Western Carolina Catamounts football

The Western Carolina Catamounts football program represents Western Carolina University. The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and are members of the Southern Conference. Since the school's first football team was fielded in 1931, the Catamounts have a record of 341–502–23, have made two postseason appearances, and have played in one national championship game.

Western Carolina Catamounts football
2023 Western Carolina Catamounts football team
First season1931
Athletic directorAlex Gary
Head coachKerwin Bell
3rd in season, 15–13 (.536)
StadiumE. J. Whitmire Stadium
(capacity: 13,742)
FieldBob Waters Field
LocationCullowhee, North Carolina
NCAA divisionDivision I FCS
ConferenceSouthern Conference
All-time record34150223 (.407)
Bowl record010 (.000)
Playoff appearances2
Playoff record3–2
RivalriesAppalachian State - dormant (rivalry)
East Tennessee State
ColorsPurple and gold[1]
   
Fight songFight On You Catamounts
MascotPaws
Marching bandWestern Carolina University Pride of the Mountains Marching Band
WebsiteCatamountSports.com

Western Carolina plays its home games at the 13,742 seat Bob Waters Field at E. J. Whitmire Stadium located on the campus in Cullowhee, North Carolina.

History

Head coaching history

Western Carolina has had 14 head coaches since the first team was organized in 1931. Kerwin Bell, the current head coach, was hired on April 27, 2021. Bob Waters (1969–1988) holds the record for most wins (116), longest tenure (20 seasons), and highest winning percentage (.550) among all former Western Carolina coaches.

C.C. Poindexter, often called the "Father of Western Carolina Athletics", was instrumental in organizing the first football team in 1931. Then the Western Carolina Teacher's College, Poindexter was the first person hired by the college to work exclusively in athletics and became the first athletic director and football coach. He would later lead the baseball and basketball programs as well.

Tenure Coach Record Pct.
1931–1934C. C. Poindexter10–26–2.290
1935–1938Ralph James4–30–3.149
1939–1941Jim Whatley6–15–1.295
1945Marion McDonald1–3.250
1946–1955Tom Young39–55–4.418
1956–1968Dan Robinson51–67–6.435
1969–1988Bob Waters116–94–6.550
1989Dale Strahm3–7–1.318
1990–1996Steve Hodgin31–45.408
1997–2001Bill Bleil23–32.418
2002–2007Kent Briggs22–43.388
2008–2011Dennis Wagner8–36.182
2012–2021Mark Speir33–68.327
2021–Kerwin Bell10–12.455

Postseason

Classifications

  • 1973–1976: NCAA Division II
  • 1977: NCAA Division I
  • 1978–1981: NCAA Division I–A
  • 1982–present: NCAA Division I–AA

Conference memberships

Also members of the Smoky Mountain Conference starting in 1934.[2][3]

Playoff appearances

NCAA Division I-AA/FCS

The Catamounts have appeared in the I-AA/FCS playoffs one time, making it to the national championship game, with an overall record of 3–1.

Year Round Opponent Result
1983First Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Championship
Colgate
(2) Holy Cross
(3) Furman
(1) Southern Illinois
W, 24–23
W, 28–21
W, 14–7
L, 7–43

NCAA Division II

The Catamounts made one appearance in the Division II playoffs, with a combined record of 0–1.

Year Round Opponent Result
1974 First Round Louisiana Tech L, 7–10

Rivalries

Appalachian State - Battle for the Old Mountain Jug

The main rivalry of the Catamounts was against their in-state rival Appalachian State. Western Carolina and Appalachian State played annually for the Old Mountain Jug. The two rivals first faced off in 1932, with Appalachian State winning 20–0. The Old Mountain Jug trophy was first introduced in 1976. After Appalachian State moved to the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2014, the two have not met since. Appalachian State leads the series 58–19–1. Appalachian State's biggest win is 54-7 in 1939 and Western Carolina's biggest win is 44-14 in 1977.

East Tennessee State - Blue Ridge Border Battle

While Western Carolina and ETSU have played each other since 1932, the Blue Ridge Border Battle was started in 2018 which introduced a traveling trophy known as 'the Rock' which features a rock from the Appalachian Trail. The first Blue Ridge Border Battle game was in 2018, with ETSU winning in triple overtime 45-43. The two schools played annually from 1975-2003 as members of the Southern Conference until ETSU discontinued its football program after the 2003 season. The series resumed in 2016 when ETSU restarted its program and rejoined the Southern Conference with the game being played at Bristol Motor Speedway, which was won by ETSU 34-31. Western Carolina leads the series 26-25-1. Western Carolina's biggest win is 49-10 in 2017 and ETSU's biggest win is 49-10 in 1996.

Catamounts in the NFL

Player Position Years in NFL
Steve WilliamsDE1974
Eddie McGillTE1982–1983
Dean BiasucciK1984–1995
Tiger GreeneDB1985–1990
Louis CooperLB1985–1993
Clyde SimmonsDE1986–2000
Leonard WilliamsRB1987
Fred DavisDB1987

Kirk Roach K 1988 -1989

Tony JonesOL1988–2000
Willie J. WilliamsDB1993–2005
Andrew JordanTE1994–2001
David PattenWR1997–2008
Brad HooverFB2000–2009
Detrez NewsomeRB2018–2018
Keion CrossenDB2018–2022

Future non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of December 8, 2022.[4]

2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031
at Arkansas at NC State Gardner–Webb at Georgia
at Eastern Kentucky Campbell at Wake Forest
Charleston Southern at Montana Elon
at Elon at Campbell

See also

References

  1. Western Carolina University Athletic Guidelines (PDF). October 1, 2014. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  2. "Catamount Grid, Cage Schedules Are Announced". Asheville Citizen-Times. Asheville, North Carolina. June 26, 1934. Retrieved March 26, 2017 via newspapers.com.
  3. "SMOKY MOUNTAIN". The Palm Beach Post. AP. November 30, 1936. Retrieved March 26, 2017 via newspapers.com.
  4. "Western Carolina Catamounts Football Future Schedules". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
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