Cullowhee, N.C. – Fireworks will again light up the western North Carolina sky to help celebrate Western Carolina football's home-opening, Labor Day weekend match-up against Eastern Kentucky as WCU looks to #WhiteOutWhitmire with all fans encouraged to wear white to the game as the Catamounts wear their new white Nike uniforms for the first time.
 
Pregame festivities include the return of the WCU Freshmen Run which will include freshmen who missed the opportunity a season ago because of the pandemic. It also marks the return of the "Pride of the Mountains" Marching Band under its new director, Dr. Jack Eaddy, Jr.
 
Following Saturday's season-opening game and an encore band presentation, themed fireworks will illuminate the sky to help officially welcome the season. The postgame fireworks are presented by Ingles and iHeartMedia partners, 99.9 Kiss Country and Star 104.3.
 
The Catamounts and Colonels meet at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field with the kickoff of the first game under head coach Kerwin Bell scheduled for 6:00 pm. The game has been picked up as a part of the Southern Conference's Ingles / Nexstar television package.
 
Tickets for WCU's home-opener and each of the five home dates as well as season tickets are on sale now through the Catamount Athletics ticket office located on the first floor of the Ramsey Center; by phone at (828) 227-2401; 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.
 
Catamount football is set for its first scrimmage of the 2021 preseason camp on Saturday, Aug. 14 beginning at 9:00 am at Whitmire Stadium / Waters Field. The event is open to the public and free of charge with a special invitation to WCU's faculty and staff. The west entrances and grandstands at Whitmire Stadium (opposite the press box) will be open with a concession stand operated by Catamount Dining slated to be open with a limited menu. Fans are encouraged to park in either the Stadium Lot, directly behind the West Side stands, or the Creek Lot as the large Field House Lot will be used for University move-in.
 
With WCU's apparel transition from adidas to Nike, fans will also have the opportunity to purchase Catamount athletic team-issued adidas apparel at the stadium on Saturday morning.
 
Each of WCU's preseason football practices is open to the public. It is respectfully requested, though, that spectators observe from the stadium seating area and avoid being either on the field or the sidelines for safety, and maintain physical distance from the team at all times. Practice times are subject to change.
 
2021 Catamount Football Preseason Practice Schedule:
Sat., Aug. 14 – Scrimmage #1 (WCU Faculty/Staff Day) – 9:00 am – 11:30 am (full pads)
Sun., Aug. 15 – No Practice (Team Photo Day)
Mon., Aug. 16 – Practice #9 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (uppers)
Tues., Aug. 17 – Practice #10 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (full pads)
Wed., Aug. 18 – Practice #11 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (full pads)
Thurs., Aug. 19 – No Practice (Off Day)
Fri., Aug. 20 – Practice #12 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (helmets)
Sat., Aug. 21 – Scrimmage #2 (WCU Students' Day) – 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm (full pads)
Sun., Aug. 22 – WCU Student-Athlete Welcome Back Event
Mon., Aug. 23 – First Day of Fall Classes at WCU
* Practice times are subject to change
 
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:
Saturday, August 14 - WCU Faculty & Staff Scrimmage Day at Whitmire Stadium
Friday, August 20 – Western Carolina University Freshman Move-In Day (9 am)
Saturday, August 21 - Western Carolina University Student Scrimmage Day at Whitmire Stadium (6 pm)
Monday, August 23 – First day of classes for the fall semester
Saturday, September 4 – 2021 Catamount Football season and home-opener vs. Eastern Kentucky