Cullowhee, N.C. – The best gameday atmosphere in the Southern Conference comes alive again this weekend as Western Carolina opens the 2021 fall season and the
Kerwin Bell era on Saturday, Sept. 4 with a 6 pm kickoff at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels.
Saturday's game is the second half of an
Ingles "SoCon Game of the Week" doubleheader marked for linear television (
see TV clearances below) with the live
video stream available on ESPN+ (
paid subscription required).
The game will also be broadcast on the Catamount Sports Network with an air time of the Pepsi Tailgate Show at 5:00 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.
Western Carolina and Eastern Kentucky meet for the seventh time on the football gridiron with the Catamounts looking to halt a two-game series slide that includes a 49-17 road loss in 2020 in the first-ever "Opportunity Bowl," hosted by EKU in Richmond, Ky. The two programs have split the two previous meetings played in Cullowhee with the Colonels winning in the first meeting back in 1988 before the Catamounts upended then 19th-ranked EKU, 20-17, in Cullowhee in 2006.
The new white Nike uniforms as a part of the
"White Out Whitmire" promotion are far from the only new items to be on display this Saturday. Under the direction of first-year offensive coordinator
Kade Bell and with fifth-year graduate transfer quarterback
Rogan Wells at the controls, the "Play Fast, Score Faster" pro spread system makes its debut on the Whitmire Stadium turf. Wells, a two-time Harlon Hill Trophy finalist who has accounted for over 11,000 yards of total offense and 111 career touchdowns, is among 21 transfers that join 21 additional newcomers on the WCU roster entering this season.
Defensively, nine players with starting experience from a season ago led by fifth-year senior LB
Ty Harris who is poised to move into the Top 10 on WCU's career tackles chart. The Dacula, Ga., product has 301 career tackles and is just 13 shy of the Top 10 – and just 39 shy of second all-time in program history. Harris ranked fourth in the SoCon a season ago with 9.9 tackles per game (19th nationally) and 8.5 tackles for loss.
EKU, which played its full – and now final – football season in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) last fall in 2020, was picked to finish fifth in its new conference as the ASUN Conference has added football. The Colonels return 17 combined starters off a team that finished 3-6 – but were just a couple of plays shy of reversing that fortune into a 5-4 seasonal mark.
The Colonels defense is led by preseason All-America selection in LB Matthew Jackson. He and four teammates were named preseason All-ASUN Conference. Redshirt sophomore QB Parker McKinney returns after missing the WCU game a season ago.
Game 1: Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021 • 6:00 pm
Location: Cullowhee, N.C. (E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field – 13,790)
Records: Eastern Kentucky (0-0) at Western Carolina (0-0)
WCU Digital Game Day Program
BROADCAST INFORMATION:
TV / Video Stream: Nexstar / ESPN+ (
subscription required)
PBP: Scott Pryswanski; Color: Jay Sonnhalter
Nexstar TV Clearances:
ECBD/The Lowcountry's CW (Charleston)
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:
Additional WCU Football Game Day Information
Where to Park:
•
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, see 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;
PLEASE NOTE for Sat., Sept. 4: Due to the postgame firework show, the pedestrian bridge to Camp Lab will be closed starting at 6:15 pm and will remain closed the rest of the night. Fans will be able to access Camp Lab via Centennial Drive.
•
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;
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 3:30 pm until 5:30 pm;
• Paws Porch (
requires a ticket, credential): Located on the patio of the Jordan Phillips Fieldhouse; doors open at 5:30 pm;
• Catamount Corner (
requires a ticket, credential): Located on the Northwest patio of the Ramsey Center; opens at 5:30 pm.
Where to Buy Tickets:
• Purchase – and PRINT – tickets in advance through CatamountSports.com.
ON GAME DAY:
• WCU Athletic Ticket Office: (828) 227-2401 – phone lines open beginning at Noon until kickoff time at 6:00 pm 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 Noon am for walk-up sales;
• Ticket sales at all other gates begin at 2:30 pm – Gates 2, 3, and 4;
• All stadium gates open to the public at 4:30 pm ... Gate 6 for Player Pass also opens at 4:30 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 and bag check 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 4:30 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: Northeast Concourse, enter the Southeast doors of the Ramsey Center. Arrivals after 5:30 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:
• BRING CASH – though WCU's ticket booths and the concessions stands 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 -- or other vendors such as Bojangles' and Tubby's Caramel Corn & More.
Game Day Promotions:
• Gather with other Purple & Gold clad faithful to cheer on the Catamounts during the "Cat Walk" to the stadium at approximately 3:45 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 5:15 pm;
• The WCU Game Day Information Booth opens at 4:30 pm just outside of Gate 1 … the WCU Bookstore will be on hand selling WCU merchandise outside of Gate 6 at the stadium;
• This year marks the return of the Freshmen Run – the incoming WCU Classes of both 2020 and 2021 will stream through the "Pride of the Mountains" Marching Band tunnel just before the entrance of the Catamount football team;
• 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;
• Following the game and the POTM encore performance, stay in your seats for the themed fireworks extravaganza, presented by Ingles and iHeartRadio partners 99.9 Kiss Country and Star 104.3.
