Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina returns home for its fourth home date of the 2019 season, hosting Southern Conference front-runner, No. 14 Furman, this Saturday, Oct. 26 for Homecoming. Kickoff from E.J. Whtimire Stadium / Bob Waters Field is scheduled for 3:30 pm.
Both squads look to bounce back with a victory in the 47th all-time series meeting. Furman (4-3, 3-1 SoCon) suffered its first conference loss last Saturday with a 27-10 home defeat in the rain against The Citadel. The Catamounts (1-6, 0-4 SoCon) continue to seek their first win in league play, looking to halt a four-game seasonal slide.
Tickets for Saturday's Homecoming game are available in advance, online at CatamountSports.com. On game day, the ticket booth at Gate 1 opens at 10:00 am with each booth opening at Noon.
Homecoming game day activities include tailgating that gets underway at Noon with the “Cat Walk” slated for 1:15 pm ahead of the 3:30 pm kickoff.
Story Lines in Saturday's Meeting with Furman:
• LOOKING TO SNAP SEVERAL SKIDS: Western Carolina looks to halt an 11-game winless drought in Southern Conference play that dates back to last season … the 11-straight losses in conference play currently ranks as the second-longest active skid in the NCAA FCS behind Brown, which has endured 17-straight defeats in Ivy League play ... WCU also looks to put the clamps on a four-game seasonal slide and seeks its first victory in the series with Furman since 2015, trying to end a three-game streak against the Paladins;
• CATAMOUNTS ON HOMECOMING DAY: Western Carolina looks to halt a three-game slide on its annual Homecoming Day, last winning on the annual festival in 2015 over Samford ... WCU is 20-24-1 all-time since 1974 on Homecoming at E.J. Whitmire Stadium ... WCU has hosted Furman four times on Homecoming since '74, posting a 1-3 record – most recently in 2017 – a 28-6 Paladins victory).
CATAMOUNT NATION – SEEKING A SoCon Three-Peat in Average Attendance:
• Through last weekend's games, Western Carolina ranks FIRST in overall average attendance in the Southern Conference with an average of 9,874 fans per game (through three home dates) – a mark that ranks 29th nationally ... WCU is just in front of The Citadel in 33rd (9,446 through four games) and Mercer in 35th (9,359 through four games);
• WCU has PACED the SoCon in average attendance in back-to-back years, ranking 23rd nationally in 2017 (10,547) and a program-best 17th nationally in 2018 (10,580).
WESTERN CAROLINA vs. FURMAN – SERIES HISTORY:
• Western Carolina trails Furman in the all-time series that dates back to 1971, 12-32-2, including a 6-15-1 overall mark in games played in Cullowhee ... the Catamounts have dropped three-consecutive series meetings in 2018 (A), 2017 (H), and 2016 (A) on the heels of winning two-straight in 2014 (A) and 2015 (H) and 11 of the last 14 overall in the series;
• Western Carolina's 38-point, 48-10, victory over Furman in the 2015 meeting represented WCU's largest margin of victory in the series all-time ... It was just the second-time in series history that WCU had eclipsed the 40-point mark – the other was a 41-21 win over then No. 2 Furman in Cullowhee back in 2005;
• Despite having two wins in the last five games in the head-to-head series, the Catamounts have suffered losses in 18 of the last 21 series meetings – and 20 of the last 24 overall dating back to 1995;
Things to Know Before You Go:
Special Notice:
• Please note that umbrellas ARE NOT PERMITTED at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field … Anyone trying to enter the stadium with an umbrella will be asked to either return it to their vehicle OR simply leave it at the gate … Any umbrellas found inside the stadium will be asked to be lowered or will be confiscated. Catamount Athletics appreciates your cooperation!
Where to Park:
• General Admission parking is available on a first-come, first-serve basis in the following parking lots on the WCU campus: H.F. Robinson Building (Lot 1A & 1B) and both the North and South Baseball Lots (8A & 8B) ... It is also recommended that fans consider taking Old Cullowhee Road to the old entrance to the WCU campus and utilize parking in the lots behind Hunter Library for game day ... Parking – especially for visiting fans and those without parking passes – is also available down Little Savannah Road behind the Catamount Travel Center (Student Commuter Lot 73) and past the Cullowhee Post Office at the WCU Health & Human Science (HHS) parking lots (use the pedestrian bridge over N.C. Hwy 107 or Catch a ride on the “Tailgate Express,” the FREE GAMEDAY SHUTTLE, see below);
* Please note that this Saturday, the Baseball Lots (General Admission) may fill up quickly due to events happening on campus … Visitors to campus without a parking pass should consider parking at the HHS lot (link below) the FREE shuttle will begin running at 9 am until the end of the game.
• Catamount Club Reserved Parking Lots (parking pass required) include: Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center (Lot13), Belk (Lot14), Jordan-Phillips Field House (Lot12), Football Stadium (Lot 10), Creek (Lot9C) Lot, and Camp Lab Festival Parking (Lot4A) ... All patrons with parking passes should enter the FOREST HILLS ROAD (third stoplight, near Ramsey Center and baseball stadium) entrance to campus, display parking credentials to gain access to Catamount Road … Be reminded that general access to Catamount Road is limited from Noon through the duration of the game except for those with proper parking credentials.
Note: WCU Parking & Transportation will run a FREE "Catamount Express Cat Tran Shuttle" for each home football game this year, presented by Ingles. The service begins two hours prior to kickoff – at 1:30 pm on Homecoming Saturday, Oct. 26. Vehicles will be directed to park on the millennial campus at the Health & Human Services (HHS) Lots# 76A & 76B down Little Savannah Road where patrons will be picked up by the FREE shuttle and delivered to either Gate 1 on the West Side stands or to the Ramsey Center circle drive on Forest Hills Road with easy access to the East Side gates. Shuttles will also be available after the game for return trips to these lots. Please note that this is not a shuttle around campus - just to and from the parking lots.
Tailgating:
• Parking lots open at 8:00 am
• Sanctioned tailgating begins 3.5 hours prior to kickoff – officially at Noon on Oct. 26 as per the University's Policy 103;
The Catamount Club:
• The Purple Zone (for qualifying members; requires proper credentials & RSVP): Located on the Ramsey Center Patio - is open from 1:00 pm until 3:00 pm;
• Paws Porch (requires a game ticket, credential): Located on the patio of the Jordan Phillips Fieldhouse: Opens at 3:00 pm;
• Catamount Corner (for qualifying members; requires game ticket & proper credential): Located on the Northeast patio of the Ramsey Center: Opens at 3:00 pm;
Where to Buy Tickets:
• Purchase - and PRINT - tickets in advance through CatamountSports.com.
On Game Day:
• WCU Athletics Ticket Office - (828) 227-2401 -- phone lines open beginning at 9:00 AM until 3:30 pm ... There are only phone order and ticket information at the Ramsey Center ticket office on game day – NO WALK-UP SALES;
• Gate 1 Ticket Sales on the West Side of the stadium open at 10:00 am for walk-up game day sales;
• Ticket sales at all other gates begin at Noon pm - Gates 2, 3, and 4;
• All stadium gates open to the public at 2:00 pm ... Gate 6 for Player Pass also opens at 2:00 pm – those receiving player pass tickets must have the tickets scanned/stubbed and enter the stadium at that time.
Will Call:
• Remember to bring proper photo identification to pick up tickets at WCU's Will Call;
• Main Will Call for picking up purchased tickets or tickets being left for pick-up is at Gate 1; however, fans can receive Will Call at any entrance gate ticket booth;
• Guests of WCU Chancellor's Office can pick up tickets at the Chancellor's Pregame Tailgate, located in the first-floor Hospitality Room of the Ramsey Center … Those who are unable to pick-up their tickets during the pregame tailgate event may do so at Will Call at Gate 4;
• WCU Football Player's Guest will utilize Gate 6; as well as Dance/Cheer Guests: Gate 6 ... Those who are on the player pass list must show a photo ID to pick up their tickets -- again, Player Pass Will Call will not open until 2:00 pm when the stadium gates are open … Player Pass tickets are for general admission seating in sections H and I only;
• Again, once player pass tickets are picked up, the individual ticket holder MUST enter the stadium;
• Football Recruits: Parking in the baseball lots (first come, first serve) … After 3:00 pm, go to Gate 6;
• All Other Western Carolina Athletics Recruits: admission through Gate 6;
• High School Coaches: Present card to any ticket booth and receive up to TWO free admission tickets ... Pick up tickets from any ticket booth – not the player pass location;
• WCU Coach Guest: Gate 1
Ticket Price:
• Chair Back Reserved: Adult $35 Youth (Ages 3-12) $25 (All Gates) -- Sections DD, JJ, KK, LL
• Bench Back Reserved: Adult $30 Youth (Ages 3-12) $20 (All Gates) – Sections JJ, MM
• Bleacher Reserved: Adult $30, Youth (Ages 3-12) $20 – Sections D, E, F, J, K L
• General Admission – Gameday: Adult $20, Youth (Ages 3-12) $15 -- Sections G, GG seating only
• WCU Player Pass tickets – general admission seating in sections H and I only
Other Helpful Game Day Hints:
• BRING CASH -- though WCU's ticket booths and concessions stands at Whitmire Stadium are capable of credit/debit card transactions, lines for the popular stadium fare can back up ... There will be extra CASH-ONLY lines for items such as drinks on game day;
• Arrive early to avoid long lines entering Whitmire Stadium ... Also, there are numerous gates that allow entry to the stadium -- familiarize yourself with the best gates to get you to your seats for all the pregame festivities!
• Be sure to enjoy a variety of stadium fare at the Aramark concessions stands, proudly serving ice-cold Pepsi products -- or other vendors such as Bojangles', Speedy's Pizza, South of Philly, and Tubby's Caramel Corn & More.
Game Day Promotions:
• Catamount Volleyball vs. Furman – Ramsey Center – Noon start time, admission is FREE;
• Pregame 4th annual Great Catamount Rubber Duck Race along Cullowhee Creek – 2 pm – remaining ducks not picked-up from Mike Colombo State Farm in Sylva will be available in the Ramsey Center during the opening sets of the volleyball match;
• Saturday marks WCU's Homecoming game;
• Gather with other Purple & Gold clad faithful to cheer on the Catamounts during the "Cat Walk" to the stadium at approximately 1:15 pm in the Stadium and Field House parking lots;
• The Catamount Kids' Zone and “Paws Playground” opens at 2:00 pm just inside the main entrance at Gate 1 (weather permitting);
• At the end of the first quarter, this year's Catamount Club Greek Challenge winners will be unveiled at the south end zone (Ramsey Center, beneath the scoreboard);
• At halftime, WCU will honor its annual Alumni Award Winners as well as unveil its 2019 Homecoming Queen and King;
• With an abbreviated show at halftime, the "Pride of the Mountains" Marching Band will perform their full show to the East Side stands following Saturday's game.
