63 Days 'till Football Kickoff - #63 Zach Weeks

It's now 63 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Labor Day Weekend, Saturday, September 1, 2018, against the Newberry College Wolves, in Cullowhee.

For the season's kick-off game, the Cats will host a "White Out" in E.J. Whitmire Stadium as the Cats sport their all-white look, white Adidas jerseys over white pants; and for the fourth-straight year, a postgame fireworks extravaganza.

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season, and knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the 100-day football countdown each day until kickoff day.

Today we'll continue to highlight the offensive line -

#63 Zach Weeks

Class: RS Senior
Hometown: Bryson City, N.C.
High School: Swain County HS
Height / Weight: 6-3 / 285
Position: OL

2016 (Redshirt Sophomore): Saw action in all 11 of the team's games along the offensive line and on special teams, making 10 starts ... Was a part of the offensive line unit that paved the way for Detrez Newsome's second-straight, 1,000-yard rushing season ... Selected to the 2016 Fall Academic All-Southern Conference team and Named to the 2016-17 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

2015 (Redshirt Freshman): Played in 10 of the team's 11 games, missing the game at Chattanooga ... Started all 10 of his appearances at left tackle ... Graded out at over 82-percent on the season along the offensive line ... Named to the 2015 Southern Conference All-Freshman team ... Was a part of an offensive line that helped produce WCU's first 1,000-yard rusher since 2006 ... Named to the 2015 Fall Academic All-SoCon team and to the 2015-16 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

2014 (Freshman): Redshirted ... Named to the 2014-15 Southern Conference Honor Roll.

Prior to Western Carolina: Was a three-year starter along both the offensive and defensive line ... In addition to earning All-Smoky Mountain Conference accolades, was named the SMC Lineman of the Year for 2013 ... Anchored an offensive line that combined for 6,039 yards and averaged 37 points per game ... Graded out at 94-percent or better on blocking assignments ... On defense, recorded a combined 77 tackles including 10.5 for losses and batted down three passes ... Earned NC Preps All-State honors as a senior ... Was a part of Swain County's 2011 I-AA North Carolina State Championship team ... Joined the WCU football team as a preferred walk-on.


Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations 

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64 Days 'till Football Kickoff - Reuben Wright

It's now 64 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Labor Day Weekend, Saturday, September 1, 2018, against the Newberry College Wolves, in Cullowhee.

For the season's kick-off game, the Cats will host a "White Out" in E.J. Whitmire Stadium as the Cats sport their all-white look, white Adidas jerseys over white pants; and for the fourth-straight year, a postgame fireworks extravaganza.

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season, and knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the 100-day football countdown each day until kickoff day.

No one is assigned #64 on the spring roster, so we'll highlight another assistant coach -

Reuben Wright

Position: Assistant Coach / Running Backs
Alma Mater: Catawba College
Graduated: 1994

Reuben Wright joined the Western Carolina football coaching staff as the running backs coach in mid-May, 2017. Wright, who played collegiately at Catawba College in the early 1990s, worked alongside current Catamount offensive coordinator Brad Glenn at two different high school coaching stops.

Wright replaced former assistant coach Jason Nichols who took a similar position at his alma mater, East Carolina, in late February. Wright officially started in Cullowhee on May 8, and inherits a wealth of talent including three-time 2016 postseason All-America selection, Detrez Newsome.

Wright comes to Cullowhee with a wealth of coaching experience including eight different stops at the high school level. He most recently served as the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator for a season at Greenwood High School in Greenwood, S.C. Prior to that, he spent four seasons as the head coach on the sidelines at Carolina High School and Academy in Greenville, S.C., where he mentored Zykiesis Cannon who went on to play at Louisville.

Wright's coaching stints also include serving as the assistant head football coach at Eastside High in Taylors, S.C.

Between his numerous prep stops, Wright has also coached at the collegiate level, spending two seasons at Presbyterian College where he worked primarily along the defensive line. In his first season with the Blue Hose defensive linemen, he mentored end Sherman Burnett to All-State honors. His unit ranked inside the national top 20 for defensive tackles for loss. He also helped recruit current Arizona Cardinals three-time Pro Bowl selection, Justin Bethel.

Prior to making the jump to the collegiate ranks, Wright spent two years as the defensive coordinator at Blythewood High in Blythewood, S.C., just outside of Columbia where he was also the strength and conditioning coordinator. While at Blythewood, he helped mold the Bengals in their inaugural season in 2006, helping the squad to a 14-1 overall record and the 2006 South Carolina AAA state title. Wright's defense featured all-state performer and Georgia signee, Charles White, and held opponents to just 14.7 points per game in the 2006 season.

Additional prep coaching stops in the Palmetto state include defensive coordinator at Seneca High (2004-05), and as an assistant coach at Northwestern High (2001-04) where he helped the program to a Big 16 state runner-up finish in 2001. His career started at Greer High (1994-2000) where he patrolled the sidelines for seven seasons, working alongside Glenn at both Seneca and Greer. The two helped guide the Yellow Jackets to an undefeated, 15-0, season and the AAA state championship in 1994, and two Upper-State runner-up finishes in 1999 and 2000.

Captain of the 1993 Catawba football team, Wright earned his bachelor's degree in history from the college in 1994 before earning his Master's in education from Converse College in Spartanburg. Wright is married to Ms. Dena Wright, and has two children, daughter Kennedy and son Cade.


Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations 

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2018 Football Preseason Preview: Chattanooga

Throughout this preseason, Purple & Gold will preview all of Western Carolina's 2018 football opponents.

For the sixth game of the season, we'll look at the Chattanooga Mocs. The Mocs travel to Cullowhee for what will be the first home game after two weeks on the road.

The Cats won against the Mocs in Chattanooga last season, breaking an eight-game losing streak against the Mocs.











Chattanooga

When: Saturday, October 13 - Time 3:30 pm ET

Where: E.J. Whitmire Stadium, Cullowhee, NC

Radio: Catamount Sports Network

TV/video:  ESPN3 or ESPN+

Games that will be played by the Mocs this season prior to the WCU contest:  (Six games) The Mocs open the season at home vs. Tenn. Tech prior to traveling to Charleston to open conference play with the Bulldogs. In game 3, the Mocs remain on the road traveling to Martin, TN to meet UT Martin, then return home to face another conference foe, Samford.  For game five, the Mocs travel to Johnson City to play ETSU, then return home to face Wofford.

The Series: The Cats own a 17-27-0 all-time record against the Mocs, having first played in 1973. Last season the Cats broke an 8 game slide to Chattanooga with a  45-7 victory in Finley Stadium over the Mocs.

The last game played vs. Chattanooga:  September 30, 2017 - Catamount Football Derails Chattanooga in `Complete Team Win,' 45-7 - Western Carolina forced three fumbles - two recovered in the end zone for touchdowns - and running back Corey Holloway eclipsed the 100-yard mark adding a pair of scores on the ground as the Catamounts halted an eight-game losing skid with a strong, 45-7, road win over Chattanooga Saturday night at Finley Stadium. WCU (4-1, 2-0 SoCon) tallied a season-high seven sacks - matching its seasonal total entering the game - to lead a strong defensive effort that limited the Mocs to 172 yards of total offense including just 49 on the ground. Combined, WCU's seven sacks totaled 63 yards in losses.

Head Coach: Tom Arth - 2d season as head coach at Chattanooga -  Tom Arth is the 23rd head coach of the Chattanooga Mocs football team, announced on Dec. 20, 2016. Arth was the NCAA Division III National Coach of the Year from John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio when hired by the Mocs. A former NFL quarterback, Arth (35) owns a 40-8 overall record in four seasons at his alma mater. His building of the John Carroll program was highlighted by this year's road victories over two No. 1 ranked opponents in Mount Union and Wisconsin-Whitewater. The 2016 Ohio Athletic Conference Coach of the Year guided the Blue Streaks to the NCAA Division III Playoffs for the third time in his four-year tenure.


Last Season's Record (Chattanooga):  3-8 overall,  1-4 home, 2-3 away,  3-5 in the SoCon, with wins over VMI. Samford, and ETSU.

Base Offensive Alignment:  multiple

Base Defensive Alignment:  multiple

Offensive starters - Returning/Lost:  5   /  6

Defensive starters - Returning/Lost:  6   /  5

Specialist - Returning/Lost:  5   /   1

Key losses:
Offense -  Preseason All-SoCon C - Josh Cardiello; TE - Malcolm Colvin; X - Alphonso Stewart; Z - James Stovall; LS - Emory Norred.

Defense -  Preseason All-SoCon E -4 Taylor Reynolds; Preseason All-American M - Dale Warren; W - Tae Davis; All-SoCon FS - Lucas Webb; C - Trevor Wright

Prior to the start of this season, it was announced that Mocs QB Cole Copeland has been suspended for the 2018 season for academic reasons. Head coach Tom Arth said the sophomore will be "re-evaluated" after the season. This is the second time in as many seasons the Mocs lose a starting quarterback for academic issues. Alejandro Bennifield was suspended for the first four games of 2017 because of an NCAA academic issue. Other unexpected losses from the offseason for the The Mocs are all-SoCon tight end Bailey Lenoir and incoming freshman Josiah Futral. Redshirt freshman Chris Broadwater also will not be with the team.

The Mocs lost 20 seniors,  including quarterback Alejandro Bennifield, running backs Darrell Bridges and Richardre Bagley, receivers James Stovall, Alphonso Stewart and Dy’Kari Hickey, fullback Chris Jones, tight end Malcolm Colvin, offensive linemen Josh Cardiello and Alex Hooper, defensive linemen D.J. Prather, Taylor Reynolds and Brandon Bourk, linebackers Tae Davis, Dale Warren, Joshua Phillips and T.J. Jenkins, defensive backs Trevor Wright and Lucas Webb and long snapper Emory Norred.

The Mocs must replace their two top rushers, D. Bridges & R. Bagledy, as well as their top receiver, Alphonso Stewart.

Since Tom Arth took over as HC in December of 2016, he has had lost 3 DCs, 3 OLB coaches, 3 DB coaches, 2 ILB coaches and 2 DL coaches. Every coach has left for a position at a higher level, including 2 (Brandon Staley-Bears, Demarcus Covington-Patriots) in NFL, but he has had pepetual turnover of assistant coaches.

Top returnees:  QB - Cole Copeland (started last 5 games, replaced senior Alejandro Bennifield); Kicker - Victor Ulmo; Punter - Colin Brewer

In the offseason, the Mocs lost their Defensive Coordinator, Tom Kaufman, Defensive Line Coach, Brian Cochran, and defensive backs coach Jonathan Cooley, all to Kent State.
 
The Mocs promoted last year's LB coach, Matt Feeney, to fill the  Defensive Coordinator position and hired Oscar Rodriguez to coach their Inside LB's. Rodriguez comes to Chatt from University of La Verne (CA). The Mocs hired Davern Williams as their DL coach (from East Mississippi Community College) and Jeremiah Wilson as the DB coach.


2017 Chattanooga Statistics
Rushing Offense: 1202 yards
Yards per game: 78.1
Yards per rush: 2.6 yards
Rushing 1st downs: 55
TDs rushing:  8
Passing Offense: 2085 yards or 189.5 yards per game
Avg. per pass:  5.6 yards
Passing 1st downs: 99
Passing Comp-Att-Int: 221-372-17
TDs Passing: 14
Total Offense: 2944 yards or 267.6 yards per game
Fumbles-Lost: 12 - 8
3d Down Conversions: 47 of 150
4th Down Conversions: 11 of 22
Field goal attempts: 9 - 12
PAT-Attempts: 22 of 23 (96%)
On-side kicks:  0-0
Red Zone Scores: 24 of 32  (78%)
Red Zone Touchdowns: 17 of 32  (53%)
Punts-Yards: 60 - 2393 - Avg per punt: 39.9
Penalties-Yards: 78 for 630
Touchdowns scored:  24


Game prediction:  Per the Massey Ratings, the Cats have a 65% probability of winning (29-24) over the Mocs.

According to Massey, Cats should be 4-2 after this game.  I'm going to disagree, the Cats are 5-1 after this game.

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65 Days 'till Football Kickoff - #65 Kaleb Spry

It's now 65 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Labor Day Weekend, Saturday, September 1, 2018, against the Newberry College Wolves, in Cullowhee.

For the season's kick-off game, the Cats will host a "White Out" in E.J. Whitmire Stadium as the Cats sport their all-white look, white Adidas jerseys over white pants; and for the fourth-straight year, a postgame fireworks extravaganza.

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season, and knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the 100-day football countdown each day until kickoff day.

Today we'll continue to highlight the offensive line-

#65 Kaleb Spry

Class: RS Senior
Hometown: Kannapolis, N.C.
High School: A.L. Brown HS
Height / Weight: 6-2 / 295
Position: OL

2016 (Redshirt Sophomore): Played in all 11 games along the offensive line and on special teams, making two starts at center ... Made his first collegiate start against Wofford (Oct. 8) ... Was a part of the offensive line unit that paved the way for Detrez Newsome's second-straight, 1,000-yard rushing season ... Selected to the 2016 Fall Academic All-Southern Conference team. 

2015 (Redshirt Freshman): Played in six games as a reserve along the offensive line ... Was a part of an offensive line that helped produce WCU's first 1,000-yard rusher since 2006 ... Named 2015 Fall Academic All-Southern Conference and to the 2015-16 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll ... Represented Western Carolina at the 2016 Southern Conference SALI Conference during the summer.

2014 (Freshman): Redshirted ... Named to the 2014-15 Southern Conference Honor Roll.

Prior to Western Carolina: A two-year varsity letter winner who started at offensive center as a senior ... Was voted a team captain ... Listed as a two-star prospect by Rivals.com ... Ranks inside the Top 20 in his high school class academically ... Was honored by the Great American Rivalry Series at A.L. Brown's season-opener for having his team's highest GPA ... Also received his team's Academic Achievement award ... Also played basketball as a prep ... High school coach was Mike Newsome.

Personal: Is the son of Terry and Meredith Spry.



Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations 

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66 Days 'till Football Kickoff - Tyler Carlton

It's now 66 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Labor Day Weekend, Saturday, September 1, 2018, against the Newberry College Wolves, in Cullowhee.

For the season's kick-off game, the Cats will host a "White Out" in E.J. Whitmire Stadium as the Cats sport their all-white look, white Adidas jerseys over white pants; and for the fourth-straight year, a postgame fireworks extravaganza.

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season, and knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the 100-day football countdown each day until kickoff day.

No one is assigned #66 on the spring roster, so we'll highlight another assistant coach -

Tyler Carlton

Last College: Tulsa
Position: Assistant Coach / Wide Receivers
Graduated: 2009


Tyler Carlton joined Western Carolina's coaching staff in July, 2016 as the wide receivers coach. Carlton came to Cullowhee from head coach Mark Speir's alma mater, Clemson, where he spent four seasons under renowned offensive coordinator, Chad Morris.

Carlton inherits a strong Catamount wide receiving corps., that accounted for 18 of the team's 21 receiving touchdowns in 2014 including a team-high 11 from Spearman Robinson. The Catamounts ranked second in the Southern Conference in passing offense, averaging 219.2 yards per game through the air. Terryon Robinson paced the league with a 5.1 reception per game average, securing a team-best 56 catches for 643 yards. Karnorris Benson, who tied the school record with 12 receiving TDs in 2013, joined the two Robinsons with 500-plus yards, catching 40 passes for 519 receiving yards a season ago.

Serving as an offensive analyst at Clemson, Calrton's duties included assisting the offensive staff on a day-to-day basis while also aiding in video breakdown of opponents. Carlton also served as a video graduate assistant at Clemson, helping the Tigers to 42 victories, four top-25 final rankings and an ACC Championship in 2011. He was also a part of four bowl appearances with the Tigers including a pair of Orange Bowls in both 2012 and defeating Ohio State in 2014, as well as wins over LSU in the 2012 Chic-Fila-A Bowl and over Oklahoma in the 2014 Russell Athletic Bowl.

Originally from Sapulpa, Okla., Carlton played collegiately at Tulsa as both a wide receiver and punter from 2004-06 where he was a member of the 2005 Conference USA championship squad. He also earned a bowl ring as the Golden Hurricanes won the Liberty Bowl.

A 2009 graduate of Tulsa, earning a degree in exercise science, Carlton got his coaching start at Tulsa as a student assistant in 2008-09, progressing to offensive quality control assistant in 2010 under Morris. While on staff, he was a part of two bowl appearances including a win over Ball State in the 2008 GMAC Bowl and defeating Hawaii in the 2010 Hawaii Bowl.

All told, between his eight seasons as an assistant on a collegiate staff, Carlton has been a part of six, 10-win seasons. Carlton was married to the former Lisa Giordano in June, 2013; the couple has two sons, Tennyson (aka “Deuce”) and Tucker.


Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations 

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67 Days 'till Football Kickoff - #67 Zach Johns

It's now 68 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Labor Day Weekend, Saturday, September 1, 2018, against the Newberry College Wolves, in Cullowhee.

For the season's kick-off game, the Cats will host a "White Out" in E.J. Whitmire Stadium as the Cats sport their all-white look, white Adidas jerseys over white pants; and for the fourth-straight year, a postgame fireworks extravaganza.

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season, and knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the 100-day football countdown each day until kickoff day.

Today we'll continue to highlight the offensive line- 

#67 Zach Johns

Class: Freshman
Hometown: Dahlonega, GA.
High School: Lampkin Conty HS
Height / Weight: 6-4 / 260
Position: OL


Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations 

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68 Days 'till Football Kickoff - Pat Mills

It's now 68 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Labor Day Weekend, Saturday, September 1, 2018, against the Newberry College Wolves, in Cullowhee.

For the season's kick-off game, the Cats will host a "White Out" in E.J. Whitmire Stadium as the Cats sport their all-white look, white Adidas jerseys over white pants; and for the fourth-straight year, a postgame fireworks extravaganza.

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season, and knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the 100-day football countdown each day until kickoff day.

No one is assigned #68 on the spring roster, so we'll highlight another assistant coach -

Pat Mills

Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.
Position: Assistant Coach / Special Teams Coordinator / Tight Ends
Alma Mater: Appalachian State
Graduated: 2011

Pat Mills joined the Catamount football staff in January of 2012, coming to Cullowhee after spending the 2011 season as the tight ends coach at Concord University in Athens, W.Va., a role he will continue at Western Carolina. In the summer of 2015 - and after unofficially handling the duties in 2014 - Mills was additionally named WCU's Special Teams Coordinator by head coach Mark Speir.

Under Mills’ tutelage in 2013, WCU tight end Michael Helms, Jr., was named to the SoCon All-Freshman team. In 2014, tight end Tyler Sexton caught three TD passes. Mills additionally worked with former Catamount tight end, Conner Orr, who was named a Capital One All-District III team selection by CoSIDA.

In 2011, Mills mentored Concord senior tight end Rashid Baker who finished the season ranked third on the team with 32 receptions for 315 yards and two touchdowns. Baker earned honorable mention on the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) post-season award squads.

The Mountain Lions finished with a 7-4 overall record and a 7-1 mark in the WVIAC, claiming its first conference championship since 1990. Concord also qualified for the NCAA Super Region 1 playoffs, the program's first post-season appearance since 1992.

Mills was a four-year letter-winner and three-year starter along the offensive line at Appalachian State from 2007-10, twice garnering All-Southern Conference plaudits. Originally from Charlotte, N.C., and Providence HS, he played in 47 career games at ASU, splitting time at both offensive guard positions.

As a redshirt junior, Mills started all 14 games at right guard, earning second team All-SoCon recognition from the league's voting media after only allowing one sack all season. The following year, he earned first team all-conference accolades, seeing 723 snaps on the field without allowing a quarterback sack.

Mills helped lead Providence HS in Charlotte to a 9-2 record in his senior season at offensive tackle, earning first-team All-Mecklenburg recognition from the Charlotte Observer as a senior.

He is the son of Gail and Dean Mills.


Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations 

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69 Days 'till Football Kickoff - #69 Chase Stehling

It's now 69 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Labor Day Weekend, Saturday, September 1, 2018, against the Newberry College Wolves, in Cullowhee.

For the season's kick-off game, the Cats will host a "White Out" in E.J. Whitmire Stadium as the Cats sport their all-white look, white Adidas jerseys over white pants; and for the fourth-straight year, a postgame fireworks extravaganza.

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season, and knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the 100-day football countdown each day until kickoff day.

Today we'll continue to highlight the offensive line-

#69 Chase Stehling

Class: RS Senior
Hometown: Lincolnton, N.C.
High School: North Lincoln HS
Height / Weight: 6-4 / 295
Position: OL

2016 (Redshirt Sophomore): Saw action in all 11 of the team's games along the offensive line and on special teams, making one start ... His first collegiate start came against Chattanooga (Oct. 28) ... Was a part of the offensive line unit that paved the way for Detrez Newsome's second-straight, 1,000-yard rushing season ... Credited with one tackle in the UTC game.

2015 (Redshirt Freshman): Did not see game action.

2014 (Freshman): Redshirted.

Prior to Western Carolina: Played along the offensive and defensive line, as well as tight end during his high school career ... Also played basketball and participated in track & field in the weight events including shot put and discus ... High school coach was David Maness.

Personal: Full name is Nicolas Chase Stehling ... Is the son of Albert Stehling.



Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations 

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Chancellor David O. Belcher Memorial Service

70 Days 'till Football Kickoff - #70 Devon Stephens

It's now 70 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Labor Day Weekend, Saturday, September 1, 2018, against the Newberry College Wolves, in Cullowhee.

For the season's kick-off game, the Cats will host a "White Out" in E.J. Whitmire Stadium as the Cats sport their all-white look, white Adidas jerseys over white pants; and for the fourth-straight year, a postgame fireworks extravaganza.

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season, and knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the 100-day football countdown each day until kickoff day.

Today we'll continue to highlight the offensive line-

#70 Devon Stephens

Class: Freshman
Hometown: Sylva, N.C.
High School: Smoky Mountain HS
Height / Weight: 6-2 / 250
Position: OL

Prior to Western Carolina: Played both offensive and defensive line locally at Smoky Mountain HS, accepting a preferred walk-on spot with the WCU football team ... An All-Western North Carolina Athletic Conference offensive lineman/defensive end ... Averaged 4.2 tackles per game for the Mustangs (7-5) in 2016.


Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations 

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2018 Football Preseason Preview: Samford

Throughout this preseason, Purple & Gold will preview all of Western's 2018 football opponents.

For the fifth game of the season, we'll look at the projected conference preseason #1 Samford Bulldogs. The Cats travel to Homewood, AL for what will be the second straight road game.

Since Samford joined the Southern Conference in 2008, Western is 3-12 against the Bulldogs after last season's four-point upset win over the #17 nationally ranked Dogs in Cullowhee.







Samford

When: Saturday, October 6 - Time  TBA

Where: Seibert Stadium, Homewood, AL

Radio: Catamount Sports Network

TV/video: ESPN+ /  ESPN3

Games that will be played by the Dogs this season prior to the WCU contest:  The Bulldogs will have played 5 games prior to the Catamount visit to Seibert.  The Bulldogs open against Shorter College (home), then travel to Florida State, then return home to face Mercer. The Bulldogs then travel to Chattanooga and Kennesaw State prior to Western's visit.

The Series: The Cats are 3-12 overall against the Bulldogs since winning the first outing back in 1969. Samford owned an eleven game winning streak against Western until 2015 when the Cats broke that streak in Cullowhee with a 56-36 win over the Dogs. The Cats are 2-5 against the Dogs in Cullowhee, and 1-7 in games played in Birmingham.

Last game played vs. Samford: (Sept. 24th, 2017)  - Catamount Score Thrilling Upset Win Over #17 Samford -  Western Carolina tailback Detrez Newsome rumbled for a go-ahead touchdown, hitting the right pylon to put the Catamounts ahead with 93 seconds remaining in regulation on Saturday night at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field. But it wasn't until a last-second pass deflection would allow what remained of 12,018 fans to unleash a post-game celebration that was over a decade in the making. Senior defensive back Keion Crossen batted away a pass attempt in the back of the end zone as time expired on the final play of the game as Western Carolina upset the 17th-ranked Samford Bulldogs, 38-34, in the Southern Conference opener for both squads. The victory was WCU's first over a nationally-ranked NCAA Football Championship Subdivision team since 2006, halting a 27-game slide.

Head Coach: Chris Hatcher.  Hatcher was named Samford’s 36th head football coach on Dec. 11, 2014. His career record is 121-57 in 15 years as a college head coach at Murray State, Georgia Southern, and Valdosta State. Hatcher served as the head coach at Murray State since 2010.and had five seasons with the Racers, Hatcher’s teams employ the high-powered “Hatch Attack”. Hatcher came to Samford after serving as the head coach at Murray State University from 2010 to 2014. In five seasons as the head coach of the Racers, Hatcher’s teams employed the high-powered “Hatch Attack” offense to top the Division I-FCS football charts. In 2014, the Racers ranked second in the nation in passing offense, averaging 327.2 yards per game. The team also ranked 15th in total offense at 468.3 yards per contest.

Last Season's Record (Samford): 8-4 overall, 5-1 home, 3-3 away,  6-2 SoCon  - conference losses to Western Carolina & Chattanooga - First round loss in NCAA FCS playoffs to #16 Kennesaw State

Offensive starters - Returning/Lost:  10  /  1

Defensive starters - Returning/Lost:  6  /  5

Specialist - Returning/Lost:  4  /  2

Lost from 2-Deep Roster - 13

Offensive Formation: Multiple

Defensive Formation: 4-3

Key losses: DT - Ke’Tyrus Marks, MLB - Deion Pierre, WLB - Shaheed Salmon, CB - Omari Williams, FS - Carter McManes, SS - Sam Pettway, WR - TD Marshall, P/KO - Austin Barnard

Top returnees:  Preseason All-American and SoCon Offensive Player of the Year, Devlin Hodges; Preseason All-American and SoCon Defensive Player of the Year, Ahmad Gooden

Three national publications have the Bulldogs ranked in the top 15 nationally preseason, and two have Samford as the favorite to win the Southern Conference title in 2018. Senior defensive lineman Ahmad Gooden was named to the preseason All-America team by Street & Smith's, Athlon Sports and Lindy's Sports. Senior quarterback Devlin Hodges earned preseason All-America honors from Street & Smith's and Lindy's Sports.

Samford returns 10 starters on offense and six starters on defense from a team that went 8-4 overall and 6-2 in Southern Conference play last season. The Bulldogs have reached the NCAA Division I-FCS Playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time since the 1991 and 1992 seasons.

The Bulldogs lost two assistant coaches in the offseason, DL coach, Victor Cabral and running backs coach, Derrick Foster


2017 Samford Statistics
Rushing Offense: 954 yards
Yards per game: 79.5
Yards per rush: 2.8 yards
Rushing 1st downs: 68
TDs rushing: 8
Passing Offense: 4001 yards or 333.4 yards per game
Passing 1st downs: 176
Passing Comp-Att-Int: 349-531-11
TDs Passing: 31
Total Offense: 4944 yards or 412.9 yards per game
Fumbles-Lost: 22 - 9
3d Down Conversions: 66 of 166
4th Down Conversions: 7 of 16
Field goal attempts:  12 - 17
PAT-Attempts:  41 of 43 - 95%
Red Zone Scores: 25 of 47 - 53%
Red Zone Touchdowns: 25 of 47 - 53%
On-Side Kicks:  0 - 0
Penalties-Yards:  53 - 505 Avg. per gm 42.1
Punts-Yards: 60 - 2614  Avg. punt: 43.6
Sacks:  28


Game prediction:  Per the Massey Ratings, the Cats have a 25% probability of winning (27-35) over the Bulldogs.

According to Massey, Cats should be 3-2 after this game.  I'm going to disagree, the Cats are 4-1 after this game.

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71 Days 'till Football Kickoff - #71 Todd Self

It's now 71 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Labor Day Weekend, Saturday, September 1, 2018, against the Newberry College Wolves, in Cullowhee.

For the season's kick-off game, the Cats will host a "White Out" in E.J. Whitmire Stadium as the Cats sport their all-white look, white Adidas jerseys over white pants; and for the fourth-straight year, a postgame fireworks extravaganza.

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season, and knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the 100-day football countdown each day until kickoff day.

Today we'll continue to highlight the offensive line-

#71 Todd Self

Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Bakersville, N.C.
High School: Mitchell HS
Height / Weight: 6-3 / 285
Position: OL

Prior to Western Carolina: Was a three-year starter ... Averaged almost three pancake blocks per game and had 45 tackles on defense ... Helped guide Mitchell HS to a 27-4 record over his junior and senior seasons and a 35-9 record in three years ... His high school coach, Travise Pittman, played football at Western Carolina ... Was also the NCHSAA 1-A heavyweight state wrestling champion.



Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations 

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72 Days 'till Football Kickoff - #72 Andrew Miles

It's now 72 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Labor Day Weekend, Saturday, September 1, 2018, against the Newberry College Wolves, in Cullowhee.

For the season's kick-off game, the Cats will host a "White Out" in E.J. Whitmire Stadium as the Cats sport their all-white look, white Adidas jerseys over white pants; and for the fourth-straight year, a postgame fireworks extravaganza.

To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season, and knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the 100-day football countdown each day until kickoff day.

Today we'll continue to highlight the offensive line-


#72 Andrew Miles

Class: RS Senior
Hometown: Flowery Branch, Ga.
High School: Flowery Branch HS
Height / Weight: 6-4 / 310
Position: OL

2016 (Redshirt Sophomore): Played in all 11 games with a pair of starts along the offensive line at left guard ... Also saw time on special teams ... Was a part of the offensive line unit that paved the way for Detrez Newsome's second-straight, 1,000-yard rushing season.

2015 (Sophomore): Missed the season due to injury, taking a medical redshirt.

2014 (Freshman): Played in 11 of the team's 12 games as a reserve along the offensive line and on special teams ... Did not see playing time at Samford (Nov. 8).

Prior to Western Carolina: Earned first team all-region offensive line for 8-AAAAA in Georgia as a senior ... Listed as a two-star prospect by Rivals.com ... A part of Flowery Branch High's Region 8-AAAAA title in 2012 ... Helped the Falcons average 33 points per game in 2012 ... Was a high school teammate with fellow WCU signee, Jackson McDonald ... High school coach was Chris Griffin.

Personal: Is the son of Chris Miles.


Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations 

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