Cullowhee, N.C. – Two of Western Carolina's 2021 home football games have been selected as a part of the Southern Conference's linear television partnership again this season with Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc., and Ingles Markets it was announced on Thursday.
The "Ingles SoCon Game of the Week" package features eight consecutive weeks of games from Sept. 4 through Oct. 23, beginning with an opening weekend doubleheader that's painted purple. Furman hosts Big South Conference newcomer, North Carolina A&T, at 2 pm on Saturday, Sept. 4 in Greenville, S.C., with WCU's home-opener against Eastern Kentucky to cap the day at 6 pm.
The SoCon package includes games the following seven Saturday's to complete the nine-game run on Nexstar stations as a part of the league's 100th-anniversary celebration.
WCU's second television game in the package is set for Saturday, Sept. 18 in the first conference game of the regular season as the Catamounts host Samford at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field. To accommodate television, the start time of WCU's Family Weekend game has been moved up by an hour to a 2:30 pm ET kickoff in Cullowhee.
Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc., Ingles Markets, and the SoCon continue the recent partnership that includes football television broadcasts throughout the league's six-state footprint through a network of affiliated stations. Those Nexstar affiliates with the opportunity to air games are: WCBD (Charleston), WGHP (Greensboro/High Point), WJHL (Johnson City), WMYT (Charlotte), WWCW (Lynchburg/Roanoke), WYCW (Greenville/Spartanburg/Asheville), and new for this season, WBTW in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Although not a Nexstar station, WMUB (Macon), Mercer University Broadcasting, will also air select contests.
Each of the games in the package will also air concurrently on either ESPN3 or ESPN+, and all nine league schools will be featured at some point during the season. WSPA Sports Director Pete Yanity is expected to handle play-by-play duties, with former Wofford All-American offensive lineman Jared Singleton serving as analyst.
"We are pleased to be partnering with Nexstar again to provide additional television exposure for our football programs in various markets in our footprint," SoCon Commissioner Jim Schaus said. "We are excited to be able to expand our overall coverage this year. This coverage is vital to our member schools and the conference overall."
Season tickets for Western Carolina's 2021 home schedule are on sale now through the Catamount Athletics ticket office located on the first floor of the Ramsey Center; by phone at (828) 22-2401; and online at CatamountSports.com. Additionally, to secure 2021 football game day parking and access to game day hospitality events, be sure to join the Catamount Club. For more information on the Catamount Club and how to support student-athlete scholarships, contact their offices at (828) 227-3047.
Western Carolina's football student-athletes officially report for fall camp on Thursday, Aug. 5, with preseason drills opening with the first of two helmet-only practices on Friday, Aug. 6.
2021 "Ingles SoCon Game of the Week" Schedule (all times Eastern)
Sept. 4 – North Carolina A&T at Furman – 2:00 pm
Sept. 4 – Eastern Kentucky at Western Carolina –
6:00 pm
Sept. 11 – Charleston Southern at The Citadel – 2:00 pm
Sept. 18 – Samford at Western Carolina * –
2:30 pm
Sept. 25 – Wofford at VMI * – 1:30 pm
Oct. 2 – VMI at The Citadel * – 2:00 pm
Oct. 9 – The Citadel at ETSU * – 4:30 pm
Oct. 16 – ETSU at Chattanooga * – 1:30 pm
Oct. 23 – Wofford at Mercer * – 6:00 pm
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).
Important Dates in Catamount Athletics / Catamount Football:
Thursday, August 5 – Catamount Football student-athletes report for fall camp
Friday, August 6 – First scheduled practice of the 2021 preseason (helmet only)
Friday, August 20 – Western Carolina University Freshman Move-In Day
Monday, August 23 – First day of classes for the fall semester
Saturday, September 4 – 2021 Catamount Football season and home-opener vs. Eastern Kentucky
Friday, September 17 – The Bob Waters Memorial – Laurel Ridge Country Club – Waynesville, N.C.
