Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina plays its second-consecutive home game this Saturday (March 13), hosting The Citadel Bulldogs in Southern Conference play at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m., opening with a limited seating capacity.
 
Saturday's game will be broadcast on ESPN+ (paid subscription required) with the WCU production voiced by Daniel Hooker (pxp) and Dan Gibson (analyst). Catamount Sports Network coverage begins at Noon with the Pepsi Tailgate Show with the "Voice of the Catamounts" Gary Ayers (pxp), Greg McLamb (analyst), and Jeff Bryson (producer) on the call.  Fans across western North Carolina can hear the game locally on eight CSN affiliates: 105.7 FM and 540 AM WRGC "The River" in Sylva; 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.
 
Fans can also follow Saturday's game through live stats available online at CatamountSports.com.
 
Both teams enter Saturday's conference match-up looking to end six-game seasonal droughts and combined eight-game slides as two of the four teams in the SoCon that competed in the fall portion of the 2020-21 schedule. WCU fell last week in its home-opener to the resurgent VMI Keydets and SoCon preseason Offensive Player of the Year Reece Udinski, 30-7. The Citadel, which was picked fourth in the SoCon preseason, suffered its third-straight one-point loss at the hands of the Chattanooga Mocs, rallying from a 14-point deficit with 10 points in the fourth quarter to extend the game into overtime. UTC went for two following its score in the extra session to pick up the walk-off road win.
 
WCU senior tailback Donnavan Spencer just missed the century mark last week against the Keydets, rushing for 98 yards, the bulk of which came after halftime. Freshman RB Mikai Stanley plunged in from five yards out for his first career rushing score for the WCU offense. Senior LB Ty Harris posted the 12th double-digit tackle performance of his career with a team-high 14 tackles – his fourth game this season with double-figure stops.
 
In the most recent WCU-The Citadel meeting, the Catamounts grabbed an early 3-0 lead before the Bulldogs rattled off four consecutive scores to lead 28-3 midway through the second quarter. WCU used consecutive scores at the end of the second quarter and late in the third to close to within 11 points, 28-17, but former Bulldog QB Brandon Rainey hit Remus Bulmer for his second receiving score to provide the final tally, 35-17.
 
Bulldog QB Jaylan Adams is expected to make his third-straight start in replacing Rainey, who was a third-team All-America selection in 2019 but opted to graduate after the fall semester. Adams, a product of Johnson City, Tenn., who was converted to defensive back before returning to the offensive side of the ball last spring, has rushed and thrown for a touchdown in both of his first two career starts.
 
The Citadel had six preseason All-SoCon selections headlined by linebacker Willie Eubanks Jr., who was tabbed as the league's preseason defensive player of the year.
 
Western Carolina vs. The Citadel – Series History:

• Western Carolina and The Citadel meet for the 45th time on the football gridiron on Saturday … WCU trails The Citadel in the all-time series, 17-26-1, overall and has dropped seven of the last nine in the head-to-head series including two straight;
• WCU trails in games played in Cullowhee, 10-12, including consecutive losses in 2018 and 2016;

 
Familiar Faces in the WCU-The Citadel Series:

• Bulldog sixth-year WR coach Brian Rucker played at Western Carolina from 2000-03 and was an assistant coach on staff in 2006-07 after also serving as a student assistant;
• For his playing career, Rucker caught 44 passes for 558 yards and two touchdowns as a tight end, averaging 12.68 yards per catch … He was also a big part of special teams during his career.

 
SATURDAY'S BROADCAST INFORMATION:
Game 6: Saturday, March 13, 2021 – 1 p.m.
Location: Cullowhee, N.C. (E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field)
Records: The Citadel (0-6, 0-2 SoCon) vs. Western Carolina (0-6, 0-3 SoCon)
Video: ESPN+ (PxP: Daniel Hooker; Analyst: Dan Gibson)
Radio: Catamount Sports Network (PxP: Gary Ayers; Analyst: Greg McLamb; Producer: Jeff Bryson)
 
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

• Western Carolina's reduced ticket allotment, including WCU student tickets, is SOLD OUT for Saturday's game vs. The Citadel;
• Reminder, there are no walk-up sales on game day;
• WCU students must have registered for tickets before Saturday's game to receive admission … Cat Cards will not be scanned to allow entry to games this spring.

 
GAME DAY PARKING:

• Campus parking lots will not open until 60 minutes before the announced kickoff time – Noon on Saturday, March 13. The Stadium Lot is the only Catamount Club reserved lot for the spring and those spots will be first come, first served for qualifying Catamount Club members only. All other parking lots on campus will be first come, first served for the remaining game ticket holders only;
• In accordance with physical distancing guidelines and to prevent crowd gatherings, tailgating and picnicking both pregame and postgame on campus will not be permitted this spring. Gathering and the use of traditional tailgating items such as grills and tents, etc., is not approved for the home dates this spring;
• There will be no RV parking – game day or overnight – allowed on campus for the games played in the spring semester.

 
ATTENDANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Face coverings will be required during all home sporting events and must be properly worn at all times even while seated or in concession lines unless actively eating or drinking;
• Entry to the stadium will be allowed only through Gates 1 and 6 (West Side) and Gates 3 and 4 (East Side); player parents will continue to pick-up complimentary tickets at the Ramsey Center near Gate 6 – each player and coach is allocated two tickets each;
• Western Carolina will not have any general admission seating at any of its home sporting events in the spring semester. Anyone who attends a home event must have a ticket with a specific seat assigned and the bearer must sit in the assigned, physically-distanced seat;
• A strict no re-entry policy to the stadium will be enforced once a ticket holder has entered the venue;
• Pursuant to the governor's executive orders for home games this spring, the Catamount Club will not host its traditional pregame Purple Zone at the Ramsey Center. Also, there will be no standing room only access to Paws Porch at Jordan-Phillips Fieldhouse this spring in-game for Catamount Club donors that typically qualify;
• Fans are asked to exit the venue immediately following the conclusion of the game. The strict no tailgating and no gathering policies remain in place after the conclusion of the game;
• Stadium policies remain in effect for any spectators ticketed to attend a game this spring:
  • No pets allowed on the stadium grounds, including the grandstand seating area
  • No umbrellas are permitted inside the stadium;
  • No portable personal space heaters are allowed inside the stadium;
  • No artificial noisemakers are allowed.

 
NEW THIS SPRING:

• Spectators are strongly urged to adhere to the new clear bag policy for personal belongings as this will become a requirement for entry beginning in the fall of 2021 … Clear bags for belongings to enable less contact with gate officials' security inspections upon entry into Whitmire Stadium, helping mitigate the potential spread of COVID-19;
• Beer and wine sales will be available in Whitmire Stadium for fans 21 years of age or older. Fans will need to show their valid ID when purchasing alcohol and may only purchase one alcoholic beverage per valid ID with the ID holder present at the time of transaction. Sales will begin when gates open and close at the end of the 3rd quarter. Alcohol will be sold by the northeast concourse near Gate 3 and in the southwest concourse near Gate 6.

 
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