WCU hosts the North Greenville Crusaders Saturday at 3:30 pm
Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina returns home to the friendly confines of E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field this Saturday, Sept. 14 as the Catamounts step out of conference to host the North Greenville Crusaders for a “Gold Out.” Golden pants return to the WCU sidelines for the first time since 2013 when the squad paid homage to the 30th anniversary of the 1983 NCAA Division I-AA National Runner-Up team with a special throwback uniform.
Kickoff of Saturday’s “Gold Out” game where all fans are encouraged to wear gold to the game as the Catamounts return to gold pants under purple jerseys is scheduled for 3:30 pm in Cullowhee. The first 5,000 fans through the gates will receive a FREE “Gold Out” T-shirt. Saturday is also EBCI Day as WCU celebrates its relationship with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and Youth in Sports Day where youth ages 12-and-under wearing their uniform or jersey will be admitted free (stop by any of the Whitmire Stadium ticket booths to secure the youth ticket).
Tickets for Saturday’s game are available in advance, online at CatamountSports.com or through the Athletics ticket office located on the first floor of the Ramsey Center or by phone at (800) 34-GOWCU or (828) 227-2401.
The Catamounts (0-2) are looking for their first victory of the year while also looking to put the clamps on a 10-game winless drought that includes the first two games of 2019 and an eight-game slide to close the 2018 season. WCU held its own in the opening 15-plus minutes against NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) foe NC State last Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium before succumbing to a 41-0 defeat, the first time WCU had been shutout since 2014 – a span of 50 games. North Greenville (1-0) scored a season-opening victory over Newberry, 17-7, at home in Tigerville, S.C., last Thursday, Sept. 5.
For the second consecutive game, redshirt sophomore Will Jones is expected to start at quarterback for the Catamounts as redshirt senior QB Tyrie Adams will remain on team suspension for a violation of team rules first set prior to the NC State game last Saturday in Raleigh.
Saturday’s game will be broadcast on the Catamount Sports Network (CSN) with live streaming audio available online at CatamountSports.com. Fans across western North Carolina can hear the game locally beginning at 2:30 pm with the Pepsi Tailgate Show on eight CSN affiliates: in Cullowhee on 90.5 WWCU FM; 105.7 FM and 540 AM WRGC “The River” in Sylva; 104.9 FM & 1050 AM WFSC in Franklin; WISE Sports Radio 1310 AM and 102.9 FM in Asheville; and 970 AM WYSE in Canton with live streaming audio online at CatamountSports.com.
The WCU-NGU game will also be broadcast on ESPN+ (subscription required) with live streaming video available online with Daniel Hooker calling play-by-play, Rik Richards on color commentary, and Summer McMahan patrolling the sidelines.
Game 3: Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019 • 3:30 pm
Location: Cullowhee, N.C. (E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field – 13,790)
Records: North Greenville (1-0) at Western Carolina (0-2)
BROADCAST INFORMATION:
Online Video Stream: ESPN+ (subscription required)
PBP: Daniel Hooker; Color: Rik Richards; Sideline: Summer McMahan
Radio: Catamount Sports Network
PBP: Gary Ayers; Producer: Jeff Bryson
CSN Affiliates:
- Cullowhee – WWCU, 90.5 FM
- Sylva – 105.7 FM / 540 AM WRGC
- Franklin – 104.9 FM / 1050 AM WFSC
- Asheville – WISE Sports Radio 102.9 FM / 1310 AM
- Canton – WYSE Sports Radio 970 AM
- Online: CatamountSports.com
Western Carolina head coach Mark Speir looks back at the takeaways from the road game at FBS-foe North Carolina State last weekend before previewing this Saturday’s meeting with North Greenville in the latest installment of “Catamount Football Weekly,” originally recorded live-on-location on Monday night at BC Outdoors Cullowhee Taproom located on campus at Noble Hall in Cullowhee. Join Speir and the CSN crew each Monday night at 7 pm at BC Outdoors in Cullowhee.