Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina football captured some of the media attention surrounding this week's annual Southern Conference Football Media Day, with activities held Monday and Tuesday in Greenville, S.C. The preseason all-conference teams and preseason coaches poll were released Tuesday at the swanky Hotel Hartness.
 
WCU put three players on the preseason All-SoCon team, with preseason All-America selection DB Ken Moore Jr. named to the first team and WR AJ Colombo and OL Zach Watson both landing on the second-team all-conference. The Catamounts were picked fourth in the preseason coaches poll, just three votes shy of a third-place prediction.
 
Western Carolina football student-athletes officially report for 2026 fall camp on Wednesday, July 29, with practice opening the following morning, on Thursday, July 30, with the first of two helmet-only practices as part of the acclimation period. WCU opens the season at home, under the lights on Saturday, Aug. 29, by hosting Eastern Kentucky, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
Here are links to some of this week's stories stemming from Tuesday's SoCon Football Media Day:
 
From WLOS-TV, Online at WLOS.com (Chris Womack):
MJ, starvation, and high expectations: Western Carolina ready for 2026 football season
 
From the NC Football News (Eric Lusk):
WCU Football Picked 4th in Conference Race, 3 Catamounts Make All-Conference
 
From WSPA-TV, Online at WSPA.com (Pete Yanity):
SoCon Media Day – Western Carolina Head Coach Kerwin Bell
 
From FCS Football Central / The Bluebloods (Zach McKinnell):
2026 SoCon Football Media Day – Kerwin Bell (WCU Head Coach)
 
From SoConSports (Stan Becton):
27 Numbers to Know About SoCon Football in 2026
 
Podcast Interview with head coach Kerwin Bell (Dave Friedman, SoCon):
SoCon FB Media Day – Kerwin Bell, WCU
 
From WCTI12, Online WCTI12.com (Brian North):
Western Carolina picked fourth in SoCon preseason football poll
 
Small-College Saturdays (Eric Lusk):
Substack from NC Football News
FCS, D2 Preseason Picture Starting to Come Into Focus
 
From The Preferred Walk-On Show (Seth Saunders):
Kerwin Bell - From 8th String Walk-On to SEC Player of the Year
 
Additional Notes:

• Western Carolina's season-opening opponent, Eastern Kentucky, was picked fourth in the preseason United Athletic Conference (UAC) coaches' poll released on Tuesday in Arlington, Texas … Four Colonels were named to the 2026 Preseason All-UAC team, including UAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, Kaden Smith … He was joined by RB Brayden Latham, DE Derek Taylor, and long-snapper Quaid Luginbill;
• WCU's second nonconference opponent, Campbell, was selected eighth in the 13-team preseason Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) coaches poll released Wednesday as part of the league's virtual media day … LB DaVonyae Pettis was a lone Camel mentioned in the preseason All-CAA teams as an honorable mention  … Campbell opens the season at fellow SoCon foe, East Tennessee State, on Aug. 29;
• WCU's Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponent – Big 12-member Cincinnati – was picked 11th out of the 16-team conference released back in early July … Bearcat offensive linemen Joe Cotton and Evan Tengesdahl were both named preseason All-Big 12; A member of the Pioneer Football League (PFL), Presbyterian will have its annual media day virtually on July 27-28, with the preseason poll and all-conference teams announced; 
• Riding the momentum of three consecutive seven-win seasons – and four straight winning records at season's end – season tickets for the 2026 home schedule remain on sale now through the Catamount Athletics ticket office on the first floor of the Ramsey Center, by phone at (828) 227-2401, and online at CatamountSports.com.

Single-game tickets and parking for the 2026 home opener against EKU are on sale now, with the remaining five home dates available for purchase beginning Tuesday, July 28.
 

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, July 28 – Single-game tickets and parking for remaining five home dates on sale
Tuesday, July 28 – Harris Regional Hospital press conference, 11:30 a.m. (Ramsey Center)
Wednesday, July 29 – Catamount Football student-athletes report for fall camp
Thursday, July 30 – First football 2026 preseason practice (8:30 a.m., helmet only)
Wednesday, Aug. 5 – Women's Soccer Exhibition – vs. Georgia State (CAC, 7 p.m.)
Saturday, Aug. 8 – Women's Soccer Exhibition – vs. Wright State (CAC, 2 p.m.)
Thursday, Aug. 13 – Women's Soccer Season-Opener – vs. Winthrop (CAC, 6 p.m.)
Friday, Aug. 14 – WCU Freshman Convocation (Ramsey Center)
Monday, Aug. 17 – First day of classes for the 2026 fall semester – Cullowhee
Friday, Aug. 21 – Volleyball Exhibition – vs. Anderson (Ramsey Center, 6 p.m.)
Friday, Aug. 21 – Catamount Shootout Golf Tournament (Marion Lake Club, Nebo, N.C.)
Saturday, Aug. 29 – Catamount Football season-opener vs. Eastern Kentucky (7 p.m.)
Tuesday, Sept. 8 – Volleyball Home Opener – vs. Gardner-Webb (Ramsey Center, 6 p.m.)
Sept. 13-15 – Men's Golf – JT Poston Invitational – (Waynesville Inn & Golf Club)
Friday, Oct. 2 – Bob Waters Memorial Golf Tournament – (Sequoyah  National, Cherokee)