Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina returns home on Saturday (Oct. 9) to host the Mercer Bears in the centerpiece of a busy Homecoming 2021 as the best game-day atmosphere in the Southern Conference comes alive again this weekend. Kickoff at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
Tickets for Saturday's Homecoming game are available in advance through the Athletics ticket office located on the first floor of the Ramsey Center; by calling (800) 34-GOWCU; or online with the option to print from home through CatamountSports.com. The ticket booth at Gate 1 at the stadium also opens at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday for walk-up sales on game day.
Saturday's game will also be broadcast on the Catamount Sports Network (CSN) with an air time of the Pepsi Tailgate Show at 2:30 pm. Fans across western North Carolina can hear the game locally on seven CSN affiliates: in Sylva, 105.7 FM and 540 AM WRGC "The River"; 104.9 FM and 1050 AM WFSC in Franklin; WISE Sports Radio 1310 AM and 102.9 FM in Asheville; and 970 AM WYSE in Canton, with
live streaming audio online at CatamountSports.com.
The eighth all-time series meeting between WCU and Mercer will be
broadcast live on ESPN3 (
cable subscription required) with Kyle Rush and Phil Cox on the call. Fans can also follow the game with
live stats accessible online at CatamountSports.com with timely in-game updates on Twitter using @Catamounts and @CatamountsFB.
Saturday's home game for the Catamounts is its lone appearance at Whitmire Stadium in October as WCU is slated for its bye week on Oct. 16 and road games at The Citadel (Oct. 23) and Wofford (Oct. 30) before playing its final two home games of the regular season on the first two Saturday's of November.
Western Carolina continues to seek its first victory of the season and the first under head coach
Kerwin Bell as the Catamounts host the Bears. In its four games against NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) competition this fall, WCU has held leads in each including building 10-point second-half advantages against both Samford and Gardner-Webb. The Catamounts will look to the Homecoming Day crowd for the extra surge to knock off one of the SoCon's early contenders in Mercer.
Picked sixth in the preseason by the league's head coaches and voting media, Mercer (3-1 2-0 SoCon) enters Saturday's game perfect in two conference games this fall with its only seasonal blemish coming at FBS top-ranked Alabama. The Bears blanked a non-Division I foe, Point University, 69-0 to start the season before the 48-14 road loss against the Crimson Tide. Mercer is riding a two-game win streak, earning a road SoCon win at Furman 24-3 on Sept. 25 and outlasting Samford in an offensive affair in Macon, 45-42.
The Bears boast the second-highest scoring average in the SoCon this season at 38.0 points per game and rank fourth in scoring defense by limiting opponents to a 23.2 scoring average. On offense, Mercer is paced by tailback Fred Davis who collected a litany of honors after last weekend's performance against Samford. The redshirt freshman ran for a program-record 276 yards and five touchdowns in the win over the Bulldogs, collecting SoCon Offensive Player and Stats Perform National Offensive Player of the Week.
WCU enters the weekend fourth in total offense this season, averaging 421.8 yards per game that includes ranking second in the league in passing at 275.4 yards per game.
Raphael Williams ranks third in the league with both an average of six receptions per game and 75.8 receiving yards per outing and leads five different Catamount receivers with touchdown receptions this season.
Kickoff is slated for 3:30 pm.
Western Carolina vs. Mercer – All-Time Series:
The Catamounts and Bears meet for the eighth time on the football gridiron on Saturday with WCU trailing in the all-time series, 2-5 … the Catamounts won the first two series meetings but have suffered five consecutive losses to Mercer dating back to 2016 … Mercer has won two of the three series meetings played in Cullowhee including back-to-back wins in 2017, edging WCU 35-33, and a season-opening 49-27 victory to begin the 2019 season.
Game 6: Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021 • 3:30 pm
Location: Cullowhee, N.C. (E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field – 13,790)
Records: Mercer (3-1, 2-0 SoCon) at Western Carolina (0-5, 0-2 SoCon)
BROADCAST INFORMATION:
TV / Video Stream: ESPN3 (
cable subscription required)
PBP: Kyle Rush; Color: Phil Cox
Radio: Catamount Sports Network
PBP: Gary Ayers; Color: Greg McLamb; Producer: Jeff Bryson
CSN Affiliates:
Sylva – 105.7 FM / 540 AM WRGC
Franklin – 104.9 FM / 1050 AM WFSC
Asheville – WISE Sports Radio 102.9 FM / 1310 AM
Canton – WYSE Sports Radio 970 AM
Online:
CatamountSports.com
Keep track of everything related to Catamount football and WCU Athletics through its social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/CatamountSports) and Twitter (@Catamounts, @CatamountsFB).
Things to Know Before You Go:
Where to Park - Interactive WCU Parking Map:
• Parking lots open at 8:00 am on Saturday, Oct. 9 … Tailgating begins at Noon,
pursuant with University Policy 101;
•
General Admission parking: H.F. Robinson Building and both the North Baseball Parking Deck and the South Baseball Lot … Access to the HFR lot is through the main entrance – to access the North and South Baseball Lots, turn left onto FOREST HILLS ROAD (third stoplight, near Ramsey Center) ... Parking –
especially for visiting fans – is also available down Little Savannah Road behind the Catamount Travel Center and past the Cullowhee Post Office at the WCU Health & Human Science (HHS) parking lots (FREE SHUTTLE beginning at 1:30 pm, see below) … It is also suggested 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;
•
Catamount Club Reserved Parking Lots (
parking pass required) include: Camp Lab (Lot13), Belk (Lot14), Jordan-Phillips Field House (Lot12), Football Stadium (Lot10), Creek (Lot9C) Lot, and Camp Lab Festival Parking (Lot4A) ... All patrons with parking passes should enter the main entrance of the WCU campus, display parking credential to gain access to their designated, assigned parking lots;
•
Student Tailgating Lot (
pass required): Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center Lots (Lot 13) … those spaces are reserved on-campus by student organizations for each game day.
* A reminder, glass beverage containers are not permitted in WCU's tailgating lots *
Note: WCU Parking & Transportation will run a FREE "Tailgate Express" CatTran Shuttle for each home football game this year. Vehicles will be directed to park at the Health & Human Services (HHS) Lot and HHS Adjacent Lot down Little Savannah Road where patrons will be picked up. The FREE shuttle will transport fans to both the Ramsey Center circle drive for West Side seating and Gate 1 entrance for patrons with East Side tickets. Shuttles will also be available after the game for return trips to these lots. Please note: this is not a shuttle around campus – just to and from the parking lots.
The Catamount Club:
• The Purple Zone (
requires RSVP): Located on the Ramsey Center Patio – is open from 1:00 pm until 3:00 pm;
• Paws Porch (
requires a ticket, credential): Located on the patio of the Jordan Phillips Fieldhouse; doors open at 3:00 pm;
• Catamount Corner (
requires a ticket, credential): Located on the Northwest patio of the Ramsey Center; opens at 3:00 pm.
Where to Buy Tickets:
•
Purchase – and PRINT – tickets in advance through CatamountSports.com … Avoid any lines at the ticket windows on game day and purchase tickets in advance!
On Game Day:
• WCU Athletic Ticket Office: (828) 227-2401 – phone lines open beginning at 10:00 am until Noon for ticket information and phone orders ONLY – NO WALK-UP SALES through the Ramsey Center Ticket Office;
• Gate 1 Ticket Sales on the West Side of the stadium open at 10:00 am for walk-up sales;
• Ticket sales at all other gates begin at Noon – 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;
• Please be reminded,
WCU Athletics will enforce a clear bag policy this season. Only standard clear bags, 12-inches by 6-inches by 12-inches in size, small purses approximately 4.5-inches by 5-inches not including the strap, and clear gallon size storage bags are permitted. Diaper bags (child must be present upon entry) and any medical-related bags will be allowed …
All bags are subject to screening before admittance into the stadium.
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 are able to receive Will Call at any entrance gate ticket booth;
• Guests of WCU Chancellor's Office can pick up tickets at Will Call at Gate 4;
• WCU Football Player's Guest will utilize Gate 6 (as well as Dance/Cheer Guests) ... Those who are on the player pass list must show a photo ID to pick up tickets. Player Pass Will Call does not open until 2:00 pm when the stadium gates are open … Once the player pass tickets are picked up, they are scanned, and the individual MUST enter the stadium;
• Football Recruits: North Concourse, enter the Southeast doors of the Ramsey Center. Arrivals after 11:50 am, please go to Gate 6;
• All Other WCU Recruits: 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.
TICKET PRICES:
•
Chair Back Reserved: Adult $35 Youth (Ages 3-12) $25 – Sections DD, JJ, KK, LL;
•
Bench Back Reserved: Adult $30 Youth (Ages 3-12) $20 – Sections JJ, MM;
•
Bleacher Reserved: Adult $30, Youth (Ages 3-12) $20 – Sections D, E, F, J, K, L
•
General Admission – Game Day: Adult $20, Youth (Ages 3-12) $15 – Sections G, GG
•
Full-time WCU Students: Free with valid CatCard ID;
•
WCU Student Guest Tickets: $13 (WCU students can purchase up to 2 guest tickets and sit in the student section)
Other Helpful Game Day Hints:
• BRING CASH – though WCU's ticket booths and the concessions stand 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, numerous gates 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 Catamount Dining concessions stands, proudly serving ice-cold Pepsi products … Fans can also enjoy concession items from Bojangles and Tubby's Popcorn & More.
Game Day Promotions:
• Saturday's game is "
Homecoming," with special alumni award winners recognized at halftime and the annual Homecoming King and Queen announced;
• Fans will want to be in the stands early as the All Veterans Group Sky Diving Team will deliver Saturday's game ball as they land on the football field during a special pregame ceremony;
• 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 "Pride of the Mountains" Marching Band, WCU Dance Team, and Catamount cheerleaders pregame march to the stadium begins at approximately 2:25 pm;
• The WCU Game Day Information Booth opens at 2:00 pm just inside of Gate 1 … the WCU Bookstore will be on hand selling WCU merchandise outside of Gate 6 at the stadium;
• At halftime, the "Pride of the Mountains" Marching Band will perform their show to the East Side stands with an encore presentation following Saturday's game.
