thompson Usiyan dies at 65

“If I close my eyes, I can see Thompson blazing down the sideline of the stadium, leaving opponents in his dust,” Steibrecher said. “I can see his smile.”

Watauga Democrat • 14th July 2021

ARC Federal Co-Chair visits local business on Western NC tour

As part of the Carolina Textile District — an enterprise run by the Industrial Commons in Morganton — and the Outdoor Gear Builders association, Tsuga has been able to build connections as both designers and manufacturers for other companies in Western N.C. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Tsuga and the 59 other CTD companies shifted their focus to making masks and medical-grade gowns. The project and swift change in direction was backed by the ARC, who supplied a $300,000 grant to the Industrial Commons in spring 2020.

Watauga Democrat • 24th June 2021

Mountain Born Napa latest branding strategy for Appalachian State

"We are running a business here, it’s just we have the luxury of having athletic competition be one of our products.”

Watauga Democrat • 22nd April 2021

Watauga Butchery fills a need for local farmers

Shipley, who not only helped open it but is also a client, noted he was told in April 2020 that he would have had to wait until September to get his beef processed, which could have put him out of business.

Watauga Democrat • 4th March 2021

Watauga County has a Top 20 beer scene, but is it the best?

Watauga Democrat • 20th January 2021

New River Gymnastics looks to stick the landing in delayed season

Watauga Democrat • 7th January 2021

Local coffee shops see steady stream of consumers during COVID-19 pandemic

All About Women • 11th July 2017

Sarah Grady of Sunny Day Homes