2025 Catamount Football - 'Extra Points' Game Day Program - vs. Furman
Director for
Relations, Daniel Hooker (Western Carolina, 2001) with editorial assistance from Directors of Media Relations Greg Hartlage and Josh Ragsdale
thanks to the previous staffs of WCU Athletics Media Relations and designer Todd Charles. Photography provided by Ashley Evans, Charlie Bulla, Samuel Wallace and various student assistants in WCU's Marketing & Communications; WCU retired University Photographer, Mark Haskett; Andy Padyk; Jason Hall of Valleytown Photo; additional photos from Phil Polito, Paul Setliff; WCU Creative Media, Marlon Howard and Ava Schmitt. Printing is by the on-campus WCU Print Shop. Advertising sales for EXTRA POINTS are administered by Chad Gerrety and Kaleb Ambrose. To advertise with or sponsor the
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GAME TIMES:
E.J. WHITMIRE STADIUM POLICIES AND INFORMATION
All game times are subject to change. WCU will publicize any game time changes through its social media channels (TwitterX: @ Catamounts, @CatamountsFB; Facebook: FB.com/catamountsports) and website, CatamountSports.com. Tickets and game day parking refunds will NOT be made because of a change in kickoff times ON-CAMPUS TAILGATING:
Pregame tailgating is only allowed in permissible lots. There are no grills or tents allowed in the North Baseball Parking Deck. NO GLASS is permitted in on-campus tailgating on football game days. Also, policy states that there is NO POSTGAME TAILGATING ALLOWED
STADIUM RE-ADMITTANCE:
There is a no re-admittance policy at E.J. Whitmire Stadium. Once you enter the stadium, you must purchase another ticket to re-enter.
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES:
Outside alcohol and alcoholic beverages ARE PROHIBITED in E.J. Whitmire Stadium. Also, containers and/or coolers are also prohibited inside the stadium. Alcoholic beverages are being sold within Whitmire Stadium with points of sale on either side of the stadium and a point of sale on Paws Porch and Catamount Corner Patrons must be 21 years of age and present valid ID at the time of purchase and may only purchase TWO (2) alcoholic beverages per valid ID with the ID holder present at the time of transaction. Sales will begin when gates open 90 minutes prior to kickoff and close at the end of the third quarter PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY.
GATE INSPECTION / CLEAR BAG POLICY:
Western Carolina University abides by a "Clear Bag Policy" – ALL parcels, bags and alike are subject to inspection upon entry into E.J. Whitmire Stadium. All alcoholic beverages, outside food and beverages, and other items not permitted in the stadium must be discarded prior to entering the stadium. Ticket holders are allowed to bring one empty, clear plastic water bottle into the stadium for use at the stadium water fountains. See Page 7 for more info.
STADIUM SEAT CUSHIONS AND CHAIRBACKS:
Stadium cushions and seats ARE PERMISSIBLE for entry into Whitmire Stadium – but please note that they are restricted to 18 inches in width to fit within the standard stadium bleacher seat.
UMBRELLAS:
Umbrellas ARE NOT PERMITTED in the seating area of Whitmire Stadium. No umbrellas will be allowed through the stadium gates. Patrons may either leave their umbrella at the gate or return it to their vehicle prior to entering the stadium.
ARTIFICIAL NOISEMAKERS:
Unapproved and unsanctioned artificial noisemakers (ie., air horns, cowbells, clappers, etc.) are not permitted in E.J. Whitmire Stadium as per Southern Conference rules. However, in accordance with SoCon regulations, sanctioned noisemakers such as "Thunder Sticks" are permissible only when part of a game day promotion. Fans are asked to be considerate and allow your neighbor to enjoy the game. Please keep portable radios at a low volume.
CONCESSION STANDS:
Concession stands by Catamount Dining are located on the main concourse on both the East and West sides of the stadium serving a variety of soft drinks from Pepsi including bottled water and Gatorade. Concession stands do accept credit cards, and there are also cash-only drink and snack lines available. Other concession options include: Betty's Funnel Cakes, Bojangles Famous Sweet Tea, Farm House Lemonade, Kona Ice, Sunset Slush and Tubby's Popcorn and More.
FIELD REGULATIONS:
No one is allowed on the playing field before, during, or after the game without proper credentials (Zone 1 & 2; Pregame Recruit). Fans will also be ejected for throwing any objects in the stadium.
REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE:
Requests for assistance should be directed to AXIS stadium ushers, located at every ramp throughout the stadium.
CHANCELLOR'S BOX, PRESS BOX & CAMERA DECKS:
No one is allowed in the Chancellor's Box, the working press box, camera decks, Paws Porch, Catamount Corner, or onto the field without proper credentials (Zone 1 & 2). Those not adhering to this policy will be escorted out of the stadium.
LOST AND FOUND:
If you find an item, please return it to an AXIS game day usher. To recover a lost item, please visit the check bag location near the main entrances of either side of the stadium to make a proper ID of the lost item.
FIRST AID / EMERGENCY SERVICES:
First aid tents are located on the concourse level of both sides of Whitmire Stadium. Local physicians and emergency medical personnel are also in attendance at all WCU football games and can be paged through the public address system in the press box. An oxygen-equipped ambulance is in the stadium during the games. For games where forecasted temperatures are high, misting cooling stations for spectators will be made available on the concourse levels on either side of the stadium.
CATAMOUNT MERCHANDISE:
Western Carolina apparel and game day merchandise from the WCU Bookstore can be found at stands on both sides of the stadium near Gate 1 and Gate 4. The WCU Bookstore is open on home game days from 10 am until 4 pm – and anytime online at bookstore.wcu.edu. Merchandise is also available anytime at CatamountSports.com through CatamountFanShop
TICKETS FOR CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL:
Tickets sales for Western Carolina Catamount football games can be purchased at the WCU Athletics Ticket Office Monday thru Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm or by phone at (828) 227-2401. Tickets can be purchased on game day beginning at 9:00 am at the Northwest ticket booth near the main entrance – or Gate 1. Avoid the line and buy online anytime at CatamountSports.com.
THE SOUTHERN CONFERENCE CODE OF SPECTATOR CONDUCT
Southern Conference teams shall be supported with enthusiasm and dedication, for strong spectator support is a vital part of the experience of college competition.
We expect good sportsmanship from players and coaches. They have a right to expect the same from spectators.
Therefore, we urge Southern Conference students, alumni and friends to cheer their teams to victory while upholding those ideals our colleges and universities have nurtured during the long history of the Southern Conference.
Our spectators should be courteous and judicious in choice of expression, and should exhibit good manners and kindness to all others.
The scoreboard will reflect the quality of the teams in competitions while the kind of support given by the spectators will reveal the character of Southern Conference fans.
SCOUTING WESTERN CAROLINA
u WESTERN CAROLINA returns to action on Saturday for its lone October home date, hosting the Furman Paladins at E J Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field Beginning with the Wofford game last weekend, WCU plays three of its next four away from #CatamountCountry in a crucial seasonal stretch;
u SPECIAL SALUTE TO OUR HEROES: Catamount Nation welcomes all active and veteran military personnel, as well as first responders such as police, fire, EMS, and other emergency civil servants to the special, annual Heroes Day game – and we all say, "Thank You!";
u HONORING THE EASTERN BAND OF CHEROKEE INDIANS: Saturday's game is also EBCI Day, recognizing and honoring the relationship with the tribe and Western Carolina University the Cullowhee campus is situated on the sacred and ancestral homelands of the Cherokee people once known as "Two Sparrows Place" a special welcome today to all tribal members;
u SOMETHING'S GOT TO GIVE: Both WCU and Furman enter Saturday's game riding three-game win streaks, the Catamounts (3-3) moving back to 500 after last weekend's road win at Wofford, while the Paladins improved to 4-1 on the season WCU and Furman comprise two-thirds of the final three unbeaten teams in the Southern Conference, both at 2-0 Mercer (4-1) leads the SoCon at 4-0 the Bears step out of SoCon play this weekend, visiting Princeton;
u HELMET RIBBONS: Through the month of October, Western Carolina will wear pink ribbon helmet stickers to show support for the fight against breast cancer, honoring survivors, remembering those who have died from the disease, and in support of research WCU will also take part in "Hilinski's Hope," (H3H) with green ribbons with the No 3 in memory of former Washington State QB Tyler Hilinski, and connecting students with mental health resources
u Longtime chromatic rivals WESTERN CAROLINA and FURMAN meet for the 53rd time on the gridiron with the Catamounts trailing in the all-time series, 14-36-2 Since winning three-straight against the Paladins from 1992-94, WCU has dropped 24 of the last 30 head-to-head meetings;
u Three of the last four series meetings have been high-scoring affairs – WCU winning 43-42 over the Paladins back in 2021 with 85 combined points Furman claimed victory in 2022, holding off WCU's furious fourth-quarter rally, 47-40, with a series record 87 combined points Last year, WCU scored its series-best 52 points in a 52-20 victory (72 combined points)
u The two purple-clad foes both have TWO common opponents this season – SAMFORD and CAMPBELL WCU went 2-0 against the two, outscoring the duo 92-70, downing Samford 50-35 and winning at Campbell, 42-35 Furman was likewise 2-0, winning over the Camels 28-24 on a fourth-quarter TD, and upended Samford 31-13, racing out to a 31-7 lead through three
u CATAMOUNT IMPACT PLAYER NOTES:
u QB TARON DICKENS has put up PlayStation-like numbers in his first three games at the controls of the Catamount offense this season He has completed 114 of his 142 pass attempts – 80 3% –for 1,387 yards and 13 touchdown passes Dickens set an NCAA single-game record by connecting on his first 46-straight passes at Wofford – and coupled with the final four completions at Campbell, set an NCAA season record with 50 straight completions Dickens has more passing yards this season than SEVEN other teams in the SoCon – only WCU as a team (2,131 yds) and Samford (1,765 yds) have more passing yards than Dickens this season;
u With 13 touchdown passes this season, TARON DICKENS ranks tied for seventh nationally with just three games played … He also climbed into a tie for 9th in the program's career record book for TD passes with 26, matching former QB Chad Greene (26, 1991-95) … His 13 seasonal TD passes rank him tied for 18th in the WCU single-season record book, matching Shawn Snyder (13, 1999) and Mike Pusey (13, 1977);
u LB JORDAN THOMPSON has recorded a career-high 11 tackles twice this season – against Elon and at Campbell His team-best 47 tackles rank him tied for fourth in the SoCon Thompson leads WCU with six tackles for loss, with two sacks Fellow LB HAYWARD McQUEEN JR . ranks second on the Catamount squad with 34 total tackles
u Freshman PK MARCUS TROUT connected on just his second career field goal with the gamewinning 34-yard boot to propel WCU to the road win at Wofford Trout overcame a blocked field goal attempt earlier in the game and a delay of game penalty just before his game-winning kick to split the uprights on the pressure-filled kick with 23 seconds remaining
WESTERN CAROLINA / FURMAN
INSIDE THE ALL-TIME SERIES
ALL-TIME SERIES . . . WCU TRAILS, 14-36-2
First Meeting Oct 9, 1971 (L, 21-14)
In Cullowhee WCU trails, 7-17-1
In Greenville, S C WCU trails, 7-19-1
Current Streak WCU, W–1
WCU Most Points Scored 52 (2024)
Furman Most Points Scored 52 (2007)
Longest WCU Win Streak: 3 gms (1992-94) Largest Margin of Victory 38 pts (48-10, 2015)
Longest WCU Losing Skid: 8 gms (twice)
Largest Margin of Defeat 34 pts (34-0, 1975)
LAST 10 SERIES MEETINGS (3-7):
Oct 19, 2024 Greenville, S C W, 52-20
Oct 21, 2023 Cullowhee L, 29-17
Oct 15, 2022 Greenville, S C L, 47-40
Nov 6, 2021 Cullowhee W, 43-42
Feb 20, 2021 Greenville, S C L, 35-7
Oct 26, 2019 Cullowhee L, 28-7
Sept 29, 2018 Greenville, S C L, 44-38
Oct 28, 2017 Cullowhee L, 28-6
Nov 12, 2016 Greenville, S C L, 49-21
Nov 7, 2015 Cullowhee W, 48-10
R-SOPHOMORE QB #5 TARON DICKENS
R-SOPHOMORE LB #4 JORDAN THOMPSON
WCU HEAD COACH KERWIN BELL
WESTERN CAROLINA – TWO-GAME ROAD WIN STREAK
Photos by: Samuel Wallace and Ava Schmitt
Oct. 27, Nov. 3, and Nov. 17 Oct. 13 and Nov. 10 Chomper 2
NCAA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SUBDIVISION (FCS) THRU GAMES OCT. 4, 2025
AFCA FCS Week 6 Coaches Poll
1. North Dakota State (26) 650 5-0
2. South Dakota State 621 5-0
3. Tarleton State 574 6-0
4. Montana 567 5-0
5. Montana State 530 4-2
6. UC Davis 499 4-1
7. Tennessee Tech 455 5-0
8. Lehigh 452 6-0
9. Southern Illinois 406 4-1
10. Illinois State 399 3-2
11. Monmouth 383 4-1
12. North Dakota 359 3-2
13. Idaho 306 2-3
14. Jackson State 269 4-1
15. Austin Peay 224 4-2
16. Northern Arizona 221 4-2
17. Villanova 211 3-2
18. Rhode Island 203 4-2
19. Mercer 164 4-1
20. Youngstown State 162 3-2
T21. Abilene Christian 140 3-3
T21. West Georgia 140 5-1
23. Presbyterian 130 5-0
24. Lamar 111 4-1
25. Harvard 64 3-0
Stats Perform FCS Week 6 Top 25
FCS Nation's Week 6 Top 25
North Dakota State
South Dakota State
Tarleton State
A LOOK AT TODAY’S OPPONENT: FURMAN PALADINS
u FURMAN comes to Cullowhee ranked third in the Southern Conference in scoring offense (30 2 ppg) and is fourth with an average of 373 6 yards per game that includes 277 2 passing yards per game (3rd) and 96 4 rushing yards per contest (6th) Defensively, the Paladins are ranked second in the SoCon, limiting opponents to 387 2 yards per game and are the third in the SoCon allowing just 23 8 points per outing;
u COMEBACK CRUSADERS: Furman (4-1, 2-0 SoCon) has had a knack for making comebacks this season, doing so in three of its four wins this season:
u The Paladins trailed William & Mary 21-14 late in the third quarter before scoring the game's final nine points coming on a trio of Ian Williams field goals from 50, 42, and 32 yards, the final game-winner coming with 2:43 remaining in regulation;
u Campbell pulled in front 24-18 early in the fourth quarter before Furman scored the final 10 points of the game, with the game-winning points coming on a TD with 4:50 remaining;
u Most recently, the Paladins trailed ETSU 22-7 in the third quarter before they scored 24 unanswered points to post the fifth largest comeback win since 1973;
u DEFENSIVE HEADLINER: Furman CB JORDAN MILLER earned Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors on Monday, credited with a crucial pass breakup and an interception return for a 95-yard touchdown that keyed the Paladin victory over ETSU in Greenville, S C , adding four tackles Miller's 95-yard "pick-six" was the third longest in Furman history and third interception return for a touchdown by the Paladins this season;
u Another Defensive Note – eight players played a part in Furman’s seven sacks in Saturday’s 31-13 win over Samford;
u Furman landed five players on the Coaches Preseason All-SoCon team – OL ELI BRASHER (1st team), TE JACKSON PRYER (1st team), LB RYAN EARL (1st team), PK IAN WILLIAMS (1st team), and OL LUKE PETIT (2nd team);
u The Paladins (4-1, 2-0 SoCon) were picked sixth in the preseason SoCon Coaches Poll
u PALADINS IMPACT PLAYER NOTES:
u QB TREY HEDDEN – the sophomore signal caller was named to the 2024 SoCon All-Freshman team and earned a Stats Perform FCS National Freshman of the Week honor last year He started last season as the backup, but moved into the starting role three games into 2024 Hedden is coming off a career performance as he threw for 358 yards and two touchdowns against ETSU in the come-from-behind win last week His 358 yards are the second-highest total for a Furman QB in program history;
u DE JOSHUA STONEKING – Having a breakout season in his third year at Furman the Raleigh, N C , product enters the week leading the Southern Conference and the NCAA FCS with 13 5 tackles for loss – three more than second place Has a league-leading 9 5 sacks, including a career-high three last time out against ETSU His father played football at Purdue Stoneking is tied for second on the Paladin squad with BILLY LEWIS with 32 total tackles
u FAMILIAR FACE: A familiar face in the Western Carolina–Furman series is Furman Director of Ticket Sales, DWIGHT COVINGTON, who is a 1980 graduate of WCU Covington played football along the offensive and defensive line under legendary Catamount head coach, Bob Waters;
u ABOUT FURMAN HEAD COACH CLAY HENDRIX: Enters his 32nd year at Furman between 28 years of coaching and four as a Paladin studen-athlete as a three-year starter at offensive guard where he was part of the 1982, '83, and '85 SoCon Championship teams and '85 national runner-up;
u Is a two-time Wallace Wade SoCon Coach of the Year in 2017 and 2023, earning the same honor from the coaches in '23 where he was named the AFCA Region II Coach of the Year
u WHAT IS A PALADIN?: A “Paladin” is a knight on a horse, a paragon of chivalry; a heroic champion; a strong supporter or defender of a cause; and any of the 12 peers of French emperor Charlemagne’s court While history reveals knights were not always mounted men-at-arms, the modern image of a knight, mounted and in full armor, has undoubtedly influenced the concept of Furman’s mascot
1:54 WCU - Malik Knight 32 yd pass from Taron Dickens (Paxton Robertson
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Cole Gonzales passed for a Southern Conference single-game record 620 yards and five touchdowns in guiding Western Carolina to a league benchmark 801 yards of total offense as the Catamounts stretched their current winning streak to three in a row with a commanding 52-20 victory over the Furman Paladins.
Gonzales obliterated WCU's 24-year school record for passing yards in a game, usurping David Rivers who threw for 474 yards against Wofford in 2000. Gonzales also eclipsed the SoCon's single-game passing yard record previously held by Samford's Liam Welch who passed for 582 yards against ETSU in 2021. WCU's 801 yards of total offense also set a league record, bypassing the 46-year-old mark of 795 set by Chattanooga in 1978.
Gonzales finished 35-for-55 passing for 620 yards, each a careerhigh in recording his fifth career 300-plus yard passing game. It also represents the most passing yards by an individual at all four levels of the NCAA this season. Gonzales posted his fourth career fivetouchdown game with tosses of 15, 62, 23, 20, and 48 yards to give him 49 career TD tosses, third in program history and just one out of second place. He spread the football around to 11 different receivers with three Catamounts finishing with over 100 yards receiving.
Zion Booker caught a career-high and team-best eight passes for 103 yards, while freshman Isaiah Johnson posted a career-best 117 yards on six grabs including two TDs. JAI BOYD hauled in three passes for 102 yards. De'Andre Tamarez (4-87 yds), MALIK KNIGHT (2-69 yds), and RB BRANSON ADAMS (1-48 yds) each scored touchdowns through the air. Adams added 70 rushing yards for a team-best 118 all-purpose yards. Jalynn Williams scored his sixth rushing touchdown over the past three games since returning from an injury that sidelined him in 2023. Western Carolina needed just three plays and 60-seconds to take a lead it wouldn't relinquish Gonzales connected with Isaiah Johnson twice in the first half with Furman getting a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Colton Hinton to pull to within eight points, the closest the Paladins would get the remainder of the day. Paxton Robertson, who scored a career-high 10 points, closed the second quarter with a 26-yard field goal. Despite dominating the first half on both sides of the football, the Catamounts carried led just 17-6 at halftime.
WCU erupted for 35 second-half points to pull away Two third-quarter touchdowns including a Gonzales to Tamarez 23 yard pass and a fouryard romp by Williams gave the Catamounts a 31-6 lead before Furman closed the frame with a three-yard TD catch by John Holbrook, Gonzales added two more touchdown passes to Zion Booker and Branson Adams out of the backfield to cap his day with a 45-13 score.
QB TARON DICKENS closed the game with a 32-yard TD pass to MALIK KNIGHT for his first career receiving TD.
Dickens, WCU 35-55-0
yds, 5 TDs Trey Hedden, FUR 22-34-1
RUSHING
Branson Adams, WCU 9 carries, 70 yds
Patrick Boyd Jr., WCU 3 carries 41 yds
Grant Robinson, FUR 9 carries, 23 yds
Myion Hicks, FUR 5 carries, 20 yds
RECEIVING
Isaiah Johnson, WCU 6 rec., 117 yds, 2 TDs
Zion Booker, WCU 8 rec., 103 yds, TD
Jai Boyd, WCU 3 rec., 102 yds
Colton Hinton, FUR 9 rec., 114 yds
John Holbrook, FUR 4 rec., 44 yds, TD
Devin Hester Jr., FUR 3 rec., 36 yds
DEFENSIVE LEADERS:
TACKLES
Hayward McQueen Jr., WCU 11 tckls (2 ua), 3 TFL
Blue Monroe, WCU 8 tckls (4 ua), 0.5 TFL
Samaurie Dukes, WCU 7 tckls (4 ua)
Evan DiMaggio, FUR 14 tckls (10 ua), 2 TFL/sacks
Maurice Perkins, FUR 11 tckls (8ua), 2 PBU
SACKS
Four players tied 1 sack apiece
Evan DiMaggio, FUR 2 sacks
2025 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL – SEASON GAME-BY-GAME PREVIEW IN BRIEF
GARDNER-WEBB
Saturday, Aug. 30
CULLOWHEE L, 52-45
at Wake Forest Saturday, Sept. 6 Winston-Salem, N.C. L, 42-10
ELON
Saturday, Sept. 13
CULLOWHEE L, 37-31
SAMFORD *
Saturday, Sept. 20
CULLOWHEE W, 50-35
at Campbell Saturday, Sept. 27
Buies Creek, N.C. W, 42-35
at Wofford * Saturday, Oct. 4
Spartanburg, S.C. 1:30 pm
FURMAN *
Saturday, Oct. 11
CULLOWHEE 2:30 pm
at The Citadel * Saturday, Oct. 18 Charleston, S.C. 2 pm
at Chattanooga * Saturday, Nov. 1 Chattanooga, Tenn. 4 pm
MERCER * Saturday, Nov. 8
CULLOWHEE 2:30 pm
ETSU * Saturday, Nov. 15
CULLOWHEE Noon
at VMI * Saturday, Nov. 22 Lexington, Va. Noon
CULLOWHEE — Josiah Harris pulled down a game-sealing interception and Nate Hampton ran for a 26-yard score to pull away late as Gardner Webb stormed back to beat Western Carolina 52-45. The Runnin’ Bulldogs were down 35-7 after WCU scored 35 unanswered points, rallying down the stretch to upset FCS No. 19 WCU. In his first start, Bennett Judy finished 15-of-27 with 151 yards, two touchdowns and an interception for WCU. Hampton was 12-of-30 with two scores, adding 130 and four rushing TDs. It was the third-straight series win for GWU.
WINSTON-SALEM, NC – Demond Claiborne scored on three touchdown runs as Wake Forest beat Western Carolina 42-10 in a weather-hampered game. Claiborne, who suffered a rib injury in the opener, finished with 193 yards on 10 carries with two first-quarter TD runs. QB Robby Ashford was 13 for 22 for 227 yards with a 64-yard strike to Sterling Berkhalter in the third. Western Carolina scored on a Christian Lowery 23-yard field goal, and got into the end zone with less than seven minutes left on Markel Townsend’s 1-yard TD run.
CULLOWHEE — Landen Clark accounted for 377 yards of offense and four touchdowns to lead Elon to a 37-31 victory over Western Carolina. Clark broke loose on a 10-yard TD run and connected with Isaiah Fuhrmann on the two-point try to cap the scoring with about five minutes left. Asher Cunningham intercepted Isaac Lee with 49 seconds left to seal it. Clark finished 11-of-28 passing for 305 yards with two touchdowns and added 72 yards on the ground with two scores. James Tyre and Dominic Dutton both scored two touchdowns apiece for the Catamounts.
CULLOWHEE — Taron Dickens had career highs with 582 yards passing and six touchdowns as Western Carolina pulled away from Samford for a 50-35 victory. Dickens was 35-of-46 passing and connected with 10 receivers. Camury Reid (4–107 yds) caught three touchdown passes, and he added 39 yards rushing and TD. WCU built a 21-20 halftime lead before Dickens threw three TD passes, including his 62-yarder to Reid, that capped a 29-point third quarter. Quincy Crittendon was 35-of-54 for 456 yards and threw each of his three touchdown passes to Calvin Jones.
BUIES CREEK, NC — Taron Dickens threw for 427 yards with four touchdown passes and Western Carolina defeated Campbell 42-35. The Catamounts scored 21 points in the second quarter and led 28-10 at halftime. Dickens’ fourth TD pass — 10 yards to Patrick Boyd Jr. — made it 35-10 early in the third quarter. Wide receiver James Tyre threw a 61-yard touchdown pass to Painter Richards-Baker for the Catamounts’ final score and a 42-28 lead. Kamden Sixkiller threw for 205 yards and led the Fighting Camels in rushing with 55 yards and two TDs.
SPARTANBURG, SC – Taron Dickens completed 46 consecutive passes to break the FCS record for consecutive completions in a game, and threw three touchdown passes to lead Western Carolina to a 23-21 win over Wofford. Dickens led the comeback for the Catamounts after the lead changed hands in the late third quarter. Marcus Trout, whose previous field goal attempt was blocked, made a game-winning 34-yard field goal with 23 seconds remaining. Dickens was 53 for 56 for 378 yards passing, the highest completion percentage in a game in FCS history 94.6%).
Western Carolina hosts chromatic rival Furman in mid-October in the “Battle for Purple Supremacy” in the Southern Conference on Heores Day and EBCI Day in Cullowhee. Last year, Cole Gonzales threw for 620 yards as part of WCU racking up 801 yards of total offense in the 32-point, 52-20 win. It was the third-largest setback suffered by a Clay Hendrix-led Paladin team and Furman’s second-largest in stadium history. Despite the win last season, Furman has won seven of the last nine series meetings. WCU trails in the series, 14-36-2, includnig a 7-17-1 mark in Cullowhee.
The Catamounts head down I-26 to the South Carolina Lowcountry and Johnson Hagood Stadium for the 50th all-time in series meeting with The Citadel in mid-October. WCU has won four of the last five series meetings, and two-straight in Charleston. Last year, a pair of red-zone interceptions by QB Jonathan Bennett stalled the Bulldogs, while Jalynn Williams scored three rushing TDs – two coming on WCU’s five first-half possessions. In the last meeting in Charleston, WCU throttled The Citadel with five Desmond Reid first-half rushing TDs en route to a 49-14 victory.
Coming off the bye week (Oct. 25), the Catamounts remain on the road as they travel to the Scenic City to face the Chattanooga Mocs. The last three series meetings – each WCU victories – have been decided by four points or fewer and nine combined points. In 2022, WCU scored the game-winning TD in the final minute (32-29. Richard McCollum nailed a walk-off 32-yard field goal to cap an instant classic between two ranked teams in WCU’s 52-50 win in 2023. Last year, Ken Moore intercepted a pass at the 12 with 0:33 remaining to preserve the 38-34 win. WCU is 15-6 after the bye week under Kerwin Bell.
Western Carolina faces a tough challenge on Homecoming 2025 as the Catamounts look to put the clamps on a nine-game losing skid in the series when it hosts defending SoCon champion, Mercer. After winning the first two meetings in 2014 and 2015, WCU has been unable to solve the Bears, trailing 2-9 in the series. Last year in Macon, WCU twice rallied to within three in the fourth quarter, but could not find the subsequent stop. Paxton Robertson hit a 44-yard FG with five and a half minutes to play, but the Bears drove 77 yards in six plays to put the game on ice.
Mountain-rivals Western Carolina and ETSU meet in “Blue Ridge Border Battle” in Cullowhee. The Bucs took back the traveling trophy, “the Rock” with last year’s 24-21 win in Johnson City. The Catamounts carried a 21-17 lead into the fourth quarter and ETSU scored the game-winner with six minutes to play and managed to run out the clock. WCU amassed 687 yards of offense in dominating the most recent Cullowhee meeting, 58-7. WCU leads the series 27-26-1 with five of the last seven series meetings decided in one-possession games, including a pair in overtime. Western Carolina closes the regular season in northern Virginia, visiting the VMI Keydets at Foster Stadium. The Catamounts hold a commanding 26-5 lead in the all-time series with 11 wins in games played in Lexington. But the Keydets won the most recent meeting on post with a 27-24 home victory over WCU in 2023 that thwarted WCU’s bid for the NCAA FCS playoffs. Last year, the Catamounts exploded for 35 points in a decisive second quarter, including three scores inside the final three minutes of the second frame to lead 41-7 at half in the 58-28 victory.
head coach >>>>>>>>>>>>
KERWIN BELL
An accomplished player who worked his way from walkon to All-American to the National Football League, and a 17-year veteran head coach who won a combined four conference championships and the 2018 NCAA Division II National Championship, KERWIN BELL was named the 14th head football coach at Western Carolina University on April 27, 2021, coaching his first year in Cullowhee that fall.
Bell enters 2025 – his fifth season on the sidelines in Cullowhee – with 117 career victories between his three coaching stops, eclipsing the 100-win benchmark in the 2022 season with a home win over VMI in Cullowhee.
Western Carolina rebounded from a six-game slide to start Bell's first season in Cullowhee in 2021 by winning four of its final five games to finish the Southern Conference slate at 4-4. After being picked ninth in the preseason, the Catamounts finished tied for fourth in the league SoCon standings, defeating both teams amongst the tie including a 43-42 win over Furman in Cullowhee and a 52-24 win over defending conference champion VMI to end the regular-season.
In his encore season in 2022, Bell guided WCU to its best regular-season finish since 2017, finishing 6-5 overall after closing the year with three consecutive victories – scoring home wins over Wofford and nationally-ranked Chattanooga and a road victory at ETSU to reclaim the traveling rivalry trophy. The win over UTC also halted an eight-game slide against nationally-ranked NCAA FCS teams.
The Catamounts closed 2022 with a 4-4 mark in the SoCon for the second-straight season marking the first consecutive .500-or-better league finishes since the 2014 and 2015 campaigns.
Over the past four seasons under Bell, Western Carolina has eclipsed 5,000 yards of total offense each season, establishing and breaking program records. In 2024, WCU broke the year-old benchmark with 5,665 total yards to edge the 2023 (5,545), 2022 (5,339), and 1983 teams (5,333). WCU’s offensive has surpassed the 3,000 passing
yard mark for just the fifth time in program history in 2024, throwing for a school-record 4,029 yards. WCU passed for a school-record 33 TDs in 2023, amassing 24-or-more aerial scores in each of Bell's first four seasons. The Catamounts led the NCAA FCS in total offense in 2023, the only program to average over 500 yards per game at the season's end, and paced the nation as the statistcal champion in passing offense in 2024.
Bell came to Cullowhee having served as the offensive coordinator at the University of South Florida under head coach Charlie Strong in 2019. Before taking over in Cullowhee, he had most recently walked off the field as a head coach following the 2018 NCAA Division II national championship, leading Valdosta State where he coached for three seasons, twice making playoff appearances.
Over a 12-year head coaching career prior to WCU, Bell led the football programs at Valdosta State (2016-18) and Jacksonville University (2007-15). He did this coming on the heels of a 13-year playing career in professional football that included several stops in the NFL and the Canadian Football League.
PERSONAL INFORMATION:
BORN: June 15, 1965
HOMETOWN: Mayo, Fla.
ALMA MATER: Florida, 1987
FAMILY: Wife, Cosette Odom; Three children; Kade, Kolton, and Kenzley; and a grand daughter, Palmer
PLAYING EXPERIENCE:
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, former walk-on, three-year starter at QB (1984-88); SEC Player of the Year (1984); First-Team All-SEC (1985) and Honorable mention AllAmerica (1985, 1986)
u Florida–Georgia Hall of Fame, 1996 inductee
u Univ. of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame, 1997 inductee
TORONTO ARGONAUTS, offensive coordinator (2000-01)
TRINITY CATHOLIC HIGH, head coach (2002-06)
JACKSONVILLE UNIV., head coach (2007-15)
u Pioneer Football League Coach of the Year (2008)
VALDOSTA STATE UNIV., head coach (2016-18)
u Gulf South Conference Co-Coach of the Year (2018)
u Don Hansen NCAA Division II Co-Coach of the Year (2018)
u NCAA Division II National Champion (2018)
UNIV. OF SOUTH FLORIDA, offensive coordinator (2019)
WESTERN CAROLINA UNIV., head coach (2021–)
Bell served three seasons as the head coach at Valdosta State where he also guided the offense. He led the Blazers to a 27-7 record during his tenure including a school-record 15 straight victories, two Division II playoff appearances, and won both a conference and a national championship in 2018. He was named the 2018 Don Hansen NCAA Division II Co-Coach of the Year and the Gulf South Conference CoCoach of the Year after leading VSU to a 14-0 record – the first unbeaten season in program history that included a thrilling 49-47 victory over Ferris State in the D-II National Championship game. Picked fifth in their conference in the preseason and the No. 3 seed entering the playoffs, the Blazers finished No. 1 nationally in the final AFCA D–II poll.
Wells finished as the runner-up for the Harlon Hill Trophy, presented to the Division II Player of the Year, and was named both the Region Two and Gulf South Conference Offensive Player of the Year.
Wells accounted for 50 touchdowns on the year (including one receiving), led the nation in points responsible for (300), was second in passing touchdowns (38) and points responsible for per game (21.4 ppg), 10th in passing yards (3,075), 12th in passing efficiency (160.6) and 25th in total offense (271.9 ypg). He finished second on the team with 732 yards rushing and led the team with 11 rushing touchdowns.
Additionally, senior offensive linemen Jeremy King was the runner-up for the Gene Upshaw Award presented to the most outstanding Division II lineman.
Serving as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach as well as head coach, Bell was named the 2008 PFL Coach of the Year and was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award after leading the Dolphins to a 9-4 seasonal record and conference title.
He also led Jacksonville to a school-best 10-1 record and conference championship in 2010 as the Dolphins led the nation in total (486 ypg) and scoring (42.2 ppg) offense. JU also posted a 9-2 overall mark and won a conference title in 2014.
Bell’s 2018 offense led the nation in scoring (52.0 ppg), ranked second in first downs (341), and was fourth in total offense (523.9 ypg), red-zone offense (.901), and pass efficiency (167.37). The Blazers scored 728 points on the year, the most in NCAA Division II history, as they posted 7,334 yards (3,676 rushing/3,658 passing) and 7.9 yards per play on the year.
Within Bell’s system, VSU sophomore quarterback Rogan
Bell led VSU to runner-up conference finishes in his first two years guiding the program and went 8-3 with a playoff appearance in his first season at the helm in 2016 as the Blazers led the nation with 27 interceptions on defense.
Prior to Valdosta, Bell led Jacksonville University for nine seasons, guiding the NCAA FCS program to a 66-35 record and three Pioneer Football League (PFL) championships.
Before taking over the Jacksonville program, Bell led Trinity Catholic High School in Ocala, Fla., for six seasons (2001-06), earning a Florida 2B state title in 2005 and runner-up finish in 2006. His coaching career began in earnest at the end of his professional playing career as he served as the offensive coordinator for two seasons while still a player for the Toronto Argonauts (2000-01).
Originally from Mayo, Fla., Bell was a quarterback at the University of Florida from 1983-87 where he completed over 57 percent of his 953 pass attempts for 7,585 yards and 56 touchdowns. A former walk-on, Bell concluded his collegiate career as the SEC Player of the Year in 1984 after leading Florida to a 9-1-1 record and a conference championship, and both a first-team All-SEC selection and All-America honorable mention in 1985, a season that saw the Gators earn the programs first-ever No. 1 national ranking in the Associated Press poll.
Garnering a second honorable mention All-America honor in 1986, Bell was a 1987 team captain and earned the program’s Fergie Ferguson Award.
Bell was ranked the No. 26 Greatest Gator of all-time from the first 100 years of football at Florida in 2006 by The Gainesville Sun. Bell later served as a graduate assistant for the 1990 season under Steve Spurrier at Florida after earning a degree in psychology in 1987.
Kerwin Bell was selected in the seventh round of the 1988 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins, beginning his 13year professional career that saw stops with the NFL teams in Miami, Atlanta, Tampa Bay, and Indianapolis as well as stops in the Canadian Football League, where he passed for 19,538 yards and 101 touchdowns in nine seasons, and the World League of American Football (WLAF).
Married in 1986 while both students at Florida, Bell and his wife, Cosette, have three children: sons Kade and Kolton, and a daughter, Kenzley, and a grand daughter, Palmer.
DANIEL HOOKER JEFF BRYSON
WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY – 2025 FOOTBALL COACHES & STAFF
PARISH
MALIK
WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY – 2025 FOOTBALL SUPPORT STAFF
Steven Honbarger
Rocha
Wolchesky
Film Crew:
McDowell, Adam Bobo (Director), Lane Stroup, Tate Hodgin, Nate Wallace, and Sean Luckman (not pictured: Bradley Krpejs, Director)
Jaquan Thomas (Laundry Specialist
Friends. Family. Community.
KYLE PIFER
WESTERN CAROLINA DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS
On Monday, May 19, 2025, Western Carolina University Chancellor Kelli R. Brown announced the selection of KYLE PIFER to serve as the director of athletics following approval of his contract by the university’s Board of Trustees during a special-called meeting earlier in the day.
Pifer (pronounced PIE-furr) has served as the deputy athletics director and chief operating officer for WCU Athletics since November 2020 and, most recently, as the interim director of athletics following the departure of Alex Gary.
The appointment, effective immediately, follows a national search conducted by a 13-member committee, chaired by WCU Provost Richard Starnes. The North Carolinabased executive search consulting firm CSA assisted the search committee.
Pifer has served as a WCU Athletics senior staff member and second in command within the department for the past four years, managing all internal functions for the Catamounts, including budget and finance, capital projects, sport administration, event and facility operations, and human resources.
A skilled administrator, Pifer has spent the past 23 years of his professional career working in higher education and intercollegiate athletics. He served previously as the senior associate athletics director for compliance at Oregon State in Corvallis, Oregon, from 2013 until 2020, when he came to Cullowhee. He also held an associate athletic director position at the University of Washington in Seattle from 2009 until 2013 and worked in NCAA compliance positions at Oregon State and Gonzaga.
Pifer’s professional experience in major collegiate athletic conferences, such as the Pac-12, combined with his strong relationships on campus, in the community, with regional leaders, and within the Southern Conference, make him a good fit to lead the Catamount athletics program.
“After a comprehensive national search for WCU’s next Director of Athletics, I’m incredibly pleased that the best candidate was already a member of our Catamount family. Mr. Kyle Pifer is an outstanding choice to lead Catamount Nation into its next era,” said Brown. “In the short amount of time that Kyle has served as interim AD, he has distinguished himself as a collaborative and strategic university leader with a commanding grasp of the landscape of intercollegiate athletics. Catamount Athletics is in good hands with Kyle at the helm, and I am confident and excited about the future for our amazing student-athletes.”
Over the last four years in Cullowhee, Pifer has spearheaded the formation of the sport administrator committee and the student-athlete well-being committee, both aimed at the better management of the teams and to evaluate the student-athlete experience at Western Carolina. He has also served on numerous campus committees, including the institutional planning, well-being, health and safety, and emergency crisis management teams.
Pifer began his professional career as an NCAA compliance officer in 2003 at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. In 2007, Pifer departed for the first of his two stints at Oregon State, beginning as an assistant director of compliance. He then took on the role of the director of compliance at the University of Washington in Seattle, advancing rapidly and earning four promotions in under five years, working his way to an associate athletics director position. He was a member of the UW Athletics department senior staff.
As the senior associate athletics director for compliance at Oregon State, Pifer has experience within oncampus and department operations, including a wealth of knowledge on NCAA compliance within the changing landscape of intercollegiate athletics. As a part of the OSU athletics executive staff, he was the sport supervisor for the Beavers’ men’s golf and the women’s cross country/track and field teams. He was also particularly influential in the development of the Oregon State track and field program, rekindling the program after a nearly 20-year hiatus from the sport sponsorship.
During his eight-plus years at OSU, concluding as the senior compliance administrator, Pifer served on a variety of campus committees, including the Enrollment Management Leadership Team, the High Incident and Event Group, and the Criminal History Attendance and Participation Committee.
Pifer was selected from an exceptionally competitive and well-qualified pool of candidates. The search committee identified three finalists who participated in on-campus interviews in Cullowhee.
“Kyle Pifer has the experience, vision, and energy to build on the great momentum Catamount athletics has experienced in recent years to take us to the next level,” Starnes said. “He is deeply committed to the success of our student-athletes in competition, in the classroom, and their lives after graduation.”
A native of Frankfort, Indiana, Pifer is a former intercollegiate student-athlete at Francis Marion University, where he was a four-year track and field letter winner and earned academic all-district honors. He possesses a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Francis Marion where he was a member of the Francis Marion Honor Society and graduated summa cum laude in 1999. He earned his master’s degree in sport and athletic administration from Gonzaga in 2021.
Pifer and his wife, Sydney, have three daughters: Reese, Delaney, and Ellis.
WESTERN
WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY – COACHING STAFF
CATAMOUNT CLUB DONORS OF THE GAME
BRANDI and CAMERON COOPER
Today, thanks to Champion Credit Union and the Catamount Club, we highlight CAMERON JR. ('06) and BRANDI COOPER ('04).
Cameron Cooper Jr. graduated from Western Carolina University in 2006 with his bachelor’s degree in hospitality and tourism and in 2024 with a master’s degree in business administration and a certificate in project management. Cameron’s wife, Brandi, is also a WCU graduate. She graduated in 2004 with a master’s degree in clinical psychology.
Cameron played football during his four years of undergraduate, earning the prestigious Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award. He is an active member of the Catamount Club and served on the Catamount Club Advisory Board for eight years.
Cameron holds many positions within the Kituwah Economic Development Board, an economic development entity of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. He is the President of Kituwah Energy and the Vice President of Special Projects and Business Development at Kituwah, LLC. He is also a North Carolina real estate licensed broker.
In 2018, Cameron and Brandi established the Cameron and Brandi Cooper Athletic Scholarship, which supports Western Carolina student-athletes.
Cameron and Brandi have two children, Anasette, who is a freshman on the women's wrestling team at Frostburg State University in Maryland, and Mechelen Cooper.
Wes Cogdill
Victoria Ladd
Jahleel Anderson
Micah Nelson
Murphy, N.C.
Hayward McQueen Jr.
DEFENDING CATAMOUNTS
J'evon
THE 2025 WESTERN CAROLINA CATAMOUNTS FOOTBALL TEAM
2025 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL COACHING AND SUPPORT STAFF
2025 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL SENIOR CLASS
2025 WESTERN CAROLINA CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL TEAM
2025 "PRIDE OF THE MOUNTAINS" – MARCHING BAND
The students and staff of the 2025 “The Pride of the Mountains,” Marching Band are proud to present our 2025 production entitled, “CONNECT.” The directors, staff, student leadership team, and membership have worked incredibly hard to provide audiences with another unforgettable performance experience. The "Pride of the Mountains" Marching Band is poised to set new performance standards in 2025, while continuing to push boundaries of design innovation and entertainment at the collegiate level.
B.H. Graning Landscapes and Supply, Inc. is making possible the opportunity for The Pride of the Mountains to be a member of the Forte Athletics team. Forte Athletics is a nationwide physical conditioning initiative that serves as a training program for students in the marching arts. Through our involvement, students are receiving instruction on preemptive techniques that will reduce injury and build a stronger body. We look forward to a long relationship with Daniel Recoder, founder of Forte Athletics and feel confident that this program will build longevity to our students’ physical health while teaching best practices for lifelong wellness.
This fall promises to again be one of the busiest on record regarding recruitment performances. For the first time in our history the band will be traveling off campus four times to four different states. Beginning Saturday, Sept. 27, the band will perform for over 3,000 spectators in exhibition at the 51st annual Enka High School “Land of the Sky” Marching Band competition, which showcases 30 of the top high school bands in the area. On October 6, the band will travel to Gwinnett County, Ga. to share their love of the pageantry arts with some of the best bands in the Southeast at their annual Gwinnett County Exhibition. The 24th annual Western Carolina University Tournament of Champions takes place on Saturday, Oct. 18, when The Pride welcomes 21 high school bands from around the Southeast to our campus, as well as our worldclass evaluation panel assimilated from across the United States. The Pride of the Mountains will perform twice during this event for over 10,000 attendees.
We are also very pleased to announce that the "Pride of the Mountains" has also been asked to perform in exhibition at the Tarpon Springs Outdoor Music Festival on October 25, in Tarpon Springs, Fla. This is an event filled with elite high school bands, and we feel honored to be invited to share our talents at such an esteemed venue. The PotM concludes its exhibition season in Spartanburg, S.C. on November 1 at the South Carolina 6A State Championships.
And now, about our 2025 production . . . “CONNECT”
Part I: CONNECT with Humanity
Life is filled with people who come and go, but each leaves behind a mark that strengthens us. This movement explores how we are always stronger together, celebrating the bonds we create throughout our journey. Musical selections include In My Life (The Beatles), Seasons of Love (Rent), Stronger
(Kelly Clarkson), and Don’t Stop Believin’ (Journey). Interwoven throughout are musical quotes from past Pride of the Mountains productions, blending our history with new music and arrangements — a reminder that our alumni remain with us every step of the way.
Part II: CONNECT with Community
Last fall, when Hurricane Helene struck Western North Carolina, our region was tested in profound ways. During that time, we learned the true meaning of resilience and community. This movement is dedicated to those bonds of compassion and strength, brought to life through Bridge Over Troubled Water (Simon & Garfunkel). It is a tribute to these mountains, our people, and the spirit that carries us forward together.
Part III: CONNECT the Dots
Large dots on the field become symbols of the milestones in our life journey — the moments and decisions that shape who we are. This high-energy percussion feature uses Daft Punk’s Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger to drive the narrative, piecing together the story of how every connection and experience leads us to our future selves.
Part IV: CONNECT with Alumni
The Long Purple Line is alive and strong. This movement celebrates our alumni — the giants on whose shoulders we proudly stand. With You Raise Me Up (Josh Groban), we honor their sacrifices, their passion, and their commitment to building this band into what it is today. The production closes with Defying Gravity (Wicked), symbolizing our collective responsibility to carry the Pride of the Mountains into new heights. Past, present, and future unite as we spread our wings and step boldly into what lies ahead.
Honoring Our Legacy:
This season, we also celebrate the roots of the WCU Marching Band. Our program features a replica of the very first WCU marching band uniform from 1941. Audiences will see a tribute to Joe Hedden — the student who began the marching band as a club activity, taught every section, and became WCU’s first music major and graduate. His vision and dedication sparked a tradition that has grown into the Pride of the Mountains we know today.
From Joe Hedden’s single step in 1941 to the thousands of steps taken on this field each season, the Long Purple Line continues — carried with honor, pride, and an unwavering connection to one another.
This is our story. This is our legacy. CONNECT!
"Pride of the Mountains" Marching Band Instructional
Staff and Design Team
Matt Henley Director of Athletic Bands Percussion Arranger
Dillon Ingle Assistant Director of Athletic Bands Front Ensemble, Rhythm Section & Sound Design / Arranger
Jeremy Loui Assistant Director of Athletic Bands
Jayda Copeland Administrative Assistant
Doug Thrower Wind Music Arranger
Daniel Brodie Sound Design
Jamey Thompson Visual Designer
Bob Buckner Pregame Visual Designer
Katie Pacifico Color Guard Director
Billy Pacifico Color Guard Choreographer
Anne (AJ) Junttila Color Guard Instructor
Shaun Brown Director of Audio Production
Collin Tastet Director of Front Ensemble
Line Kinsey Purple Drum Line Instructor
Seaon Carter Cymbal Instructor
STAFF COORDINATORS:
Emilia Sepulveda and Davis Weaver
2025 DRUM MAJORS:
Joely Martin (Head), Mariana Hernandez and Kadence Watford
CAPTION COORDINATORS:
Elizabeth Bargher, Bryan Clingerman, Noah Cox, Eli Henry, Katy Riggs, Katie Sammons, Erik Stauffer, Austin Williams
Fight on! You Catamounts, Fight for purple and gold. Fight on to victory, True warriors bold. Wave the royal banner high, And let it fill the Western sky. So, fight on! you Catamounts, Fight to vic–to–ry!
Western, Western, Go–Western! Go—Cats!
Fight on! You Catamounts, Fight for purple and gold. Fight on to victory, True warriors bold. Wave the royal banner high, And let it fill the Western sky. So, fight on! you Catamounts, Fight to vic–to–ry!
Adopted in 1981, Western Carolina’s fight song was composed by members of the University faculty including Mr. Dick Trevarthen Western Carolina and Catamount Athletics was saddened to learn of
WESTERN CAROLINA ALMA MATER
Hail to thee, our Alma Mater; Faithful, kind, and true; Every son and every daughter Offers praise to you.
– CHORUS –
Hail to the dearest spot of all; Hail to WCU! Light and life and fond devotion, All to thee are due.
Purple robes and colors golden, Streaming everywhere, Swell our hearts with pride for olden Days and friendships dear.
– CHORUS –
Under shade trees’ friendly bowers, Voices, ever gay, Mingles with breath of flowers And the song birds’ lay.
– CHORUS –
Shout aloud with one loud chorus, Voices clear and true, Lifted high in praise and honor, All for WCU!
– CHORUS –
DR. KELLI BROWN
WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY CHANCELLOR
Kelli R. Brown, Ph.D., is the 12th Chancellor of Western Carolina University, a regional comprehensive university that serves over 11,000 students with a wide range of bachelor’s degrees across the spectrum of arts and sciences disciplines and professional programs in business, education, health care, and engineering; more than 30 master’s degree and certificate programs; and five professional doctoral programs. She became the University’s first permanent woman chancellor when she took office in July 2019. Since her arrival, Chancellor Brown has highlighted several priorities: an comprehensive regional institution emphasizing quality and excellence; a commitment to access, affordability, inclusive excellence and student success; and a focus on the University’s role as an engine of economic development for its communities.
Under Chancellor Brown’s leadership, WCU has continued to capitalize on the opportunity to be a thought leader regarding how regionally engaged universities can be student focused, with a high level of teaching innovation and a large connection with the surrounding region. Business North Carolina magazine has seen the impact
has included her on their Power List of the state’s most influential leaders four separate times.
Throughout her time at Western Carolina, Chancellor Brown has spearheaded several major capital projects on campus. In 2021, the state-of-the art, Apodaca Science Building, was completed to replace the university’s 1970-era Natural Science Building. The following year in 2022, “The Rocks”, a collection of three freshman residence halls were opened with an emphasis on building student community. Later that year, WCU completed its new energy production facility, replacing the campus’ century-old steam plant. Additionally, she has overseen the implementation of the highly successful NC Promise tuition reduction program and the innovative Catamount Commitment financial aid program. Each program has had a tangible impact on the reduction of student debt.
Western Carolina University is led by the Chancellor, the university’s chief administrative officer, with guidance and policy oversight from the Board of Trustees. As one of the 16 universities in the University of North Carolina system, WCU also falls under the administration of the UNC system president and the Board of Governors, advised by the UNC Faculty Assembly.
As Provost, the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs serves as the top administrator for academics and as the senior member of the Chancellor’s Executive Council: WESTERN CAROLINA EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Dr. Kelli R. Brown, Chancellor
Dr. Richard Starnes, Provost / Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
Mr. Mike Byers, Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance
Mr. Kyle Pifer, Director of Athletics
Mr. Chris Williams, Chief Information Officer
Mr. Ben Pendry, Vice Chancellor for Advancement
Dr. Sam Miller, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
Mr. Shea Browning, General Counsel
Dr. Melissa Wargo, Chief of Staff
Dr. William Moultrie, Vice Chancellor of Enrollment & Student Success
Ms. Jessica Woods, Assistant to the Chancellor
universities committed to educating students for civic and social responsibility, partnering with communities for positive change, and strengthening democracy. Nationally, she is a member of ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge President’s Council (nonpartisan mission is student registration and turnout) and a member of ACE Women’s Network Executive Council.
She has also helped champion the University's comprehensive fundraising campaign for Athletics, "Fill the Western Sky," as she and husband Dennis made an estate gift of $4 million that will benefit 11 university funds.
Chancellor Brown serves on numerous regional boards including Harris Regional Hospital/Swain Community Hospital, NC Arboretum, Givens Estates, Asheville Chamber of Commerce, and is Chair of North Carolina Campus Compact — a collaborative network of colleges and
Before coming to WCU, Brown served as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Georgia College & State University. In July 2016, she was appointed interim president of Valdosta State University, a regional comprehensive university in southern Georgia. She served in that capacity until a permanent president took office in January 2017. In addition to her leadership at Georgia College, she has taught undergraduate and graduate students and has served in academic leadership roles at the University of Florida, University of South Florida, Illinois State University, and Western Illinois University.
Chancellor Brown earned her doctorate in education from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale; a master’s and baccalaureate degree in public health from the University of Toledo; and an associate in applied sciences degree in dental hygiene from Michael J. Owens Technical College in Toledo, Ohio.
Chancellor Brown is originally from the Midwest, and she and her husband of 35 years, Dennis, live in Cullowhee.
WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY – 2025 CATAMOUNT CHEERLEADERS
WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY – 2025-26 WCU DANCE TEAM
WESTERN CAROLINA’S POSTSEASON TEAMS
• 1949 • North State Conference Champions
Western Carolina had struggled through its first 15 seasons of football with only two winning seasons in two decades, but all that frustration was forgotten in 1949 when Coach Tom Young completed a four-year, post-World War II building program with an 8-2 regular season and the school’s first North State Conference championship and first postseason appearance.
The Cats, led by a stingy defense, won its first five games and allowed only two touchdowns in those victories. The only blemishes on the season were non-conference losses to Maryville (20-13) and Emory & Henry (27-26) as Western finished unbeaten in conference play.
The team was rewarded by a bid to play in the Smoky Mountain Bowl in Bristol, Va., where the Cats lost to West Liberty State.
Art Byrd, a 165-pound guard, was named to the Associated Press Little All-America Team, Western’s first AllAmerica selection. Linemen Buffalo Humphries and Hugh Constance along with backs Hugh “Pee Wee” Hamilton and Ralph McConnell joined Byrd on the All-North State Conference Team.
• 1974 •
NCAA Division II Playoffs
Coach Bob Waters, who saw a perfect season and a trip to the NAIA playoffs denied by a loss in the final game of the 1969 season, led WCU to its first NCAA postseason appearance the hard way five years later.
The 1974 Catamounts, playing in a sparkling new stadium, lost their season and stadium opener to visiting Murray State and struggled the next two weeks before establishing themselves as one of the nation’s top NCAA Division II teams.
After the season-opening loss, The Cats continued to struggle offensively for the next two weeks but did manage wins over Tennessee Tech (9-7) and Appalachian State (21-14) with outstanding defense. The offense, behind the running of freshman Darrell Lipford and passing of quarterback Jeff Walker to Jerry Gaines and Eagle Moss, found the right gear and the defense continued its great play. In the process, the Catamounts won nine in a row—including victories over top 10 teams Indiana State and Western Kentucky—and won a bid to the NCAA Division II playoffs where they lost a heartbreaker to No. 1 ranked Louisiana Tech, 10-7.
The 1974 Catamounts finished the season ranked No. 8 in the Associated Press College Division poll and their defense established team records that still stand to this day. Most significant was allowing a mere NINE total touchdowns on the season (eight rushing and one passing) and only three over the last six games. WCU held four opponents out of the endzone and intercepted a combined 21 passes.
JERRY GAINES and linebacker STEVE YATES were first-team All-America selections.
• 1983 • NCAA Division I-AA National Finalist
Like the 1974 team, the 1983 Catamounts got off to a slow start by losing its first two games to Clemson and Wake Forest. After the two setbacks, WCU would go through the next 12 Saturdays unbeaten en route to the NCAA Division I-AA championship game – the first by a Southern Conference school.
The winning streak started in the third week of the season when WCU rallied from a 10-point deficit in the closing two minutes to defeat East Tennessee State, 17-16, and ended with a loss to Southern Illinois in the national championship game in Charleston, S.C.
Despite the strong comeback in regular season play that produced an 8-2-1 record and No. 9 national ranking, Waters’ Cats barely made it into the I-AA playoffs. They proved their worthiness the next three weeks with comefrom-behind, heart-stopping wins over Colgate (24-23), Holy Cross (28-21) and Furman (14-7). The win over Furman was particularly pleasing as the teams had tied, 17-17, in the regular season, and allowed the Paladins to win the SoCon title as they had played and won one more league game due to a scheduling quirk. Over 5,000 WCU fans traveled to Greenville, S.C., for the rematch which was aired by CBS-TV.
On the 1983 team, WCU had EIGHT players named AllSoCon with head coach Bob Waters named Coach of the Year. Wide receiver ERIC RASHEED and defensive back TIGER GREENE selected All-America. Seven members of the ‘83 squad went on to play in the NFL and the team set an NCAA record for the most games played (15) in a season.
ART BYRD, a 165-pound two-way guard for the 1949 North State Conference championship team, was Western Carolina’s first All-America selection.
Linebacker STEVE YATES was leader and first team All-American on the 1974 team, which was WCU’s first to reach the NCAA playoffs, doing so at the NCAA Division II level.
The 1983 Catamounts advanced to the NCAA I-AA championship game after its 14-7 upset at Furman. WCU was the first Southern Conference team to play for the national title.
is a proud sponsor of Western Carolina University
ABOUT THE SOUTHERN CONFERENCE
The Southern Conference, which celebrates its 104th year in 2025, is a national leader in emphasizing the development of the studentathlete and in helping to build lifelong leaders and role models.
The Southern Conference has been on the forefront of innovation and originality in developing creative solutions to address issues facing intercollegiate athletics. From establishing the first postseason college basketball tournament (1921), to tackling the issue of freshman eligibility (1922), to developing women’s championships (1984), to becoming the first conference to install the 3-point shot in basketball (1980), the Southern Conference has been a pioneer.
The Southern Conference is the nation’s fifth-oldest NCAA Division I collegiate athletic association. Only the Big Ten (1896), the Missouri Valley (1907), the Pac-12 (1915) and the Southwestern Athletic (1920) conferences are older in terms of origination.
Academic excellence has been a major part of the Southern Conference’s tradition. Hundreds of Southern Conference studentathletes have been recognized on CoSIDA Academic All-America and all-district teams. A total of 20 Rhodes Scholarship winners have been selected from conference institutions, most recently in 2012-13, when former Wofford volleyball player Rachel Woodlee earned the prestigious award.
The conference currently consists of 10 members in six states throughout the Southeast and sponsors 21 varsity sports and championships that produce participants for NCAA Division I Championships.
The Southern Conference offices are located in the historic Beaumont Mill in Spartanburg, South Carolina. A textile mill that was in operation from 1880 until 1999, Beaumont Mill was renovated in 2004 and today offers the league first-class meeting areas and offices as well as a spacious library for storage of the conference’s historical documents.
SOUTHERN CONFERENCE – MEMBERSHIP HISTORY
On Feb. 25, 1921, representatives from 14 of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association’s (SIAA) 30 members met at Atlanta’s Piedmont Hotel to establish the Southern Intercollegiate Conference. On hand at the inaugural meeting were officials from Alabama, Alabama Polytechnic Institute (Auburn), Clemson, Georgia, Georgia School of Technology (Georgia Tech), Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi A&M (Mississippi State), North Carolina, North Carolina State, Tennessee, Virginia, Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Tech) and Washington & Lee.
Dr. S.V. Sanford of Georgia was chosen as acting chairman and N.W. Dougherty of Tennessee was named secretary. The decision to form a new athletic conference was motivated by the desire to have a workable number of conference games for each league member. With 30 schools in the SIAA by the early 1920s, it was impossible to play every school at least once during the regular
GARDNER-WEBB L, 52-45 at Wake Forest L, 42-10 ELON L, 37-31
SAMFORD * W, 50-35 at Campbell W, 42-35 at Wofford * W, 23-21
FURMAN * Oct. 11 – 2:30 pm at The Citadel * Oct. 18 – 2:00 pm at Chattanooga * Nov. 1 – 4:00 pm
MERCER * Nov. 8 – 2:30 pm
ETSU * Nov. 15 – 12 pm
at VMI * Nov. 22 – 12 pm
CURRENT 2025 SOUTHERN CONFERENCE FOOTBALL STANDINGS
season and many schools went several years between playing some conference members. In addition, in 1920, the SIAA voted down proposed rules that an athlete must be in a college a year before playing on its teams and refused to abolish a rule permitting athletes to play summer baseball for money.
Play began in the fall of 1921, and a year later, six more schools joined the fledgling league, including Tulane (which had attended the inaugural meeting but had elected not to join), Florida, LSU, Mississippi, South Carolina and Vanderbilt. VMI joined in 1923 and Duke was added in 1929.
By the 1930s, membership in the Southern Conference had reached 23 schools. C.P. “Sally” Miles of Virginia Tech, president of the Southern Conference, called the annual league meeting to order on Dec. 9, 1932, at the Farragut Hotel in Knoxville, Tenn. There, it announced that 13 institutions west and south of the Appalachian Mountains were reorganizing as the Southeastern Conference. Members of the new league included Alabama, Alabama Polytechnic Institute, Florida, Georgia, Georgia School of Technology, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Mississippi A&M, University of the South, Tennessee, Tulane, and Vanderbilt.
According to the minutes of the meeting, Georgia’s Dr. Sanford stated that the division was made along geographical lines. Florida’s Dr. J.J. Tigert, acting as spokesman for the withdrawing group, regretted the move but believed it was necessary as the Southern Conference had grown too large. The resignations were accepted and the withdrawing schools formed the new league, which began play in 1933.
The SoCon continued with membership of 10 institutions, including Clemson, Duke, Maryland, North Carolina, North Carolina State,
South Carolina, Virginia, VMI, Virginia Tech and Washington & Lee.
The second major shift occurred some 20 years later. By 1952, the Southern Conference included 17 colleges and universities. Another split occurred when seven schools – Clemson, Duke, Maryland, North Carolina, North Carolina State, South Carolina and Wake Forest – departed to form the Atlantic Coast Conference, which began play in 1953. The revamped Southern Conference included members The Citadel, Davidson, Furman, George Washington, Richmond, VMI, Virginia Tech, Washington & Lee, West Virginia and William & Mary.
A third major shift occurred in 2012-13, when five members announced their departures and three schools were added. College of Charleston announced its decision to leave for the Colonial Athletic Association following the 2012-13 season, while Appalachian State (Sun Belt), Davidson (Atlantic 10), Elon (Colonial) and Georgia Southern (Sun Belt) announced they would depart following the 2013-14 campaign. At the Southern Conference’s 2013 spring meetings in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, the league officially extended invitations to former members ETSU and VMI, as well as Mercer, to join the league for the 2014-15 academic year. Today, the league continues to thrive with a membership that includes 10 institutions and a footprint that spans six states: Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Current league members are The Citadel, ETSU, Furman, Mercer, UNCG, Samford, Chattanooga, VMI, Western Carolina and Wofford. In the summer of 2025, the SoCon announced that Tennessee Tech will join as a full member in the summer of 2026, bringing the league's active full-time membership to 11 schools.
#1 NORTH DAKOTA ST L, 38-0 at Samford * W, 40-13 at Gardner-Webb L, 23-13
#25 MERCER * L, 38-0 at Chattanooga * W, 28-10
VALDOSTA STATE Oct. 11 – 2:00 pm
WESTERN CAROLINA * Oct. 18 – 2:00 pm at Furman * Oct. 25 – 2:00 pm
VMI * Nov. 1 – 2:00 pm at Ole Miss Nov. 8 – 1:00 pm
SAMFORD * Nov. 1 – 1:30 pm at VMI * Nov. 8 – 1:30 pm at The Citadel * Nov. 15 – 2:00 pm
CHATTANOOGA * Nov. 22 – 1:30 pm
W . CAROLINA
CHATTANOOGA
E.J. WHITMIRE STADIUM / BOB WATERS FIELD
Construction of E.J. Whitmire Stadium was completed in 1974 at an initial cost of $1.66 million that was granted by the North Carolina General Assembly in 1971. The new facility, located on the southern-most expanse of Western Carolina University's Cullowhee campus, replaced Memorial Stadium and included the construction of the Jordan-Phillips Field House.
Dedicated on October 5, 1974, the Catamounts defeated Morehead State, 31-12, in their second game at the new facility. Murray State won the first-ever game played on the artificial surface at Whitmire Stadium on Sept. 14, 1974. That 1974 team went on to win nine-straight games and qualified for the NCAA Division II playoffs, boasting one of the program's greatest defenses.
Over the years, Western Carolina has posted highlight victories at the facility including wins over nationally-ranked squads such as No. 2 Marshall in 1992; sixth-ranked Appalachian State in 1998 to regain the Old Mountain Jug; and thanks to five interceptions, a win over No. 2 Furman, 41-21, in 2005.
Goal posts have also been removed from the premises on several occasions. Brad Hoover set a stadium and school-record with 49 rushing attempts in 1998 as WCU upset Appalachian State, ending a 13-year losing skid its archrival. In 2004, Western Carolina again reclaimed the Jug, posting a dramatic, 30-27, comefrom-behind win over the Apps, and the goalposts fell once again in what was the program’s 100th victory at Whitmire Stadium.
In 2006, Western Carolina’s defense recorded five interceptions and Darius Fudge rushed for 133 yards on offense to lead the Catamounts to a 41-21 victory over second-ranked Furman, setting the stage for another goalpost celebration.
The stadium has also hosted numerous television games over the years. One of the earliest came in 1978 as ABC showcased the Catamounts and Mountaineers from Cullowhee. Other broadcasts include ESPNU, SportSouth, Comcast/Charter Sports Southeast (CSS-TV) and most recently, the combined efforts of WLOS-TV and WMYA-TV in Asheville, as well as through the Nexstar Network / SoCon Games of the Week airing on The CW62 locally.
Currently with 13,790 seats, the football facility is located on the south end of the WCU campus and is bordered by the picturesque Cullowhee Creek on the west side; Jordan-Phillips Field House and WCU Weight Room on its north end; and the Liston B. Ramsey Regional Activity Center, which in addition to serving as the home venue for men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball also features the Dale and Diane Hollifield Football Locker Room, WCU Football Offices and Team Room as well as the athletic training / sports medicine facilities.
Construction Completed: June, 1974
West Side Stands Completed: August, 2003
Current Seating Capacity: 13,790
Playing Field: Bob Waters Field, Artificial Turf (IRONTURF)
First game: Sept. 14, 1974 vs. Murray State (WCU lost 10-3)
Dedicated: Oct. 5, 1974 vs. Morehead State (WCU won 31-12)
Largest Attendance: 15,247 on Nov. 12, 1994 vs. Appalachian State
BOB WATERS FIELD PLAYING SURFACE / FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS:
Western Carolina first installed AstroTurf on the playing surface in 1974. A similar product material was used in replacing the artificial surface several times. Following the facilities’ silver anniversary in 1999, a newer version of synthetic grass called AstroPlay was installed in 2000 for a cost of $1.2 million and was the surface that adorned Waters Field for the next eight years.
Amidst the 2008 season, the artificial surface was replaced by the Carolina Green Corporation which installed the Desso Challenge Pro 2 turf, a product of the overseas Desso Sports Systems. That surface remained until the summer of 2020 when Waters Field received a new surface. Designed by Woolpert, Inc., of Charlotte and executed by GeoSurfaces Southeast Inc., out of Mooresville, N.C., the group handled the removal and demolition of the old synthetic surface and replacing it with a new turf called “IronTurf” over a shock pad. The 2020 project also included resurfacing the perimeter immediately around the field and the addition of a new synthetic turf sled and practice area referred to as the “Hog Pit.”
In 2002, the creation of a $93,000 Team Room complete with meeting and office space, as well as storage, was completed on the second floor of the Ramsey Center.
Prior to the 2003 season, more facility improvements and upgrades to the stadium were completed. A $3.1 million addition featured a 4,000-seat West Side grandstand seating area that included concessions and restroom facilities as well as new, updated lighting. The weight room in the Jordan-Phillips Field House was expanded, nearly doubling its previous capacity which also added a hospitality patio that overlooks the stadium on the north end zone. It also includes additional team meeting space, computer lab and visiting team locker room. The field house and East Side stands were also bricked to match the brickwork of the Ramsey Center and of the new West Side stands.
Also, on Sept., 16, 2006, the Dale & Diane Hollifield Football Locker Room facility located on the first floor of the Ramsey Center was dedicated. At a cost of $225,000, the 100-plus locker facility was expanded with beautiful, wooden lockers located throughout.
During the off-season prior to the 2010 campaign, a new Daktronics scoreboard with HD video screen were installed in the south end zone – Ramsey Center end – of the facility. It marked the first true video board at the stadium, though the scoreboard
when it was in the northwest corner of the endzone had a digital message board. Nicknamed "PurpleVision" at its inception, the video screen measures 17-feet tall by 32-feet wide and includes a scoreboard with a matching score and time board adhered to the facade of the Jordan-Phillips Field House and controlled through wireless communication.
STADIUM BENEFACTORS AND NAMESAKES:
Western Carolina’s football facilities are named after two prominent figures in Catamount Athletics. The late E.J. WHITMIRE, for whom the stadium is named, spent most of his adult life involved with the University. An educator, contractor, agriculturalist and public servant, Whitmire – from nearby Franklin, N.C. – served WCU for more than a quarter century with the attitude, leadership and “get it done” ability that made him successful in every walk of life.
Whitmire was on the WCU Board of Trustees from 1949-72 and was the driving force behind the University’s unparalleled period of growth. His tireless work served as the cornerstone of the structure that now bears his name. His construction company prepared most of the stadium site gratis. He was granted the Patron Award in the WCU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1993.
In 1988, the playing surface where ROBERT LEE "BOB" WATERS made a name for himself in the coaching and administrative ranks while also putting WCU football in the national spotlight was dedicated in his honor and memory.
Bob Waters served as the University’s head football coach for 20 years and worked in a dual capacity as its athletics director for 15 years. During his tenure, he became the school’s winningest football coach with 116 victories, 13 winning seasons and top 10 national finishes at three different levels – NAIA, NCAA Division II and NCAA Division I-AA, now FCS). He also had the privilege of coaching 13 national All-Americans and 36 All-Southern Conference players.
As athletics director, Waters directed the school’s rise from NAIA to NCAA Division II to NCAA Division I competition and move into the Southern Conference in 1976. He was also instrumental in the planning and constructing of Whitmire Stadium, Childress Field (baseball) and the Ramsey Center.
Waters died on May 29, 1989 following a six-year battle with amyotrophic lateral Sclerosis (ALS), more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. He was posthumously inducted into the WCU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1993.
E.J. WHITMIRE BOB WATERS
Official Football Signals
WESTERN CAROLINA – HONORED FOOTBALL NUMBERS
#14 • KIRK ROACH – (1984-87)
Kirk Roach was Western Carolina’s – and the Southern Conference’s – first, three-time All-America Selection (1984, 1986 and 1987) ... He additionally was the first player in league history to be a fourtime, first team All-SoCon selection (1984-87), an accomplishment which has since been duplicated just three other times ... Continues to rank as Western Carolina’s all-time scoring leader with 302 points ... He connected on 71-of-101 (70.3-percent) field goals in his career and only missed one extra point, making 89-of-90 (98.9-percent) .... Roach also still holds the distinction of being the highest Catamount taken in the NFL draft, selected in the fifth round overall by the Buffalo Bills in 1987 ... Was listed on the 2019 College Football Hall of Fame divisional ballot. Inducted into the WCU Hall of Fame in 1996; his jersey was honored at WCU in 2006 and he was inducted into the Southern Conference Hall of Fame in 2021.
#23 • JERRY GAINES (1970-75)
Jerry Gaines was an Associated Press and American Football Coaches Association All-America selection in 1974 ... Also earned All-America honors in baseball and track & field while at WCU ... He set Western Carolina records with 3,449 career receiving yards, a average of 20.6 yards per reception for his career and finished 15 games with over 100 receiving yards ... Only the second Western Carolina University football player to have his jersey retired.
Inducted into the Western Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame in 1990.
HISTORY OF THE VICTORY BELL
#41 • BRAD HOOVER (1996-99)
Brad Hoover starred at tailback for the Catamounts from 1996 through 1999 before playing 10 seasons for the Carolina Panthers in the National Football League. Affectionally known as "Hoov," Hoover ranks third in Western Carolina football history with 3,616 career rushing yards, trailing just secondplace Detrez Newsome (3,728 yards from 2014-17) and all-time leader Darrell Lipford, (4,089 yards from 1974-77). His career tally includes a WCU single-season record of 1,663 rushing yards in 1998 which came on a single-season best 331 carries. Hoover's 708 career rushes additionally rank him third in program history, finishing fourth with a 5.10 career rushing average and tied for eighth with 23 scores on the ground. During his recordsetting 1998 season, Hoover keyed an upset of archrival Appalachian State by rushing for 195 yards on a school single-game record 49 carries. WCU upended the second-ranked Mountaineers 23-6 in Cullowhee, returning the "Old Mountain Jug" to Cullowhee. Hoover was a 2008 inductee into Western Carolina's Athletics Hall of Fame and a two-time All-SoCon selection at running back.
#54 • ART BYRD (1946-49)
Art Byrd was the first football All-America selection at Western Carolina, playing guard on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball ... Helped the Catamounts to an 8-2 regular-season mark in 1949 and their first North State Conference title ... That team additionally holds the distinction of being WCU’s first team to earn a postseason bid, playing in the Smoky Mountain Bowl (Bristol, Va.) ... Art Byrd was the first Western Carolina University student-athlete to have a jersey and a number retired. Inducted into the Western Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame in 1990.
Western Carolina continues a tradition resumed in 2009, returning the “Victory Bell” – a mounted, transportable bell that rings the football team’s arrival for pre-game and also accompanies the “Pride of the Mountains” Marching Band and the Catamount Cheerleaders in their pregame parades to E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field.
Whereas the bell is a relatively new tradition, it is actually the re-birth of an old tradition on the WCU campus as is noted on the plaque which adorns the Alumni Bell Tower, the centerpiece in the quad. The tower houses the original “Victory Bell,” which hung in the old Madison Hall from 1904 until 1938 and was run to signal class periods. After the building was torn down, the bell was mounted on a stone base between the Moore and former Joyner Building – which was destroyed by fire – and was rung in celebration of Catamount athletic victories.
The bell was later moved closer to the Old Student Union building before making its last active move in the late 1960s to the lawn of the Hinds University Center.
The bell and its traveling apparatus were designed and constructed by Mr. Ron Bumgarner, an assistant professor of engineering technology at Western Carolina, and several students in his class. 54 41 14 23
65TH NFF ANNUAL AWARDS DINNER PRESENTED BY LAS VEGASHeld on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, at the ARIA Resort & Casino is “THE place to connect for the college community.” Hosts the induction of the College Football Hall of Fame Class, the recognition of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class presented by Fidelity Investments, and the announcement of the William V. Campbell Trophy® recipient.
NFF COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME - Inducting the greatest players and coaches in the history of college football.
NFF WILLIAM V. CAMPBELL TROPHY® AND NATIONAL SCHOLARATHLETE AWARDS - Awarding the William V. Campbell Trophy® to college football’s top scholar-athlete. Honoring the NFF National ScholarAthlete Class presented by Fidelity Investments. Bestowing postgraduate scholarships. Recognizing Faculty Athletics Representatives.
NFF FUTURE FOR FOOTBALL - Celebrating the positive impact the game has made on millions of players, coaches, administrators, volunteers and fans nationwide.
NFF CHAPTER NETWORK - Distributing $1 million in scholarships annually and holding local events to promote amateur football through 120 chapters in 47 states.
NFF NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARDS AND HATCHELL CUP - Recognizing the nation’s top high school football programs for their efforts in the classroom, on the field and in the community via the National High School Academic Excellence Awards, presented by Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation, and the Hatchell Cup, presented by “The Original” Bob’s Steak & Chop House, which is awarded to the best team in the nation.
