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.