Western Carolina Catamounts football
2023 Western Carolina Catamounts football team
First season1931
Athletic directorAlex Gary
Head coachKerwin Bell
3rd in season, 15–13 (.536)
StadiumE. J. Whitmire Stadium
(capacity: 13,742)
FieldBob Waters Field
LocationCullowhee, North Carolina
NCAA divisionDivision I FCS
ConferenceSouthern Conference
All-time record341–502–23 (.407)
Bowl record0–1–0 (.000)
Playoff appearances2
Playoff record3–2
RivalriesAppalachian State - dormant (rivalry)
East Tennessee State
ColorsPurple and gold[1]
   
Fight songFight On You Catamounts
MascotPaws
Marching bandWestern Carolina University Pride of the Mountains Marching Band
WebsiteCatamountSports.com

The Western Carolina Catamounts football program represents Western Carolina University. The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and are members of the Southern Conference. Since the school's first football team was fielded in 1931, the Catamounts have a record of 364–540–23, have made two postseason appearances, and have played in one national championship game.

Western Carolina plays its home games at the 13,742 seat Bob Waters Field at E. J. Whitmire Stadium located on the campus in Cullowhee, North Carolina.

History

Head coaching history

Western Carolina has had 14 head coaches since the first team was organized in 1931. Kerwin Bell, the current head coach, was hired on April 27, 2021. Bob Waters (1969–1988) holds the record for most wins (116), longest tenure (20 seasons), and highest winning percentage (.550) among all former Western Carolina coaches.

C.C. Poindexter, often called the "Father of Western Carolina Athletics", was instrumental in organizing the first football team in 1931. Then the Western Carolina Teacher's College, Poindexter was the first person hired by the college to work exclusively in athletics and became the first athletic director and football coach. He would later lead the baseball and basketball programs as well.

Tenure Coach Record Pct.
1931–1934C. C. Poindexter10–26–2.290
1935–1938Ralph James4–30–3.149
1939–1941Jim Whatley6–15–1.295
1945Marion McDonald1–3.250
1946–1955Tom Young39–55–4.418
1956–1968Dan Robinson51–67–6.435
1969–1988Bob Waters116–94–6.550
1989Dale Strahm3–7–1.318
1990–1996Steve Hodgin31–45.408
1997–2001Bill Bleil23–32.418
2002–2007Kent Briggs22–43.388
2008–2011Dennis Wagner8–36.182
2012–2021Mark Speir33–68.327
2021–Kerwin Bell10–12.455

Postseason

Classifications

  • 1973–1976: NCAA Division II
  • 1977: NCAA Division I
  • 1978–1981: NCAA Division I–A
  • 1982–present: NCAA Division I–AA

Conference memberships

†Also members of the Smoky Mountain Conference starting in 1934.[2][3]

Playoff appearances

NCAA Division I-AA/FCS

The Catamounts have appeared in the I-AA/FCS playoffs one time, making it to the national championship game, with an overall record of 3–1.

Year Round Opponent Result
1983First Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Championship		Colgate
(2) Holy Cross
(3) Furman
(1) Southern Illinois		W, 24–23
W, 28–21
W, 14–7
L, 7–43

NCAA Division II

The Catamounts made one appearance in the Division II playoffs, with a combined record of 0–1.

Year Round Opponent Result
1974 First Round Louisiana Tech L, 7–10

Yearly Results[4]

Year Coach Win Loss Tie
1931 C.C. Poindexter 4 4 0
1932 C.C. Poindexter 2 9 0
1933 C.C. Poindexter 1 6 2
1934 C.C. Poindexter 3 7 0
1935 Ralph James 1 10 0
1936 Ralph James 2 7 0
1937 Ralph James 1 6 2
1938 Ralph James 0 7 1
1939 James Whatley 1 6 1
1940 James Whatley 2 4 0
1941 James Whatley 3 5 0
1945 Marion McDonald 1 3 0
1946 Tom Young 6 3 1
1947 Tom Young 3 5 1
1948 Tom Young 7 3 0
1949 Tom Young 8 3 0
1950 Tom Young 3 6 0
1951 Tom Young 3 6 0
1952 Tom Young 2 8 0
1953 Tom Young 1 9 0
1954 Tom Young 4 5 1
1955 Tom Young 2 7 1
1956 Dan Robinson 1 9 0
1957 Dan Robinson 2 5 1
1958 Dan Robinson 1 8 1
1959 Dan Robinson 7 2 1
1960 Dan Robinson 6 5 0
1961 Dan Robinson 4 6 0
1962 Dan Robinson 3 5 1
1963 Dan Robinson 2 6 1
1964 Dan Robinson 5 4 0
1965 Dan Robinson 7 2 0
1966 Dan Robinson 5 5 0
1967 Dan Robinson 4 5 1
1968 Dan Robinson 4 5 0
1969 Bob Waters 9 1 0
1970 Bob Waters 6 3 0
1971 Bob Waters 4 6 0
1972 Bob Waters 7 2 1
1973 Bob Waters 6 3 1
1974 Bob Waters 9 2 0
1975 Bob Waters 3 7 0
1976 Bob Waters 6 4 0
1977 Bob Waters 6 4 1
1978 Bob Waters 6 5 0
1979 Bob Waters 6 5 0
1980 Bob Waters 3 7 1
1981 Bob Waters 4 7 0
1982 Bob Waters 6 5 0
1983 Bob Waters 11 3 1
1984 Bob Waters 8 3 0
1985 Bob Waters 4 6 1
1986 Bob Waters 6 5 0
1987 Bob Waters 4 7 0
1988 Bob Waters 2 9 0
1989 Dale Strahm 3 7 1
1990 Steve Hodgin 3 8 0
1991 Steve Hodgin 2 9 0
1992 Steve Hodgin 7 4 0
1993 Steve Hodgin 6 5 0
1994 Steve Hodgin 6 5 0
1995 Steve Hodgin 3 7 0
1996 Steve Hodgin 4 7 0
1997 Bill Bleil 3 8 0
1998 Bill Bleil 6 5 0
1999 Bill Bleil 3 8 0
2000 Bill Bleil 4 7 0
2001 Bill Bleil 7 4 0
2002 Kent Briggs 5 6 0
2003 Kent Briggs 5 7 0
2004 Kent Briggs 4 7 0
2005 Kent Briggs 5 4 0
2006 Kent Briggs 2 9 0
2007 Kent Briggs 1 10 0
2008 Dennis Wagner 3 9 0
2009 Dennis Wagner 2 9 0
2010 Dennis Wagner 2 9 0
2011 Dennis Wagner 1 10 0
2012 Mark Speir 1 10 0
2013 Mark Speir 2 10 0
2014 Mark Speir 7 5 0
2015 Mark Speir 7 4 0
2016 Mark Speir 2 9 0
2017 Mark Speir 7 5 0
2018 Mark Speir 3 8 0
2019 Mark Speir 3 9 0
2020* Mark Speir 1 8 0
2021 Kerwin Bell 4 7 0
2022 Kerwin Bell 6 5 0
2023 Kerwin Bell 7 4 0
Total 364 540 23

*2020 fall season was played in the spring of 2021 due to Covid-19 [5]

Rivalries

Appalachian State - Battle for the Old Mountain Jug

The main rivalry of the Catamounts was against their in-state rival Appalachian State. Western Carolina and Appalachian State played annually for the Old Mountain Jug. The two rivals first faced off in 1932, with Appalachian State winning 20–0. The Old Mountain Jug trophy was first introduced in 1976. After Appalachian State moved to the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2014, the two have not met since. Appalachian State leads the series 58–19–1. Appalachian State's biggest win is 54-7 in 1939 and Western Carolina's biggest win is 44-14 in 1977.

East Tennessee State - Blue Ridge Border Battle

While Western Carolina and ETSU have played each other since 1932, the Blue Ridge Border Battle was started in 2018 which introduced a traveling trophy known as 'the Rock' which features a rock from the Appalachian Trail. The first Blue Ridge Border Battle game was in 2018, with ETSU winning in triple overtime 45-43. The two schools played annually from 1975-2003 as members of the Southern Conference until ETSU discontinued its football program after the 2003 season. The series resumed in 2016 when ETSU restarted its program and rejoined the Southern Conference with the game being played at Bristol Motor Speedway, which was won by ETSU 34-31. Western Carolina leads the series 26-25-1. Western Carolina's biggest win is 49-10 in 2017 and ETSU's biggest win is 49-10 in 1996.

Catamounts in the NFL

Player Position Years in NFL
Steve WilliamsDE1974
Eddie McGillTE1982–1983
Dean BiasucciK1984–1995
Tiger GreeneDB1985–1990
Louis CooperLB1985–1993
Clyde SimmonsDE1986–2000
Leonard WilliamsRB1987
Fred DavisDB1987

Kirk Roach K 1988 -1989

Tony JonesOL1988–2000
Willie J. WilliamsDB1993–2005
Andrew JordanTE1994–2001
David PattenWR1997–2008
Brad HooverFB2000–2009
Detrez NewsomeRB2018–2018
Keion CrossenDB2018–2022

Future non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of December 8, 2022.[6]

2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031
at Arkansas at NC State Gardner–Webb at Georgia
at Eastern Kentucky Campbell at Wake Forest
Charleston Southern at Montana Elon
at Elon at Campbell

See also

References

  1. ↑ Western Carolina University Athletic Guidelines (PDF). October 1, 2014. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Catamount Grid, Cage Schedules Are Announced". Asheville Citizen-Times. Asheville, North Carolina. June 26, 1934. Retrieved March 26, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "SMOKY MOUNTAIN". The Palm Beach Post. AP. November 30, 1936. Retrieved March 26, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "WCU Football Record Book (2023) (PDF)" (PDF). Western Carolina University. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  5. ↑ "SoCon postpones fall conference competition". soconsports.com. 2020-08-13. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  6. ↑ "Western Carolina Catamounts Football Future Schedules". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
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