Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina and mountain-rival East Tennessee State meet in the annual gridiron grudge match known as the “Blue Ridge Border Battle” on Saturday afternoon at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field. Saturday's game has also been billed as “Heroes Day” with special pregame festivities to honor all active duty and veteran military personnel, as well as first responders including police, fire, and emergency management workers.
Tickets for Saturday's football 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. All of those designated as heroes will receive free admission – securing a ticket at the ticket booth – with family members eligible for a discounted ticket.
Game day activities on Saturday get underway at Noon as Catamount men's basketball hosts reigning Big South champion, Gardner-Webb, in the Ramsey Center. Those possessing a ticket to Saturday's football game will receive FREE admission to the basketball game. Tailgating for the football game also commences at Noon with a special “Heroes Day” Tailgate Town set-up just outside the Ramsey Center in Ramsey Lot 9A. The highly anticipated “Cat Walk” slated for 1:15 pm ahead of the 3:30 pm kickoff.
Story Lines in Saturday's Meeting with ETSU:
• THE BLUE RIDGE BORDER BATTLE: The mountain-rivalry between Western Carolina and ETSU got a new name last year – the “Blue Ridge Border Battle” ... the two teams representing mountain campuses that are just 112 miles apart again play for a trophy that features a two-tiered wooden pedestal adorned on opposite sides by the two-school's respective logos and the moniker of the football rivalry series ... Atop the trophy is a rock that was taken from the Appalachian Trail on the North Carolina–Tennessee border in the Blue Ridge mountains ... As the series progresses, the trophy will include engraved plates with the date and score of the game to be placed below the logo of the winning team.
• HALTING SEVERAL STREAKS: WCU enters Saturday's game with ETSU after halting a myriad of winless droughts last weekend – while also managing to extend its longest active series winning streak ... the Catamounts halted a five-game seasonal drought as well as a 15- game losing skid to NCAA Division I competition ... the road win marked WCU's first in nine games away from Cullowhee while also putting the clamps on a 12-game SoCon drought which had ranked as the second-longest skid in the NCAA FCS (Brown, L-19 in Ivy League).
WESTERN CAROLINA VS. ETSU – ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY:
• WCU and ETSU have played a combined 48 times in the head-to-head series with the first meeting being contested in 1932 ... the Catamounts hold a slight, 24-23-1, edge in the all-time series that was dormant from 2003 until 2016 after ETSU dropped its football program ... From 1990 through 1997, both teams enjoyed four-game series win streaks – first by WCU followed by four-consecutive series wins by the Bucs ... WCU has won five of the last nine series meetings;
• The series was rekindled in 2016 with a meeting held at the “Last Great Colosseum,” the World's Fastest Half Mile, Bristol Motor Speedway ... the game marked ETSU's official return to the Southern Conference, its first league game since 2003;
• Saturday marks the first series meeting in Cullowhee since the addition of the rivalry trophy ... WCU leads in games played at home, 12-10, winning 49-10 back in 2017.
Things to Know Before You Go:
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 the basketball game at Noon … 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 Nov. 9 as per the University's Policy 103;
The Catamount Club:
• The Purple Zone (for qualifying members; requires proper credentials & RSVP): 11:30 am – 1:00 pm – Grab-and-Go in the auxiliary gym of the Ramsey Center
• The Purple Zone Cocktail Reception (for qualifying members; requires proper credentials & RSVP – Located on the Ramsey Center Patio - is open from 2:00 pm (after the men's basketball game) 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 2 and 4 begin at Noon … Sales at Gate 3 opens at 1:30 pm;
• 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 on the Ramsey Center lawn along Catamount Road … 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
• WCU men's basketball tickets ONLY: Adults, $15 for reserved, Adults $10 for GA, Youth (3-12) $5
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.
• The WCU Bookstore will be selling merchandise outside the stadium near Gate 6.
Game Day Promotions:
• Catamount Men's Basketball vs. Gardner-Webb – Ramsey Center – Noon start time, admission is FREE with a ticket to the football game;
• Pregame parachute team from All Veterans Group will jump into Whitmire Stadium during pregame festivities;
• Saturday marks the first “Blue Ridge Border Battle” game played in Cullowhee;
• 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;
• The "Pride of the Mountains" Marching Band will perform their full show to the East Side stands both at halftime and following Saturday's game.
Special Reminder:
• 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!
