FEATURE: Honoring the 1972 Catamounts

WESTERN CAROLINA HONORS THE 1972 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL TEAM

The 1972 Western Carolina football team was ranked as high as No. 3 nationally in the Associated Press (AP) College Division Poll and finished 8th nationally overall in WCU's first season as an NCAA Division II Independent member. The '72 Catamounts defeated three (3) Top 10 nationally ranked teams, tied another, and though not a member of the league, won all three games against Southern Conference opponents, defeating Furman, The Citadel and Appalachian State.

The Catamounts' schedule was rated the "Most Difficult" among NCAA Division II teams and set WCU records for turnovers created and as they recovered 23 fumbles and intercepted 19 passes collectively. WCU finished 7-2-1 with a pair of three-game winning streaks.

Three members of the 1972 team became first-team All-America selections. Between players and coaches on the 1972 team, 10 individuals are members of WCU's Athletics Hall of Fame: Joe D'Alessandris, Mark Ferguson, Jerry Gaines, David Rathburn, and Steve Yates – along with coaches Don Dalton, Don Powers, Bob Setzer, Johnny Wike and head coach Bob Waters, who was in his fourth season in Cullowhee.

Despite their accomplishments and national ranking, the 1972 Catamounts were denied a spot in the national playoff as they were in transition between the NAIA and NCAA membership and, therefore, were not eligible for postseason play.

WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY – CATAMOUNT CLUB / DEVELOPMENT STAFF

JULIE MILLER

ASSOCIATE AD FOR DEVELOPMENT / DIRECTOR OF THE CATAMOUNT CLUB MARK WARREN

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT LAUREN RHYNE

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT, EVENTS, AND STEWARDSHIP JP HILL

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT TAYLOR HOLMAN

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

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