App State coach Shawn Clark apologizes to Charlotte’s Will Healy for offensive photo

Charlotte football coach Will Healy confirmed that Appalachian State coach Shawn Clark apologized to him for an offensive photo shared on social media from the Mountaineers locker room after Saturday’s game against the 49ers.

“Shawn sent me a text,” Healy told The Observer on Sunday. “He’s classy; I’ve got no problem with Shawn. I’m not frustrated by the situation; it has nothing to do with me. It’s not something we’re going to spend any time on.

“Congrats to them on the win. However they want to handle it is Shawn’s call. We’ll handle our duty and make sure we’re getting better here. Until we beat them we can’t really say anything.”

The photo showed a group of Mountaineers players with Charlotte’s “Club Lit” sign, with their middle fingers forming a “T” sign after App State’s 35-20 victory at Kidd Brewer Stadium. App State had the sign — which is used during Charlotte victory locker room celebrations — after it was inadvertently left behind after their 2019 game in Boone.

The photo was taken down and replaced by another with Mountaineers players holding up their index fingers.

On Monday, Clark released his own statement:

“After the game, an inappropriate picture was taken in our locker room and posted on social media. This is unacceptable and does not represent the values of our football program, our athletics department or our university. I apologize to Chancellor (Sheri) Everts and the Appalachian State University community on behalf of our program.”

This story was originally published September 13, 2020 at 7:58 PM.