1 Day 'till WCU Football Kickoff

It's now 1 day until the kickoff of Catamount football on Saturday, August 31, 2019, against the Mercer Bears, in E.J. Whitmire Stadium, Cullowhee, NC

No WCU player is currently assigned to number 1.  Just know that tomorrow, the Cats take on the Bears in Cullowhee.

2:30 pm: On-campus tailgating officially begins in the designated lots in Cullowhee;

3:30 – 5:30 pm: Make your plans to swing by “Tailgate Town” in the Ramsey Center Lot 9A located along Catamount Road. Many of WCU's student-athletes, as well as the iHeartMedia street team, will be on-hand at the tailgate party with games and signing autographs. Great food options for purchase from the Chili Chomper 2 food truck will be available, serving a variety of Mexican cuisine;

3:30 – 5:30 pm: The Catamount Club and Ingles, The Chef's Kitchen are proud to again partner for the Purple Zone pregame event for qualifying Catamount Club Members. The Purple Zone is located on the Northwest patio and concourse of the Ramsey Center.

3:45 pm: Line the path and form a fan tunnel for the traditional “Cat Walk” as the Catamount football team makes their way across campus to the Dale & Dianne Hollifield Locker Room for pregame. Be there along with the Purple Thunder drumline, high-five your Catamount heroes, and show your Purple Pride with this pregame “don't miss moment” for every home game;

4:00 pm: Rising country music recording artist Joe Lasher will perform on the main stage in “Tailgate Town,” with head football coach Mark Speir slated to kick start the part by introducing Joe at the conclusion of the Cat Walk ... Saturday's tailgate concert is presented by Ingles. Lasher has been captivating audiences in his hometown of Asheville for years with his infectious, positive attitude making him a natural both on and off the stage. His new single is entitled “That's Gonna Get You Kissed” (www.joelasherofficial.com).

4:30 pm: Gates to E.J. Whitmire Stadium open for fans to get into the stadium ahead of all the on-field pregame festivities. The iHeartMedia and on-air personalities including Ariel Rymer, Josh Michael, and Eddie Foxx, will be on-hand at Gate 1 welcoming fans to the game. Also, just inside of Gate 1 is “Paws Playground,” presented by Western Builders of Sylva. The area includes inflatable yard toys and games for all kids;

5:30 pm: As the Purple Zone, pregame party (for qualified Catamount Club members) winds down, two additional hospitality areas (both requiring Catamount Club membership, credential pass, and game tickets) open – Paws Porch, located on the porch of the Jordan Phillips Field House in the North End Zone, and the newly formed Catamount Corner, on the Northeast Patio of the Ramsey Center, opposite the Purple Zone locale. For more information on both Paws Porch and Catamount Corner, contact the Catamount Club office at (828) 227-3047 or online at CatamountSports.com/CatamountClub.

5:50 pm: The “Pride of the Mountains” Marching Band will take the field just prior to the team entrances for their first foray into the pregame show of 2019. Lining end zone to end zone, the biggest and most vocal part of a Catamount football home game day atmosphere will get you ready to go with the first bright and sharp note of the snare drum through the traditional singing of the WCU Alma Mater. You'll want to be in your seat before the “Pride” brings you to your feet!

5:59 pm: Watch in awe as the 1,000-plus member Western Carolina University Class of 2023 precedes the Catamount football team to run through the “Pride of the Mountains” Marching Band tunnel in the 9th-annual Freshmen Run;

6:05 pm: Western Carolina kicks off the 2019 season against Southern Conference-foe, the Mercer Bears. Saturday marks just the third time in program history that WCU has opened a season against a Southern Conference opponent – and the first-time since 1980 that WCU has opened a year at home against a conference foe, defeating VMI in front of over 11,600 fans. Last year, WCU and Mercer combined for over 1,200-yards of total offense including 710 by the Tyrie Adams-led Catamount offense with over 100 points hung on the scoreboard in a shootout in Macon, Ga.

Postgame: The western North Carolina sky will explode with the postgame fireworks extravaganza, presented by Ingles and iHeartMedia partners, 99.9 Kiss Country and Star 104.3. Be ready to count down to ignition of the fireworks immediately following the “Pride of the Mountains” Marching Band's postgame performance!