A preseason preview of the Catamount's eleventh opponent of the 2011 football season, the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers.
On November 19th, the Catamounts close out the 2011 season in Cullowhee with the first ever game between the Catamounts and Chanticleers. Coastal's 2010 record was 6-6 (5-1 conference), winning a share of the Big South Conference title by virtue of a 3 way tie between Coastal, Liberty, and Stony Brook (all finishing 5-1 in conference play), but the tie breaker went to the Chanticleers based on fewest points allowed in conference play. The Chanticleers lost at home in the first round of the playoffs to Western Illinois by a score of 17-10.
Head Coach Dave Bennett, the 2010 Big South Coach of the Year, enters his tenth season at the head of the Coastal Carolina program, and must replace 16 players lost to graduation. For the 2011 season, Coastal was picked to hold donw third place behind preseason Big South Conference favorites Liberty and Stony Brook. Coastal returns four players picked as preseason All Big South team members, junior linebacker Andrae Jacobs, senior tightend David Duran, sophomore offensive lineman Jamey Cheatwook, & senior cornerback Josh Norman.
For Coastal to sustain strong play like they exhibited down the stretch last season, they must quickly settle on a quarterback to replace three-year starter Zach MacDowall. Bennett has indicated that South Carolina junior transfer Aramis Hillary is "probably the leading candidate for that position" over fifth-year senior Jamie Childers. Childers will probably be on the field as a tight end this season, while backing up Hillary.
Prediction: WCU - 21 CCU - 13
WCU Record: 7 - 4
This could be a tough game. Lets hope the Cats start this series off with a win. Go Cats.
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