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Post by catamountalum04 on Nov 19, 2023 8:51:44 GMT -5
As i sit here looking at the latest predictions for later today and WCU is not in them, as expected, I am left with sadness because even though the team reached 7 wins they underachieved in my eyes. They are a playoff team. They should have beat Mercer and VMI. I think the argument of well based on the past we should be happy with back to back winning seasons. I am past that point. As a fanbase we have to want to be a every year playoff team/Socon winner and once we get to that point push to advance far into the playoffs, etc. I think as a fanbase we have moved past the "be happy we had a winning season" phase. Maybe it is the disappointment speaking but i am not satisfied with well at least we had a winning season. I know alot of you all have followed WCU football alot longer than i have but I expect winning seasons and I am in the mindset of I want multiple SoCon championships. At tailgates I saw former players and alumni coming back to Cullowhee in a long time if not forever. I heard people say I have been waiting for this for a long time and I am excited to see them win and compete for championships. The fanbase has been thirsty for a winner in Cullowhee. Good things will happen if we can compete on a regular basis for SoCon championships.
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Post by wcugrad95 on Nov 19, 2023 9:17:14 GMT -5
Speaking only for myself, but I am trying to have some relative expectations. I doubt anybody is happy with how the season ended - we all saw the potential for this team when we were 5-1 and ranked in the top-10. So I agree as a fan base we now want to see us reach that potential. At the same time, I am also happy we are not in the cellar of the conference and that we now seem to have the talent to legitimately contend for 8+ wins, playoff spots, and SOCON championships on a regular basis.
So we are all disappointed in yesterday and the 2-3 finish to the season. But I am still a glass is half full (I think it is more full than that) on what this team can be the next couple of years with what Coach Bell has been trying to build. If we are routinely having winning seasons we won’t be happy because all fans want more. But I’ll be a lot happier than I have been for most of the past 40 years.
And isn’t that the official WCU football mantra - just wait until next year?!?!? Kind of kidding, but I actually mean it with what we hopefully have coming back 😀
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Post by wcu77 on Nov 19, 2023 10:27:06 GMT -5
As i sit here looking at the latest predictions for later today and WCU is not in them, as expected, I am left with sadness because even though the team reached 7 wins they underachieved in my eyes. They are a playoff team. They should have beat Mercer and VMI. I think the argument of well based on the past we should be happy with back to back winning seasons. I am past that point. As a fanbase we have to want to be a every year playoff team/Socon winner and once we get to that point push to advance far into the playoffs, etc. I think as a fanbase we have moved past the "be happy we had a winning season" phase. Maybe it is the disappointment speaking but i am not satisfied with well at least we had a winning season. I know alot of you all have followed WCU football alot longer than i have but I expect winning seasons and I am in the mindset of I want multiple SoCon championships. At tailgates I saw former players and alumni coming back to Cullowhee in a long time if not forever. I heard people say I have been waiting for this for a long time and I am excited to see them win and compete for championships. The fanbase has been thirsty for a winner in Cullowhee. Good things will happen if we can compete on a regular basis for SoCon championships. I feel very much he same way that you do. I am trying to be happy for the winning season but I too feel like they underachieved this year and the way they played the last half of the season is not understandable. I am tired of the argument that we should be happy that "well, we had a winning season". We must have the attitude that a winning season is just not enough. I'm glad that we did, of course, but we also have to expect winning along with playoff appearances and winning/contending for conference championships. We have showed obvious signs of improvement under Bell and hopefully the future is bright, but this appeared to be our year to really take advantage and reach the playoffs, even if we went out early. We must take advantage of opportunities like this year because who knows what happens next year.
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Post by 83wasagreatyr on Nov 19, 2023 10:45:16 GMT -5
It has taken me a restless night’s sleep to think more about this game. I was there along with many fans. Some very emotional. We have a great fan base but very frustrated at times. All in all, a nice turnout and very spirited. But it has been 40 years…
The dropped pass from Cole to CJ set the tone for me. Soon after, Cole’s injury. Brody came in cold. The kid has guts and gives great effort. I felt bad for him. He was under constant pressure and was chewed out by coaches for not looking down field and throwing the ball. “Throw the damn ball downfield, they are open!!!” He played as well as expected. What a competitor. In my opinion, he is just not ready to be an FCS quarterback at this level and with our focus on the passing game. Hopefully he and the coaches will learn from this experience.
Alex was very nervous. He paced the sideline end zone to end zone the entire game. I felt bad for him too.
But the worst part for me and the one person I felt the worst for was Cole. Down to his under shirt and in a sling, he walked up to coach Bell and put his head on Bell’s shoulder for what looked like an eternity. He said something to coach, and Kerwin said something back. He raised up off his shoulder and walked away with his head up. It was like a son looking for support for letting his father down. To me, that defined this game, the season, and our future. That was a very emotional moment for me, and I am sure both Cole and Kerwin too. Hard to imagine the “tough guy” image Kerwin displays provided comfort and reassurance to Cole. And Cole’s decision to “apologize” for getting hurt was telling. That shows me the closeness of this team. Really hard for me to describe this event in words. I feel bad for all players, coaches, parents, alumni, and students.
The injuries in this game, and all season long, were a big factor. With anxiety, looking forward to the off-season and what happens next.
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Post by bobfolsom on Nov 19, 2023 11:08:13 GMT -5
I missed the first part of the game, and when I turned it on Cole was in a sling and Christian Coulter was not playing. How badly were they hurt, and will they have to have surgery. Cole is our future at WCU as our quarterback and Christian has a chance to play on Sunday.
In Closing: Kerwin and his staff need to have a GREAT recruiting season, and our injured like Cole, OL Carter Branson, Desmond to be able to come back at a 100% and I project the playoffs in 2024.
Congrats to our men's basketball going 4 wins and no losses. I hope the Cat's Cage is packed and we average over 3000 fans per home game this year, and we are regular season and tournament champs in 2024.
GO CATS!!!!!!!!!!!
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Post by Speedwell Cat on Nov 19, 2023 11:36:42 GMT -5
It has taken me a restless night’s sleep to think more about this game. I was there along with many fans. Some very emotional. We have a great fan base but very frustrated at times. All in all, a nice turnout and very spirited. But it has been 40 years… The dropped pass from Cole to CJ set the tone for me. Soon after, Cole’s injury. Brody came in cold. The kid has guts and gives great effort. I felt bad for him. He was under constant pressure and was chewed out by coaches for not looking down field and throwing the ball. “Throw the damn ball downfield, they are open!!!” He played as well as expected. What a competitor. In my opinion, he is just not ready to be an FCS quarterback at this level and with our focus on the passing game. Hopefully he and the coaches will learn from this experience. Alex was very nervous. He paced the sideline end zone to end zone the entire game. I felt bad for him too. But the worst part for me and the one person I felt the worst for was Cole. Down to his under shirt and in a sling, he walked up to coach Bell and put his head on Bell’s shoulder for what looked like an eternity. He said something to coach, and Kerwin said something back. He raised up off his shoulder and walked away with his head up. It was like a son looking for support for letting his father down. To me, that defined this game, the season, and our future. That was a very emotional moment for me, and I am sure both Cole and Kerwin too. Hard to imagine the “tough guy” image Kerwin displays provided comfort and reassurance to Cole. And Cole’s decision to “apologize” for getting hurt was telling. That shows me the closeness of this team. Really hard for me to describe this event in words. I feel bad for all players, coaches, parents, alumni, and students. The injuries in this game, and all season long, were a big factor. With anxiety, looking forward to the off-season and what happens next. Nice post, thanks for sharing it
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Post by atlcatamount on Nov 19, 2023 11:37:14 GMT -5
I am as equally disappointed as the rest of the Catamount Nation... I was in second grade when we moved to Cullowhee in the fall of 1969, when my dad was hired as a Professor at Western. I along with my dad have ridden the emotional rollercoaster that is Western Football for close to 55 years, I even walked on the football team in the spring of 1984. I don't know how far we would have advanced in the playoffs, but it would have been nice to find out. What this season did manage to provide is it got WCU football back into the national conversation after years of dormancy. Unless there are huge portal defections, I fully expect Western to be ranked in the Top-15 and possibly the Top-10 when the FCS preseason polls for next year are released, and they should be among the favorites, if not the outright favorites, to win the SoCon. Now, how we embrace and handle those lofty expectations is anyone guess.
Go Cats!
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Post by cullowheeguy on Nov 19, 2023 13:40:12 GMT -5
Is this still what our non conference looks like next year? This is what is on FBschedules.com 08/31 - at NC State 09/07 - Campbell 09/14 - at Elon 09/21 - at Montana Then we have these teams at home, The Citadel, VMI, WOFFORD, and Chattanooga. These games on the road, Furman, Samford, Mercer, ETSU. This sounds like a brutal schedule.
Think we will have a much better veteran team but that’s a tough schedule.
ETSU just fired there Coach.
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Post by wcu77 on Nov 19, 2023 15:58:10 GMT -5
I hope Bell realizes he has to put more emphasis on getting defensive talent in the off season. The defense was really inconsistent at best. They played really well at times and other times just looked terrible. There is lots to work on in the off season for both offense and defense and maybe they will realize how close they came to having a great season and use that to motivate themselves for next fall.
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Post by Speedwell Cat on Nov 19, 2023 17:16:42 GMT -5
Is this still what our non conference looks like next year? This is what is on FBschedules.com 08/31 - at NC State 09/07 - Campbell 09/14 - at Elon 09/21 - at Montana Then we have these teams at home, The Citadel, VMI, WOFFORD, and Chattanooga. These games on the road, Furman, Samford, Mercer, ETSU. This sounds like a brutal schedule. Think we will have a much better veteran team but that’s a tough schedule. ETSU just fired there Coach. 12 games = no open date?
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