ASU defensive line coach Mark Speir is training for the Music City Marathon on April 26 in Nashville (photo courtesy of Keith Cline)

Mountaineer Football Notebook: ASU Assistant Coach to Run Marathon for Charity
by Appalachian Sports Information

March 3, 2008 - BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University defensive line coach Mark Speir is in training to run the Music City Marathon on April 26 in Nashville, Tenn. Speir is running the marathon in memory of Dr. Lowell Furman, a longtime supporter of ASU football and co-founder of World Medical Mission.

Speir’s goal in running the marathon is to raise $26,200 for a hospital being rebuilt in Bangladesh by the Boone-based World Medical Mission, a division of Samaritan’s Purse. The hospital is to be named for Dr. Furman, who passed away during Appalachian’s run to the second of three-straight national championships in 2006.

In addition to honoring money in memory of Dr. Furman, Speir is also running the grueling 26.2-mile race in honor of Dr. Jim Foulkes, who devoted 38 years to medical missions in Africa. Dr. Foulkes, who leads a weekly devotion for ASU’s coaching staff, is an Ohio State graduate. The Mountaineers, of course, gained millions of fans in Buckeye Country in 2007 when it opened the season with a 34-32 triumph over OSU-archrival Michigan.

Speir, who has been a member of Appalachian’s staff since 2003, has had a lifetime goal of completing a marathon course before the age of 40. He turns 40 on April 28, two days after the Music City Marathon.

To support the worthwhile cause, visit www.firstgiving.com/markspeir.

MONDAY’S PRACTICE CUT SHORT BY CAMPUS THREAT: Monday’s football practice, the fifth of 15 allowed by the NCAA during in the spring, was cut short due to the threat of a gunman on ASU’s campus.

The Mountaineers practiced in full pads for the first time this spring, but head coach Jerry Moore ushered the team off the Kidd Brewer Stadium field and into the Owens Field House locker room when the University locked down all buildings shortly after 5 p.m. The team had practiced for just over an hour before leaving the field and remained in Owens Field House until the lockdown was lifted at 6:32 p.m.

Appalachian will hold three more practices this week before taking 11 days off for spring break.

For more on the campus emergency situation, visit www.emergency.appstate.edu.