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Post by The Cats on Sept 8, 2013 10:34:24 GMT -5
The Citadel Bulldogs have played two home games this season and lost both. The Bulldogs were embarrassed by Charleston Southern, the lost for the 15 straight time to Wofford. The Catamounts will open the home season on Saturday, Sept. 14 against these same Bulldogs. Of course, they will come to Cullowhee thinking they have already won the game, their fans have already marked this game a win for the Bulldogs. It's time for the Catamounts to flex their new found muscles, and put the SoCon on notice, that WCU will be a force not only to continw with this season, but a force that will battle for the SoCon Championship. Western Carolina Game Day NotesThe Citadel Game Day Notes
Radio - Catamount Sports Network
Live Video - Catamount All AccessSoCon Football Weekly ReleaseWCU Two-Deep Roster for the Citadel game Live Stats GameTracker Looking at Game 3, The CitadelWho: The Citadel Bulldogs When: Saturday, September 14th Where: Bob Waters Field at E.J. Whitmire Stadium - Cullowhee, NC Series history: WCU trails in the series, 15-21-1 This season's record: 0-2 (0-1 SoCon). Home losses to both Charleston Southern and Wofford. Their coach: Kevin Higgins, record at the Citadel: Higgins enters the 2012 season with a record of 38-51 at The Citadel and 94-76-1 in 15 seasons overall. Last year’s record: 7-4 (5-3) How they got there: In 2012, the Bulldogs posted a 7-4 record, winning five Southern Conference contests. The Bulldogs posted victories over top 10 conference rivals Appalachian State and Georgia Southern. The Bulldogs’ finished fourth in the nation in rushing with an average of 300 yards per game behind the rushing of fullback Darien Robinson. Robinson rushed for over 1,000 yards on the season. The Citadel finished the season very strong with three straight wins with victories over Elon, VMI and Furman. Offense: Triple-option offense Defense: 4-3 Total Lettermen Returning/Lost: 39/17 Offensive starters returning/lost: : 6/5 Defensive starters returning/lost: 9/2 2012 Stats: Rushing Yardage: 3307 - Avg. per rush: 5.7 Avg. per game: 300.6 yards Passing Yardage: 900 - Avg. per pass: 7.7 Avg. per game: 81.8 yards Biggest losses: defensive line, Chris Billingslea. Watch out for: Bulldog senior quarterback Ben Dupree, linebacker Carl Robinson, B-back Darien Robinson, and defensive tackle Derek Douglas, center Mike Sellers Strengths: Ben Dupree has started 24 straight games and will again team with Aaron Miller to give the Bulldogs a pair of experienced and talented signal callers. The most experienced position on this year's team will be the offensive line, a unit that returns all five starters Weaknesses: B-Backs - While the Bulldogs are set as far as the starter is concerned, there is little depth at this position
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Post by catamountbballalum on Sept 8, 2013 18:24:47 GMT -5
I am getting excited for this Saturday! I am ready to bring the Fam so we can see a Cats Victory! Can Saturday get here any faster???
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Post by WesternFan on Sept 9, 2013 5:53:00 GMT -5
This is the year, the turn around begins. The Citadel game is winnable and our team deserves a win.
Go Cats
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Post by portbean on Sept 9, 2013 18:16:46 GMT -5
I went to Va Tech game and was really encouraged by the fan base at the game. It was a great weekend and a beautiful stadium. I was really concerned about the game because their size was visibly a huge advantage and I knew they had the best defense in the land. With 6 starters out, I had visions of a 70-0 type game like Elon had with Ga Tech. I will say that I have NEVER been so pleased with a lopsided loss. The game was much more even than the score which we couldn't say for many of the games last year. The defense really held it's own and played even with the Va Tech offense. Unfortunately, they played the whole game in their own territory because of how good the Va Tech defense is. I saw more HARD hits in that one game than I saw all last year combined. The Tech receivers and running backs got pummeled all day long with three incompletions based on lead brick hits. Interceptions and fumbles were also great to see. Our defensive backs played outstanding. Jordan, Dickson and Morgan are outstanding new freshmen. Dickson is an real hitter --- if he gets his coverage skills down, he can be a consistent all conference and all american player. Morgan is a real find! He plays with composure and I haven't seen him get burned all year. Good tackler too. Jordan will continue to get more size and strength and WILL be on the all freshman SoCon team - guaranteed. He may be freshman defensive player of the year. On offense, the receivers caught the ball and Lewis ran HARD with NO turnovers. Great freshman showing. He is a REAL high quality kid too. He can become a leader. Our soph's continue to improve too. They are hitting hard and seem to be maturing and starting to lead. I am hoping we find a real team leader... That is something I haven't seen yet. The team seems focused but if they are to buy in to Coach Speir's vision, we need to start seeing a few of the players step up and lead on the sidelines and on the field. If THEY begin to believe they can win, we may be in the running for a SoCon Championship THIS year. This team shows every sign of being ready to compete for a championship in the SoCon THIS year --- something I would have never thought possible a year ago. Coach Speir is doing it the right way. He compliments the players but holds them accountable. He demands discipline and he has found some outstanding men (coaches) to come up to Cullowhee that are building men NOT just football players. I can't wait to see what happens this Saturday as they begin their journey to defend their home turf. Lastly, I was very impressed with the back ups that went in late in the game on Saturday. It hurt to see Grady running like a locomotive into the Va Tech line and get injured --- hopefully it isn't too bad. He was running HARD and I appreciated seeing that out of a non-starter. Be at the Whee early, ready to see the beginning of a new day for the Cats. This team is for real, they are on a VERY apparent upward trend... They may not win the SoCon this year but they ARE a team to be reckoned with and that's FOR SURE after seeing this team play. Great recruiting, great coaching, great commitment from the players... Here we go Purple! Fear the Speir!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2013 18:54:04 GMT -5
I went to Va Tech game and was really encouraged by the fan base at the game. It was a great weekend and a beautiful stadium. I was really concerned about the game because their size was visibly a huge advantage and I knew they had the best defense in the land. With 6 starters out, I had visions of a 70-0 type game like Elon had with Ga Tech. I will say that I have NEVER been so pleased with a lopsided loss. The game was much more even than the score which we couldn't say for many of the games last year. The defense really held it's own and played even with the Va Tech offense. Unfortunately, they played the whole game in their own territory because of how good the Va Tech defense is. I saw more HARD hits in that one game than I saw all last year combined. The Tech receivers and running backs got pummeled all day long with three incompletions based on lead brick hits. Interceptions and fumbles were also great to see. Our defensive backs played outstanding. Jordan, Dickson and Morgan are outstanding new freshmen. Dickson is an real hitter --- if he gets his coverage skills down, he can be a consistent all conference and all american player. Morgan is a real find! He plays with composure and I haven't seen him get burned all year. Good tackler too. Jordan will continue to get more size and strength and WILL be on the all freshman SoCon team - guaranteed. He may be freshman defensive player of the year. On offense, the receivers caught the ball and Lewis ran HARD with NO turnovers. Great freshman showing. He is a REAL high quality kid too. He can become a leader. Our soph's continue to improve too. They are hitting hard and seem to be maturing and starting to lead. I am hoping we find a real team leader... That is something I haven't seen yet. The team seems focused but if they are to buy in to Coach Speir's vision, we need to start seeing a few of the players step up and lead on the sidelines and on the field. If THEY begin to believe they can win, we may be in the running for a SoCon Championship THIS year. This team shows every sign of being ready to compete for a championship in the SoCon THIS year --- something I would have never thought possible a year ago. Coach Speir is doing it the right way. He compliments the players but holds them accountable. He demands discipline and he has found some outstanding men (coaches) to come up to Cullowhee that are building men NOT just football players. I can't wait to see what happens this Saturday as they begin their journey to defend their home turf. Lastly, I was very impressed with the back ups that went in late in the game on Saturday. It hurt to see Grady running like a locomotive into the Va Tech line and get injured --- hopefully it isn't too bad. He was running HARD and I appreciated seeing that out of a non-starter. Be at the Whee early, ready to see the beginning of a new day for the Cats. This team is for real, they are on a VERY apparent upward trend... They may not win the SoCon this year but they ARE a team to be reckoned with and that's FOR SURE after seeing this team play. Great recruiting, great coaching, great commitment from the players... Here we go Purple! Fear the Speir! A great first post. Thanks for your insight on the Va Tech game, I'm getting more and more excited about Saturday's game.
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Post by catamountalum94 on Sept 9, 2013 21:09:27 GMT -5
Welcome to the board bean. I agree the game was played closer than the score. All focus on the Citadel moving forward this week! Lets get a W.
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Post by crazycatsfan on Sept 10, 2013 10:06:43 GMT -5
Well I'm very excited for the game this week! We got Troy AND Darius for the game this Saturday. So I'm hoping the Defense can repeated this wonderful performance again this Saturday. I feel very good, for the first time in all my 4 years up here, about our chances this Saturday if the boys can continue what they have been doing! I predicting with my heart here 28-24 Cats!! What predictions do yall have for the game?!!
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Post by cawwhee on Sept 10, 2013 11:05:19 GMT -5
Darius will not be playing.
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Post by The Cats on Sept 10, 2013 11:15:57 GMT -5
Darius will not be playing. That's too bad, would have been a great time for him to have a breakout season opener. As for my projected score, I'll go with, 35 - 21 Catamounts
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Post by crazycatsfan on Sept 10, 2013 11:18:55 GMT -5
oh wow okay but im still very confident in the cats this weekend!!!
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