Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina football returns home for its 2021 Southern Conference opener on Saturday (Sept. 18) as the Catamounts and an annual Family Weekend crowd play host to the Samford Bulldogs at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field. Kickoff for Saturday's game is scheduled for 2:30 pm.
In addition to recognizing Family Weekend, WCU is also celebrating the history, tradition, and long-standing relationship with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians at Saturday's game.
Saturday's game is the Ingles "SoCon Game of the Week" marked for linear television (see TV clearances below) with the live video stream available on ESPN+ (paid subscription required). Pete Yanity and Jared Singleton have the call.
The game will also be broadcast on the Catamount Sports Network with an air time of the Pepsi Tailgate Show at 1:30 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.
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.
Two of the top quarterbacks in the Southern Conference – Western Carolina fifth-year graduate transfer Rogan Wells and Samford's Liam Welch – will be on display Saturday, representing two of the top three passing QBs in the league this season. Welch, the co-Offensive Player of the Year in the SoCon last spring and the preseason favorite to collect the same hardware this year paces the conference with an average of 293.5 passing yards per game while Wells is third at 180.5 yards per game through the first two weeks of the season – though Wells faced the speed defense of FBS fourth-ranked Oklahoma last week after throwing for 275 yards in his Cullowhee debut against Eastern Kentucky.
Among the favorite targets of both Welch and Wells are receivers Montrell Washington for the Bulldogs and Raphael Williams for the Catamounts. Washington, who leads the SoCon in all-purpose yards at 164.5 per game, averages a league-best 100 receiving yards per game and is second with 6.0 catches per outing. Williams is fifth with 63.5 receiving yards per game including 122 yards – the third-most in the league this season – against EKU in the opener. Washington recorded a SoCon-best 245 all-purpose yards in the season-opening win over Tennessee Tech.
Defensively, two of the top tacklers in the league will be on the turf in Cullowhee as Samford senior LB Nathan East (t-1st, 10.5 tackles/gm) and WCU's Ivan Hogans (4th, 8.5 tackles/gm) lead their respective sides against the two up-tempo offenses.
Samford (1-1), picked second in the preseason by the league's head coaches, throttled Tennessee Tech 52-14 in the season-opener before stumbling last week at UT-Martin, 33-27. The Bulldogs finished the spring 2021 season at 4-3, falling in overtime to eventual league champion VMI before winning its final two games of the season at The Citadel and No. 23 Mercer.
Kickoff is slated for 2:30 pm.
Western Carolina vs. Samford – All-Time Series:
WCU and Samford meet for the 19th time on the football gridiron in a series that dates back to 1969 with the Catamounts trailing all-time, 3-15 …. Samford has won the last three head-to-head meetings dating back to 2018 with the Bulldogs winning four of the last five meetings overall. WCU is just 2-11 against Samford since the Bulldogs joined the SoCon in 2008 … Samford won last year's game in Birmingham, 55-27, breaking open a one-point game at halftime with a strong second-half performance.
Western Carolina in SoCon Openers:
The Catamounts open the 2021 Southern Conference schedule on Saturday in Cullowhee … WCU is 23-21 all-time since 1977 in conference openers including a 15-5 record when the league opener is played at home, most recently falling to Mercer in the 2019 opener that snapped a two-game win streak … WCU's upset win over No. 17 Samford back in 2017 represented the first league game of the year for the Catamounts – and the only other time before this season the two met to open conference play.
Game 3: Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021 • 2:30 pm
Location: Cullowhee, N.C. (E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field – 13,790)
Records: Samford (1-1, 0-0 SoCon) at Western Carolina (0-2, 0-0 SoCon)
Catamount Football Media Center
BROADCAST INFORMATION:
TV / Video Stream: Nexstar / ESPN+ (subscription required)
PBP: Pete Yanity; Color: Jared Singleton
Nexstar TV Clearances:
ECBD/The Lowcountry's CW (Charleston)
WBTW/News 13 (Myrtle Beach)
WHDF/North Alabama's CW (Huntsville/Florence)
WMYT/My 12 (Charlotte)
WWCW/The CW Virginia (Lynchburg/Roanoke)
WYCW/The CW62 (Greenville/Spartanburg/Asheville)
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:
• Parking lots open at 8:00 am on Saturday, Sept. 18 … Tailgating begins at 11:00 am;
• 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 12:30 pm, see more 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 Noon until 2:00 pm;
• Paws Porch (requires a ticket, credential): Located on the patio of the Jordan Phillips Fieldhouse; doors open at 2:00 pm;
• Catamount Corner (requires a ticket, credential): Located on the Northwest patio of the Ramsey Center; opens at 2:00 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 1:00 pm ... Gate 6 for Player Pass also opens at 1:00 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 1:00 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 10:50 pm, 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:
• E.J. Whitmire Stadium Information
• 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.
Game Day Promotions:
• Saturday's game is "Family Weekend," as we welcome the families of WCU's students to campus for a special day … It's also WCU's Southern Conference opener, the first league game in the conference this fall;
• An extra special welcome to members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) who we celebrate the history, tradition, and long-standing relationship with the tribe and WCU;
• Relief Drive for Haywood County – In partnership with "Pride of the Mountains" Marching Band ("Fill the Truck") and the Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning, WCU is proud to sponsor a relief drive to help our neighbors in Haywood County who were impacted by flooding associated with Tropical Storm Fred. During the Catamount football game, volunteers will be collecting donations (water, non-perishable food items, and cleaning supplies) at the main entrances to the stadium from 1:30-3:30 pm. If you have any questions, email laneperry@wcu.edu for assistance;
• Gather with other Purple & Gold clad faithful to cheer on the Catamounts during the "Cat Walk" to the stadium at approximately 12:15 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 1:45 pm;
• The WCU Game Day Information Booth opens at 1:00 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.
