Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina football returns to campus on Tuesday (Aug. 1) as the squad opens preparations for the 2023 season with the team's first official fall practice scheduled for Wednesday (Aug. 2) morning on the turf of Bob Waters Field at E.J. Whitmire Stadium.
 
Though much of the squad has spent most of the summer in Cullowhee with conditioning and player-led workouts, the football team officially reports for the first team function at 10 a.m., on Tuesday. The report day schedule includes move-in and meetings with academics, compliance, sports performance, and the athletic equipment staff in the Ramsey Center.
 
WCU opens its preseason fall camp with the first of two helmet-only practices in the NCAA-mandated acclimation period on Wednesday, Aug. 2. The Catamounts are slated to practice almost daily from 8:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. with a trio of off days – Aug. 6, Aug. 10, and Aug. 17 – before classes start on Monday, Aug. 21. Each afternoon during camp includes team, unit, and position meetings, as well as work in the weight room with WCU's Sports Performance staff.
 
This fall's preseason camp includes 15 practice sessions before school starts when the team moves into its in-season schedule. The docket (listed in full below, graphically above) also includes a pair of preseason scrimmages, both coming on a Saturday – a morning scrimmage on Aug. 12 beginning at 9 a.m. and a 2:30 p.m. scrimmage on WCU Student Day the next weekend, Aug. 19.
 
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. Practice times are subject to change.
 
Western Carolina carries the momentum of a three-game win streak including a win over No. 15 Chattanooga to conclude the 2022 season into this year's fall camp. The Catamounts saw eight players named preseason All-Southern Conference including five first-team selections at last week's SoCon Football Media Day where WCU was picked fifth in both the coaches' and media polling.
 
Behind third-year head coach Kerwin Bell, the Catamounts return 15 starters from last year's 6-5 squad including six on offense, seven on defense, and a pair of specialists. Among the 54 total returning letter winners from last fall, nine earned postseason accolades at the end of last season headlined by the 2022 SoCon Freshman of the Year in RB Desmond Reid and third-team AP All-America selection in PK Richard McCollum. WCU also added a preseason All-America linebacker in Austin Peay transfer Antoine Williams to bolster an experienced defensive unit.
 
Season tickets and game day parking for Western Carolina's 2023 five-game 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) 227-2401, or online at CatamountSports.com/BuyTickets. Single-game ticket sales for the home-opening "White Out Whitmire" scheduled for Sept. 9 are available now, with single-game tickets for the remaining four home dates going on sale Tuesday, Aug. 1 through each of those same outlets.
 
2023 Catamount Football Preseason Practice Schedule:
Tues., Aug. 1 – Football Preseason Camp Report Day
Tues., Aug. 1 – All single-game football tickets go on sale, 9:00 a.m.
Wed., Aug. 2 – Practice #1 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (helmets only)
Thurs., Aug. 3 – Practice #2 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (helmets only)
Fri., Aug. 4 – Practice #3 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (uppers)
Sat., Aug. 5 – Practice #4 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (uppers)
Sun., Aug. 6 – No Practice (Off Day)
Mon., Aug. 7 – Practice #5 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (uppers)
Tues., Aug. 8 – Practice #6 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (full pads)
Wed., Aug. 9 – Practice #7 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (uppers)
Thurs., Aug. 10 – No Practice (Off Day)
Fri., Aug. 11 – Practice #8 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (uppers)
Sat., Aug. 12 – Scrimmage #1 (Practice #9) – 9:00 am – 11:15 am (full pads)
Sun., Aug. 13 – Team Photo Day, 2 pm; Practice #10 – 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm (helmets)
Mon., Aug. 14 – Practice #11 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (full pads)
Tues., Aug. 15 – Practice #12 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (uppers)
Wed., Aug. 16 – Practice #13 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (full pads)
Thurs., Aug. 17 – No Practice (Off Day)
Fri., Aug. 18 – Practice #14 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (helmets)
Sat., Aug. 19 – Scrimmage #2 (Practice #15) – 2:30 pm (full pads)
Sun., Aug. 20 – No Practice – Team Building
Mon., Aug. 21 – First Day of Fall Classes at WCU
 
Keep track of everything related to Catamount football and WCU Athletics through its social media outlets on Facebook (FB.com/CatamountSports, FB.com/WesternCarolinaFootball), Twitter (@catamounts, @CatamountsFB), and Instagram (wcu_catamounts, catamountsfb).

Important Dates in Catamount Athletics & Catamount Football:
Tuesday, Aug. 1 – Catamount Football student-athletes report for fall camp
Tuesday, Aug. 1 – 2023 WCU Football single-game tickets and game day parking go on sale
Wednesday, Aug. 2 – First scheduled practice of the 2023 preseason (helmet only)
Saturday, Aug. 5 – Catamount Women's Soccer Exhibition – vs. Marshall (CAC, Noon)
Tuesday, Aug. 8 – Catamount Women's Soccer Exhibition – vs. Davidson (CAC, 6 p.m.)
Friday, Aug. 18 – WCU New Student Convocation (Ramsey Center)
Saturday, Aug. 19 – Catamount Volleyball Exhibition – vs. USC Upstate (Ramsey Center, 6 p.m.)
Sunday, Aug. 20 – Catamount Women's Soccer Home-Opener – vs. Queens (CAC, 1 p.m.)
Monday, Aug. 21 – First day of classes for the fall semester – Cullowhee
Saturday, Sept. 2 – 2023 Catamount Football season opener at Arkansas (4 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. CT)
Tuesday, Sept. 5 – Catamount Volleyball Home-Opener – vs. UNC Asheville (Ramsey Center, 6 p.m.)
Friday, Sept. 8 – The Bob Waters Memorial – Sequoyah National Golf Club – Cherokee, N.C. (9 a.m.)
Saturday, Sept. 9 – 2023 Catamount Football home-opener, vs. Samford (2:30 pm)