Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina opens the home portion of its 2021 spring schedule on Saturday (March 6), hosting the VMI Keydets in the first of back-to-back home games at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. 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.
 
Western Carolina looks for its first victory of the 2020-21 season after dropping three nonconference road games in the fall, including two against nationally-ranked FBS competition. WCU is winless in two league road games, falling at Furman and Samford to open the spring season.
 
The Catamounts are 34-12 all-time in home openers since moving into E.J. Whitmire Stadium back in 1974 after having its five-game home-opening win streak snapped in the 2019 season-opening loss to Mercer in Cullowhee. WCU has won 16 of its 20 home-opening games since 2000, including 11-straight from 1998-2008.
 
After its spring-opener vs. Chattanooga was postponed due to COVID protocols within the Mocs' program, VMI (1-0, 1-0 SoCon) opened the season with an upset of 10th-ranked Furman, 14-13, last weekend on post in Lexington. Though much of the preseason plaudits have been heaped upon a pass-heavy offense led by the SoCon's preseason Player of the Year QB Reece Udinski, it was the VMI defense that stood tall in the opener. The Keydets recorded 15 tackles for loss, including nine sacks on the Furman quarterback and recovered a game-sealing fumble inside the final minute of regulation with the Paladins driving. Linebacker Connor Riddle garnered both Stats Perform National and SoCon Defensive Player of the Week honors for his 13-tackle performance, including two sacks vs. Furman.
 
Udinski tallied the 19th 200-yard passing game of his career with 248 yards on 27-of-38 passing with two passing touchdowns in the opening win, VMI's first against an FCS-ranked team since 2002.
 
Western Carolina vs. VMI – Series History:

• Western Carolina and VMI meet for the 27th time on the football gridiron in the all-time series history with the Catamounts leading the all-time series, 23-3 ... WCU has won 17-straight games in the head-to-head series dating back to 1992 and has 13-consecutive victories in Cullowhee as a part of a 13-0 record against the Keydets at home;
• Every series meeting between the two programs dating back to 1978 has come with both being members of the Southern Conference ... VMI left for the Big South Conference following the 2002 football season, returning to the SoCon in 2014;
• Four of the last five series meetings have been decided in one-possession games with three of those decided by four points or fewer ... the closest games played between the two schools have been two-point wins – three total, including a WCU win in 1980 (16-14), a VMI win in 1991 (27-25), and the most recent match-up in Cullowhee, a 52-50 win by WCU in 2018.

 
SATURDAY'S BROADCAST INFORMATION:
Game 6: Saturday, March 6, 2021 – 1 p.m.
Location: Cullowhee, N.C. (E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field)
Records: VMI (1-0, 1-0 SoCon) vs. Western Carolina (0-5, 0-2 SoCon)
Video: ESPN+ (PxP: Daniel Hooker; Analyst: Dan Gibson)
Radio: Catamount Sports Network (PxP: Gary Ayers; Analyst: Greg McLamb; Producer: Jeff Bryson)
 

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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

• Western Carolina's reduced ticket allotment, including student tickets, is SOLD OUT for Saturday's game vs. VMI;
• 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 6. 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;
• WCU Spirit, including a pep band, color guard, drumline, cheer and dance, will be in attendance at home football games this spring. These spirit groups will not be performing on the field during the season, but will be performing in the stands during the games.

 
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