July 27, 2010
Related Link:Trio of Catamounts Named Preseason All-Southern Conference
Related Link: Full Coverage of the Southern Conference Preseason Media Teleconference
Cullowhee, N.C. -
Western Carolina head coach Dennis Wagner and senior defensive back Mitchell Bell took part in Tuesday's Southern Conference Media Teleconference one day after the league released its preseason polls and all-conference teams. Wagner answered questions for over 20 minutes while Bell, who was named preseason first-team All-Southern Conference on defense, spent nearly 15 minutes on the call with conference media.
Coach Wagner's Audio from 2010 SoCon Media Teleconference
Wagner opened the call by talking about the transition from winter workouts into spring practice through the summer conditioning regiments which will lead to fall camp next week.
"We felt like this spring was the best we've had since we've been here," opened Wagner, who will begin his third season at the helm of the Catamount program. "We've got a young football team - but it's an experienced team with a group of guys that have had to play a lot as freshmen last year and freshmen the year before. We got a lot of things done during the spring and that was a great carry-over for us into the summer."
Wagner mentioned that nearly 80 players returned to summer school and have been working with head strength & conditioning coordinator, Brad Ohrt, in the weight room
"Those guys have worked hard all summer with their lifting and running so that when we get to fall camp, we can focus on X's and O's," Wagner added.
Senior DB Bell's Audio from 2010 SoCon Media Teleconference
Bell, who along with Ricky Schwarz is WCU's leading returning tackler from a year ago with 67 total hits, spoke about the off-season as he enters his senior year in Cullowhee.
"We had a good spring and that has transitioned over into the summer," Bell opened. "We are all just now getting back together through the month of July and starting to gel back together as we get the ball rolling for the fall."
Western Carolina will open its 2010 fall camp on Friday, August 6 as the players report with the first of two non-padded workouts beginning the following day. WCU will work through three practice days in half pads before its first fully-padded session on Thursday, August 19. The squad will have four, two-a-day practices before classes start in Cullowhee on August 23.
The Catamounts will open the 2010 season on Saturday, Sept. 4 as they visit Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh to face the North Carolina State Wolfpack.
SoCon Football Teams To Honor Gulf Coast Region
Spartanburg, S.C. - It was also announced on Tuesday that all nine Southern Conference football teams will show their support for those being negatively impacted along the Gulf Coast by wearing helmet decals with the initials "GC" during the 2010 football season.
More than 170 SoCon football players come from states that share a coastline being affected by the oil spill. The nine institutions that play SoCon football agreed to display the decals to express their support and encouragement for the people living in the region.
"Pete Lembo of Elon approached me with the idea while we were at our annual coaches' meetings in June," noted Southern Conference Commissioner John Iamarino. "I lived in Louisiana for six years and my son was born there, so when Pete mentioned it, the concept really resonated with me.
"Given the number of SoCon football student-athletes who come from Gulf Coast states and our being located in the South, it seemed the right thing to do. It's just a small way that our teams can express their support and encouragement for the thousands of families that have been negatively impacted by the oil spill."
Use of the decal was approved by the NCAA's rules committee and supervisory officiating organization upon request by the conference.
