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Post by The Cats on Nov 13, 2023 22:32:10 GMT -5
In the final conference game of the regular season, the Cats travel to Lexington, Va to face the Keydets of VMI. This is a critical game for the Cats, a win will pretty much lock an at-large bid for the Cats, and a dominating win, will seal the deal. VMI is 4-6 overall, and 3-4 in the SoCon, with wins over Wofford, the Citadel, and ETSU. The Keydets have lost 3 of their last 4 games, and come into this game off a loss to Furman. Thoughts?
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Post by wcugrad95 on Nov 13, 2023 23:10:26 GMT -5
I think VMI has been getting maybe too much credit for their close loss to UTC. Most signs point to that being a trap weekend where both the Mocs and Furman were probably looking ahead at their matchup (Furman looked very bad against ETSU that same weekend). VMI has close wins over ETSU, Wofford, and Citadel (all 1-score games) and actually trailed ETSU 24-14 at the end of the 3rd quarter. They also have a really bad early-season loss to Bucknell and a very close win over Davidson.
But VMI is always scrappy, and they are especially tough guys to shake in Lexington. We are a better football team but we need to start fast and we need to take care of the football - turnovers and stupid penalties have cost us, and the longer you let a team like the Keydets hang around the more dangerous they get. They have only played 1 close game against the top-half of the conference (losses by 13, 35, and 34 to Samford, Mercer, and Furman) and Western should be extremely motivated for this game. We have beaten them pretty soundly in Coach Bell’s first 2 tries, so I am hoping for more of the same.
A game we simply need to come out and take control like this last Saturday. Do that and win big. Play uninspired and sloppy and lookout for another Wofford-type indigestion game.
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Post by wcu77 on Nov 14, 2023 5:45:15 GMT -5
I think VMI has been getting maybe too much credit for their close loss to UTC. Most signs point to that being a trap weekend where both the Mocs and Furman were probably looking ahead at their matchup (Furman looked very bad against ETSU that same weekend). VMI has close wins over ETSU, Wofford, and Citadel (all 1-score games) and actually trailed ETSU 24-14 at the end of the 3rd quarter. They also have a really bad early-season loss to Bucknell and a very close win over Davidson. But VMI is always scrappy, and they are especially tough guys to shake in Lexington. We are a better football team but we need to start fast and we need to take care of the football - turnovers and stupid penalties have cost us, and the longer you let a team like the Keydets hang around the more dangerous they get. They have only played 1 close game against the top-half of the conference (losses by 13, 35, and 34 to Samford, Mercer, and Furman) and Western should be extremely motivated for this game. We have beaten them pretty soundly in Coach Bell’s first 2 tries, so I am hoping for more of the same. A game we simply need to come out and take control like this last Saturday. Do that and win big. Play uninspired and sloppy and lookout for another Wofford-type indigestion game. Absolutely a game we must take control of early and not let them stay around. It has beeen fun speculating about playoffs and that is to be expected, but let's go out and take care of our business and win this game convincingly and leave no doubt that we belong in the post season.
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Post by mtncat1 on Nov 14, 2023 11:19:16 GMT -5
Agree. Just win and let the chips fall where they may. VMI is good, well-disciplined. Like others have said, if WCU gets sloppy in any aspect of the game, then VMI will absolutely pounce on that and will make us pay. WCU absolutely can't afford bone headed penalties and can't afford to give up the ball due to turnovers. VMI is definitely good enough of a team to where if WCU doesn't play disciplined ball, they will hang in there and beat us.
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Post by mtncat1 on Nov 14, 2023 18:44:50 GMT -5
I have a question for those of you who have been close to the operations side of the football team. Since VMI is one of, if not the longest, trips for the team -and- it's a noon game; will the team be able to go up on Friday then come back Saturday? If not, that makes for a really long day for the team on Saturday.
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Post by retiredcat on Nov 14, 2023 19:20:29 GMT -5
The Catamounts will leave Cullowhee Friday morning...either stop and eat about halfway or box lunches will be provided...arrive at VMI in Lexington (a neat college town with two colleges - VMI and Washington & Lee) mid-afternoon for a light practice then spend the evening at a hotel near the campus. They will have an early breakfast and kickoff at 12:00 noon. Return to Cullowhee immediately after the game. It is a six-hour drive and maybe seven hours for the team busses because of eating and rest stops. I've made that trip for about 40 football and basketball games and it is a grind. We used to combine VMI and Marshall basketball games...playing one on Saturday and the other on Monday.If you have never been to a football game at VMI, it is worth the drive as there is a ton of history in Lexington and the game pageantry is special.
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Post by mtncat1 on Nov 14, 2023 20:08:41 GMT -5
OK, well that's good. I figured you'd have the info on that. I was glad to be able to see you last weekend. Always have had the utmost respect for you. Thank you for all the years of service you've given to WCU and the fans/alumni.
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Post by freecat525 on Nov 15, 2023 15:00:32 GMT -5
Any restaurants/ bars in Sylva or Cullowhee carrying the WCU/VMI game Saturday? It would be great to watch the football game at 12 and then make it to the men's BB game at 4.
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Post by Admin on Nov 15, 2023 15:19:38 GMT -5
Any restaurants/ bars in Sylva or Cullowhee carrying the WCU/VMI game Saturday? It would be great to watch the football game at 12 and then make it to the men's BB game at 4. I would imagine that the new Rodgers Bros. restaurant on the old Cullowhee Road will have a watch party, they have had several so far...
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Post by The Cats on Nov 15, 2023 18:19:49 GMT -5
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