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Post by The Cats on Jul 8, 2019 17:20:20 GMT -5
 Throughout this preseason, Purple & Gold will preview all of Western Carolina's 2019 football opponents. In the Catamounts' opening game of the 2019 season, SoCon football foe Mercer visits Cullowhee. This is also the first S outhern Conference contest, of the season. Western faces the Bears for just the sixth time since Mercer joined the Southern Conference. When: Saturday, August 31 at 6:00 pm Where: E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field, Cullowhee, NC Radio: Catamount Sports Network TV/video: ESPN3 or ESPN+ (TBA) The Series: In only the 6th meeting between the two teams, the Cats own a 2-3 record against the Bears, having dropped the last three games played. The Bears come to Cullowhee riding a 3 game win streak against the Cats but are 1-1 in games played in Whitmire Stadium Games that will be played by the Bears this season prior to the WCU contest: 0 - This is the opening game for both teams. Last Season's Game vs. Mercer (October 20, 2018) - Tyrie Adams Posts Career Day In Road Loss at Mercer Macon, Ga. – Tyrie Adams amassed a school-record 545 yards of total offense including 360 yards through the air and a career-high 185 yards rushing on Saturday afternoon in a tough road loss as Western Carolina fell to the Mercer Bears, 59-46, at Five Star Stadium. Adams accounted for four touchdowns – two rushing and a pair of passing TDs – as the Catamounts piled up 710 yards of total offense, finishing one yard shy of the school record set by the Hall of Fame 1969 football team (711 yards vs. Emory & Henry). Along the way, the St. Petersburg, Fla., native moved into second-place in WCU’s career record books with 6,347 career passing yards while closing to within one TD pass of former mentor Troy Mitchell (50, 2012-15) for the program’s career passing touchdown record now with 49 career scores through the air. Last Season's Record (Mercer): 5-6 overall, 2-3 home, 3-3 away, 4-4 SoCon Head Coach: Bobby Lamb - At School: 7th year (37-31 record), Overall: 16th year (104-71). Lamb enters his eighth season as head coach of Mercer football. Named the 19th head football coach in program history in 2011, he led the Bears to immediate success, claiming the third 10-win season of his career and setting the NCAA Division I record for wins by a first-year program with a 10-2 campaign. The 2013 win total also set a school record for victories, surpassing the previous mark of seven wins by Lake Russell’s 1931 and 1932 squads. For his efforts, he finished third in the PFL Coach of the Year voting and ranked among the top 11 finalists for FCS National Coach of the Year. Offensive Formation: Spread - 2018 offense: 30.6 ppg. (34th in FCS) Defensive Formation: 3-4 - 2018 defense: 32.5 ppg. (85th in FCS) Starters Returning/Lost: 15 / 12 Offensive starters - Returning/Lost: 8 / 3 Defensive starters - Returning/Lost: 6 / 5 Specialist - Returning/Lost: 1 / 4 Lost from the two-deep roster: 13 Last season's weakness for the Bears, like for the Cats, was on the defensive side of the ball. With five starters to replace from the season finale with Furman, the Bears also have big holes to fill on the defensive side of the ball. Along with a potentially weaker defense, the Bears may struggle on special teams with the loss of Cole Fisher (KO & PK), Matt Shiel (punter), Marquise Irwin (PR) and Steve Nixon (LS). This season for the Bears may well turn on the matter can their rebuilding defense slow the high powered offensives of WCU, Furman, Wofford, and Sanford. 2018 Mercer Statistics:
Rushing Offense: 1847 yards Yards per game: 146.7 Yards per rush: 4.5 yards Rushing 1st downs: 74 TDs rushing: 19 Passing Offense: 2541 yards or 231 yards per game Avg. per pass: 7.8 yards Passing 1st downs: 118 Passing Comp-Att-Int: 326-178-8 TDs Passing: 22 Total Offense: 4155 yards or 377.7 yards per game Fumbles-Lost: 16-7 3d Down Conversions: 35.9% 4th Down Conversions: 80% Field goal attempts: 12 - 16 On-side kicks: 0-0 Red Zone Scores: 35 of 38 Red Zone Touchdowns: 25 of 38 Game prediction: Per the Massey Ratings, the Cats have only a 37% probability of winning (33-38) over the Bears. I'm going to disagree, the Cats open the season with a home win (49-35) over the Bears to even the overall series record to 3-3. |
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Post by wcatradio75 on Jul 8, 2019 21:11:24 GMT -5
I like your optimism. We will need some surprises and growth from some young players, but I believe we have the talent to snap back to a winning season.
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Post by The Cats on Jul 8, 2019 21:30:47 GMT -5
I like your optimism. We will need some surprises and growth from some young players, but I believe we have the talent to snap back to a winning season. I think our offense will be as good or better than last season, and the defense should be improved. I also think their defense may be weaker than last year, and they'll have some special team problems. Also, we play the game in Cullowhee. All that combines for a Catamount win. |
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Post by wcugamer2 on Jul 10, 2019 11:52:57 GMT -5
With the loss of so many senior offensive linemen, i'm going to be interested to see if the offense can sustain the success they've had over the past few years.
I'm also interested to see if there is much of a change in play calling, due to new co-offensive coordinators.
Lastly, the defense can only get better from last year. with all the youth having a full year of experience, we can only go up
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Post by wcugrad95 on Jul 11, 2019 2:32:45 GMT -5
Mercer is pretty loaded on Offense (returning a very good QB who was lighting it up as a FR before his injury, a good RB, some good WRs, etc.), so even if the Defense is improved I expect we better have some Offensive power and I expect another shoot-out with the Bears.
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Post by The Cats on Jul 12, 2019 16:31:03 GMT -5
 ![]() ![]()  ![]() Throughout this preseason, Purple & Gold will preview all of Western Carolina's 2019 football opponents. In the Catamounts' second game of the 2019 season, the Cats travel to Raleigh, NC to meet ACC foe North Carolina State WolfpackWhen: Saturday, September 7th at 12:30 pm Where: Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC Surface: Natural Grass / Capacity: 57,600 Radio: Catamount Sports Network TV/video: Fox Sports South The Series: In the 7th meeting between the two teams, the Cats own a 0-6 record against the Wolfpack. All six games were played in Raleigh, NC Games that will be played by the Wolfpack this season prior to the WCU contest: 1 game - This is the 2d game of the young season for both WCU and NC State, as the Wolfpack will host the ECU Pirates on August 31. Last Game vs. NC State (September 4, 2010) - NC State downs Catamounts in Season Opener, 48-7 Raleigh, N.C. - Redshirt junior QB Zack Jaynes led the Catamounts on a 10-play, 87-yard opening scoring drive to give Western Carolina an early 7-0 advantage, but a North Carolina State aerial assault led by quarterback Russell Wilson overwhelmed the Catamounts, handing WCU a 48-7 setback at Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday night in front of an announced crowd of 56,417. "It was a disappointing game for us tonight. I thought defensively we played very poorly, missed a lot of assignments. With a veteran group, especially at the safety position, we made way too many mistakes and we just couldn't get off the field," said WCU third-year head coach Dennis Wagner during post-game interviews. "On offense, you know you put together a great drive and we did some good things in the first quarter. But we got a little proud of ourselves and didn't perform as well as we needed to from that point on. "We still have a lot of work to do. There are still 10 games left and we will be a lot better next week, I guarantee you," Wagner concluded. Last Season's Record (2018 - NC State): 9-4 overall, 6-1 home, 3-2 away, 5-3 ACC (wins over James Madison, Georgia St., Marshall, Virginia, Boston College, Florida St,, Louisville, UNC) Head Coach: Dave Doeren - Dave Doeren says that his main goal as a head coach is to make sure that the young men who play for him at NC State are well prepared to chase two dreams: life with football and life without football. As he approaches his seventh season leading the Wolfpack program, the numbers show that he is accomplishing that goal. In 2018, a school-record seven players were drafted by the NFL - the highest total in the ACC and the second-highest total nationally. With six members of last year’s team invited to the 2019 NFL Combine, those numbers should be high again in this year’s draft. And Doeren’s players aren’t just prepared for the NFL. By the time the Wolfpack took the field for the 2018 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, 15 of the 18 members of last year’s senior class, plus six juniors, had already earned their NC State degrees. During his tenure, 167 members of his team have graduated and NC State’s graduation success rate for football is at an all-time high (74%) and has risen each of the past four years. Offensive Formation: Spread Defensive Formation: Multiple Starters Returning/Lost: 12 / 12 Offensive starters - Returning/Lost: 4 / 7 Defensive starters - Returning/Lost: 7 / 4 Letter winners lost: 21 The Wolfpack, like the Catamounts, relied on their explosive offenses last season. Quarterback Ryan Finley and receivers Kelvin Harmon & Jakobi Meyers were the big reasons the Wolfpack went 9–4 in 2018. However, in 2019, the Wolfpack will have new co-offensive coordinators, a new quarterback, new primary running back, new starting receivers and three new starters on the offensive line. Matthew McKay, a sophomore, finished spring with the inside track for the starting QB job. However, he attempted only eight passes last season, but he ran 13 times for 36 yards and a touchdown in five games. Whoever the starting QB turns out to be, he will have plenty of capable receivers, like junior Emeka Emezie who caught 53 passes for 616 yards with five touchdowns last season and sophomore Thayer Thomas in the slot after a strong freshman campaign last year with 34 catches. The Wolfpack will have to fill three positions on the O-line On defense, State returns eight defensive starters, of which, five are in the secondary. Senior end James Smith-Williams tied for the team lead with six sacks and will be relied on to lead the front four. In 2018, the Wolfpack ranked No. 108 in the country in pass defense. With their new group of pass rushers, the Pack struggled to pressure the quarterback, and the secondary couldn’t hold up in 2018. After losing 13 players to the NFL Draft over the last two-year period, NC State is in a rebuilding year. 2018 Wolfpack Statistics:
Rushing Offense: 1858 yards Yards per game: 142.9 Yards per rush: 3.8 yards Rushing 1st downs: 100 TDs rushing: 27 Passing Offense: 4071 yards or 313 yards per game Avg. per pass: 12.2 yards Passing 1st downs: 185 Passing Comp-Att-Int: 334-496-11 TDs Passing: 25 Total Offense: 5929 yards or 456.1 yards per game Fumbles-Lost: 16-7 3d Down Conversions: 87 - 184 (47%) 4th Down Conversions: 10-17 (59%) Field goal attempts: 23 - 26 On-side kicks: 0-1 Red Zone Scores: 62 of 71 (87%) Red Zone Touchdowns: 43 of 71 (61%) PAT: 51 - 51 Game prediction: Per the Massey Ratings, the Cats have only a 0% probability of winning (13-54) over the Wolfpack. I'm going to agree that the Wolfpack will outlast the Cats and win, but in a much closer match up. Cats drop one 28-42. Cats record after game two: 1-1 |
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Post by The Cats on Jul 15, 2019 15:40:47 GMT -5
 Throughout this preseason, Purple & Gold will preview all of Western Carolina's 2019 football opponents. In the Catamounts' third game of the 2019 season, the Cats return home to host the North Greenville University Crusaders in Cullowhee and Whitmire Stadium. Western faces the Crusaders for the first time on the gridiron.: Saturday, September 14th at 3:30 pm Where: E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field, Cullowhee, NC Radio: Catamount Sports Network TV/video: ESPN+ or ESPN# The Series: This is the first meeting between the two schools on the gridiron. Conference: Gulf South Conference (GSC) - NCAA Div. II Location: Tigerville, SC Undergraduates: 2,260 Games that will be played by the Crusaders this season prior to the WCU contest: 1 game - This is the 2d game of the young season for NGU as the Crusaders open the season at home against Newberry College on September 5th. Last Season's Record (2018 - NGU): 4-6 overall, 2-2 home, 2-4 away, 3-4 GCC (wins over Tusculum, Delta State, West Alabama, Shorter) (2019 is the second season in the GSC) Head Coach: Jeff Farrington, who played high school football in Greer, SC, and coached for nine years at Furman University, enters his sixth season as head coach of the North Greenville University football program, leading the team to a Victory Bowl Championship in 2014, a 7-3 record in 2015, and a Quarterfinals appearance in 2016 with a 9-5 record. The Crusader mentor comes from the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia where he was the Keydets’ defensive coordinator. Prior to his stint at VMI, Farrington spent a year at Mercer University in Georgia under Bobby Lamb helping to initiate the Bears’ Division I FCS program which begins play in the fall of 2013. Farrington was a defensive assistant coach for Lamb at Furman from 2002-2010 and was the Paladins’ defensive coordinator in 2010. ------------------- The Crusaders lost 13 seniors off their 2018 team, including 4 year QB starter, Will Hunter, as well as, all-conference Wide Receiver Demajiay Rooks and all-conference defensive lineman, Seth Laughter. The Crusaders are implementing a new offense for the second time in as many seasons as Brad Robbins took over the offensive coordinating duties in the offseason. One of the positions that took the biggest hit is the offensive line. Following the 2018 season, the front five lost three starters including left tackle Caleb Harris, right tackle Cam Stepp, and guard Guage Murphy. The battle for these positions look to be wide open. While NGU lost their longtime QB, they did sign a former 4 star QB transfer during the early signing period in Logan Byrd, of Warner Robins, Georgia. Byrd, a 6-3, 230-pound signal caller was ranked the number 15 pro-style quarterback coming out of high school in 2016 and originally signed with the University of North Carolina. Byrd threw for 3,902 yards and 27 touchdowns and rushed for another 930 yards and 15 scores while at Veterans High School. However, Byrd is not a shoo-in for the job, the decision will not be an easy one, as Byrd was taking second-team reps at times during the spring, as he learns from program veteran Donnie Baker. Baker has backed up Will Hunter for the previous three seasons and looks to take the next step. On special teams, Justin Gravely looked consistent during the spring after battling nagging injuries in 2018. Gravely holds several kicking records for NGU and should be the team’s starting placekicker n and could also take over the punting duties after the departure of Bobby Foos. 2018 Crusaders Statistics: Rushing Offense: 826 yards Yards per game: 82.6 Yards per rush: 2.4 yards Rushing 1st downs: 50 TDs rushing: 7 Passing Offense: 2486 yards or 82.6 yards per game Avg. per pass: 7.1 yards Passing 1st downs: 103 Passing Comp-Att-Int: 198-350-16 TDs Passing: 17 Total Offense: 3312 yards or 331.2 yards per game Fumbles-Lost: 16-9 3d Down Conversions: 54 - 154 4th Down Conversions: 8 -14 Red zone scores: 22 - 32 (69%) Res zone TDs: 16 - 32 (50%) Game prediction: Per the Massey Ratings, the Cats have only a 90% probability of winning (42-21) over the Crusaders. I'm going to agree, the Cats and win and WCU's record after game three: 2-1 |
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Post by The Cats on Jul 19, 2019 12:10:20 GMT -5
 Throughout this preseason, Purple & Gold will preview all of Western Carolina's 2019 football opponents. In the Catamounts' fourth game of the 2019 season, the Cats re-enter SoCon action when they travel to Chattanooga, TN to play the University of Tennessee Chattanooga Mocs. Western faces the Mocs for the 46th time on the gridiron, since 1973. Game #4 - UT Chattanooga Mocs
When: Saturday, September 28th at 4:00 pm Where: Finley Stadium, Chattanooga, TN Radio: Catamount Sports Network TV/video: ESPN3 or ESPN+ The Series: In the 46th meeting between the two teams, the Cats own a 17-28 record against the Mocs. The last time the Cats made a visit to the city of Chattanooga, they came away with a 45-7 win. Last Game vs. Chattanooga (October 13, 2018) - Catamount Football dropped by Chattanooga 26-6. Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina’s potent offensive attack was held in check by Chattanooga’s stingy defense on Saturday afternoon as the Catamounts were never able to find a rhythm in dropping their first home game of the year at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field, 26-6, to the Mocs in Southern Conference action. Chattanooga QB Nick Tiano completed 22 of 28 passes for 204 yards and two first-half touchdowns – both to WR Joseph Parker – as UTC (5-2, 3-2 SoCon) snapped its two-game seasonal slide while relegating WCU to its third-straight defeat on the year. The Mocs amassed 348 yards of total offense including 204 passing and 144 through the air while chewing-up nearly 38 minutes of game clock in scoring their fifth-straight road victory in the head-to-head series. Last Season's Record (2018 - UTC): 6-5 overall, 3-2 home, 3-3 away, 4-4 SoCon (wins over Tenn. Tech, the Citadel, UT Martin, WCU, VMI) - While the Mocs started the season strong in 2018 with 4 straight wins, the Mocs closed out the season losing 5 of their last 7 games including 3 straight losses to end the season. Games that will be played by the Mocs this season prior to the WCU contest: 4 games - This is the 4d game of the young season for WCU, but the 5th for Chattanooga. UTC plays Eastern Illinois, Jacksonville State, Tennessee, and James Madison prior to the Western Carolina game. The 2019 Mocs overall schedule is projected to be the 2d toughest in the FCS, the Cats schedule comes in ranked 11th toughest in the FCS. Head Coach: Rusty Wright - Rusty Wright is in his first year as head coach of the Mocs football program. He was officially introduced on Friday, Dec. 21, 2018. A 22-year veteran of the collegiate coaching ranks, Wright is a 1996 graduate of UTC with a degree in Sports Administration. He was a four-year letter winner for the Mocs football team and had two stints as an assistant coach at UTC. “I am extremely excited to announce Rusty Wright as the next head coach of Chattanooga Football,” stated UTC Director of Athletics Mark Wharton. “Once again, our program, University and community attracted an outstanding candidate pool.” Offensive Formation: Spread -2018 Offense: 21.5 ppg. (98th in FCS) Defensive Formation: Multiple - 2018 Defense: 21.0 ppg. (14th in FCS)
Starters Returning/Lost: 17 /
Offensive starters - Returning/Lost: 9 / 2
Defensive starters - Returning/Lost: 6 / 5
Special Teams - Returning/Lost: 2 / 3
While the Mocs strength of schedule is projected at #2 in the FCS, the Mocs are also projected in the FCS Top 25 for 2019 by HEROSports.com (No. 19).
The Mocs do return 17 starters from the 2018 season (9 on offense),but brand new head coach Rusty Wright is the 3d head coach in Chattanooga in the last 4 seasons.
A new HC in Charleston, combined with an entirely new staff (new offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, new defensive line coach, new safeties coach, new tight end coach, new offensive line coach, new receivers coach, new running backs coach, new special teams coordinator, and linebacker coaches) could cause problems for both the defensive and offensive units until the players adjust to a totally new staff and new offensive and defensive formations.
The good news for the Mocs on offense is all five starting linemen and the tight end are back, as is both starting RB Tyrell Price and quarterback Nick Tiano. Taiano is considered one of the top signal-callers returning in the SoCon. The Mocs offensive unit scored 21.5 ppg (9th in the SoCon & 98th in FCS), so lots of improvement is needed in offensive production, especially, the rushing yardage. The Mocs only produced 98 yards per game in 2018.
On defense, senior linebacker Marshall Cooper is the anchored, leading the team in tackles last season with 98, good enough to land him on the Southern Conference All-Second Team. The Mocs’ secondary returns experience in junior defensive backs Brandon Dowdell and Jerrell Lawson. In 2018, Dowdell three interceptions and 40 tackles while tallied 53 tackles, 4.5 of which were for loss.
2018 Mocs Statistics:
Rushing Offense: 1082 yards on 323 attempts
Yards per game: 98
Yards per rush: 3.3 yards
Rushing 1st downs: 62
TDs rushing: 11
Passing Offense: 2712 yards or 247 yards per game
Avg. per pass: 11.6 yards
Passing 1st downs: 110
Passing Comp-Att-Int: 234-379-6
TDs Passing: 16
Total Offense: 3794 yards or 344.9 yards per game
Fumbles-Lost: 14-8
3d Down Conversions: 58 - 149 (39%)
4th Down Conversions: 7 - 16 (44%)
Field goal attempts:13 - 21
On-side kicks: 0-1
Red Zone Scores: 30 of 36 (83%)
Red Zone Touchdowns: 19 of 36 (53%)
PAT: 25 - 27 (93%)
Game prediction: Per the Massey Ratings, the Cats have only a 27% probability of winning (23-31) over the Mocs.
I'm going to disagree with that, as I see the Mocs coming into the game with a 1-3 record, and on a three game losing streak. Cats win 35 - 21 over UTC and leave Chattanooga with a 3-1 overall all record.
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Post by wcatradio75 on Jul 22, 2019 7:47:29 GMT -5
UTC is game #4 if I can use my fingers to count... B^)
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Post by The Cats on Jul 22, 2019 11:48:46 GMT -5
UTC is game #4 if I can use my fingers to count... B^) yes you are correct and I noted that in three different places in the article: "In the Catamounts' fourth game of the 2019 season," "This is the 4d game of the young season for WCU," (yes it should have been 4th rather than 4d) "and leave Chattanooga with a 3-1 overall all record." ....But thanks for your interest in the article, and I'm glad you have at least 4 fingers to count on. |
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