Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina football wrapped up its second helmet-only preseason practice on Wednesday as part of the NCAA's acclimation period as the Catamounts begin preparations for the 12-game 2024 season.
 
Excitement among the players, coaches and staff was high through the first two sessions as the student-athletes were able to don the purple headgear for the first time since the conclusion of WCU's annual Spring Game last April.
 
"I'll tell you what, we're a good-looking team man – big, powerful, know what they're doing," fourth-year head coach Kerwin Bell told WLOS-TV following Tuesday morning's first preseason practice session. "I thought our coaches did a really good job preparing them for the first few days here and making sure they understand the systems. Not a lot of busts the first day so it was really good."
 
Wednesday's two-hour workout was very similar to the opener on Tuesday morning as the team looks to be off the practice field before Noon.
 
As an early-preseason wrinkle for this year's squad, Bell and his coaching staff have essentially divided up the team into two squads through the opening week. One consists of most of the returning players while the second is made up of the newcomers to Cullowhee. The two sides work nearly autonomously, hitting the field at differing times, complete separate team stretch segments, and essentially split the turf of Bob Waters field in two. Both sides come together for the various special teams drills.
 
"You get to really focus in on those players that are out there, and you can really coach them up," Bell explained the early-season division. "It's a little bit harder on the coaches because we have to go through a double; but I think it's really good for the players. They are all on the field a lot less time and they really get coached up when they're here."
 
Bell said that this two-squad approach, which offers more one-on-one attention for those players new to the offensive and defensive schemes, would only be utilized early in the preseason before the pads come out.
 
And speaking of pads, following the first two helmet-only practices, the Catamounts are expected to put on "uppers" – helmets and shoulder pads – for the first time on Thursday morning for practice No. 3 scheduled for 8:30 a.m.
 
Each of WCU's preseason football practices is open to the public. It is respectfully requested 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.

Season tickets for Western Carolina's five-game 2024 home schedule are on sale now through the WCU Athletics Ticket Office by phone at (828) 227-2401 and in person through the box office on the first floor of the Ramsey Center, or online at CatamountSports.com. Ticket options include general admission, reserved bleacher bench, and chairback seats, with a Family Zone four-pack in Section FF. A $10 transaction fee will be charged for all season ticket orders including credit card, cash, and check.
 
Also on Thursday, single-game tickets and game day parking for all five of WCU's home games at Whitmire Stadium / Waters Field go on sale to the public through the WCU Athletics Ticket Office. Individual game day parking passes are $15 in advance and $20 if purchased on location on game day.

 Western Carolina led the Southern Conference – and ranked 15th nationally in the NCAA FCS – in average home attendance in 2023 with 11,935 fans at home games – roughly 87 percent capacity of the stadium. Since 2014, WCU has ranked among the Top 30 nationally in home attendance nine times including six among the Top 25. WCU has also been inside the top four in the SoCon in average attendance nine times, pacing the league three times – 2017, 2018, and 2023.
 
2024 Catamount Football Preseason Practice Schedule:
Thurs., Aug. 1 – Practice #3 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (uppers)
Thurs., Aug. 1 – Remaining single-game football tickets go on sale, 9:00 a.m.
Fri., Aug. 2 – Practice #4 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (uppers)
Sat., Aug. 3 – Practice #5 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (uppers)
Sun., Aug. 4 – No Practice (Off Day)
Mon., Aug. 5 – Practice #6 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (full pads)
Tues., Aug. 6 – Practice #7 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (uppers)
Wed., Aug. 7 – Practice #8 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (full pads)
Thurs., Aug. 8 – No Practice (Off Day)
Thurs., Aug. 8 – Catamount Football "Ladies Night" – 5:30 pm
Fri., Aug. 9 – Practice #9 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (uppers)
Sat., Aug. 10 – Scrimmage #1 (Practice #10) – 9:00 am – 11:15 am (full pads)
Sun., Aug. 11 – Team Photo Day, 2 pm; Practice #11 – 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm (helmets)
Mon., Aug. 12 – Practice #12 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (full pads)
Tues., Aug. 13 – Practice #13 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (uppers)
Wed., Aug. 14 – Practice #14 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (full pads)
Thurs., Aug. 15 – No Practice (Off Day)
Fri., Aug. 16 – Practice #15 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (helmets)
Sat., Aug. 17 – Scrimmage #2 (Practice #16) – Updated 1:00 pm (full pads)
Sun., Aug. 18 – No Practice – Team Building
Mon., Aug. 19 – 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:
Thurs., Aug. 1 – Remaining single-game tickets and game day parking go on sale
Tues., Aug. 6 – Catamount Women's Soccer Exhibition – vs. Charleston Southern (4 pm)
Fri., Aug. 16 – WCU New Student Convocation (Ramsey Center, 5 pm)
Sun., Aug. 18 – Catamount Women's Soccer Home-Opener – vs. UNC Asheville (7 pm)
Mon., Aug. 19 – First day of classes for the fall semester – Cullowhee
Fri., Aug. 23 – Catamount Volleyball Exhibition – vs. Gardner-Webb (Ramsey, 6 pm)
Thurs., Aug. 29 – 2024 Catamount Football season-opener at NC State (Raleigh, 7 pm)
Fri., Sept. 6 – The Bob Waters Memorial – Sequoyah National Golf Club (Cherokee, N.C.)
Sat., Sept. 7 – 2024 Catamount Football home-opener, vs. Campbell (1 pm, updated)