Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours.
Western Carolina Catamount Sports............All Catamount Sports............All the time.
Thursday, November 28, 2019
Wednesday, November 27, 2019
WCU Player of the Game (Bryan)
Purple & Gold's Player of the Game for the Bryan College game is..........
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| Tyler Harris |
The WCU Purple & Gold 's "WCU Player of the Game" is Tyler Harris
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Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Faulkner repeats as SoCon Player of the Week
Western Carolina redshirt junior guard Mason Faulkner collected his second consecutive Southern Conference Player of the Week
Monday, November 25, 2019
Sunday, November 24, 2019
WCU Player of the Game (Stetson Hatters)
Purple & Gold's Player of the Game for the Stetson Hatters game is..........
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| Mason Faulkner |
The WCU Purple & Gold Player of the Game is Mason Faulkner
Thanks for giving us a game to remember.
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Friday, November 22, 2019
Greatest Comeback in NCAA History
WCU men's basketball erased a 22-point deficit in the last 6 minutes of the game to take the game into overtime, then beat Jacksonville 96-94 in double overtime.
Thursday, November 21, 2019
WCU Players of the Game (Jacksonville Dolphins)
Purple & Gold's Co-Players of the Game for Jacksonville Dolphins game are..........
Junior guard Mason Faulkner scored a game-high 28 points. Mason also had 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals. The floor general's scoring breaks down to hitting 10 of 27 field-goal attempts, hitting 3 of 7 three-point attempts, and made 5 of 10 attempts from the free-throw line. Great game Mason.
Junior guard Marcus Thomas came off the bench to score a career-high 21 points and pulled down 8 rebounds. Marcus hit 9 of 12 field-goal attempts, he also hit 2 of 3 from three-point range and was 1 for 2 from the free-throw line. Marcus showed up, just when the team needed him. Well done Marcus.
Thanks for giving us a game to remember.
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| Mason Faulkner |
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| Marcus Thomas |
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Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Faulkner and Smalls
Did You Know? @WCU_MBB Mason Faulkner and @CatamountWBB Jewel Smalls both were named @SoConSports Player of the Week this week. The last time that happened in #CatamountCountry was in 2003 when @WCU Hall of Fame member Kevin Martin and Tiffany Hamm earned honor on Dec. 3, 2003. pic.twitter.com/L4CAiQ0oa7— Catamount Athletics (@Catamounts) November 20, 2019
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Monday, November 18, 2019
2019 SoCon Football Power Rankings - after Week #12
Welcome to Purple & Gold's 2019 SoCon Football Power Rankings. This week's rankings are after twelve (12) weeks of play.
Each Monday throughout the season, we'll release that week's Power Rankings.
1. (2) Wofford (7-3, 6-1 SoCon)
Next: at The Citadel
2. (1) Furman (7-4, 6-2 SoCon)
Next: Point University
3. (4) Chattanooga (6-5, 5-2 SoCon)
Next: at VMI
4. (3) The Citadel (6-5, 4-3 SoCon)
Next: Wofford
5. (6) Samford (5-6, 4-4 SoCon)
Next: at Auburn
6. (5) Mercer (4-7, 3-5 SoCon)
Next: at North Carolina
7. (7) Western Carolina (3-8, 2-6 SoCon)
Next: at Alabama
8. (8) VMI (4-7, 3-4 SoCon)
Next: Chattanooga
9. (9) ETSU (3-8, 1-7 SoCon)
Next: at Vanderbilt
Watch for Friday's SoCon picks.......
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It's time for new turf.
get more information here: https://www.wcu.edu/catamount-club/stories/posts/turf-replacement-project.aspx
Friday, November 15, 2019
This week's Purple & Gold football picks (11-16-19)
It's week #12 in the SoCon, and time to pick Saturday's games. 5 games are on the schedule this week, with one out of conference game and 4 conference games.
This week's fearless game predictions.....
-VMI (4-6) at Army (4-6) 12:00 noon - watch on CBSSN
The Keydets travel to West Point to face the Cadets of the US Military Academy, VMI beings a three game skid to the contest, while the Knights are riding a one game win streak. Looks like it will be two in a row for Army, as they roll to a 35-14 win.
-Mercer (4-6) at ETSU (2-8) 1:00 pm - watch on ESPN3
Mercer travels to Johnson City hoping to add a little more misery to the ETSU fans, as the Bucs bring a 6 game losing streak into the contest. The home-standing Bucs have other thoughts, and pull out a 21-14 win over the visiting bears.
-Furman (7-3) at Wofford (6-3) 1:30 pm - watch on ESPN+
In what will probably be the deciding game for the Southern Conference title, the Palading travel the short distance to Spartanburg to face the Terriers. While the Terriers have improved as the season progressed, I don't think the Paladins will have a letdown with all the marbles up for grabs. Paladins win, 28-21 over Wofford.
-Samford (4-5) at Western Carolina (3-7) 2:00 pm - watch on ESPN+
The Bulldogs travel up the mountains to play the Catamounts, in a contest that both teams desperately need to win. The Cats are riding a two game win streak into the game, while the Dogs bring a 2 game slide into the contest. The Cats prove the other two wins were not a fluke, and pick-up a 7 point win over Samford, 35-28,
-The Citadel (6-4) at Chattanooga (5-5) 2:00 pm watch on ESPN+
In what maybe today's toss-up game, the Bulldogs travel to Chattanooga, TN to face the Mocs. While the Mocs are defending the home turf, the Bulldogs have been a very difficult team to defeat on the road. I'll give the Bulldogs the edge to pull out a 28-24 win over the Mocs.
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Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Game #11 - Samford Bulldogs
Since Samford joined the Southern Conference in 2008, Western is 3-13 against the Bulldogs after last season's beatdown of the Cats by the Dogs in Birmingham, 28-66. Revenge is in order.
Game #11 - Samford
When: Saturday, November 16 - Time 2:00 pm
Where: E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field, Cullowhee, NC
Radio: Catamount Sports Network
-Radio Announcers: Gary Ayers (PBP), Greg McLamb (Color)
TV/video: ESPN+
-TV Announcers: Daniel Hooker (PBP);
Live Stats: WCU live stats
Game Notes: WCU - Samford
Samford Message Board: The Dog Pound
The Series: The Cats are 3-13 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.
Last game played vs. Samford: Oct. 6, 2018 - EARLY TURNOVERS PROVE COSTLY IN ROAD LOSS AT SAMFORD, 66-28 - Birmingham, Ala. – Three lost fumbles in the first quarter by Western Carolina aided a strong offensive output by Samford on Saturday afternoon as the Bulldogs claimed a 66-28 victory over the Catamounts at Seibert Stadium. Samford cashed in the early takeaways that came on three of WCU’s first four possessions for a decisive 35-0 first-quarter lead in halting a four-game slide with the victory. Samford’s Devlin Hodges – the SoCon preseason Offensive Player of the Year – set or tied six school records and a pair of SoCon benchmarks in the win. Hodges set or tied school records for passing yards (562), total yards (586), touchdown passes (6), touchdowns responsible for (7), completions (44) and consecutive games with a touchdown pass. He set SoCon records for passing yards (562) and total yards in a single-game (586).
Last Season's Record - 2018 (Samford): 6-5 overall, 4-1 home, 2-4 away, 5-3 SoCon - In 2018, the Bulldogs had wins over, Shorter, WCU, VMI, Furman, Wofford, & ETSU. Samford beat all three teams that tied for first place.
This Season's Record - 2019 (Samford): 4-6 overall, 3-2 home, 1-3 away, 3-4 SoCon
Head Coach: Chris Hatcher. Chris Hatcher was named Samford’s 36th head football coach on Dec. 11, 2014. Now entering his fourth season at Samford, Hatcher boasts a career record of 140-72 in 18 years as a college head coach, having previously coached at Murray State, Georgia Southern, and Valdosta State. Hatcher's 2018 team posted the program's eighth-straight winning season, the longest streak in program history. Also during the season, quarterback Devlin Hodges became the FCS' all-time leader in career passing yards. Hodges also earned the highest individual honor at the FCS level, winning the Walter Payton Award.
Offensive Formation: Multiple
-2018 Offense: 38.5 ppg. (9th in FCS)
Defensive Formation: 4-3
-2018 Defense: 26.4 ppg. (48th in FCS)
Offensive starters - Returning/Lost: 7 / 4
Defensive starters - Returning/Lost: 6 / 5
Samford was picked to finish sixth in the league by both the coaches and media for the 2019 season and had four players named to the preseason All-SoCon teams. Offensive lineman Nick Nixon and place-kicker Mitchell Fineran were named to the first team, while defensive linemen Justin Foster and Nelson Jordan earned second-team honors.
The Bulldogs have not been a good road team this season, having won only one road game in 2019, However that road win was in Spartanburg against the Wofford Terriers, in the third game of the season. The Bulldogs have lost road games against Tenn Tech (5-3), as well as at Furman, VMI, & at Mercer. Samford is currently in a two-game skid and has lost 4 of their last 5 games.
The Bulldogs are currently averaging 35.6 points per game, but are allowing 38.8 ppg, last in the SoCon. Samford comes in #5 in rushing offense with 165.7 ypg and 8th in rushing defense giving up 246.6 yards per game on the ground. The Bulldogs leading rusher is freshman Jay Staton, averaging 66 yards per game.
2019 Samford Statistics (10 games)
Rushing Offense: 1657 yards
Yards per game: 165,7
Yards per rush: 4.2 yards
Rushing 1st downs: 109
TDs rushing: 20
Passing Offense: 2669 yards or 266.9 yards per game
Passing 1st downs: 110
Passing Comp-Att-Int: 221-364-12
TDs Passing: 23
Total Offense: 4326 yards or 423.6 yards per game
Fumbles-Lost: 15-5
3d Down Conversions: 55of 140
4th Down Conversions: 18 of 27
Field goal attempts: 14 - 18
PAT-Attempts: 42 of 43
Red Zone Scores: 412 of 48 - 850%
Red Zone Touchdowns: 30 of 48 - 63%
On-Side Kicks: 0 - 1
Penalties-Yards: 38 - 363 - Avg. per gm 35.3
Punts-Yards: 37 - 1454 - Avg. punt: 39.3
Sacks: 15
Game prediction: Per the Massey Ratings, the Cats have only a 26% probability of winning (31-38) against the Bulldogs. I'm going to disagree, Western wins this home game and finishes with 3 straight conference wins
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Monday, November 11, 2019
2019 SoCon Football Power Rankings - Week #11
Welcome to Purple & Gold's 2019 SoCon Football Power Rankings. This week's rankings are after eleven (11) weeks of play.
Each Monday throughout the season, we'll release that week's Power Rankings.
1. (3) Furman (7-3, 6-1 SoCon)
Next: at Wofford
2. (1) Wofford (6-3, 5-1 SoCon)
Next: Furman
3. (2) The Citadel (6-4, 4-2 SoCon)
Next: at Chattanooga
5. (4) Chattanooga (5-5, 4-2 SoCon)
Next: The Citadel
6. (7) Mercer (4-6, 3-4 SoCon)
Next: at ETSU
4. (5) Samford (4-5, 3-4 SoCon)
Next: at Western Carolina
7. (7) Western Carolina (3-7, 2-5 SoCon)
Next: Samford
8. (8) VMI (4-6, 3-4 SoCon)
Next: at Army
9. (9) ETSU (2-8, 0-7 SoCon)
Next: Mercer
Watch for Friday's SoCon picks.......
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Thursday, November 7, 2019
All Vet Group
We partnered with some very special people at the @AllVetGroup to bring something new to Heroes Day in #CatamountCountry. Get your @CatamountsFB tickets early, you won't want to miss it. pic.twitter.com/09kYRxNHl5— Catamount Athletics (@Catamounts) November 7, 2019
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
WCU 2-Deep vs. ETSU
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Tuesday, November 5, 2019
Game #10 - ETSU Bucs
For the tenth game of the season, the Cats host the Buccaneers of East Tennessee State University in the 2019 edition of The Blue Ridge Border Battle. Three seasons ago, Western and the Bucs revived the series that started back in 1932, but abruptly ended in 2003 when the Bucs eliminated football.
Game #10 - ETSU Bucs
Where: E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field, Cullowhee, NC
Radio: Catamount Sports Network
-Radio Announcers: Gary Ayers (PBP), Daniel Hooker (analyst), Greg McLamb (sideline)
TV / video: Nexstar / ESPN+
-TV/video: Nexstar / ESPN+
-TV Announcers: Pete Yanity (PBP); Jared Singleton (analyst)
-WYCW (Greenville/Spartanburg/Asheville)
-WCBD (Charleston)
-WWCW (Lynchburg)
-WJHL (Johnson City)
-WMUB (Macon)
Live Stats: WCU live stats
Game Notes: WCU - ETSU
ETSU Message Board: Buccaneer Nation
The Series: This series stretches back to 1932, with the Cats holding a slim 24-23-1 lead. Since the return of football at ETSU, the Bucs hold a 2-1 lead going into the 2019 contest. Adding to the newfound rivalry between the two mountain teams, the Bucs pulled off a 2 point, 3 overtime win, 43-45 in the initial Blue Ridge Border Battle trophy contest held in Johnson City in 2018.
The last game played vs. ETSU: October 27, 2018 - Johnson City, Tenn. – Catamounts Drop Heartbreaker at ETSU, 43-45 in 3 OT. Redshirt junior QB Tyrie Adams became Western Carolina’s all-time touchdown pass leader on Saturday, tossing four TD passes in accounting for five total scores as the Catamounts’ upset bid against No. 25 ETSU came up two-points short, falling 45-43 in triple overtime on a rainy afternoon at William B. Greene, Jr. Stadium. Needing a two-point conversion following Owen Cosenke’s second receiving score of the game, Adams was pressured off the right side on the ensuing required two-point attempt. ETSU’s Austin Gatewood chased Adams out of the pocket to the right where his contested pass attempt to Daquan Patten short-hopped at the goal line, setting off a wild celebration for the Bucs who took possession of the trophy in the inaugural “Blue Ridge Border Battle.”
Last Season's Record (ETSU): 2018 record: 8-4 overall, 5-1 home, 3-3 away, 6-2 SoCon.
This Season's Record (ETSU): 2019 record: 2-7 overall, 2-3 home, 0-4 away, 0-6 SoCon
Offensive Formation: Spread Option
-2018 Offense: 26.0 ppg. (75th in FCS)
Defensive Formation: 3-4
-2018 Defense: 26.4 ppg. (49th in FCS)
Lettermen Returning/Lost: 27/ 24
Starters Returning/Lost: 14/15
Offensive Starters Returning/Lost: 4 / 7
Defensive Starters Returning/Lost: 8 / 3
Special Teams Starters Returning/Lost: 2 / 5
The 2018 defending co-champion Bucs were selected to finish third in both the SoCon coaches and media polls for the first time since rejoining the conference in 2016. ETSU placed seven players on the preseason All-SoCon teams, led by Nasir Player who was tabbed as the SoCon Preseason Defensive Player of the Year in addition to being named to the first team. Joining Player on the first team was redshirt-sophomore running back Quay Holmes, redshirt-senior defensive lineman Jason Maduafokwa and junior defensive back Tyree Robinson. Tre’mond Shorts, Ben Blackmon, and Jeremy Lewis were each named to the second team.
Most of the line and key playmakers returned on the defensive side of the ball, and the secondary is clearly one of the best in the SoCon. All four starters from last year's playoff game with Jacksonville State were underclassmen and there is depth beyond even that with players like rising senior Artevius Smith.
This has been a disappointing season for the Buccaneers, who had expectations of repeating SoCon championships, but until now, is winless in the SoCon this season (0-6). Like WCU, ETSU as only two wins, one against a non-DI opponent (Shorter) and one DI win (Austin Peay). The Bucs have been competitive in all their conference games, having dropped the last three by a total of 14 points. The Bucs are a very dangerous team and will come to Cullowhee with expectations of continuing the win streak over the Catamounts.
2019 ETSU Statistics (9 games):
Rushing Offense: 1439 yards
Yards per game: 159.9
Yards per rush: 4.8 yards
Rushing 1st downs: 76
TDs rushing: 9
Passing Offense: 1695 yards or 188.3 yards per game
Avg. per pass: 6.4 yards
Passing 1st downs: 67
Passing Comp-Att-Int: 151-263-6
TDs Passing: 12
Total Offense: 3134 yards or 348.2 yards per game
Fumbles-Lost: 11-7
3d Down Conversions: 41/116 (35%)
4th Down Conversions: 4/10 (40%)
Field goal attempts: 11-13
PAT-Attempts: 20 of 20
On-side kicks: 0-0
Red Zone Scores: 23-26 (88%)
Red Zone Touchdowns: 15-26 (58%)
Punts - Yards: 44-1693 - Avg per punt: 38.5
Game prediction: Per the Massey Ratings, the Cats have only a 23% probability of winning (17-27) over the Bucs. Last week, the Massey Rating had an even lower prediction for WCU probability of winning, so, once again, I'm going against Massey's projection and predict a Catamount victory in Cullowhee on Saturday, 35-28 to keep the Bucs winless in conference play.
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Monday, November 4, 2019
Sunday, November 3, 2019
2019 SoCon Football Power Rankings - Week #10
Welcome to Purple & Gold's 2019 SoCon Football Power Rankings. This week's rankings are after ten (10) weeks of play.
Each Monday throughout the season, we'll release that week's Power Rankings.
1. (3) Furman (3-3, 5-1 SoCon)
Next: aVMI
2. (1) Wofford (5-3, 4-1 SoCon)
Next: at Mercer
3. (2) The Citadel (6-4, 4-2 SoCon)
Next: bye
4. (5) Samford (4-5, 3-3 SoCon)
Next: Chattanooga
5. (4) Chattanooga (4-5, 3-2 SoCon)
Next: at Samford
6. (7) Mercer (4-5, 3-3 SoCon)
Next: Wofford
7. (9) Western Carolina (2-7, 1-5 SoCon)
Next: ETSU
8. (6) VMI (4-5, 3-3 SoCon)
Next: at Furman
9. (8) ETSU (2-6, 0-5 SoCon)
Next: at WCU
Watch for Friday's SoCon picks.......
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Saturday, November 2, 2019
WCU Players of the Game (VMI)
Purple & Gold's Offensive & Defensive Players of the Game for the VMI game are..........
The Offensive Player of the Game is Donnavan Spencer
The Defensive Player of the Game is Michael Murphy
Redshirt junior linebacker Michael Murphy led the team with 11 tackles including one stop for a loss. Murphy was credited with 2 solo tackles and 9 assists.
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| Donnavan Spencer |
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| Michael Murphy |
Purple & Gold congratulates Donnavan Spencer & Michael Murphy on their accomplishments in the VMI game.
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Friday, November 1, 2019
This week's Purple & Gold football picks (11-2-19)
It's week #10 in the SoCon, and time to pick Saturday's games. 5 games are on the schedule this week, with one out of conference game and 4 conference games.
This week's fearless game predictions.....
-Western Carolina (1-7) at VMI (4-4) 1:30 pm - watch on ESPN+
The Cats travel to Virginia to face the VMI Keydets in Lexington. As VMI defends their home stadium, the Cats are looking to end WCU's current 12-game winless drought in SoCon play, After the improvement in the first half of last weekend's game against Furman, the Cats finally put an entire game together, and escape Lexington with a 35-31.
-Furman (5-3) at Chattanooga (4-4) 2:00 pm - watch on ESPN+
The Paladins travel to Chattanooga hoping to keep alive their run the conference crown with a victory over the Mocs. While the Mocs have their own championship hopes, the visiting Paladins squeeze out a win over the home-standing Mocs, 28-24.
-The Citadel (5-4) at ETSU (2-6) 3:30 pm - watch on ESPN3
The Bulldogs take to the road to face ETSU in Johnson City. The Bucs are winless in conference play and are looking to change that against the Bulldogs. The Citadel still has slim hopes of a share of the conference crown, but an at large bid is also in jeopardy with a loss to ETSU. The Bulldogs rally in the 4th pulling out 28-21 win over ETSU.
-Wofford(5-2) at #4 Clemson (8-0) 4:00 pm - watch on ACCN
The Terriers make the short trip to Clemson, SC to face the #4 Tigers. The undefeated Clemson Tigers will not overlook their FBS opponent, as they roll to a 49-10 final score.
-Samford (4-4) at Mercer(3-5) 7:00 pm watch on ESPN+
The home-standing Bears welcome the Samford Bulldogs to Macon in a vain attempt to help solidify their head coach's job, however, the Bulldogs have different ideas as they roll over Mercer by a 35-14 score.
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