Happy Halloween Catamount Fans

Courtesy Wes Deyton    

Catamount Defensive Coordinator fired

Cullowhee, NC - "I want to thank Matt Pawlowski for his service to Catamount athletics, the football program and our student-athletes," Fred Cantler said in announcing that Matt Pawloski is no longer serving as Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator for Catamount football.

"Anyone who has been around Matt can attest to his passion for football and his competitive spirit. However, my evaluation of the status of the football program has led me to the conclusion that this change is in the best interest of the program."

Assistant Coach Jay Hood will serve as interim defensive coordinator with Assistant Coach Mark Rhea assuming the role of Assistant Head Coach.

Soccer & Volleyball fall

Birmingham, AL - The Catamounts lost in the opening round of the SoCon Soccer Tournament to the number 1 seeded Samford Bulldogs by a score of 2-1 in regulation.

Cullowhee, NC - Volleyball fell to the Greensboro Spartans in 4 sets by a final score of 3-1 today in the Ramsey Center.

Volleyball wins, Football loses

Cullowhee, NC - The volleyball Cats won in 5 sets over the Elon Phoenix, in the Ramsey Center Saturday afternoon. The match was the sixth conference win for the Cats, the most since the 2005 team won seven.

Birmingham, AL. - Samford rolled off 21 points in the second half en route to demolishing the Catamounts, 52-24, in SoCon action at Seibert Stadium. This was the forth time this season 51 or more points have been scored on the hapless Catamount defense.

Happy Birthday Statue of Liberty

The Bulldogs and Catamounts will meet Saturday

Saturday's game against Samford is scheduled for a 3 p.m (EDT) kickoff from Seibert Stadium.

The game can be heard live on the Catamount Sports Network, or on the internet at Stretch Internet .  Catamount fans can also watch the game online via live streaming at www.samfordsports.com.  GameTracker will also be available.

2011 Hummingbird Intercollegiate

Courtesy WCU Sports Information

Cullowhee, N.C.  Western Carolina University and the Country Club of Sapphire Valley will host the 2011 Hummingbird Intercollegiate. The tournament gets underway with a practice round on Sunday, Oct. 30.  The  two-round, 36-hole event is slated to start on Oct. 31 and and continue on Nov. 1, 2011.

Seventeen teams and seven individual players will comprise the field, with team and individual titles at the 2011 Hummingbird Intercollegiate up for grabs. Teams expected to compete along with the defending team champions, Jacksonville, are Vanderbilt, Colgate, Francis Marion, Gardner-Webb, Guilford, High Point, IPFW, Radford, Tennessee Tech, UAB, and five Southern Conference schools return for the tournament.  Appalachian State, Elon, Furman, Samford and Wofford round out the competing teams.

Soccer: Cats Earn Bid to SoCon Tourney

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Western Carolina women's soccer won the 8th seed in the 2011 SoCon Tournament with a 1-0 victory over Appalachian State Wednesday at the Catamount Athletic Complex.  Not only did the Cats secure a position in the tournament, but continued the undefeated streak over the Mountaneers in Cullowhee.  The Cats face the number 1 seed, Samford at 5 p.m. on October 30 in Birmingham, Alabama in the first round of the tournament. The top four seeds host the first round, before it moves to Greensboro.

The Dennis Wagner Show (The Citadel game)

Head Football Coach Dennis Wagner recaps the Citadel game and names this week's "players of the week" - offensive, defensive and special teams. Coach Wagner also discusses the upcoming road game with the Samford Bulldogs.

Click on the link below to watch the show on WNC Television.

The Dennis Wagner Show

Basketball: Sumler preseason All-SoCon

The SoCon coaches picked rising WCU sophomore Trey Sumler to the preseason all-SoCon team. Sumler ranked second in scoring a year ago, averaging 11.5 points per game which also placed him second among all SoCon freshmen.  He averaged three steals per game and started 21 of the 31 games for the Catamounts.  Sumler scored 20-or-more twice during the season.

Basketball: Cats picked 3d in North

Courtesy WCU Sports Information

The Catamounts, co-champs of the North last season, were ranked third by the league’s coaches in the SoCon preseason poll. Chattanooga, who shared the North Division title with WCU, was picked by the coaches as the preseason favorite this year   The Mocs return four starters from last year's squad, Appalachian State was voted second. UNCG was voted fourth, while Elon and Samford rounded out the North Division.

This Weekends Events

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Football at Samford 3:00 PM 

Volleyball vs Elon 3:00 PM 

Cross Country vs SoCon Championships TBA

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Soccer vs SoCon Championships - First Round TBA

Volleyball vs UNC Greensboro 3:00 PM 

Soccer: vs Appy State

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Appalachian State women's soccer (6-10-2, 2-5-2 SoCon) travels to Western Carolina (8-9-1, 3-7 SoCon) on Wednesday night. Postseason playoff hopes are on the line as both teams enter the match with a chance at the final spot in the SoCon Soccer Tournament to be held in Greensboro, NC.

Series History - The Catamounts lead 9-2-1 in the all-time series. The teams played to a draw last season, with the Cats winning the five previous matchups.  The Mountaineers have never beaten WCU in Cullowhee.

Playoff Implications - With seven spots in the SoCon Tournament set, Appalachian, WCU, Wofford and The Citadel each have a chance to win the final berth depending on the outcome of tonights games. Western Carolina however, controls its own destiny and will qualify for the final spot with a win over ASU tonight.

Good Luck Catamounts.

Make your plans to attend

Football Reunion scheduled for November 18-19

SoCon Weekly Coaches Teleconference (10-25-11)

The Weekly SoCon Teleconference was held today. "I thought The Citadel did a nice job on some things early that we hadn't seen offensively, so defensively we had to make some adjustments. Our guys settled in and did a much better job after the first quarter, but offensively, we just didn't get any rhythm or get the ball moving so it forced our defense to be out there a lot. It really put our back to the wall, didn't really give us an opportunity. And then, we turned the ball over a couple of times that hurt us," Wagner said.

Clink on the links below to listen.

Coach Wagner

Coach Sullivan

Chip Smith relieved of duties

Cullowhee, N.C. - Chancellor David O. Belcher announced that "Chip" Smith will no longer serve as WCU's Director of Athletics effective Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2011.

"I want to thank Chip for his hard work on behalf of Catamount student-athletes since he came to WCU in September 2004," Belcher said. "The athletics program has achieved some significant accomplishments over the past seven years, both on the fields and courts of play and in the classroom. Nevertheless, upon careful consideration, I have reached the conclusion that a change in leadership is needed at this time."

Saturday's SoCon Football Wrap up

Courtesy SoConSports.com

Furman 26, #4 Wofford 21
GREENVILLE, S.C. - Jerodis Williams rushed two touchdowns in Furman's 26-21 SoCon victory over fourth-ranked Wofford.    This was the 85th clash between the South Carolina's oldest football rivals.

#6 Appalachian State 35, Samford 17
BOONE, N.C. - Appalachian State scored 21 points in the second quarter to lead 21-10 at halftime over visiting Samford, then the Mountaineers romped to a 35-17 victory over the Bulldogs  on Saturday at Kidd Brewer Stadium.

Chattanooga 42, Elon 18
ELON, N.C. - The visiting Chattanooga Mocs cruised to a 42-18 victory over the Elon on Homecoming at Rhodes Stadium Saturday afternoon.

#Georgia Southern 48, Presbyterian 14
STATESBORO, Ga. - The #1 ranked Georgia Southern Eagles blasted past Presbyterian College, 48-14, Saturday afternoon at Paulson Stadium.  The Eagles led 38-0 at halftime.

The Citadel 35, Western Carolina 7
CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Five different Bulldogs rushed for a touchdown on Saturday as The Citadel racked up 435 rushing yards in a 35-7 romp over Western Carolina on Homecoming at E.J Whitmire Stadium.

Homecoming

Homecoming Queen Hannah Blanton and Homecoming King Adam Ray

Courtesy WCU Sports Information

 

Rachel Reilly and Geno Segers

Courtesy WCU Sports Information

The Citadel 35, Western Carolina 7

Cullowhee, NC - The Catamounts snaped a two-game winning streak over the Bulldogs of The Citadel Saturday in Whitmire Stadium, losing by a 7-35 score. The Cats have now suffered its 11th-straight loss in SoCon play, and is 17-20-1 in Homecoming games since moving into Whitmire Stadium in 1974.

Homecoming 2011

Two Western Carolina alumni who've become well known in the entertainment industry will be in Cullowhee for the WCU's homecoming football game. Rachel Reilly, the winner of this year's show “Big Brother” and actor Geno Segers will be in Whitmire Stadium to watch the Catamounts play the Citadel Bulldogs.  Segers played for the Catamounts (1985-88) and Reilly is a 2007 WCU graduate.

Homecoming 2011 - October 22, 2011

This Weekends Events

Friday, October 21, 2011

Soccer vs UNC Greensboro (Homecoming) 7:00 PM

Volleyball at The Citadel 6:00 PM

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Football vs The Citadel (Homecoming) 3:00 PM

Volleyball at College of Charleston  6:00 PM

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Soccer at Elon  3:00 PM

Women's Golf vs Palmetto Intercollegiate (36 holes)

The Dennis Wagner Show (Chattanooga game)

CatamountSports.com

Head Football Coach Dennis Wagner recaps the Chattanooga game and names this week's "players of the week" - offensive, defensive and special teams.  Coach Wagner also discusses the upcoming road game with the Citadel Bulldogs.

Click on the link below to watch the show on WNC Television.

The Dennis Wagner Show

Homecoming Weekend 2011

Courtesy WCU Sports Information

SoCon Weekly Coaches Teleconference (10-18-11)

Courtesy SoConSports.com

The weekly SoCon Coaches Teleconference was held today.

"I was really disappointed with our performance at Chattanooga - and that's no disrespect to Chattanooga. I think they did a great job and their kids played hard, rallied together," said Wagner. "We saw great enthusiasm on (Chattanooga's) sideline and we've challenged our guys this week to play with that same passion."

"Our kids have always worked hard and it wears on anyone when you lose. It's our job as a coaching staff to get them excited to play and to be ready to play each week. I thought offensively that we didn't play with the same intensity that we had played before, but defensively, we played hard until the end. So, we're going to get both groups to rally together this week."

Coach Wagner

Coach Higgins

Football: The Citadel

It's time to look ahead to Homecoming 2011 and game # 7, the Citadel Bulldogs. To get things started, I'm republishing the preseason preview posted in early summer.  I'll update the article at the end.

Game #7. The Bulldogs of The Citadel

A preseason preview of the Catamount's seventh opponent of the 2011 football season, The Citadel Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs travel from the South Carolina low country to the mountains of North Carolina as Western's fifth conference opponent and seventh overall game of the 2011-12 football season. The cats & dogs have only played a total of 35 times, with the first game coming in 1972. The dogs currently own a 19-15-1 record over the Cats, but Western owns a two game win streak over the Citadel, and the Cats lead the series in games played in Cullowhee 9-8. Last season's final score was a 24-13 Catamount victory in Charleston. The Bulldogs only conference win last season came in the season finale at Samford by a 13-12 score.

Entering his seventh season as the Bulldogs' head coach, Kevin Higgins returns 40 letter winners, which includes 22 starters (offense, defense, & special teams) that ended last season with an overall 3-8 record (1-7 SoCon). The 2010 season brought many changes for the Bulldogs as they lost All-American wide receiver Andre Roberts, had nine coaching changes and switched to the triple option offense.

The Bulldogs are returning 10 offensive starters, including sophomore quarterback Ben Dupree, who will run the triple option for the Bulldogs. “Dupree has solidified himself as the number one quarterback,” said Higgins. “He was also interested in the Naval Academy. (He’s) very quick, excellent athlete and he was a 1,000 point scorer in basketball in high school. We think he is going to be a very good player if he gets more experience.”

In The Citadel, the Cats face the triple option offense for the third of four games this season. Last season the dogs fielded a not very productive offense, which was further troubled with problems holding on to the ball, having fumbled 44 times, losing 23 of those fumbles on the season. The Bulldogs only scored a total of 164 points on the season, for a total of 14.9 points per game.

Defensively, the Bulldogs return 8 starters for their 4-2-5 defensive scheme which gave up 296 points, or 27 point per game last season. Their passing defense was especially venerable, giving up almost 1900 yards passing on the season.

Update: The Bulldogs are 2-4 overall (beating Jacksonville and Chattanooga) and 1-4 in the SoCon (losses to Furman 16-6, Elon 18-15, Wofford 43-14, and Appy State 49-42).


Prediction: WCU 21 - The Citadel 13

Volleyball: Jordan Timmermann named Freshman of the Week

WCU Sports 

Information

Spartanburg, SC - Jordan Timmermann was named the SoCon Freshman Volleyball Player of the Week earlier today by the Southern Conference. This is her second Freshman of Week honor this season.  Timmermann led the Catamounts in kills (27) and posted her third double-double of the season last week.

Homecoming 2011 - October 22, 2011

“Forever a Catamount” is the theme to this year’s Western Carolina University Homecoming.   WCU will again welcome alumni back to Cullowhee,  to their university.  Let’s come out full force to this year’s homecoming. Let’s come together once more to feel all the memories in this place.   Let’s always be “Forever a Catamount.”

Men's Basketball: Practice opened on Friday

Courtesy WCU Sports Information

Cullowhee, NC - Catamount men's basketball officially got underway last Friday evening in the Ramsey auxiliary gymnasium.  Head Coach Larry Hunter is entering his seventh season in Cullowhee, and is looking forward to this season with three-consecutive winning seasons under his belt in Cullowhee.   The Cats have won 38 of its last 44 home games including 26 of its last 30 SoCon games.

The Catamounts will open the 2011-12 season at South Carolina in the Colonial Life Arena on Friday, Nov. 11. Tip-off is set for at 7:00 pm.

Football: Chattanooga romps

Chattanooga, Tenn. – It started as a game between two winless teams in the SoCon, but ended as a nightmare for the Catamounts as the Mocs put a 51-7 beating on Western Carolina Saturday night in Chattanooga's Finely Stadium.   Both teams entered the game 0-3 in conference play, but after  scoring 17 points in the opening quarter the Mocs never looked back on their way to a 31-0 halftime lead.  The Cats fall to 1-5, while the Mocs improve to 3-4 overall.

Baseball: Vols win Fall Scrimmage

WCU Sports

Knoxville, Tn. - "Today was very, very insightful and very helpful for us in all aspects of the game," said Catamount head coach Bobby Moranda. "We were able to throw every pitcher on roster and bat all of our hitters and that allowed us to experiment a little. Overall, I think we did some things well but also found areas in which we need to see improvement that seeing another jersey in a scrimmage format helped point out."

"Today was a step in right direction and learned a lot about our club while facing well-coached team like Tennessee. Now, we've got to get back to work the remainder of our fall - we've still got a lot of improvement that can be made as we look forward to our season in the spring."

Tennessee won the 9 inning scrimmage Friday in Knoxville over the Catamount baseball team, by a score of 6-3. Senior Ross Heffley led the Catamounts, finishing 2-for-3 in the game.

Volleyball: Cats down Wofford, 3-2

Cullowhee, NC - "Our back row defense really stepped it up tonight," said head coach Karen Glover.

"We had four people over 20 digs tonight which was huge. Becky (Stoltz) had an outstanding match leading the team offensively. Both Becky and Carrie (Minogue) had big matches for us tonight. Our middles really came through for us offensively."

Wofford regrouped after being down 2-0 in the match to come back and tie the Cats at two sets apiece. The Catamounts won the fifth set victory by a score of 15-8, winning the match 3-2 last night in Cullowhee.  WCU is now 9-14 overall and 4-3 in the SoCon. Wofford fell to 13-10 (2-5 SoCon).

Cross Country: Smith sets School Record in 5000m

WCU Sports

Charlotte, NC - Mara Smith recorded the fastest 5000m time in Western Carolina history Friday at the Royal Cross Country Challenge in Charlotte, hosted by Queens University.

"Both our Women and Men's Teams competed with a lot of WCU school pride today," said head coach Danny Williamson."

"I am very proud of them for that, but we don't want to be fully satisfied with this performance because I think that all of our runners feel that they have a lot more left and much more to give before this season is over. This was a very good showing for us with the SoCon Championship Meet up next on our schedule."

Overall, the women's team placed fourth while the men finished sixth.

Breaking news - Possible football game in Charlotte

Chip Smith, AD
Courtesy WCU Sports Information

Catamount Fans,

I want to give you a brief update on some potentially exciting news for the Catamounts. We have had some very informal conversations with both the administration of the Carolina Panthers and with Appalachian State University Athletics. These conversations have centered on the possibility of playing a game or more between the two schools in Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC. This is an idea that I have had for a few years and may now come to fruition.

As most of you know, the president of the Carolina Panthers, Danny Morrison, is a former commissioner of the Southern Conference and also served as Director of Athletics at Wofford College. Recently, Catamount alum Tobe Childers facilitated a meeting with Morrison, Scott Paul, who is the Director of Stadium Operations for the Panthers and Gorham Bradley and myself. We discussed the possibility, and some of the considerations, in having the Catamounts and the Mountaineers play in Bank of America Stadium. It was a very good conversation.

We left the meeting in agreement to continue to pursue this possibility. There are several questions yet to be answered. We also understand the primary issue: How could this fit into the Panthers schedule and stadium use, in conjunction with the requirements of the NFL? Another is the ability of Appalachian State to explore making a two-year agreement.

Nonetheless, it is an opportunity that we will continue to pursue. This could possibly take Western Carolina University to a major metropolitan area and that would provide our fans with a first-class experience in a world-class city. Stay tuned, and...

Go Catamounts!!

Chip Smith, Athletic Director

Courtesy WCU Sports Information.

SoCon Game Day

Courtesy SoConSports.com

Football: WCU at Chattanooga

Special Teams -  kickoff returns - WCU holds down 3d place in the SoCon with an average of 24 yards per return with UTC right behind in 4th place with 22 yards per return. Western is in 3d place in kickoff coverage at 41.3 yards, with Chattanooga coming in at 5th place with 40.2 yards.  Punt returns - the Cats hold down 7th place in the category with 6 yards per punt and the Mocs are last in the league with 4 yards per carry. The Mocs and Cats come in 7th & 8th respectively in punting.  Field goals - the two teams are 4th and 5th in field goals, with WCU making 2 of 3 attempts, and UTC converting 6 of 10 attempts. PAT kicking - The Cats are tied in 1st place with a perfect 19 for 19 while Chattanooga come in at 7th place with 12 of 13 made.

Advantage - toss up

Football: Breaking News

Courtesy GoMocs.com

Chattanooga, TN - University of Tennessee at Chattanooga coach Russ Huesman announced today that red shirt freshman Terrell Robinson will make his first career start Saturday against Western Carolina, according to the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

Robinson will replace the injured starting quarter-back B.J. Coleman, who suffered a sprained shoulder last week against the Georgia Southern Eagles. Robinson replaced Coleman in the GSU game and ran for 114 yards on 21 carries and three touchdowns. He had 92 of those yards in a second-half comeback.


Terrell Robinson

The Dennis Wagner Show (Elon game)

CatamountSports.com

Head Football Coach Dennis Wagner recaps the Elon game and names this week's "players of the week" - offensive, defensive and special teams.  Coach Wagner also discusses the upcoming road game with the Chattanooga Mocs.

Click on the link below to watch the show on WNC Television.



The Dennis Wagner Show

Inter-squad scrimmage at Tennessee

WCU Sports
Information

Cullowhee, N.C. - The Baseball Catamounts travel to Knoxville, Tenn. on Friday to continue fall practice in an inter-squad scrimmage with the Tennessee Volunteers at Lindsey Nelson Stadium, in Knoxville, TN with first pitch at 5:00 pm.

Admission is free and parking is available in the C-1 lot behind the right-field wall, with gates opening at 3:00 pm for batting practice. With the Cats playing the Vols in this fall scrimmage, WCU baseball will have one fewer scheduled games in this coming spring.

"Playing at Tennessee will allow us to see our players against a different opponent in live action scenarios. It will be good to face another opponent to see where we are right now," said Head Coach Bobby Moranda. "Also, with us being on fall break, it is a perfect opportunity to take advantage of this trip without missing any class."


Cats vs Vols

Football: WCU at Chattanooga

GoMocs.com

Defense - Chattanooga ranks 6th in the SoCon in scoring defense, giving up 24 points per game, while the Catamounts rank 9th, with opponents averaging 46 points on the board.   In "total defense'" statistics, the Mocs rank #1 in the conference, giving up only 293 yards per game, with the Cats in last place giving up 544 total yards average per game.   Against the rush, the UTC defense places 7th, with their defensive unit giving up 181 yards per game, vs. the Cats last place conference standing against the rush, at 330 yards per game. The Mocs are currently in 1st place defending against the pass at 112 yards per game, while the Catamounts currently hold down 9th place in the conference in pass defense, averaging 234 yards per game.

Defensive Advantage - The Mocs

This Weekend's Events

Friday, October 14, 2011

Soccer vs Chattanooga (Parents Weekend) 7:00 PM

Volleyball vs Wofford  7:00 PM

Cross Country at Royal XC Challenge

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Football at Chattanooga  6:00 PM

Sunday, Oct 16

Soccer vs Samford  2:00 PM

Volleyball vs Furman  3:00 PM

PurpleZone in Chattanooga

Courtesy WCU Sports Information

Catamount Club to Host Pre-game Tailgate at Chattanooga

Cullowhee, NC - Western Carolina's Catamount Club will host a pre-game PurpleZone on the road Saturday afternoon just outside of Finley Stadium in Chattanooga. The tailgate will be set up on the Northside of the Stadium near the City Gates North Entrance from 3:00 pm until 5:30 pm ahead of the 6:00 pm kickoff.

To RSVP for the away tailgate, please contact the Catamount Club Office at (828) 227-3047 or via E-mail at bradley@wcu.edu by Friday, Oct. 14.

Football: WCU at Chattanooga

GoMocs.com

Offense - Currently, the Cats rank 5th in scoring offense in the SoCon, averaging 29 points per game, while the Mocs come in at 8th with  a 22 point average.  In total offensive yardage, the Catamounts are averaging 403 yards per game, good enough for 4th in the conference, while Chattanooga again comes in 8th with 342 total yards per game.   At 146 yards rushing per game, WCU is ranked 7th in the conference in rushing, while Chattanooga come in 9th, averaging 116 yards per game. The Cats are currently 2d in passing yards at 257 yards per game, with the Mocs coming in a 226 yards per game.

Offense Advantage: WCU

Football Reunion scheduled for November 18-19

Courtesy WCU Sports Information

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina athletics announced the "Time for the Return: Cats are Back" Football Reunion scheduled for November 18-19.

Join former coaches, players, managers, athletic trainers and other die-hard Catamount Football fans for this reunion event surrounding the last home football game of the season against Coastal Carolina.   A block of hotel rooms at the Best Western River Escape Inn & Suites in Dillsboro, N.C., is being held for WCU Football Reunion attendees at a special rate.

For more information on the 2011 "Cats are Back" Football Reunion, contact The Catamount Club office at (828) 227-3047, or check out the page on Facebook (Western Carolina University Football Alumni) to chat up the reunion weekend and to find out more information.

2011 "Cats are Back" Football Reunion

Football: Weekly SoCon Coaches Teleconference (10-11-11)

Courtesy SoConSports.com

Head football coach Dennis Wagner and Chattanooga head football coach Russ Huesman participated in the SoCon Head Football Coaches Teleconference this morning.   Coach Wagner discussed last Saturday's home game with Elon and the upcoming road game at Chattanooga.

"Both teams had some turnovers that made it kind of a sloppy ball game, but both teams played hard for four quarters and it came down to the last drive," Wagner said of the WCU/Elon game. "We made a decent goal line stand but late in the drive on third down, we miss a coverage and a guy is open in the end zone and they go up. We got the ball back with two minutes, and with our offense, that's plenty of time. We didn't want to panic, but made a bad decision and threw an interception and that was the end of the game."

“We’re playing a team that’s scary,” Coach Huesman said of the Catamounts. “Obviously, they’re like us – their backs are against the wall. I don’t think they’re getting enough credit for how well they’re playing offensively. Their quarterback is throwing the ball well. They’ve got skill kids that can beat you. Whether you’re in the pistol, the spread, whether you’re in the I, it’s all about executing and they’ve been executing pretty well offensively.”


Click on the links below to listen to each coach. 

Coach Wagner

Coach Huesman

Football: Steak ‘n Shake SoCon Award Winner

The Southern Pigskin Staff selected the Steak 'n Shake SoCon Offensive Player of the Week: Josh Cockrell, WR, Western Carolina - Cockrell had 2 touchdown receptions of 66 and 61 yards and a ten yard scoring run versus Elon.


Steak 'n Shake SoCon Offensive Player of the Week

Football: Chattanooga

GoMocs.com

It's time for game 6, which means a trip across the mountains for the Catamounts to Chattanooga, Tenn.   To start out the week, lets review the preseason preview posted in early summer for the Mocs. 

Game #6. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs

A preseason preview of the Catamount's sixth opponent of the 2011 football season, the UTC Mocs.

For the Catamounts sixth game of the season, the Cats will travel to Finley Stadium in Chattanooga, Tennessee to play their fourth conference game against the Mocs of Chattanooga. This will mark the 38th edition of the rivalry, with the Mocs owning a 21-16 overall record against the Catamounts, while the Cats trail 12-7 in games against the Mocs played in Chattanooga.

For the past two seasons, the slogan for the Mocs football program has been, “Restore the Glory.” Head Coach Russ Huesman was hired in December 2008 to bring back the championship tradition that he helped to build as a Moc player from 1978-81. Twenty-two games into his tenure, Coach Huesman has taken a team that went 1-11 in the year prior to his arrival and rebuilt them into a nationally respected squad, that was ranked No. 20 in the nation on Oct. 25. The Mocs have been picked No. 3 in the SoCon this season, just behind ASU and GSU.

Chattanooga has 16 starters returning from last season's squad, including five on offense, eight on defense and three on special teams, with a total of 38 lettermen returning (16 on the offensive side of the ball, 18 on defense). Senior B.J. Coleman will return as QB after starting all 22 games over the last two seasons. with a solid corps of wideouts returning, led by All-American Joel Bradford. Bradford was No. 2 in the nation with 1,284 receiving yards in 2010. The offensive line took a big hit with the loss of three senior starters, including two All-SoCon performers, while the defensive line lost two starters.

The Mocs ranked second in the Southern Conference and No. 8 in the nation with their passing game, Chattanooga put up 277.2 yards of passing offense per game last season. While known for their passing, the Mocs have established an effective running game.

To beat the Mocs on the road will be difficult, however, they will have played both ASU and GSU by the time the Cats travel to Chattanooga. If they have been successful against either team, this will be a very difficult game for the Cats. I think the Mocs will probably be 3-3 or maybe even 2-4 coming into this game. If they are 2-4, a highly motivated Catamount squad can make this game very interesting and leave Chattanooga with a win.

Update:  This past Saturday the 23rd-ranked Chattanooga Mocs (2-4/0-3) dropped a 28-27 decision at No. 1 Georgia Southern in Statesboro, dropping the Mocs to an 0-3 SoCon record, with conferences losses to ASU, the Citadel, and GSU.

Prediction: WCU 21 - UTC 14

Softball: 5 named 2011 NFCA All-America Scholar Athletes

Cullowhee, N.C. - Senior Katie King, juniors Haley Pace and Shemekia Scotton and sophomores Amelia Griffin and Makenzi McAteer were each named  2011 NFCA All-America Scholar Athletes. 



NFCA All-America Scholar Athletes

Soccer Falls to Davidson 1-0

DAVIDSON, N.C. - Western Carolina women's soccer fell to Davidson 1-0 Sunday at Alumni Stadium.  The Cats are suffering their first losing streak of the season, having lost its last two matches.

The Catamounts now look to get back on the winning track as it returns home on Friday for a pair of Southern Conference matches. WCU is a perfect 5-0 at home.