2022 Catamount Football Digital Game Day Program - vs. Wofford (11/5/22)

EXTRA POINTS, the official game program and online digital program for Western Carolina Catamount Football, is a publication of the WCU Athletics Media Relations Office. Editorial content, layout and design has been provided by Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations, Daniel Hooker (WCU, 2001).

Special thanks to the staffs of both WCU Athletics Media Relations and Todd Charles. Photography provided by Ashley Evans, Charlie Bulla, Sam Wallace and various student assistants in the Western Carolina Public Relations Department; WCU PR retiree, Mark Haskett; Andy Padyk; Jason Hall of Valleytown Photo; Phil Polito, Paul Setliff, and WCU students, Spencer Douglas and Jared Draney. Printing is by the WCU Print Shop.

Advertising sales for EXTRA POINTS are administered by Chad Gerrety and Ric Sisler. To advertise, contact WCU Athletics at (828) 227-2767 or (828) 227-2038.

E.J. WHITMIRE STADIUM POLICIES AND INFORMATION

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES:

Outside alcohol and alcoholic beverages are prohibited in E.J. Whitmire Stadium. Also, containers and/or coolers are also prohibited in the stadium. Alcoholic beverages will be sold within Whitmire Stadium with two points of sale on either side of the stadium and one point of sale on Paws Porch. Must be 21 years of age and present valid ID at the time of purchase and may only purchase one (1) alcoholic beverage per valid ID with the ID holder present at the time of transaction. Sales will begin when gates open 90 minutes prior to kickoff and close at the end of the third quarter.

UMBRELLAS:

Umbrellas are not permitted in the seating area of Whitmire Stadium. No umbrellas will be allowed through the stadium gates.

ARTIFICIAL NOISEMAKERS:

Unapproved and unsanctioned artificial noisemakers (air horns, cowbells, etc.) are not permitted in E.J. Whitmire Stadium as per Southern Conference rules. However, in accordance with SoCon regulations, sanctioned noisemakers such as "Thunder Sticks" or "Bam-Bams" are permissible. Fans are asked to be considerate and allow your neighbor to enjoy the game. Please keep portable radios at a low volume.

CONCESSION STANDS:

Concession stands by Catamount Dining are located on the main concourse on both the East and West sides of the stadium serving a variety of drink products from Pepsi and many other items. Conces sion stands do accept credit cards, and there are also cash-only drink and snack lines available. Other concession options include Bojangles and snacks from Tubby's Caramel Corn & More.

COVID PROTOCOLS / FACE COVERINGS:

Catamount Athletics and WCU continues to encourage the use of face coverings while in densely populated areas during game day activities. Physical distancing, washing of hands and using hand sanitizer remain common practice recommendations to help stop the spread viruses including COVID-19.

FIRST AID / EMERGENCY SERVICES:

First aid tents are located on the concourse level of both sides of Whitmire Stadium. Local physicians and emergency medical per sonnel are also in attendance at all WCU football games and can be paged through the public address system in the press box. An oxygen-equipped ambulance is in the stadium during the games. For games where forecasted temperatures are high, misting cooling stations for spectators will be made available on the concourse level.

FIELD REGULATIONS:

No one is allowed on the playing field before, during, or after the game without proper credentials (Zone 1 & 2; Pregame Recruit). Fans will also be ejected for throwing any objects in the stadium.

GAME TIMES:

All game times are subject to change. WCU will publicize any game time changes through its social media channels (@catamounts) and website, CatamountSports.com. Ticket refunds will NOT be made available because of a change in kickoff times

GATE INSPECTION / CLEAR BAG POLICY:

Western Carolina University has implemented a "Clear Bag Policy" – ALL parcels, bags and alike are subject to inspection upon entry into E.J. Whitmire Stadium. All alcoholic beverages, outside food and beverages, and other items not permitted in the stadium must be discarded prior to entering the stadium. See Page 7 for more info.

LOST AND FOUND:

If you find an item, please return it to an usher. To recover a lost item, please visit the check bag location near the main entrances of either side of the stadium to make a proper ID of the lost item.

MERCHANDISE:

Catamount apparel and game day merchandise from the WCU Bookstore can be found at stands on both sides of the stadium. Mer chandise is also available anytime at CatamountSports.com, or also at the WCU Bookstore located near the center of the WCU campus.

CHANCELLOR'S BOX, PRESS BOX & CAMERA DECKS:

No one is allowed in the Chancellor's box, press box, camera decks, Paws Porch, Catamount Corner, or field level without proper credentials (Zone 1 & 2). Those not adhering to this policy will be escorted out of the stadium.

REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE:

Requests for assistance should be directed to stadium ushers, located at every ramp throughout the stadium.

STADIUM RE-ADMITTANCE:

There is no re-admittance policy at E.J. Whitmire Stadium. Once you enter the stadium, you must purchase another ticket to re-enter.

TICKETS FOR CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL:

Tickets for WCU football games can be purchased at the WCU Athletics Ticket Office Monday thru Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm. Tickets can be purchased on game day beginning at 10:00 am at the Northwest ticket booth near the main entrance – or anytime online at CatamountSports.com.

WESTERN CAROLINA CODE OF FAN CONDUCT

It is the policy of Western Carolina University that all fans at athletic sporting events must maintain the highest degree of credibility and decorum possible.

All fans must make every attempt to conduct themselves in a manner as not to embarrass the institutions by their actions.

Behavior by fans that does not meet this standard and which has the potential of harming the reputation of the institution or any of its units is prohibited.

Good sportsmanship must be an integral part of every sport sponsored by WCU. The ethical environment of the university must assert and reflect primacy of human dignity, must encourage growth and achievement, and must insist on respect in all interpersonal relations.

WCU students and fans must be held accountable for their use of profane and vulgar language, banners, posters, signs, flags, treatment of opponents, and treatment of officials. In respect to NCAA policies, WCU is held accountable for the actions of its fans.

THE SOUTHERN CONFERENCE CODE OF SPECTATOR CONDUCT

Southern Conference teams shall be supported with enthusiasm and dedication, for strong spectator support is a vital part of the experience of college competition.

We expect good sportsmanship from players and coaches. They have a right to expect the same from spectators.

Therefore, we urge Southern Conference students, alumni and friends to cheer their teams to victory while upholding those ideals our colleges and universities have nurtured during the long history of the Southern Conference.

Our spectators should be courteous and judicious in choice of expression, and should exhibit good manners and kindness to all others.

The scoreboard will reflect the quality of the teams in competitions while the kind of support given by the spectators will reveal the character of Southern Conference fans.

SCOUTING WESTERN CAROLINA

u Coming off its bye week, Western Carolina continues a home stretch in league play where THREE of its final FOUR regular-season games will be played in Cullowhee Including the Heroes Day game vs The Citadel, the Catamounts are at home TODAY for Homecoming and again for the regular-season finale against Chattanooga on Nov 19 with a road game at ETSU on Nov 12;

u The Catamounts have dropped three-straight entering Saturday's home date with Wofford . . . WCU suffered its first home defeat in the 34-21 loss to The Citadel after winning its first two home games over Presbyterian and VMI;

u After being idle last week, WCU returns for its final three games of the regular season WCU head coach KERWIN BELL has a record of 8-4 following bye weeks during his career;

u Historically speaking, Western Carolina has a record of 20-26-1 all-time on Homecoming at Whitmire Stadium WCU has dropped five-straight Homecoming Day games dating back to 2016, coming on the heels of three-straight wins this year marks the sixth time since moving to Whitmire Stadium in 1974 that WCU hosts Wofford on Homecoming, posting a 3-2 record;

u Western Carolina and Wofford meet for time 44th time on the football gridiron the Catamounts trail in the all-time series 15-28 overall including a 10-12 mark in games played in Cullowhee;

u WCU snapped a four-game series winless drought with a convincing 41-21 victory last year in Spartanburg (SEE MORE ON PAGE 22);

u A FAMILIAR FACE: Terrier second-year assistant and WR coach TYLER CARLTON spent five seasons on the previous coaching staff at WCU working with the wide receivers and a season as the Cata mounts' co-offensive coordinator During his tenure in Cullowhee, Carlton mentored WCU's all-time leader in receptions, Terryon Robinson (230, 2013-17) As the co-offensive coordinator with the Catamounts in 2019, quarterback Tyrie Adams capped his career leading the team in four offensive categories including career total offense

u Western Carolina enters the week ranked third in the SoCon – and 28th nationally – with an aver age of 32 9 points per game the Catamounts LEAD the SoCon and are THIRD in NCAA FCS with an average of 505 .1 yards of total offense per game including the SoCon's top-rated passing attack (319 0 yds/gm, 4th in FCS) and the fourth-best rushing attack (186 1 yds/gm, 29th in FCS) WCU leads the SoCon with an average of 25 8 first downs per game on offense;

u 13 different Catamounts have recorded touchdowns this season Wide receiver DAVID WHITE JR leads the way with FIVE scores, while WR's TERRENCE HORNE, CENSERE LEE, and RAPHAEL WILLIAMS have FOUR touchdowns apiece;

u QB CARLOS DAVIS ranks second in the SoCon with 261 5 passing yards per game and LEADS the league with 285 3 yards of total offense per game WR RAPHAEL WILLIAMS ranks fifth with 4 8 receptions per game and is seventh with 60 5 receiving yards per game;

u Western Carolina's defense LEADS the SoCon in sacks entering the weekend with 25 total for 154 yards of losses – the 25 sacks are tied for the 10th in the NCAA FCS this season 12 different Catamount defenders have recorded at least half a sack this year LB EJ PORTER leads the team with 4 5 sacks, just ahead of DE KJ MILNER and DT CHRIS MORGAN with 4 0 sacks apiece;

u Freshman RB DESMOND REID enters the weekend FOURTH in the SoCon in rushing, averaging 84 3 yards per game Reid has twice eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark with a career-best 175 against Presbyterian and 129 most recently against The Citadel;

u Redshirt junior PK RICHARD McCOLLUM enters the week FIFTH in the SoCon in scoring, averaging 8 1 points per game the Sanford, N C , product is 11-of-13 on field goals and has made 32-of-33 PATs;

u Head coach KERWIN BELL secured his 100th career victory in WCU's 38-17 win over VMI on Oct 1 Bell is currently 100-54 including a 7-12 in his second year at WCU Bell had a 66-35 record at Jacksonville from 2007-15 and was 27-7 with a national championship at Valdosta State from 2016-18

WESTERN CAROLINA / WOFFORD INSIDE THE ALL-TIME SERIES

ALL-TIME SERIES WCU TRAILS, 15-28

In Cullowhee WCU trails, 10-12

In Spartanburg, SC WCU trails, 5-16

Current Streak WCU, W–1

Longest WCU Win Streak: 8 games (1977-96)

Largest Margin of Victory WCU, 35 pts (1979)

Longest WCU Losing Skid: 8 games (2006-13)

Total Series Points WCU 927 / WOF 1,091

WCU Average Points 21 56 ppg

Wofford Average Points 25 37 ppg

LAST 10 SERIES MEETINGS (3-7):

Oct . 30, 2021 Spartanburg, SC W, 41-21

Oct 19, 2019 Spartanburg, SC L, 59-7

Nov 10, 2018 Cullowhee L, 38-23

Oct 7, 2017 Spartanburg, SC L, 35-28

Oct 8, 2016 Cullowhee L, 31-19

Oct 17, 2015 Spartanburg, SC W, 24-17

Oct 11, 2014 Cullowhee W, 26-14

Oct . 19, 2013 Cullowhee L, 21-17

Sept 15, 2012 Spartanburg, SC L, 49-20

Nov 5, 2011 Cullowhee L, 42-24

RUNNING BACK #1 DESMOND REID

DE #6 KJ MILNER & LB #7 HAYWARD MCQUEEN

WCU HEAD COACH KERWIN BELL

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A LOOK AT TODAY’S OPPONENT: WOFFORD

u WOFFORD comes to Cullowhee riding a season-long, two-game win streak in conference play, upending The Citadel, 31-16, back on Oct 15 and out-gunning ETSU in a 48-41 shoot out last week end, both coming at home in Spartanburg the Terriers are 2-6 overall after opening the year on a six-game slide;

u Wofford's consecutive victories the past two weeks over The Citadel and ETSU are the first back-to-back wins for the Terriers since 2019 the victory over The Citadel halted a 16-game losing skid, which had been the second-longest active streak in the nation;

u After mustering just seven points offensively through its first three games of the 2022 season, WOFFORD has averaged nearly 40 points per game in its last two victories – 31 against the Bulldogs and a season-high 48 against the Buccaneers;

u WOFFORD was picked to finish ninth in the nine-team SoCon preseason coaches' poll and was eighth of nine in the media tabulations in the 2022 preseason;

u WOFFORD has moved away from its traditional triple-option offensive attack, now employing the pro-spread formation with a more pass-heavy attack Wofford's rushing offense had been ranked in the top ten in rushing offense for 22 straight seasons but were 13th in 2021 at 208 6 yards per game By contrast, the Terriers are at 88 6 yards per game this season;

u Entering the week, WOFFORD ranks seventh in the SoCon in scoring offense, averaging just 16 1 points per game overall – an average that jumps to 20 0 ppg in SoCon play the Terriers are sur rendering an average of 29 4 points per game on the year defensively;

u Wofford is seventh in total offense (290 0 yds/gm) – seventh in passing offense at 201 4 yds/ gm and eighth in rushing at just 88 6 yds/gm;

u Wofford's defense ranks eighth overall (433 9 yds/gm), sixth against the pass in allowing 229 2 yds/gm and eighth against the run allowing 204 6 yds/gm;

u Wofford QB JIMMY WEIRICK was named the Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Week on Oct 31 Weirick went 25-for-39 for a school-record 409 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Terriers to a 48-41 win over ETSU the fifth-year senior from Pickerington, Ohio, matched the school record for completions that he set earlier this season and did not throw an interception en route to a pass efficiency rating of 177 58 on the day Weirick threw touchdown passes of 3, 11 and 31 yards, the last of which came on 4th-and-15 to tie the game at 41 with 2:54 left Weirick, who is just four passing yards shy of the program's single-season record with 1,606 this season;

u A preseason first-team All-SoCon selection, Wofford DL MICHEAL MASON leads the Terriers in sacks, tied for second in the SoCon with 5 5 sacks – and also paces the squad in tackles for loss, ranking tied for ninth in the league at 6 5 TFLs on the year;

u ABOUT WOFFORD INTERIM HEAD COACH SHAWN WATSON: Joined the Wofford football coach ing staff as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator on January 13, 2022 He was named the program's interim head coach on October 6, 2022, after former head coach Josh Conklin an nounced his resignation that same day Conklin spent five years on the sidelines at Wofford, win ning back-to-back SoCon Championships and reaching the NCAA FCS Playoffs in 2018 and 2019; u Watson is a veteran with over 35 years of coaching experience, most recently serving as the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at the University of Northern Iowa in 2020-21; u Along with his work with the Panthers, he has served as offensive coordinator at Texas (201415), Louisville (2012-13), Nebraska (2007-10), Colorado (2000-05) and Pittsburgh (2017-18) Additionally, he was the head coach at his alma mater, Southern Illinois, from 1994-96 Watson played safety at Southern Illinois (1979-80) and began his coaching career as a Salukis graduate assistant in 1982, making stops at Illinois and Miami (Ohio) before landing the head job at his alma mater in 1994

ABOUT WOFFORD SCOUTING THE TERRIERS

QUICK FACTS:

Location: Spartanburg, S.C.

Founded: 1854 Enrollment: 1,770 Colors: Old Gold and Black Conference: Southern (SoCon) Facility (Capacity): Gibbs Stadium (13,000)

President: Dr. Nayef Samhat

Athletics Director: Richard Johnson

Senior Woman Administrator: .... Elizabeth Rabb

Interim Head Coach: Shawn Watson (Southern Illinois '82)

Record at WOF: 2-1 (1st season)

Overall Record: 13-23 (4th season)

Basic Offense: .................... Pro Spread

Basic Defense: Multiple 3-4

2022 SCHEDULE / RESULTS:

Sept. 3 at #12 Chattanooga * L, 31-0

Sept. 10 ELON L, 26-0

Sept. 17 at Virginia Tech L, 27-7

Sept. 24 at Kennesaw State L, 24-22

Oct. 1 #13 MERCER * L, 42-7

Oct. 8 at #13 Samford * L, 28-14

Oct. 15 THE CITADEL * W, 31-16

Oct. 29 ETSU * W, 48-41

Nov. 5 at Western Carolina * 2 pm

Nov. 12 VMI * 1:30 pm

Nov. 19 at Furman Noon

QUARTERBACK

#5 JIMMY WEIRICK

DEFENSIVE LINE #99 MICHEAL MASON

INTERIM HEAD COACH SHAWN WATSON

WESTERN CAROLINA CATAMOUNTS 2022 NUMERICAL ROSTER

NO. NAME POS. HT. WT. YR. HOMETOWN (PREVIOUS COLLEGE / HIGH SCHOOL)

0 T.J. Jones RB 5-11 205 Sr. Lakeland, Fla. (Tusculum / GMC / Lake Gibson HS)

0 Jaylen Floyd S 5-9 180 Gr. Miramar, Fla. (Lehigh / Miramar HS)

1 Desmond Reid RB 5-8 170 Fr. Hollywood, Fla. (Miramar HS)

1 Cameron McCutcheon CB 6-3 200 5th Seneca, S.C. (Gardner-Webb / Seneca HS)

2 Raphael Williams WR 5-10 165 R-So. Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (Tusculum / Dillard HS)

2 Rod Gattison CB 6-0 190 Jr. Hartsell, S.C. (Georgia Military / Hartsell HS)

3 Calvin Jones WR 5-10 190 So. Forest City, N.C. (East Rutherford HS)

3 Jacob Harris S 6-1 195 Jr. Greer, S.C. (Independence CC / Greer HS)

4 Kason Lincke QB 6-0 200 R-Fr. Mobile, Ala. (Mobile Christian HS)

4 C.J. Williams CB 5-10 170 So. Gallion, Ala. (Alabama / Demopolis HS)

5 Carlos Davis QB 6-3 225 Jr. Baltimore, Md. (East Mississippi CC / Mergenthaler Vo-Tech HS)

5 Mateo Sudipo S 6-1 205 R-So. Wake Forest, N.C. (Coastal Carolina / Wake Forest HS)

6 Terrence Horne Jr. WR 5-8 185 Jr. Miami, Fla. (USF / Miramar HS)

6 K.J. Milner DL 6-4 265 Sr. Hinesville, Ga. (Bradwell Institute)

7 David White Jr. WR 6-4 200 Jr. Jacksonville, Fla. (Valdosta State / Westside HS)

7 Hayward McQueen III LB 6-1 195 Fr. Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (TRU Prep Academy)

8 Jalynn Williams RB 5-10 205 Jr. St. Petersburg, Fla. (Toledo / St. Petersburg HS)

8 Va Lealaimatafao LB 6-1 230 Jr. San Antonio, Texas (Cisco College / Warren HS)

9 Cole Gonzales QB 6-0 190 Fr. Ocala, Fla. (Trinity Catholic HS)

9 Micah Nelson DE 6-3 255 R-So. Murphy, N.C. (Murphy HS)

10 Censere Lee WR 5-11 160 Fr. Clearwater, Fla. (Clearwater HS)

10 Taurus Dotson Jr. CB 5-11 200 Sr. Miami, Fla. (Valdosta State / Northwestern HS)

11 Ajay Belanger TE 6-3 245 Jr. Green Cove Springs, Fla. (Tusculum / Clay HS)

11 Caleb Fisher DL 6-3 235 So. Decatur, Ga. (Columbia HS)

12 Brody Palhegyi QB 5-10 180 Fr. Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Cardinal Gibbons HS)

12 Ken Moore Jr. CB 5-10 155 Fr. Miami, Fla. (Christopher Columbus HS)

13 Jaylin Terzado WR 6-0 170 Fr. Overtown, Fla. (Champagnat Catholic HS)

13 Tanner Cromer DL 6-4 250 So. Cincinnati, Ohio (Ellsworth CC / Reading HS)

14 De’Andre Tamarez WR 5-11 165 Fr. Overtown, Fla. (Carol City HS)

14 Nick Louis S 6-2 200 Jr. Miami, Fla. (Independence CC / North Miami HS)

15 Corey Reddick Jr. RB 5-10 170 Fr. Delray Beach, Fla. (Atlantic HS)

15 Ja’morri Downing S 6-0 190 Fr. Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (Stranahan HS)

16 Parish Metzger QB 6-0 200 R-Fr. Matthews, N.C. (David W. Butler HS)

16 Marquis Lymon S 5-10 205 Fr. Delray Beach, Fla. (Atlantic HS)

17 Samuel Cornett QB 6-6 225 Fr. Woodstock, Ga. (Frederick Douglass (Ky.) HS)

18 Malik Knight WR 6-2 170 Fr. Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Fort Lauderdale HS)

19 Toler Keigley WR 6-1 190 R-Fr. Pensacola, Fla. (Mobile Christian HS)

20 Ed Jones IV LB 6-1 205 So. Arlington, Texas (Cisco College / Martin HS)

21 Andreas Keaton S 6-2 200 So. Powder Springs, Ga. (Hillgrove HS)

22 Branson Adams RB 5-9 185 So. Greensboro, N.C. (Dudley HS)

24 Samaurie Dukes CB 5-10 185 Fr. Miami, Fla. (Miami HS)

25 Darian Anderson Jr. CB 5-10 160 Fr. Miami, Fla. (Dade Christian School)

26 Jeremiah Noel S 6-0 185 Fr. Opa-Locka Fla. (Miami Killian HS)

27 Skylin Thomas LB 5-10 205 R-So. Lenoir, N.C. (Hibriten HS)

28 Jordy Lowery CB 5-11 190 Fr. Bartow, Fla. (Bartow HS)

29 Jhamari Pierre-Louis S 5-11 185 Fr. Delray Beach, Fla. (Atlantic HS)

30 Justin McMullen CB 5-10 170 Fr. Miami, Fla. (Booker T. Washington HS)

31 Joshua McMullen CB 5-10 170 Fr. Miami, Fla. (Booker T. Washington HS)

32 Malik Richardson DE 6-4 225 R-So. Sumter, S.C. (Lakewood HS)

33 Jaiden Bond RB 5-9 185 So. Boone, N.C. (Watagua HS)

34 Quenten Zanders RB 5-8 175 Sr. Shelby, N.C. (Cleveland CC / Crest HS)

35 Christian Murphy LB 6-1 220 Fr. Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (Dillard HS)

36 Brandon Benjamin RB 5-9 220 So. Fort Myers, Fla. (Missouri State / Dunbar HS)

37 Lee Campbell S 6-0 205 Fr. Charlotte, N.C. (Queen City Prep / Vance HS)

38 Brandon Dickerson P 5-11 190 Sr. Indian Land, S.C. (Indian Land HS)

39 Brayden Blackmon TE 6-3 230 So. Duncan, S.C. (Byrnes HS)

40 Cory Hennings S 6-1 210 R-Fr. Matthews, N.C. (Weddington HS)

41 Caleb Scott LB 6-2 240 So. Black Mountain, N.C. (Owen HS)

42 Jayion McMillan S 5-9 185 Fr. Chapel Hill, N.C. (Ahop Christian Leadership Academy)

NO. NAME POS. HT. WT. YR. HOMETOWN (PREVIOUS COLLEGE / HIGH SCHOOL)

43 Camury Reid RB 5-11 185 Fr. Gastonia, N.C. (Forestview HS)

44 Antarron Turner LB 6-2 245 Fr. Kannapolis, N.C. (A.L. Brown HS)

45 Justin Wallace DL 6-3 235 Fr. Miami, Fla. (Killian HS)

46 Paxton Robertson K 6-0 205 So. Knoxville, Tenn. (Knoxville Catholic HS)

47 Blue Monroe LB 6-1 235 Fr. Concord, N.C. (Jay M. Robinson HS)

48 Brady Elms P 6-4 175 R-Fr. Raleigh, N.C. (Wakefield HS)

49 Payton McCracken WR 6-0 170 Fr. Murphy, N.C. (Murphy HS)

49 Corbin Shirley K 5-10 155 Fr. Seneca, S.C. (Seneca HS)

50 Jayelin Davis LB 6-0 230 So. North Augusta, S.C. (Morgan State / GMC / Fox Creek HS)

51 Aaron Sanez OL 6-2 295 Fr. Clearwater, Fla. (Clearwater HS)

52 Antwann Fann OL 6-3 320 R-So. Perry, Ga. (Kennesaw State / Perry HS)

53 EJ Porter LB 6-1 245 Jr. Atlantic Beach, Fla. (Coastal Carolina / The Bolles School)

55 Kevin Thompson LS 5-10 185 Jr. Rock Hill, S.C. (Northwestern HS)

56 Richard Garrett DL 6-4 230 Fr. Jacksonville, Fla. (Andrew Jackson HS)

57 Tyler Anderson LB 6-0 225 R-Fr. Greensboro, N.C. (Northern Guilford HS)

58 Giovanni Ricciardi LB 6-0 220 So. Clemmons, N.C. (West Forsyth HS)

59 Anthony Joseph LB 5-9 195 Fr. Winter Garden, Fla. (West Orange HS)

60 Joaquin Layno DL 5-10 295 R-So. Cherokee, N.C. (Cherokee HS)

61 Hudson Jones OL 6-2 280 Fr. Matthews, N.C. (Charlotte Christian)

63 Peyton Davis OL 6-2 305 R-Fr. Mooresville, N.C. (Lake Norman HS)

64 Colby Cross LS 6-0 220 R-So. Mooresville, N.C. (Lake Norman HS)

66 Derek Simmons OL 6-6 320 So. Jacksonville, Fla. (Abilene Christian / Fletcher HS)

67 Dalton Tomlison OL 6-4 325 5th Beaver, Ohio (UMass / Iowa Western CC / Eastern HS)

70 Christian Coulter OL 6-5 320 Jr. Thomson, Ga. (Tusculum / Thomson HS)

71 Cade McClellan OL 6-3 295 Fr. Plant City, Fla. (Durant HS)

72 Blake Whitmore OL 6-2 295 R-So. Raleigh, N.C. (Millbrook HS)

73 Samari Saddler OL 6-2 320 Jr. Cincinnati, Ohio (Eastern Michigan / Moeller HS)

74 Tyler Smith OL 6-8 310 R-Jr. Laurinburg, N.C. (Scotland County HS)

75 Caleb Carter OL 6-3 295 So. Jacksonville, N.C. (Southwest Onslow HS)

76 Nate Linkous OL 6-5 295 R-Fr. Cramerton, N.C. (Stuart W. Cramer HS)

77 Neyland Walker OL 6-5 305 R-Fr. Canton, N.C. (Charleston Southern / Pisgah HS)

78 Evan Carney OL 6-3 290 Fr. Nashville, Tenn. (Christ Presbyterian Academy)

79 Aidan Alston OL 6-2 295 R-So. Southern Pines, N.C. (Pinecrest HS)

80 Ryan Sims WR 5-8 160 Fr. Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (Ft. Lauderdale HS)

81 Ca’Lique Cunningham WR 5-9 180 Fr. Rock Hill, S.C. (Northwestern HS)

82 Nate Abraham WR 5-9 160 Fr. Charlotte, N.C. (Providence Day School)

83 AJ Colombo WR 5-8 165 Fr. Waxhaw, N.C. (Cuthbertson HS)

84 Bryce Yaggi WR 6-0 195 R-Fr. Waxhaw, N.C. (Marvin Ridge HS)

85 Talon James TE 6-4 235 R-Jr. Fairview, N.C. (Univ. of Richmond / A.C. Reynolds HS)

86 Clayton Bardall TE 6-3 235 Jr. Cumming, Ga. (North Forsyth HS)

87 Cade Snotherly WR 6-0 195 R-Fr. Ramseur, N.C. (Emory & Henry / Eastern Randolph HS)

88 Antoine Bell WR 6-4 215 Fr. Charlotte, N.C. (Berry Academy)

89 Richard McCollum K 5-9 175 R-Jr. Sanford, N.C. (Southern Lee HS)

90 Marlon Alexander DL 6-0 300 Jr. Smyrna, Tenn. (Gardner-Webb / Smyrna HS)

91 Jaquarius Guinn DL 6-2 280 So. Clover, S.C. (Clover HS)

92 Brandon Smiley DL 6-2 300 Fr. Durham, N.C. (Palmetto Prep)

93 Chris Morgan DL 6-0 285 So. Maiden, N.C. (Maiden HS)

94 Timothy Jamison DL 6-4 255 Jr. West Columbia, S.C. (Hutchinson CC / White Knoll HS)

95 Desmond Barkley DL 6-2 345 So. Stockbridge, Ga. (Troy / Stockbridge HS)

96 Isaac McLellan DE 6-2 220 Fr. Rock Hill, S.C. (Northwestern HS)

97 Caleb Bradford DL 6-1 280 R-Fr. Canton, N.C. (Pisgah HS)

98 Wisdom Simms DL 6-3 310 Fr. China Grove, N.C. (South Rowan HS)

99 Ronald Wilson DL 6-3 318 R-So. Mocksville, N.C. (Gardner-Webb / Davie County HS)

Juan Allen WR 5-10 140 Fr. Murphy, N.C. (Murphy HS)

Anthony Badgett CB 5-9 190 Jr. Greensboro, N.C. (Southeast Guilford HS)

Bryson Grabowski QB 6-1 180 R-Fr. Copperhill, Tenn. (Copper Basin HS)

Don Robinson III CB 5-10 170 Fr. Winston-Salem, N.C. (West Forsyth HS)

Cam Rog WR 6-4 190 Fr. Wake Forest, N.C. (Rolesville HS)

Chris Van Kleeck LB 6-0 200 Fr. Winston-Salem, N.C. (West Forsyth HS)

WOFFORD TERRIERS 2022 NUMERICAL ROSTER

NO. NAME POS. HT. WT. YR.

HOMETOWN (PREVIOUS COLLEGE / HIGH SCHOOL)

0 Devin Mathews WR 6-4 205 Sr. Palm Coast, Fla. (US Naval Academy / Matanzas HS)

2 Jacob Kimbrell QB 6-2 200 Jr. Chesnee, S.C. (Chesnee HS)

2 Tahir Annoor CB 5-11 195 Sr. Nashville, Tenn. (Brentwood Academy)

3 Carlton Terry II WR 6-0 170 Fr. Conway, S.C. (Conway HS)

3 Jaheem Hazel CB 6-0 190 Sr. Beaufort, S.C. (Whale Branch HS)

4 Trey Baker QB 6-2 170 Jr. Raleigh, N.C. (Leesville Road HS)

4 John Boyles LB 6-3 230 Jr. Traverse City, Mich. (Episcopal (Va.) HS)

4 Dylan Djete WR 6-0 180 Fr. Levis, Quebec (Clearwater International Academy (FL)

5 Miles Richardson DB 5-10 190 Sr. Atlanta, Ga. (Chapel Hill HS)

5 Jimmy Weirick QB 5-11 195 Sr.-5 Pickering, Ohio (Pickerington North HS)

6 Okachi Emmanwori DB 5-11 190 Sr. Irmo, S.C. (Presbyterian/ Irmo HS)

6 RJ Khayo WR 5-9 170 Sr. Cincinnati, Ohio (Archbishop Moeller HS)

8 Bryce Corriston QB 6-1 205 Jr. Spring, Texas (Klein HS)

8 Eli Purcell LB 6-2 235 So. Knoxville, Tenn. (Farragut HS)

9 John Michael DiRoberto S 6-0 195 Jr. Roswell, Ga. (Roswell HS)

9 Jordan Davis TE 6-2 225 So. Arlington, Texas (Trinity Valley CC / Timberline HS)

10 Cade Rice QB 6-3 215 Fr.-2 Enon, Ohio (South Dakota State / Northmont HS)

10 Harrison Morgan LB 6-3 220 Jr. Easley, S.C. (Wren HS)

11 Alec Holt WR 6-0 185 Jr. Jacksonville, Fla. (Gilbert (S.C.) HS)

11 Isaiah Wadsworth CB 6-0 185 Jr. Hampton, Ga. (St. Francis HS)

12 Ryan Ingram RB 5-11 210 Jr. Stone Mountain, Ga. (Stephenson HS)

12 Isaiah Mananga LB 6-3 205 So. Clayton, N.C. (Clayton HS)

13 Cam Smith WR 6-4 215 Fr. Dayton, Ohio (Centerville HS)

13 Amir Annoor CB 6-1 180 So. Nashville, Tenn. (Brentwood Academy)

14 Cam Clayton LB 6-3 210 Fr.-2 Gainesville, Fla. (Buchholz HS)

15 RJ Brunson DB 6-1 190 Fr. St. Matthews, S.C. (Calhoun County HS)

15 Kyle Pinnix ATH 6-1 200 Fr.-2 Reidsville, N.C. (Eden HS)

16 Rickie Shaw II WR 6-2 185 Fr. Jacksonville, Fla. (Riverside HS)

17 Javis Mynatt DB 6-0 185 Fr. Knoxville, Tenn. (Knoxville Catholic HS)

17 Chase Soper QB 6-0 215 So. Alexandria, Va. (James Madison / Hayfield HS)

18 Garrett Vernon WR 6-2 210 Jr. Elkin, N.C. (East Wilkes HS)

19 Gabriel Harris WR 6-2 190 Fr.-2 Sumter, S.C. (Laurence Manning Academy)

20 Damien Curtis DB 5-11 170 So. Gainesville, Fla. (Buchholz HS)

21 Nathan Walker RB 6-0 235 Sr.-5 Ridgeville, S.C. (Cross HS)

22 David Legette RB 5-10 180 Jr. Myrtle Beach, S.C. (Carolina Forest HS)

23 Landon Parker WR/P 6-3 210 Sr.-5 Concord, N.C. (Mt. Pleasant HS)

24 Ryan Stephens RB 6-0 224 Fr. Lawrenceville, Ga. (Collins Hill HS)

24 Jack Scroggs LB 6-1 220 Sr. Buford, Ga. (Buford HS)

25 Ezra King K/P 6-0 185 Jr. Newborn, Ga. (Eastside HS)

25 John Harrington Jr. CB 6-1 190 Sr. Katy, Texas (Seven Lakes HS)

26 Tommy Miller DB 6-0 180 Fr. Matthews, N.C. (Metrolina Christian Academy)

27 Michael Long RB 5-8 185 Fr.-2 Mt. Pleasant, S.C. (Bishop England HS)

28 Kyle Parsons RB 6-0 200 Fr. Weddington, N.C. (Weddington HS)

29 Grant Chandler WR 6-2 165 Fr. Ninety Six, S.C. (Greenwood HS)

30 Jackson Zehr S 6-1 190 Sr. Summerville, S.C. (Cane Bay HS)

31 Nick Morgan LB 6-2 205 Fr. Easley, S.C. (Wren HS)

32 Benny Radicia LB 6-0 220 So. Omaha, Neb. (Iowa Western / Omaha Westside HS)

33 Jalen Marshall LB 6-2 205 Fr. Hiram, Ga. (Air Force Prep / South Paulding HS)

34 Irvin Mulligan RB 5-10 205 Sr. Beaufort, S.C. (Whale Branch HS)

34 David Powers LB 6-0 225 Jr. El Paso, Texas (Cisco Junior College / Franklin HS)

35 Atkins Roberts K/P 6-0 175 Jr. Mountain Brook, Ala. (Mountain Brook HS)

36 Brandon Davenport TE 6-4 235 Fr. Kernersville, N.C. (East Forsyth HS)

38 Bridger Jones K 5-10 185 Fr. Columbus, Ga. (Columbus HS)

40 Jon Schaffer LB 6-2 238 Fr. Early Branch, S.C. (Andrew Jackson HS)

41 Mark Brown OLB 6-0 195 Fr. Columbia, S.C. (Hammond HS)

NO. NAME POS. HT. WT. YR.

HOMETOWN (PREVIOUS COLLEGE / HIGH SCHOOL)

41 Forrest Alvarez LS/TE 6-0 220 Sr. Lexington, S.C. (Lexington HS)

42 Marcus Gatling LB 5-11 215 So. Havelock, N.C. (Havelock HS)

43 C.J. Tillman DL 6-0 285 Jr. North Augusta, Ga. (Presbyterian / Fox Creek HS)

44 Devery Cagle K 6-0 175 Fr. Greenville, S.C. (Eastside HS)

45 Blake Shirley LS 6-0 190 Fr. Greer, S.C. (Eastside HS)

46 Andrew Guth DL 6-4 225 Fr. Johns Creek, Ga. (Johns Creek HS)

47 Camden Gray LB 6-3 240 So. Inman, S.C. (Chapman HS)

48 John Mazzella TE 6-0 225 Fr. Jacksonville, Fla. (Ponte Vedra HS)

49 Alvin Martin DL 6-1 305 Fr. Stafford, Va. (Episcopal HS)

50 Anthony Garcia OL 6-3 300 Jr. Leavenworth, Kansas (Independence CC / Leavenworth HS)

52 Seth Foster DL 6-3 275 Fr.-2 Blackshear, Ga. (Pierce County HS)

52 BenMarler OL 6-4 280 Fr.-2 Okatie, S.C. (May River HS)

53 Josh Harris DL 6-1 255 Fr.-2 Myrtle Beach, S.C. (Carolina Forest HS)

54 Jeremy Michaux OL 6-6 275 Sr. St. Augustine, Fla. (St. Augustine HS)

55 Cameron Woolery DL 6-1 245 Jr. Orland Park, Ill. (Carl Sandburg HS)

56 Jason Swann OL 6-3 300 Jr. Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Saint Thomas Aquinas / ASA Miami)

56 James Wells LB 6-0 225 Sr. Chapin, S.C. (Chapin HS)

57 Joey Kimberling LB 6-2 220 Fr.-2 Hampstead, N.C. (Topsail HS)

58 Marc Magno OL 6-4 300 Fr.-2 Charlotte, N.C. (Providence Day School)

59 Gavin Taylor OL 6-2 260 Fr.-2 West Columbia, S.C. (Brookland-Cayce HS)

60 Collin Springer LS 5-11 205 Sr.-5 Newberry, S.C. (Newberry HS)

61 Quincy Hughes OL 6-4 295 Fr.-2 Cincinnati, Ohio (Princeton HS)

62 Al Hogan OL 6-4 315 Sr.-5 Fayetteville, Ga. (Landmark Christian HS)

63 Julio Del Jesus OL 6-4 320 Fr.-2 Kissimmee, Fla. (Tohopekaliga HS)

64 Tayvian Gass OL 6-5 300 Sr. Sumter, S.C. (Sumter HS)

67 Lathan McComis OL 6-4 280 Fr. West Chester, Ohio (Lakota West HS)

68 Clayton Hixon OL 6-3 300 Fr. Jackson, Ga. (Jackson HS)

69 Andrew Vaught OL 6-6 270 Fr.-2 Roanoke, Va. (Toledo / Roanoke Catholic HS)

72 Jysaiah Cromer OL 6-4 290 Sr. Spartanburg, S.C. (Broome HS)

73 Briggs Kearse OL 6-4 300 Jr. Blackville, S.C. (Barnwell HS)

74 Nick Russo OL 6-2 300 Sr.-5 Chester, N.J. (St. Joseph Regional HS)

75 Bo Crutcher III OL 6-2 285 Fr. Charlotte, N.C. (Myers Park HS)

76 Luke Mabry OL 6-4 275 Fr.-2 Cowpens, S.C. (Gaffney HS)

77 Moxon Zehr OL 6-4 300 Fr.-2 Bluffton, S.C. (May River HS)

79 Griffin Reid OL 6-4 270 Fr.-2 Irmo, S.C. (Dutch Fork HS)

80 Daniel Nelson WR 6-5 200 Fr. Charlotte, N.C. (Covenant Day HS)

81 Kyle Watkins WR 6-0 170 So. Myrtle Beach, S.C. (Carolina Forest HS)

82 Corey Seay TE 6-2 225 Fr.-2 Chesnee, S.C. (Chesnee HS)

83 Hansen Englert TE 6-2 220 Fr. Jacksonville, Fla. (The Bolles School)

84 Will Daniel WR 6-2 195 Fr.-2 Charleston, S.C. (First Baptist School of Charleston)

85 Will Jordan WR 6-3 205 Jr. Mt. Pleasant, S.C. (Academic Magnet HS)

86 Bryson Dickerson TE 6-4 230 Fr. Bowman, Ga. (Elbert County HS)

87 Wyatt Bartkowiak TE 6-4 225 Jr. Boiling Springs, S.C. (Boiling Springs HS)

88 Dillon Droze TE 6-3 230 Jr. Roebuck, S.C. (Dorman HS)

89 Jacob Ritchie TE 6-4 235 So. Saint Johns, Fla. (Creekside HS)

90 Jacob Drag DL 6-4 250 Sr. Chapin, S.C. (Chapin HS)

91 Bra'Lyan Smith-Sapp DL 6-3 211 Fr. Myrtle Beach, S.C. (Saint James HS)

93 Brandon Maina DL 6-0 275 So. Hiram, Ga. (Hiram HS)

94 Marcus Dees DL 6-0 250 So. Montgomery, Ala. (Montgomery Catholic HS)

95 Anthonie Lattany DL 6-5 305 Jr. Nahunta, Ga. (Hutchinson CC / Brantley County HS)

96 Romello Gray DL 6-2 312 Sr. Ankeny, Iowa (Iowa Central CC / Ankeny HS)

97 Chuck Smith DL 6-3 260 Jr. Suwanee, Ga. (North Gwinnett HS)

98 Max Dulansky DL 6-2 260 Fr. Winter Garden, Fla. (West Orange HS)

99 Micheal Mason DL 6-3 270 Sr. Florence, S.C. (South Florence HS)

WESTERN CAROLINA – DEPTH CHART CATAMOUNTS OFFENSE (PRO SPREAD)

QB 5 CARLOS DAVIS 6-3 225 JR.

9 Cole Gonzales 6-0 190 Fr.

RB 0 TJ JONES 5-11 205 SR.

1 Desmond Reid 5-8 170 Fr. - or - 8 Jalynn Williams 5-10 205 Jr.

WR 2 RAPHAEL WILLIAMS 5-10 165 R-SO. 83 AJ Colombo 5-8 165 Fr.

WR 6 TERRENCE HORNE JR. 5-8 185 JR. 19 Toler Keigley 6-1 180 R-Fr. - or - 14 De’Andre Tamarez 5-11 165 Fr.

WR 7 DAVID WHITE JR. 6-4 200 JR. 10 Censere Lee 5-11 160 Fr.

TE 86 CLAYTON BARDALL 6-3 235 JR. 11 Ajay Belanger 6-3 245 Jr.

LT 74 TYLER SMITH 6-8 300 R-JR. 75 Caleb Carter 6-3 295 So.

LG 77 NEYLAND WALKER 6-5 305 R-FR. 76 Nate Linkous 6-5 295 R-Fr.

C 72 BLAKE WHITMORE 6-2 295 R-SO. 73 Samari Saddler 6-2 320 Jr. - or - 51 Aaron Sanez 6-2 295 Fr.

RG 67 DALTON TOMILSON 6-4 325 5TH 52 Antwann Fann 6-3 320 R-So.

RT 70 CHRISTIAN COULTER 6-5 320 JR. 78 Evan Carney 6-3 290 Fr.

CATAMOUNTS DEFENSE (4–2–5)

DE 6 KJ MILNER 6-4 265 SR. 50 Jayelin Davis 6-0 230 Jr.

NOSE 90 MARLON ALEXANDER 6-0 320 JR. 99 Ronald Wilson 6-3 318 R-So.

DT 91 JAQUARIUS GUINN 6-2 280 SO. 93 Chris Morgan 6-0 285 So.

BNDT 9 MICAH NELSON 6-3 255 R-SO. 94 Timothy Jamison 6-4 255 Jr.

LB 53 EJ PORTER 6-1 245 JR. - OR - 8 VA LEALAIMATAFAO 6-1 230 JR.

LB 7 HAYWARD McQUEEN III 6-1 195 FR. 20 Ed Jones IV 6-1 205 So.

LB 0 JAYLEN FLOYD 5-9 180 GR.

- OR - 24 SAMAURIE DUKES 5-10 185 FR.

CB 2 ROD GATTISON 6-0 190 JR. 4 C.J. Williams 5-10 170 So.

S 21 ANDREAS KEATON 6-2 190 SO. 3 Jacob Harris 6-1 195 Jr.

S 5 MATEO SUDIPO 6-1 205 R-SO. 37 Lee Campbell 6-0 205 Fr.

CB 1 CAMERON McCUTCHEON 6-3 195 5TH 10 Taurus Dotson Jr. 5-11 200 Sr.

CATAMOUNTS SPECIAL TEAMS

KO 46 PAXTON ROBERTSON 6-0 205 SO. 89 Richard McCollum 5-9 175 R-Jr.

PK 89 RICHARD MCCOLLUM 5-9 175 R-JR. 46 Paxton Robertson 6-0 205 So.

P 38 BRANDON DICKERSON 5-11 190 SR. 46 Paxton Robertson 6-0 205 So.

H 38 BRANDON DICKERSON 5-11 190 SR. 9 Cole Gonzales 6-0 190 Fr.

LS 55 KEVIN THOMPSON 5-10 185 JR. 64 Colby Cross 5-11 220 R-So.

KOR 6 TERRENCE HORNE 5-8 185 JR.

- AND - 8 JALYNN WILLIAMS 5-10 205 JR.

PR 83 AJ COLOMBO 5-8 165 FR. 8 Jalynn Williams 5-10 205 Jr.

WOFFORD – DEPTH CHART

TERRIERS OFFENSE (PRO SPREAD)

QB 5 JIMMY WEIRICK 5-11 195 5TH 10 Cade Rice 6-3 215 Fr.-2 8 Bryce Corriston 6-1 205 Jr.

RB 21 NATHAN WALKER 6-0 235 5TH 28 Kyle Parsons 6-0 200 Fr. WR-X 23 LANDON PARKER 6-3 210 5TH 0 Devin Matthews 6-4 205 Sr.

WR-Y 6 R.J. KHAYO 5-9 170 SR. 15 Kyle Pinnix 6-1 200 Fr.-2

WR-Z 4 DYLAN DJETE 6-0 175 FR. 81 Kyle Watkins 6-0 170 So.

TE 89 JACOB RITCHIE 6-4 235 SO. 9 Jordan Davis 6-2 225 So.

LT 56 JASON SWANN 6-3 300 JR. 54 Jeremy Michaux 6-6 275 Jr.

LG 73 BRIGGS KEARSE 6-4 300 JR. 68 Clayton Hixon 6-3 300 Fr.

C 50 ANTHONY GARCIA 6-3 300 JR. 67 Lathan McComis 6-4 280 Fr.

RG 62 AL HOGAN 6-4 315 5TH 63 Julio Del Jesus 6-4 320 Fr.-2

RT 64 TAYVIAN GASS 6-5 300 SR. 72 Jysaiah Cromer 6-4 290 Sr.

TERRIERS DEFENSE (MULTIPLE 3–4)

DE 99 MICHEAL MASON 6-3 270 SR. 55 Cameron Woolery 6-1 245 Jr.

NT 93 BRANDON MAINA 6-0 275 SO. 43 C.J. Tillman 6-0 285 Jr.

DE 97 CHUCK SMITH 6-3 260 JR. 94 Marcus Dees 6-0 250 So.

OLB 33 JALEN MARSHALL 6-2 205 FR. -OR- 12 ISAIAH MANANGA 6-3 205 SO.

ILB 8 ELI PURCELL 6-2 220 GR. 32 Benny Radicia 6-0 220 So. ILB 34 DAVID POWERS 6-0 225 SO. 24 Jack Scroggs 6-1 220 Sr.

OLB 4 JOHN BOYLES 6-3 230 JR. 10 Harrison Morgan 6-3 220 Jr.

CB 11 ISAIAH WADSWORTH 6-0 180 JR. 6 Oka Emmanwori 5-1 190 Sr.

FS 2 TAHIR ANNOOR 5-11 190 SR. -OR- 9 JOHN MICHAEL DIROBERTO 6-0 195 JR.

SS 5 MILES RICHARDSON 5-10 190 SR. -OR- 2 TAHIR ANNOOR 5-11 190 SR

CB 3 JAHEEM HAZEL 6-0 190 SR. 13 Amir Annoor 6-1 180 So.

TERRIERS SPECIAL TEAMS

KO 38 BRIDGER JONES 5-10 185 FR. 35 Atkins Roberts 5-11 175 Jr.

PK 35 ATKINS ROBERTS 5-11 175 JR. - OR - 38 BRIDGER JONES 5-10 185 FR.

P 35 ATKINS ROBERTS 5-11 175 JR. - OR - 23 LANDON PARKER 6-3 210 5TH

H 8 BRYCE CORRISTON 6-1 205 JR. 44 Devery Cagle 6-0 175 Fr.

LS 60 COLLIN SPRINGER 5-11 220 5TH 41 Forrest Alvarez 6-0 220 Sr.

KOR 28 KYLE PARSONS 6-0 200 FR. 18 Garrett Vernn 6-2 210 Jr.

PR 6 R.J. KHAYO 5-9 170 SR. 6 Oka Emmanwori 5-11 190 Sr.

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TJ Jones 7–7

Jalynn Williams 7–0

Carlos Davis 6–6

PASSING GP–GS

Carlos Davis 6–6

Cole Gonzales 6–2

WESTERN CAROLINA vs. wofford terriers

INDIVIDUAL

RUSHING GP Att Gain Loss Net Avg TD Long Avg/G

Kyle Parsons 8 75 352 7 345 4.6 2 45 43.1 Nathan Walker 8 79 266 15 251 3.2 5 15 31.4 Ryan Ingram 2 19 93 0 93 4.9 0 28 46.5 David Legette 6 35 71 18 53 1.5 1 9 8.8

PASSING GP Effic Cmp-Att-Int Pct Yds TD Lng Avg/G

68.2 844 7 69 140.7

RECEIVING GP–GS No. Yds Avg TD Long Avg/G Raphael Williams 8–7 38 484 12.7 4 69 60.5 David White Jr. 8–8 19 372 19.5 5 75 46.5 Censere Lee 8–0 17 358 21.0 4 72 44.8 Jalynn Willams 7–0 26 253 9.7 1 30 36.1 Terrence Horne 7–6 11 203 18.5 4 49 29.0

PUNT RETURNS No. Yds Avg TD Long AJ Colombo 12 117 9.8 0 39

KICK RETURNS No. Yds Avg TD Long Terrence Horne 14 321 22.9 0 39 Jalynn Williams 6 95 15.8 0 30

PUNTING No. Yds Avg Long TB FC I20 50+ Blkd Brandon Dickerson 21 907 43.2 61 2 5 7 5 1

PATs

SCORING TD FGs Kick Rush Rcv Pass DXP Saf Points Richard McCollum 0 11-13 32-33 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 65 David White Jr. 5 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 30 Censere Lee 4 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 24 Terrence Horne Jr. 4 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 24

TOTAL OFFENSE G Plays Rush Pass Total Avg/G

Carlos Davis 6 249

Cole Gonzales 6

Desmond Reid 6

ALL PURPOSE G Rush Rec PR

Desmond Reid 7

Terrence Horne 7

Jalynn Williams 7

WESTERN CAROLINA DEFENSIVE LEADERS:

Tot Avg/G

Jimmy Weirick 8 127.5 128-219-5 58.4 1,606 8 68 200.8 Cade Rice 1 35.5 1-4-0 25.0 5 0 5 5.0

RECEIVING GP No. Yds Avg TD Long Avg/G Landon Parker 8 29 594 20.5 2 68 74.3 RJ Khayo 8 13 165 12.7 1 35 20.6 Devin Matthews 8 12 144 12.0 1 30 18.0 Dylan Djete 8 12 131 10.9 0 60 16.38 Kyle Watkins 8 10 117 11.7 1 22 14.63

PUNT RETURNS No. Yds Avg TD Long RJ Khayo 4 22 5.5 0 11

KICK RETURNS No. Yds Avg TD Long Kyle Parsons 18 403 22.4 0 72 Garrett Vernon 2 34 17.0 0 26

PUNTING No. Yds Avg Long TB FC I20 50+ Blkd Atkins Roberts 44 1585 36.0 52 3 20 15 6 0

PATs ---------------|

SCORING TD FGs Kick Rush Rcv Pass DXP Saf Points

Nathan Walker 5 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 30 Bridger Jones 0 3-3 13-13 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 22 Kyle Parsons 3 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 18 Landon Parker 2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 12

TOTAL OFFENSE G Plays Rush Pass Total Avg/G Jimmy Weirick 8 262 -31 1606 1575 196.9 Kyle Parsons 8 75 345 0 345 43.1 Nathan Walker 8 79 251 0 251 31.4

ALL PURPOSE G Rush Rec PR KOR IR Tot Avg/G Kyle Parsons 8 345 75 0 403 0 823

Landon Parker 8 0 594 0 0 0 594 74.2 Nathan Walker 6 251 11 0 0 0 262 32.8

HEAD–TO–HEAD TEAM COMPARISONS:

2022 WOFFORD DEFENSIVE LEADERS:

Mateo

Micah

6–1 10–13 =

Lee Campbell 8–0 10–11 =

Samaurie Dukes 8–2 13–8 =

TFL Leaders:

Porter

Milner

Sacks Leaders:

Porter

Minler

Interceptions Leaders:

Andreas Keaton

Fumbles Forced Leader:

Nine players tied

Fumbles Recovered Leader:

Four players

WCU Offense WOF 263 .............................Scoring ............................ 129 32.8 Points Per Game 16.1 204 First Downs 125 4,033 Total Yards Gained 2,320 504.1 Yards Per Game 290.0 1,481 Rushing Yardage 709 185.1 Rushing Average per Game 88.6 2,552 Passing Yardage 1,611 319.0 ........... Passing Average per Game..........201.3

WCU Team Stats WOF 67–728 (91 0) Penalties–Yards 39–346 (43 2) 42/103, 41% 3rd Down Conversion 37/113, 33% 6/15, 40% 4th Down Conversion 7/10, 70%

WCU Defense WOF 276 Points Allowed 235 34.6 Points Allowed Per Game 29.3 3,181 Total Yards Allowed 3,465 397.6 Yards Allowed Per Game 433.1 1,604 Rushing Yards Allowed 1,739 200.5 Rushing Average Allowed 203.9 1,577 Passing Yards Allowed 1,834 197.1 Passing Average Allowed 229.2

Tackles Leaders: GP UA–AA = Total Avg.

David Powers 8 23-27 = 50 6-3

John DiRoberto 8 23-14 = 37 4.6

Eli Purcell 8 21-14 = 35 4.4

Jalen Marshall 6 18-17 = 35 5.8

Tahir Annoor 8 25-9 = 34 4.3

Miles Richardson 8 25-6 = 31 3.9

John Boyles 8 15-16 = 31 3.9

Micheal Mason 8 17-10 = 27 3.4

Isaiah Mananga 8 12-12 = 24 3.0

Okachi Emmanwori 8 14-7 = 21 2.6 Brandon Maina 7 11-10 = 20 2.8

TFL Leaders: Total Yds Micheal Mason 6.5 32 David Powers 3.5 14

Sacks Leaders: Total Yds Micheal Mason 5.5 31 David Powers 2.5 12

Interceptions Leaders: Total – Return Yds Amir Annoor 1 – 19

Fumbles Forced Leader: Total Five players tied 1 Fumbles Recovered Leader: Total Tahir Annoor 2

LOOKING BACK: LAST TIME WE MET WESTERN CAROLINA AT WOFFORD

WESTERN CAROLINA 41, WOFFORD 21 GIBBS STADIUM – SPARTANBURG, SC SAT., OCT. 30, 2021

TEAM STATS: WCU WOF

SCORING SUMMARY:

QTR TIME PLAY DRIVE SUMMARY WCU WOF

1st 12:41 WCU – Rogan Wells 32 yd run (McCollum kick) 6 plays, 76 yards, 2:13 7 0

3:51 WCU – Richard McCollum 37 yd field goal 8 plays, 49 yards, 3:21 10 0

2nd 14:31 WOF – Irvin Mulligan 1 yd run (Gliarmis,W kick) 9 plays, 64 yards, 4:14 10 7

13:59 WCU – Calvin Jones 72 yd pass from Rogan Wells (McCollum kick) 2 plays, 73 yards, 0:28 17 7

7:55 WCU – Richard McCollum 23 yd field goal

11 plays, 59 yards, 4:02 20 7

2:11 WCU – Raphael Williams 9 yd pass from Rogan Wells (McCollum kick) 10 plays, 51 yards, 3:16 27 7

0:23 WCU – Raphael Williams 27 yd pass from Rogan Wells (McCollum kick) 4 plays, 37 yards, 1:07 34 7

3rd 8:28 WCU – Brayden Blackmon 3 yd pass from Rogan Wells (McCollum kick) 10 plays, 75 yards, 3:44 41 7

4th 7:35 WOF – David Legette 19 yd run (Gliarmis kick) 6 plays, 52 yards, 3:14 41 14

2:29 WOF – Wyatt Bartkowiak 11 yd pass from Kyle Pinnix (Gliarmis kick) 7 plays, 62 yards, 3:49 41 21

FIRST DOWNS 21 20 Rushing 7 15 Passing 14 3 Penalty 0 2 RUSHING 132 316 Rushing Att 29 54 Yds per rush 4 6 5 9 Rushing TDs 1 2 Yards Gained 149 332 Yards Lost 17 16

PASSING 327 35 Comp-Att 26-39-0 4-12-1 Yds per pass 12 6 8 8

Passing TDs 4 1

TOTAL YARDS 459 351 Plays 68 66 Fumbles–Lost 1–0 1–1 Interceptions 0 1

PENALTIES 4–50 3–20

TURNOVERS 0 2

TIME OF POSS 26:23 33:37

3RD DOWN CONV 5 of 14 5 of 12

Quarterback ROGAN WELLS returned to the starting lineup after missing two games and threw for 309 yards and four touchdowns over just two-plus quarters of action, earning SoCon Offensive Player of the Week plaudits. Wells accounted for 357 yards of total offense and five TDs – adding a rushing score – in guiding the Catamounts to a 41-7 thirdquarter lead before exiting the game, playing just one series after halftime. Wells completed 70% of his passes for a QB efficiency rating of 200.52.

4TH DOWN CONV 1 of 1 0 of 1 FGS MADE 2 for 2 0 for 1

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS: PASSING

Rogan Wells, WCU 21-30-0 309 yds, 4 TDs

Kyle Pinnix, WOF 2-2-0 21 yds, TD

RUSHING

Rogan Wells, WCU 6 carries, 48 yds, TD

TJ Jones, WCU 10 carries, 40 yds

Irvin Mulligan, WOF 12 carries, 101 yds, TD

Catamount WR RAPHAEL WILLIAMS caught a school-record 16 passes for 177 receiving yards and two touchdowns in WCU's winning effort. Williams' 16 receptions eclipsed the previous school benchmark of 15 accomplished twice by Terryon Robinson in both 2014 and 2016 and Eric Rasheed in 1984. WR CALVIN JONES and TE BRAYDEN BLACKMON both caught receiving scores.

Senior LB KAREEM TAYLOR paced WCU with 10 tackles including 1.5 tackles for loss. Taylor was also credited with a forced fumble to key a strong defensive effort. JACOB HARRIS and MARLON ALEXANDER were both credited with five tackles with Alexander recording two tackles for loss with one of two sacks for the Catamounts. ROD GATTISON came up with his second interception of the season with a second-quarter pick that set-up WCU's final score of the opening half.

Jamari Broussard, WOF 9 carries, 54 yds

David Legette, WOF 4 carries, 43 yds, TD

RECEIVING

Raphael Williams, WCU 16 rec. 177 yds, 2 TDs

Calvin Jones, WCU 1 rec. 72 yds, TD

Wyatt Bartkowiak, WOF 1 rec. 11 yds, TD

DEFENSIVE LEADERS: TACKLES

Kareem Taylor, WCU 10 tckls (8ua, 2a, 1.5 TFL)

Jacob Harris, WCU 5 tckls (5ua)

Marlon Alexander, WCU 5 tckls (3ua, 2a, 2 TFL)

Tahir Annoor, WOF 5 tckls (5ua)

John Beckley, WOF 5 tckls (2ua, 3a)

Micheal Mason, WOF 5 tckls (1ua, 4a)

SACKS

M. Alexander / C. Gadie 1 sack apiece

none

DEFENDING CATAMOUNTS

2022 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL – SEASON GAME-BY-GAME

at Charleston Southern Saturday, Sept. 3 Charleston, S.C. W, 52-38

at Georgia Tech Saturday, Sept. 10 Atlanta, Ga. L, 35-17

PRESBYTERIAN Saturday, Sept. 17 CULLOWHEE W, 77-21

at No. 21/22 Samford * Saturday, Sept. 24 Birmingham, Ala. L, 35-12

VMI * Saturday, Oct. 1 CULLOWHEE W, 38-17

at #12/12 Mercer * Saturday, Oct. 8 Macon, Ga. L, 49-6

at Furman * Saturday, Oct. 15 Greenville, S.C. L, 47-40

THE CITADEL * Saturday, Oct. 22 CULLOWHEE L, 34-21

WOFFORD * Saturday, Nov. 5 CULLOWHEE 2:00 pm – Nexstar / ESPN3

at ETSU * Saturday, Nov. 12 Johnson City, Tenn. 1:00 pm – ESPN+

CHATTANOOGA * Saturday, Nov. 19 CULLOWHEE 1:00 pm – ESPN+

2022 NCAA FCS PLAYOFFS Saturday, Nov. 26 TBA

CHARLESTON, SC – Western Carolina raced out to a 31-7 lead over Charleston Southern and held on for its first season-opening road win in 20 years with the 52-38 win at Buccaneer Field. QB Carlos Davis amassed 461 yards of total offense including a career-high 433 passing yards and a school-record six touchdown passes to six different players – 5 receivers, one running back. It was the second career 400-yard passing game for Davis. Dating back to last season, the Catamounts have won five of their last six games overall that includes four-straight road games.

ATLANTA – Carlos Davis threw a pair of first quarter touchdowns as Western Carolina jumped out to an early 14-7 lead, but four turnovers proved costly as Georgia Tech used a strong ground attack and four-consecutive touch downs including a 14-point second quarter to upend the upset-minded Catamounts 35-17 at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Western Carolina outgained Georgia Tech 390-to-343 in total offensive yards in the loss, with the Catamounts losing a fumble and tossing three interceptions to thwart the upset bid.

CULLOWHEE, NC – Western Carolina shook off a sluggish offensive start to match a school-record for points and set a program record with a balanced 766 yards of total offense in cruising to a 77-21 home-opening victory over Presby terian. Five different quarterbacks orchestrated scoring drives with freshman Cole Gonzales tossing three TD passes and scoring one on the ground with three Catamounts – running backs Desmond Reid and Corey Reddick and wide receiver De'Andre Tamarez – scoring twice, while Reid rushed for 175 yards. WCU had seven sacks defensively.

BIRMINGHAM – Western Carolina amassed 456 yards of total offense including 310 yards through the air and 156 rushing yards but was held out of the endzone in settling for a career-best four Richard McCollum field goals as No. 21/22 Samford handed the Catamounts a league-opening 35-12 setback at Seibert Stadium. Bulldog QB Michael Hiers finished 24-of-30 for 292 passing yards with four touchdown passes to four different receivers while tossing his first interception of the season.

CULLOWHEE, NC – Carlos Davis threw four touchdown passes and the Western Carolina defense came up with three turnovers for a 38-17 win over VMI. Davis found four different receivers and was 30-of-44 passing for 336 yards with two interceptions. Raphael Williams had six catches for 103 yards, including a 69-yard connection for the final touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Jalynn Williams hauled in 10 passes for 94 yards. The Catamounts hauled down Keydet quarterbacks seven times to go with a pair of interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

MACON, GA – No. 12 Mercer scored touchdowns on six of its nine drives in the opening half en route to 49-6 vic tory over Western Carolina at Five Star Stadium. Fred Payton threw three touchdowns passes and Mercer held the Southern Conference’s top-scoring team to a pair of field goals. Two Catamount quarterbacks – Carlos Davis and Cole Gonzalez – combined for 175 yards passing with four interceptions, two made by the Bears’ Isaac Dowling, while Western Carolina was held to 74 rushing yards on 31 carries.

GREENVILLE, SC – Dominic Roberto ran for 252 yards and two touchdowns, Tyler Huff threw for three scores and Furman outlasted Western Carolina's fourth-quarter rally to score a 47-40 win at Paladin Stadium. WCU freshman Cole Gonzales came off the bench to complete 12-of-16 passes for 253 yards and two scores. He hit Censere Lee for 42- and 69-yard scores in the final frame, pulling WCU to within 44-40. Furman added a field goal with 1:06 left. Gonzales then found Lee on the final play of the game, but he was tackled at the 5-yard line as time ran out.

CULLOWHEE, NC – Freshman running back Desmond Reid ran for a team-best 129 yards, and classmate quarter back Cole Gonzales threw for two touchdowns, but Western Carolina was unable to overcome a strong first half by The Citadel in a 34-21 loss to the Bulldogs. Defensively, Hayward McQueen III made a career-high 12 tackles, seven of which were solo. K.J. Milner, Va Lealaimatafao, and Ed Jones IV each had eight stops with Jones also recording one tackle for loss.

Following its bye week, Western Carolina hosts Wofford in Cullowhee on Homecoming, 2022. WCU ended a fourgame series slide against the Terriers with a convincing 41-21 win in Spartanburg, S.C., in 2021. WR Raphael Wil liams caught a WCU single-game school-record 16 passes for 177 yards and two TDs in the victory. Wofford leads the all-time series, 15-28. The early-November match-up is the first in Cullowhee since 2018 after COVID cancelled the 2020 series meeting.

The mountain-rivalry is rekindled in WCU’s final road game of 2022 as the Catamounts visit defending SoCon champion ETSU in the “Blue Ridge Border Battle” with the traveling trophy again on the line. ETSU retained “the Rock” with a 56-35 win in Cullowhee in 2021. The all-time series now stands even at 25-25-1 with three of the last four series meetings decided in one-possession games including a pair of overtime games.

Western Carolina concludes the regular-season portion of its 2022 schedule by hosting one of the league’s fa vorites, Chattanooga, at Whitmire Stadium. The Mocs have won three-straight over WCU with victories in 11 of the past 12 meetings overall. The last two series meetings – 2019 and 2021 – were both played in Chattanooga with the Nov. 19 match-up marking the first in Cullowhee since 2018 after COVID cancelled the 2020 series meeting.

Western Carolina looks to halt a 39-year drought of advancing to the NCAA postseason. WCU looks to make a return to the NCAA Division I FCS playoffs for the first time since making a run to the national title game in 1983 – the FIRST SoCon team to play for the national title. The Southern Conference regular season champion will garner the league’s automatic bid into the postseason field.

Makayla Deel

Senior from Nebo, N.C.

Major: Elementary Education

Kaitlyn Houser Senior from Vale, N.C.

Major: Business Administration & Law

Vae Jutte Junior from Sylva, N.C. Major: Psychology

Alyssa Marler Junior from Greer, S.C. Major: Business Administration & Law

Zoe Mehdi Senior from Charlotte, N.C. Major: Elementary Education

Brandon Rice Senior from Irmo, S.C.

Major: Communications

Gillian Robbins Senior from Charlotte, N.C.

Major: Management and Marketing

James Simon Senior from Burlington, N.C. Major: Biology

Raemon Suber Junior from Fletcher, N.C. Major: Criminal Justice

Sarah Tisinger Senior from Belville, N.C. Major: Emergency and Disaster Management

WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY 2022 HOMECOMING NOBILITY

head coach >>>>>>>>>>>> KERWIN BELL

season

An accomplished player who worked his way from walkon to All-American to the National Football League, and a 12-year veteran head coach who won a combined four conference championships and the 2018 NCAA Division II National Championship, KERWIN BELL was named the 14th head football coach at Western Carolina University by Director of Athletics Alex Gary on April 27, 2021.

Bell entered the 2021 season with 97 career victories between his three coaching stops.

Western Carolina rebounded from a six-game slide to start Bell's first season in Cullowhee in 2021 by winning four of its final five games to finish the Southern Conference slate at 4-4. After being picked ninth in the preseason, the Catamounts finished tied for fourth in the league SoCon standings, defeating both teams amongst the tie including a 43-42 win over Furman in Cullowhee and a 52-24 win over defending conference champion VMI to end the regular-season.

Bell came to Cullowhee having served as the offensive coordinator at the University of South Florida under head coach Charlie Strong in 2019. He most recently walked off the field as a head coach following the 2018 NCAA Division II national championship, leading the Valdosta State Blazers where he coached for three seasons, twice making playoff appearances.

Over a 12-year head coaching career, Bell led the football programs at Valdosta State (2016-18) and Jacksonville University (2007-15). He did this coming on the heels of a 13-year playing career in professional football that included several stops in the NFL and the Canadian Football League.

Bell served three seasons as the head coach at Valdosta State where he also guided the offense. He led the Blazers to a 27-7 record during his tenure including a school-record 15 straight victories, two Division II playoff appearances, and won both a conference and a national championship in 2018. He was named the 2018 Don Hansen NCAA Division II Co-Coach of the Year and the Gulf South Conference Co-

Coach of the Year after leading VSU to a 14-0 record – the first unbeaten season in program history that included a thrilling 49-47 victory over Ferris State in the D-II National Championship game. Picked fifth in their conference in the preseason and the No. 3 seed entering the playoffs, the Blazers finished No. 1 nationally in the final AFCA D–II poll.

Bell’s 2018 offense led the nation in scoring (52.0 ppg), ranked second in first downs (341), and was fourth in total offense (523.9 ypg), red-zone offense (.901), and pass efficiency (167.37). The Blazers scored 728 points on the year, the most in NCAA Division II history, as they posted 7,334 yards (3,676 rushing/3,658 passing) and 7.9 yards per play on the year.

Within Bell’s system, VSU sophomore quarterback Rogan Wells finished as the runner-up for the Harlon Hill Trophy, presented to the Division II Player of the Year, and was named both the Region Two and Gulf South Conference Offensive Player of the Year. Wells accounted for 50 touchdowns on the year (including one receiving), led the nation in points responsible for (300), was second in passing

PERSONAL INFORMATION:

BORN: June 15, 1965

HOMETOWN: Mayo, Fla.

ALMA MATER: Florida, 1987

FAMILY: Wife, Cosette Odom; Three children; Kade, Kolton, and Kenzley

PLAYING EXPERIENCE:

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, former walk-on, three-year starter at QB (1984-88); SEC Player of the Year (1984); First-Team All-SEC (1985) and Honorable mention AllAmerica (1985, 1986)

u Florida–Georgia Hall of Fame, 1996 inductee

u Univ. of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame, 1997 inductee

MIAMI DOLPHINS (NFL), 7th-round draft pick (180), 1988

ATLANTA FALCONS (NFL), 1988

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (NFL), 1989

ORLANDO THUNDER (WLAF), 1991-92

SACRAMENTO GOLD MINERS (CFL), 1993-94

EDMONTON ESKIMOS (CFL), 1995

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (NFL), 1996-97

TORONTO ARGONAUTS (CFL), 1998

u CFL East All-Star (1998)

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS (CFL), 1999-2000

TORONTO ARGONAUTS (CFL), 2000-01

COACHING EXPERIENCE:

UNIV. OF FLORIDA, graduate assistant (1990)

TORONTO ARGONAUTS, offensive coordinator (2000-01)

TRINITY CATHOLIC HIGH, head coach (2002-06)

JACKSONVILLE UNIV., head coach (2007-15)

u Pioneer Football League Coach of the Year (2008)

VALDOSTA STATE UNIV., head coach (2016-18)

u Gulf South Conference Co-Coach of the Year (2018)

u Don Hansen NCAA Division II Co-Coach of the Year (2018)

u NCAA Division II National Champion (2018)

UNIV. OF SOUTH FLORIDA, offensive coordinator (2019)

WESTERN CAROLINA UNIV., head coach (2021–)

touchdowns (38) and points responsible for per game (21.4 ppg), 10th in passing yards (3,075), 12th in passing efficiency (160.6) and 25th in total offense (271.9 ypg). He finished second on the team with 732 yards rushing and led the team with 11 rushing touchdowns.

Additionally, senior offensive linemen Jeremy King was the runner-up for the Gene Upshaw Award presented to the most outstanding Division II lineman.

Bell led VSU to runner-up conference finishes in his first two years guiding the program and went 8-3 with a playoff appearance in his first season at the helm in 2016 as the Blazers led the nation with 27 interceptions on defense.

Prior to Valdosta, Bell led Jacksonville University for nine seasons, guiding the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) program to a 66-35 record and three Pioneer Football League (PFL) championships. Serving as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach as well as head coach, Bell was named the 2008 PFL Coach of the Year and was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award after leading the Dolphins to a 9-4 seasonal record and conference title.

He also led Jacksonville to a school-best 10-1 record and conference championship in 2010 as the Dolphins led the nation in total (486 ypg) and scoring (42.2 ppg) offense. JU also posted a 9-2 overall mark and won a conference title in 2014.

Before taking over the Jacksonville program, Bell led Trinity Catholic High School in Ocala, Fla., for six seasons (2001-06), earning a Florida 2B state title in 2005 and runnerup finish in 2006. His coaching career began in earnest at the end of his professional playing career as he served as the offensive coordinator for two seasons while still a player for the Toronto Argonauts (2000-01).

Originally from Mayo, Fla., Bell was a quarterback at the University of Florida from 1983-87 where he completed over 57 percent of his 953 pass attempts for 7,585 yards and 56 touchdowns. A former walk-on, Bell concluded his collegiate career as the SEC Player of the Year in 1984 after leading Florida to a 9-1-1 record and a conference championship, and both a first-team All-SEC selection and

All-America honorable mention in 1985, a season that saw the Gators earn the programs first-ever No. 1 national ranking in the Associated Press poll. Garnering a second honorable mention All-America honor in 1986, Bell was a 1987 team captain and earned the program’s Fergie Ferguson Award.

Bell was ranked the No. 26 Greatest Gator of all-time from the first 100 years of football at Florida in 2006 by The Gainesville Sun. Bell later served as a graduate assistant for the 1990 season under Steve Spurrier at Florida after earning a degree in psychology in 1987.

He was selected in the seventh round of the 1988 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins, beginning his 13-year professional career that saw stops with the NFL teams in Miami, Atlanta, Tampa Bay, and Indianapolis as well as stops in the Canadian Football League, where he passed for 19,538 yards and 101 touchdowns in nine seasons, and the World League of American Football (WLAF).

Married in 1986 while both students at Florida, Bell and his wife, Cosette, have three children: sons Kade and Kolton, and a daughter, Kenzley.

DANIEL HOOKER JEFF BRYSON GARY AYERS

WESTERN

UNIVERSITY – 2022 FOOTBALL COACHING STAFF

KADE

CHRIS NORRIS

COORDINATOR

BRIAN COCHRAN ASSISTANT COACH / DEFENSIVE LINE

JEREMY DARVEAU ASSISTANT COACH / OFFENSIVE LINE

TODD

TRENT

SYDNEY

LARRY MURPHY

RUDI SMALL ASSISTANT COACH

BACKS

RYLAN WELLS

COACH

WESTERN

WCU FOOTBALL

ASSISTANTS

STAFF

MIKE TAYLOR HEAD ATHLETIC

MANAGER

Dylan Quick Student Assistant Klein Sawtelle Student Assistant

Jacob Floyd Student Assistant Ethan Harris Student Assistant

Dante Johnson Student Assistant

Jeff Burger Volunteer Assistant Coach

Landon Brown Volunteer Assistant Coach

Adam Bobo, Jonathan Daniels, Carter Honeycutt Matthew Horne, Bryson Jusko, Bradley Krpejs, Josh Stapelton

BAILEY FORST ASSISTANT SPORTS PERFORMANCE COACH

CONNOR OWENS ASSISTANT SPORTS PERFORMANCE COACH

AUSTIN DAVIS

WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY – 2022 CATAMOUNT FOOTBALL

ALEX GARY

WESTERN CAROLINA DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS

championship baseball team and participated in the NCAA regionals held in Wilson.

“I have a strong affinity and love for WCU. Three groomsmen in my wedding came from my time in Cullowhee as a three-year student athlete. WCU had an immeasurable impact on my life, and I welcome the opportunity to come back in a leadership capacity,” Gary said.

“My personal experience as a former student-athlete at WCU deepens my understanding of this institution and what is needed to advance Catamount Athletics. I couldn’t ask for a better opportunity to help develop student-athletes during a critically important time in their lives, especially at a place where I spent those same significant years,” he said.

At Oregon State, he has been a member of the execu tive leadership team responsible for the athletics depart ment’s $85 million budget, 150 employees and more than 500 student-athletes. He oversees the 16-member athletics development team, which raised nearly $26 mil lion in 2019, a record for the Beavers’ athletics program. That fundraising effort included a $3.5 million sports performance center renovation, $2.3 million women’s locker room renovation, and $2.6 million baseball stadium expansion.

Alex Gary, a former student-athlete on the Western Carolina University baseball team was dubbed the next director of the Catamount athletics program in late February 2020. Gary had most recently served as senior associate athletics director for development at Oregon State University.

WCU Chancellor Kelli R. Brown announced the selection of Gary on Friday, Feb. 28 to serve as director of athletics following approval of his contract by the university’s Board of Trustees during a special confer ence call meeting earlier in the day. The appointment, which is effective May 1, follows a national search conducted by a 15-member committee work ing with the assistance of the North Carolina-based executive search consulting firm Col legiate Sports Associates. During his first couple of years as the Athletics Director at WCU, Gary successfully navigated the department through the COVID-19 pan demic while also overseeing the hiring of 50 employees including three high-profile sport head coaches – men's basketball head coach Justin Gray; Kerwin Bell, head football coach; and Alan Beck, head baseball coach.

Gary was appointed to the 2022-23 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Committee, officially beginning his appointment on Sept. 1, 2022 with a term running through Aug. 31, 2027. He was also appointed to the NCAA Baseball Rules Committee. His four-year term on that committee also began Sept. 1, 2022, and continues through Aug. 31, 2026.

Prior to coming to Cullowhee, Gary served as senior associate director of athletics and the department’s chief development officer at Oregon State beginning in Sep tember 2017. He previously served as associate athletics director for development and external relations at the University of Maryland from 2014 until 2017. He also has held development positions at the University of Michigan and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Gary’s professional experience in major collegiate athletics conferences, such as the Pac-12 and Big Ten,

combined with his personal familiarity with WCU as a former student-athlete make him a perfect fit to take over the helm of the Catamount athletics program, Brown said.

“I asked the search committee to identify an extraor dinary leader to guide the Catamount athletics program into the next era and who will provide our coaches and professional staff with the resources necessary to help our student-athletes enjoy the same level of success on the fields and courts of competition that they have had in the classroom in recent years,” she said.

“The committee has found exactly that in Alex Gary,” Brown said. “To borrow some terminology from the sport that Alex once played while representing the Cata mounts, this hire is a grand slam homerun and one that touches all of the bases.”

A native of Knoxville, Tennessee, who grew up in Charlotte, Gary was an outfielder on the WCU baseball team from 2001 until 2004, earning Southern Confer ence Player of the Week honors in March 2004. During his junior year of 2003, he was a member of WCU’s regular season and Southern Conference Tournament

During his stint at the University of Maryland, Gary chaired a committee focused on the financial sustain ability of the athletics department, and he led annual giving growth in the Terrapin Club by 22 percent in 2015 and 13 percent in 2016. As a member of the develop ment team at the University of Michigan from 2010 until 2014, he worked closely with the university’s athlet ics department, raising $12.8 million to support the Wolverines’ athletics program’s capital and endowment needs. He began his career in 2009 as assistant director of annual giving at UNC Charlotte.

“Western Carolina University’s growth and develop ment over the past decade have been impressive. WCU athletics has the ability to assist in that growth by raising the competitive bar across the 16 sports,” Gary said. “Research has proven that high-level athletics perfor mance is symbiotic with university success, allowing the university to increase its visibility and further its mission. I am confident in my ability to lead what may not be the most important room in the house, but potentially the most visible.”

He earned a degree in business administration in 2005 from Virginia Commonwealth University and his

master’s degree in business administration at UNC Charlotte in 2009.

Gary was selected from a slate of more than 40 quali fied candidates for the position after an initial narrowing of a larger list of possibilities, said Ivy Gibson, WCU asso ciate general counsel and chair of the athletics director search committee. Six candidates were interviewed by the search committee off-site in Charlotte.

“We had a very strong pool of candidates with a vast array of professional and personal experiences in the profession of athletics administration,” Gibson said. “I think that Alex Gary’s track record in athletics fundraising in particular will be a tremendous asset as the university begins to work toward implementation of some of the construction and renovation projects proposed in the recent athletics facilities master plan ning process.”

Brown appointed the search committee on Dec. 18 and set an ambitious and accelerated timetable to find a permanent successor for Randy Eaton, who served as WCU’s athletics director from Dec. 14, 2011, until Dec. 10, 2019. Mike Byers, WCU vice chancellor of administration and finance, managed the athletics department until Gary officially took over the helm in May 2020.

Gary and the former Katie Mavis of Saint Joseph, Mich., were married in a mountain-top ceremony in Oregon on Aug. 28, 2020. The couple has one daughter, Gianna.

WESTERN

– ATHLETICS SENIOR STAFF

– ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT STAFF

Tyler Pope Director of Marketing and Fan Engagement

Jonathan Sessoms Director of Athletics Ticketing

Ric Sisler Director of Corporate Sponsorship

Greg Camillone Director of Creative Media

Kim Jamison Athletic Department Administrative Assistant

Mark Conlin Director of Athletic Facilities

Rory Jimerson Director of Game Operations & Facilities

Trey Fisher Assistant Director of Game Operations & Facilities

Denise Gideon Director of Media Relations

Arman Jones Assistant Director of Academics for Football

Haley Mitchell Assistant Director of Academic Support

Isaiah Lunsford Academic Support Assistant

Steven Grandy Director of Media Relations

Patrick Mullaney Assistant Director of Video Operations

Evan Ellis Director of Video Operations

Michael Gilbert Athletics Ticketing and Marketing Assistant

ALEX GARY DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS

DANIEL HOOKER ASSISTANT AD FOR MEDIA RELATIONS

TRAVIS CHANDLER ASSISTANT AD FOR COMPLIANCE

KYLE PIFER DEPUTY ATHLETICS DIRECTOR

AMANDA MURCHIE ASSISTANT AD FOR BUSINESS OPERATIONS

CHAD GERRETY ASSOC. AD FOR EXTERNAL OPERATIONS

ASHLEIGH SIMMONS ASSOC. AD FOR STUDENT SUCCESS / SWA

DR. ALEXANDER MACAULAY WCU FACULTY ATHLETICS REPRESENTATIVE

JULIE MILLER ASSOC. AD FOR DEVELOPMENT / CATAMOUNT CLUB

MARK

LAUREN

TAYLOR HOLMAN

JP HILL

JULIE

WESTERN

UNIVERSITY – COACHING STAFF

Alan Beck Head Coach Baseball

Derek Beasley Assistant Coach Baseball

Jeff Korte Assistant Coach Baseball

JD Mundy Volunteer Assistant Coach Baseball

Seth Graves Director of Player Development – Baseball

Justin Gray Head Coach Men’s Basketball

Jim Clift Head Coach Softball

Jayson Gee Associate Head Coach Men’s Basketball

Zack Freesman Assistant Coach Men’s Basketball

Ryne Lightfoot Assistant Coach Men’s Basketball

Jaylen Gore Graduate Assistant Coach Men’s Basketball

Cody Cohen Video Coordinator Men’s Basketball

Molly Bachand Director of Men's Basketball Operations

Eileen Van Horn Assistant Coach Women’s Basketball

Kendra Samuels-Eaton Associate Head Coach Women’s Basketball

Megan Brown Assistant Coach Women’s Basketball

Jordan Worrell Director of Women's Basketball Operations

Madison Pack Video Coordinator Women's Basketball

Karen Glover Head Coach Volleyball

Gillian Urycki Assistant Coach Track & Field

Daniel Haakenson Assistant Coach Track & Field

Bret Beaver Head Coach Women's Tennis

Taylor Svehla Assistant Coach Volleyball

Ashley Gasaway Assistant Coach Volleyball

Caitlyn Davis Head Coach Cheerleading

Hailey Schenk Assistant Coach Cheerleading

Lauren Brooks Assistant Coach Cheerleading

Jesse Norman Head Coach Cross Country / Track & Field

Courtney Gunter Head Coach Women’s Golf

Tim Eckberg Head Coach Men’s Golf

Madison Armstrong Assistant Coach Softball

Kiley Hill Head Coach Women’s Basketball

Chad Miller Head Coach Women’s Soccer

Nick Whiting Associate Head Coach Women’s Soccer

Maryanne Kilgore Assistant Coach Women’s Soccer

Calvin

Jaylen

Jacob

Kason

Raphael

Carlos

Ken

De'Andre Tamarez

Overtown,

Nick Louis

Malik Knight

Marquis

Jaylin

Samuel Cornett

Joshua

Jaiden

Cory

Joaquin

Giovanni

Cade McClellan

Dalton Tomlison

Christian Coulter

Thomson,

Hudson Jones

Anthony Joseph

Chris Morgan

Maiden,

Ronald Wilson

Mocksville,

Juan Allen

Murphy,

Brandon Smiley

Desmond Barkley DL – 6-2 –

–

Stockbridge, Ga.

Cade Snotherly

Chris

Wisdom

Timothy Jamison

Anthony

Jaquarius

Richard McCollum

Antoine Bell

Talon

Bryce

MARTY RAMSEY

Marty Ramsey ’85 literally grew up on the Western Carolina University campus and, with the exception of a stint working with a transportation and logistics company, has remained in Cullowhee for the rest of his life, serving the university in leadership positions with the Department of Athletics and the Division of Advancement. Marty retired as director of alumni engagement effective Oct. 1 after a career spanning more than 28 years at WCU.

Marty and his family moved to Cullowhee in 1964 when his father, Harry Ramsey ’59, who later served as assistant to the chancellor for WCU programs in Asheville, accepted a faculty position. His mother, Sue Ramsey, worked as a “dorm mother” in Robertson Hall, where he and his sister, Gina, lived in the family’s ground floor apartment during much of his childhood.

After graduating from WCU in 1985 with a bachelor's degree in business administration, Marty worked in corporate sales and management for nine years with Roadway Services. He answered the call of his alma mater to return to campus in 1994 to become director of the Catamount Club, the university’s athletics fundraising unit. He remained in that role until 2004, when he was appointed director of alumni affairs, now called alumni engagement. WCU’s longest serving alumni director, he held the dual role of director of alumni affairs and the Catamount Club in 2003 and 2004.

Marty has served as a member of Catamount Athletic Hall of Fame Committee for 28 years and the Chancellor’s Leadership Council for 10 years, and has co-chaired the University Homecoming Committee for 20 years. In his role as alumni director, he has helped introduce three WCU chancellors (John W. Bardo, David O. Belcher, and Kelli R. Brown) to alumni across the Southeast and overseen the Alumni Association Board of Directors.

He also established alumni engagement traditions including the annual Purple and Gold Reunion, Legacy Pinning Ceremony and Alumni/Student Job Shadowing Program and, in 2020, launched the Western Wednesdays series to help keep alumni connected online throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. During his tenure, the Alumni Association Scholarship Fund has grown from $40,428 to $366,613. In honor of his service as executive director of the Catamount Club, its Board of Directors established the Marty Ramsey Summer School Endowed Scholarship for Student-Athletes.

Having spent more than 50 years of his life intimately associated with WCU, Marty possesses a vast pool of institutional knowledge that will be difficult to replace, said Jamie T. Raynor, vice chancellor for advancement. “From a youngster who made the WCU campus his childhood playground to the man who has been the ‘go-to guy’ for thousands of members of the Catamount family, Marty has helped dramatically increase the involvement of alumni in the life of their alma mater over the past few decades. We are grateful for his leadership and celebrate his accomplishments,” she said.

After growing up in the 1960s and early 1970s on the upper part of campus, Marty said he recalls his childhood as “a magical time.” “I have fond memories of sitting on the grassy bank at old Memorial Stadium watching Catamount football with my childhood friends, visiting my dad’s office in the Bird Administration Building, and sneaking in the Townhouse for a heated honeybun and Coke,” he said. “I knew at a very early age that Western is where I wanted to go to school, Western is where I wanted to work, and Cullowhee is where I wanted to live. I’ve been so very blessed and fortunate to have had the opportunity to work for my beloved alma mater.”

RECIPIENTS

PHIL & CONNIE HAIRE

Among a select few couples selected to receive Western Carolina University’s Distinguished Service Award, R. Phillip Haire and Constance “Connie” Haire MAEd ’84 have dedicated their lives to public service – individually and as husband-and-wife. Phil is a former member of the N.C. House of Representatives, representing District 119 (Haywood, Jackson, Macon, and Swain counties) from 1999 to 2013 and serving as House Democratic whip. Connie retired after 25 years of service to Southwestern Community College, stepping down in 2011 as vice president of its campus in Macon County.

An attorney, Phil was a member of WCU’s Board of Trustees from 1992 until 1998 and served for 12 years on the University of North Carolina System Board of Governors. He earned his bachelor’s degree in history in 1958 and his law degree in 1961, both at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. He was a captain in the U.S. Air Force from 1962 to 1965. In 2018, he received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest honor bestowed by the governor upon those who have made significant contributions to the state and their communities through exemplary service and exceptional accomplishments.

Connie received her bachelor’s degree from Erskine College in 1965 and her master’s degree in education from WCU in 1984 before earning her doctorate in adult education from N.C. State University in 1997. She joined the administration at SCC as director of resource development in 1986, continuing in that capacity until becoming dean of institutional development in 1997. She also served as SCC’s vice president for student and institutional development before taking her final position as vice president of the Macon campus. She was executive director of the SCC Foundation for the entirety of her career at the college.

Phil was Sylva’s town attorney for 27 years, and donated the property that houses the Awake Children’s Advocacy Center for abused children in Jackson County. He was among the attorneys on the Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, better known as the Watergate Committee, in 1973-74. He has served as vice chair of the N.C. Bar Association Board of Governors, chair of the Senior Lawyers Division, and chair of the N.C. State Bar District. A member of the planning committee for the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching, Phil is among the founding members of the Catamount Club, serving as its president from 1970 until 1972. He also served on the board of Haywood Arts Regional Theater.

Connie has an extensive record of service on numerous regional boards, including chairing the Mainspring Conservation Trust, Blue Ridge Public Radio Board of Directors, Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, Cashiers Historical Society, and Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and membership on the Jackson County Historic Preservation Commission, Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, and Angel Medical Center Board of Directors. She is a member of the WCU Foundation Board of Directors, and previously sat on the WCU Alumni Association’s Board of Directors and was chair of WCU’s Friends of the Arts board.

They have made more than $250,000 in contributions and pledges to WCU, including a gift of $100,000 in 2017 establishing the Phil and Connie Haire College of Arts and Sciences Endowed Scholarship, Phil and Connie Haire College of Fine and Performing Arts Endowed Scholarship, and Phil and Connie Haire School of Music Endowed Scholarship. They are members of First United Methodist Church in Sylva, both having served on the church administrative board, with Phil active in previous fundraising efforts for the church building fund. They have a blended family with four children: Tate, Scott and Phillip Haire, and Anne Collins.

distinguished service award

distinguished service award

JAMES ALLEN QUEEN

Lifelong educator J. Allen Queen ’73 MAEd ’74 characterizes his admission to Western Carolina University in 1969 as one of the two greatest gifts in his life. After his applications to other colleges were rejected, he received an acceptance letter from WCU, putting in motion a series of events that would set him on the path to a 40-year career in education and lead to that other greatest gift in his life: Only two weeks into his first semester, he met his future bride of 50 years, Patsy Short Queen ’73 ’75.

Growing up in a mill village in Lincolnton in the 1950s and 1960s, Allen was the youngest child of a large, extended family and the only one to finish high school and attend college. He built a large newspaper route while in elementary school, and worked weekends and summers in the mill’s company store to help support his family. At WCU, Allen received the Phi Delta Kappa Award for outstanding senior and was a member and officer in Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He served two years in the National Teacher Corps during his senior and graduate years while continuing his studies.

After his first teaching stint in the public schools, Allen received a teaching assistantship to the University of Virginia. There, he majored in education in the areas of curriculum, instruction, and administration, earning his doctorate in education in 1978. During his last year of study, he was elected president of the UVA Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa as a graduate student and was awarded membership into the UVA Raven Society for high achievement and potential in scholarly leadership.

During his 40 years as an educator, Allen has been a classroom teacher, school principal, college professor, and administrator. Much of his teaching, research, and academic service integrated into the areas of business, industry, and government, and he has published numerous books and articles on those topics. He has conducted seminars and workshops in all 50 states and numerous countries from The Netherlands to China and from Saudi Arabia to Costa Rica. His areas of expertise include time and stress management, children’s safety and health, and block scheduling, and he is now writing a book on mastering time management.

Allen’s first major publication was in the September 1980 edition of The Journal of School Health in an article titled “A Workshop on Childhood Abuse and Neglect,” coauthored with wife Patsy, who was an instructor in the nursing program while both were teaching at Gardner-Webb University. The impact of the article and a series of radio and television presentations and related workshops throughout North Carolina conducted by Allen and Patsy brought about major changes in local and state laws and in how educators identified and reported suspected cases of childhood abuse or neglect.

Allen spent the last half of his career as a professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he served as chair of the Department of Educational Leadership and supervised more than 50 doctoral dissertations. He retired in 2014, holds the title of professor emeritus, and lives in Kings Mountain with Patsy, who earned bachelor’s degrees in education and nursing from WCU and a master’s degree in nursing from the University of Texas. They have one son, Alexander H. Queen, who is on the faculty at Boston’s Tuft University, and two granddaughters. Allen is a fifth-degree black belt in karate, has been a karate instructor, and wrote the first internationally published karate book for children.

Joey Blake ’12 is in his sixth season on the staff of the National Football League’s Los Angeles Rams and his second as director of performance nutrition and wellness for the defending Super Bowl champion team. Joey is responsible for educating and directing all players on their nutrition and hydration related to health and performance.

He has established and manages a robust food service system that has been able to change the way the team’s players and coaches view food and performance. He also conducts all body composition testing for the players, created and implements a sleep program for players and coaches, writes all Young Alumni Award of the menus for team meals, and individualizes all of the players’ pre and post-training and gameday routines. In addition to his player performance role, Joey spearheads the Rams Employee Wellness Program, which is aimed at helping all employees reach their best self in terms of health and wellness. He also is a member of the Rams Inclusion and Diversity Council.

Joey said the primary goal of his job to “help our guys get in tune with their bodies and understand that diet affects how they feel.” He told The Magazine of Western Carolina University in 2019, following the Rams’ appearance in Super Bowl LIII, “I’m not the food police. I’m not a guy who hovers over their shoulders telling them not to eat something. I’m here to help them create an edge to their performance and see how nutrition can give the team a competitive advantage.”

Prior to joining the Los Angeles Rams organization, Joey served as director of football nutrition for the University of South Carolina from 2013 until 2016. At the time of his hiring he was the first full-time football-only sports dietitian in collegiate athletics. During his tenure, he was responsible for planning all team meals, counseling athletes on their performance nutrition needs, analyzing body compositions, and assisting in team travel operations.

Originally from Long Island, New York, Joey grew up in the Western North Carolina town of Canton. He is a 2007 graduate of Pisgah High School, where he was a member of the football and basketball teams. After high school, he worked at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville for a brief stint before enrolling at WCU and earning his bachelor's degree in nutrition and dietetics. He completed the year-long post-graduate internship requirements to become a registered dietitian and went on to pass the credentialing exam. He is a member of the Collegiate and Professional Sports Dietitian Association and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Joey was among the L.A. Rams players, coaches, and staff members receiving Super Bowl rings in July. “It’s a whirlwind of emotions. You realize that you’re at the pinnacle of your profession. That’s what 32 teams are competing for. You’re the one left standing. It’s a really, feeling,” Joey told The Mountaineer newspaper of Waynesville after the Super Bowl victory.

young alumni award JOEY BLAKE

academic achievement award

WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY 2022 HOMECOMING AWARD RECIPIENTS

In addition to being named ACC Coach of the Year three times (2008, 2009, 2014) while leading the Georgia Tech program, Paul was selected 2008 National Coach of the Year by CBS Sports. His patented “flexbone” spread option offense has been hailed as one of the most innovative offensive schemes in all of college football.

Prior to joining Georgia Tech’s program in December 2007, Paul was head football coach at the U.S. Naval Academy for six years. He took over at Navy prior to the 2002 season, with the Midshipmen coming off the worst two-year stretch (1-20) in the academy’s 123-year football history. After going 2-10 in his first season at the helm (Navy’s 19th losing record in 21 seasons), he steered Navy back into national prominence, compiling a 43-19 record (.694) with five bowl appearances and two bowl victories in his final five seasons in Annapolis (2003-07). Paul was named the Bobby Dodd National Coach of the Year in 2004 after leading Navy to a 10-2 record, tying the school record for wins set in 1905, and only the fifth bowl victory in program history.

Paul’s head-coaching career began with five seasons at then-Southern Conference member Georgia Southern, leading the Eagles from 1997 through 2001. Taking over a program that went 4-7 the year prior to his arrival, he compiled a gaudy 62-10 record (.861) in five campaigns at the Statesboro, Georgia, school while winning five-straight Southern Conference titles and two NCAA Division I-AA national championships, in 1999 and 2000. In his five seasons at Georgia Southern, he was named the Division I-AA National Coach of the Year four times (1997-2000).

Prior to becoming a head coach, Paul served as offensive coordinator at Georgia Southern, the University of Hawai’i and Navy. His coaching career began with roles as offensive coordinator from 1979 to 1980 at his high school alma mater, Avery County High, in the North Carolina mountains, and at nearby Lees-McRae College from 1981 to 1982. His only position on the defensive side of the ball was as defensive line coach at Georgia Southern from 1983-84.

PAUL JOHNSON

Although Paul Johnson ’79 did not play football during his time at Western Carolina University, that did not prevent him from becoming widely regarded as one of the most innovative football coaches in college football. Paul retired as head football coach at Georgia Tech in 2018 after 11 seasons. That stint included nine bowl game appearances, threebowl wins, three Atlantic Coast Championship games, and 82 victories, making him the fourth winningest coach in Georgia Tech history.

A native of Newland, he earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from WCU, where he was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order, before going on to receive a master’s degree in health and physical education from Appalachian State University in 1982.

He met his wife, the former Susan Propst ’80, when both were attending Western Carolina, Susan as a social work major. The couple married in 1980 in Susan’s hometown of Shelby, and their daughter, Kaitlyn, was born in 1993. Paul and Susan currently reside at Grandfather Mountain Golf and Country Club in Linville.

Paul announced his retirement on Nov. 28, 2018, effective following the team’s bowl game against the University of Minnesota.

professional achievement award

2022 "PRIDE OF THE MOUNTAINS" MARCHING BAND

The students and staff of the 2022 "Pride of the Mountains" Marching Band are proud to present our 2022 production entitled, “Let It Burn” presented by B.H. Graning Landscapes, Inc. The directors, staff, student leadership team, and membership have worked incredibly hard to provide audiences with another unforgettable performance experience.

The "Pride of the Mountains" Marching Band is poised to set new performance standards in 2022, while continuing to push boundaries of design innovation and entertainment at the collegiate level. In addition to their halftime support, B. H. Graning Landscapes, Inc. is making possible the opportunity for The Pride of the Mountains to be a member of the Marching Health team. Marching Health is a nationwide physical conditioning initiative that serves as a training program for students in the marching arts. Through our involvement, students are receiving instruction on preemptive techniques that will reduce injury, and build a stronger body. We look forward to a long relationship with Dr. Elliot Cleveland, founder of Marching Health and feel confident that this program will build longevity to our students’ physical health while teaching best practices for life long wellness.

This fall promises to again be one of the busiest on record with regard to recruitment performances. Beginning Saturday, September 24th, the band will perform for over 3,000 spectators in exhibition at the J.F. Byrnes High School, SC competition which showcases 30 of the upstate’s top high school bands. The 21st annual Western Carolina University Tournament of Champions takes place on Saturday, October 15th, when we welcome 27 high school bands from around the Southeast to our campus as well as our world- class evaluation panel assimilated from across the United States. The "Pride of the Mountains" will perform twice during this event for over 10,000 attendees.

We are also very pleased to announce that the "Pride of the Mountains" has been asked to perform in exhibition at the Bands of America Grand National Championships in Indianapolis, Ind. This is the most elite high school marching band competition in the world, and we feel honored to be invited to share our talents at such an esteemed venue. Lucas Oil Stadium will play host to this world class showcase of elite bands, and we cannot wait to participate in this celebration of the pageantry arts!

About our 2022 production… ”LET IT BURN”

Part 1 – JOY

“Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.” – Henri Nouwen

We begin our show with a testament to living our lives with Joy in our heart, and in our daily lives. “Firework” by Katy Perry gives us a reminder that life is a gift, and should be celebrated every day. Living each day with Joy is a choice. We have to make that choice, and try to envision ourselves as being the hero of our own life story. Who do we want to be? How can we get there? It begins with Joy, and knowing that our internal flame must be fanned by our own positive choices. “Ode to Joy” by Beethoven symbolically states this idea of the power of positivity. “The Heat Is On” by Glenn Frey, and “This Girl is On Fire” by Alicia Keys are spirited songs that help fuel our flame, and gives focus as to why we should all make Joy a part of our lives, every single day.

Part 2 – LOVE & PASSION

It is so very important to begin with loving oneself, then focusing on what we can be passionate about in our lives. “Believe” by Cher is set in a ballad style that swells to an intense crescendo and encourages us to believe in ourselves. Our outstanding student vocalist, Ms. Kennedy Cox, will be featured and will certainly inspire you! “Love on Top” by Beyonce’ pushes us forward and really let’s Kennedy shine with her amazing talent. We must make ourself important, we must make our life passions a priority, and true happiness and fulfillment will follow.

Part 3 – ADVERSITY

The pursuit of our purpose as people is always a challenging one. It is a difficult journey that is worth every step, because each step defines who we are. “Play with Fire” by Sam Tinnesz sets the tone as our percussion section is featured. Pushing our personal limits, and not being afraid to take chances along the way will help us to grow, but we will most certainly be faced with adversity. Our Gold Drumline and our Purple Drumline will demonstrate a musical and visual drum battle that represents the turmoil that we face, the conflicts we will deal with, and the coming to terms of moving through these difficult times, to be stronger in the end for it, and hopefully arriving with our own purpose defined.

Part 4 – PURPOSE

“Set Fire to the Rain” by Adele begins the final part of our show. It will once again feature Ms. Kennedy Cox, and will help to focus what we have learned. Living our life with Joy each day, loving ourselves and embracing our passion, and not being afraid to go through and grow from adversity in our life journey, will ultimately help us to arrive at our focused life purpose. As Mark Twain once said, “The two most important days in our life are the day you were born, and the day you find out why.”

Once you find that purpose, fan that flame, fuel that fire, and set your heart and soul ablaze with meaning and Joy. Once you find it – “LET IT BURN!”

“Northing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion.” – Georg W.F. Hegel

“We don’t develop courage by being happy every day. We develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity.”

– Barbara De Angelis

“Let your passion burn brighter than your fears.” – Mark Anthony

"Pride of the Mountains" Marching Band Instructional Staff and Design Team

Dr. Jack Eaddy Director of Athletic Bands

Matt Henley Assistant Director of Athletic Bands

Trevor Bailey Assistant Director of Athletic Bands

Doug Thrower Music Arranger

Matt Henley Gold Drumline Director / Arranger

Jon Henson Front Ensemble, Rhythm Section and Sound Design/Arranger

Jamey Thompson Drill Designer

Bob Buckner Pregame Drill Designer

Emily Lawson Director of the Colorguard

Katie Pacifico Colorguard Director

Billy Pacifico Colorguard Choreographer

Ian Lewis Colorguard Choreographer

Kris Harris Colorguard Choreographer

Adrian Galvin Colorguard Choreographer

Rebekah Chadderdon Colorguard Instructor

Bobby Richardson Colorguard Instructor

Matt Henley Purple Drumline Director / Arranger

Tucker McGrew Front Ensemble Director

Heath Ballard Audio Production Director

STAFF COORDINATORS:

Jude Hahn, Brandon Rice, Keaton Shaw

2022 DRUM MAJORS:

Megan Newton (Head), Samantha Cannon, Cody Dalton, McKenzie Yazan

CAPTION COORDINATORS:

WESTERN CAROLINA FIGHT SONG

Fight on! You Catamounts, Fight for purple and gold. Fight on to victory, True warriors bold. Wave the royal banner high, And let it fill the Western sky. So, fight on! you Catamounts, Fight to vic–to–ry! Western, Western, Go–Western!

Go—Cats!

Fight on! You Catamounts, Fight for purple and gold. Fight on to victory, True warriors bold. Wave the royal banner high, And let it fill the Western sky. So, fight on! you Catamounts, Fight to vic–to–ry!

Adopted in 1981, Western Carolina’s fight song was composed by members of the University faculty including Mr. Dick Trevarthen. Western Carolina and Catamount Athletics was saddened to learn of his passing this past August 2022

WESTERN CAROLINA ALMA MATER

Hail to thee, our Alma Mater; Faithful, kind, and true; Every son and every daughter Offers praise to you.

– CHORUS –

Hail to the dearest spot of all; Hail to WCU! Light and life and fond devotion, All to thee are due.

Purple robes and colors golden, Streaming everywhere, Swell our hearts with pride for olden Days and friendships dear.

– CHORUS –

Under shade trees’ friendly bowers, Voices, ever gay, Mingles with breath of flowers And the song birds’ lay.

– CHORUS –

Shout aloud with one loud chorus, Voices clear and true, Lifted high in praise and honor, All for WCU!

– CHORUS –

Andrew Brown, William Finigan, Gillian Robbins, Hannah Taylor, Katie Whitehouse

DR. KELLI BROWN

CAROLINA UNIVERSITY CHANCELLOR

Western Carolina University is led by the Chancellor, the university’s chief administrative officer, with guid ance and policy oversight from the Board of Trustees.

As one of the 16 universities in the University of North Carolina system, WCU also falls under the adminis tration of the UNC system president and the Board of Governors, advised by the UNC Faculty Assembly.

As Provost, the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs serves as the top administrator for academics and as the senior member of the Chancellor’s Executive Coun cil:

WESTERN CAROLINA EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

Dr. Kelli R. Brown, Chancellor

Dr. Richard Starnes, Provost / Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Mr. Michael T. Byers, Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance

Mr. Alex Gary, Director of Athletics

Mr. Craig Fowler, Chief Information Officer

Mrs. Jamie T. Raynor, Vice Chancellor for Advancement

Dr. H. Samuel Miller Jr., Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

Mr. Shea Browning, General Counsel

Dr. Melissa Wargo, Chief of Staff

Ms. Jessica Woods, Assistant to the Chancellor

Dr. Kelli R. Brown is chancellor of Western Carolina Uni versity, a regional comprehensive university that serves more than 12,000 students with a wide range of bachelor’s degrees across the spectrum of arts and sciences disci plines and professional pro grams in business, education, health care, and engineering; more than 30 master’s degree and certificate programs; and five professional doctoral pro grams.

Dr. Brown took office as the 12th chancellor of WCU in July 2019, becoming the university’s first permanent female chancel lor. She previously served as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Georgia College & State University. In July 2016, Chancellor

Brown was appointed interim president of Valdosta State University, a regional comprehensive university in south ern Georgia. She served in that capacity until a permanent president took office in January 2017, after which she then returned to her position at Georgia College. In addition to her leadership at Georgia College, she has taught under graduate and graduate students and has served in aca demic leadership roles at the University of Florida, Univer sity of South Florida, Illinois State University, and Western Illinois University.

Since her arrival at WCU, Chancellor Brown has high lighted several priorities that continue to enrich Western Carolina University’s profile and reputation: an institutional emphasis on quality and excellence; a commitment to di versity and inclusive excellence; and a focus on the uni versity’s role as an engine of economic development for its communities. Under Chancellor Brown’s stewardship, WCU will continue to capitalize on the opportunity to be a thought leader in regards to how regionally engaged uni versities can maintain a student-centered focus, with high

levels of teaching innovation.

Chancellor Brown has received awards for her leader ship. She is the former editor of the Journal of School Health and has served on five other editorial boards, including as an inaugural member of the Pedagogy in Health Promotion: The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning editorial board. A published and funded author, she has written extensively on school and community partnerships, school health, and the use of community-based prevention marketing.

Chancellor Brown earned her doctorate in education from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale; a mas ter of science and education in public health degree and bachelor of science degree in public health services, both from the University of Toledo; and an associate in applied sciences degree in dental hygiene from Michael J. Owens Technical College in Toledo, Ohio.

Brown is originally from the Midwest, and she and her husband of more than 30 years, Dennis, live in Cullowhee.

Your Asheville Sports Leader

Two Pros

Cup of

The Dan Patrick Show

- Noon

The Herd with Colin Cowherd Noon - 3pm

The WISE Guys with Pat Ryan

3 -

FRONT ROW (L-R): Hannah Wing, Airica Anderson, Caroline Lopp, Molly McAvoy, Sara, Grace Smith, Olivia Hawkins and Sarena Burrell

MIDDLE ROW (L-R): Riley Ledford, Lindsey Mendzoa, Emma Shue, Kate Ammend, Marissa Clontz, Becca Kilpatrick, Kamdyn Anderson, Scotting Branning and Tiana Scarchilli

BACK ROW (L-R): Isabella Fazio, Savannah Jones, Catie Osborne, Nathan Campbell, Riley Sanz, Kasi Jones and Makenna Shipley

WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY – 2022 CATAMOUNT CHEERLEADERS

WESTERN CAROLINA’S POSTSEASON TEAMS

1949

North State Conference Champions

Western Carolina had struggled through its first 15 seasons of football with only two winning seasons in two decades, but all that frustration was forgotten in 1949 when Coach Tom Young completed a four-year, post-World War II building program with an 8-2 regular season and the school’s first North State Conference championship and first postseason appearance.

The Cats, led by a stingy defense, won its first five games and allowed only two touchdowns in those victories. The only blemishes on the season were non-conference losses to Maryville (20-13) and Emory & Henry (27-26) as Western finished unbeaten in conference play.

The team was rewarded by a bid to play in the Smoky Mountain Bowl in Bristol, Va., where the Cats lost to West Liberty State.

Art Byrd, a 165-pound guard, was named to the As sociated Press Little All-America Team, Western’s first AllAmerica selection. Linemen Buffalo Humphries and Hugh Constance along with backs Hugh “Pee Wee” Hamilton and Ralph McConnell joined Byrd on the All-North State Conference Team.

1974 •

NCAA Division II Playoffs

Coach Bob Waters, who saw a perfect season and a trip to the NAIA playoffs denied by a loss in the final game of the 1969 season, led WCU to its first NCAA postseason appearance the hard way five years later.

The 1974 Catamounts, playing in a sparkling new stadium, lost their season and stadium opener to visiting Murray State and struggled the next two weeks before establishing themselves as one of the nation’s top NCAA Division II teams.

After the season-opening loss, the Cats continued to struggle offensively for the next two weeks but did man age wins over Tennessee Tech (9-7) and Appalachian State (21-14) with outstanding defense. The offense, behind the running of freshman Darrell Lipford and passing of quar terback Jeff Walker to Jerry Gaines and Eagle Moss, found the right gear and the defense continued its great play. In the process, the Catamounts won nine in a row—including victories over top 10 teams Indiana State and Western Ken tucky—and won a bid to the NCAA Division II playoffs where they lost a heartbreaker to No. 1 ranked Louisiana Tech, 10-7.

The 1974 Catamounts finished the season ranked No. 8 in the Associated Press College Division poll and their defense established team records that still stand to this day. Most significant was allowing a mere nine touchdowns on the season (eight rushing and one passing) and only three over the last six games. Gaines and linebacker Steve Yates were first team All-America selections.

1983 • NCAA Division I-AA National Finalist

Like the 1974 team, the 1983 Catamounts got off to a slow start by losing its first two games to Clemson and Wake Forest. After the two setbacks, WCU would go through the next 12 Saturdays unbeaten en route to the NCAA Division I-AA championship game – the first by a Southern Confer ence school.

The winning streak started in the third week of the season when WCU rallied from a 10-point deficit in the closing two minutes to defeat East Tennessee State, 17-16, and ended with a loss to Southern Illinois in the national championship game in Charleston, S.C.

Despite the strong comeback in regular season play that produced an 8-2-1 record and No. 9 national ranking, Waters’ Cats barely made it into the I-AA playoffs. They proved their worthiness the next three weeks with comefrom-behind, heart-stopping wins over Colgate (24-23), Holy Cross (28-21) and Furman (14-7). The win over Furman was particularly pleasing as the teams had tied, 17-17, in the regular season, and allowed the Paladins to win the SoCon title as they had played and won one more league game due to a scheduling quirk. Over 5,000 WCU fans traveled to Greenville, S.C., for the rematch which was aired by CBS-TV.

On the 1983 team, WCU had eight players named All-SoCon with head coach Bob Waters named Coach of the Year. Wide receiver Eric Rasheed and defensive back Tiger Greene selected All-America. Seven members of the ‘83 squad went on to play in the NFL and the team set an NCAA record for the most games played (15) in a season.

ART BYRD, a 165-pound two-way guard for the 1949 North State Conference championship team, was Western Carolina’s first All-America selection.

Linebacker STEVE YATES was leader and first team All-American on the 1974 team, which was WCU’s first to reach the NCAA playoffs, doing so at the NCAA Division II level.

The 1983 Catamounts advanced to the NCAA I-AA championship game after its 14-7 upset at Furman. WCU was the first Southern Conference team to play for the national title.

Friends. Family. Community.

FRONT ROW (L-R): Skylar Poulos, Naidelyn Cruz and Nicole Stauffer MIDDLE ROW (L-R): Matigan Rowe, Alex Henry, Kenzie Davis, Kimberly Hydrick, Alyssa Malgrat and Megan Normandin BACK ROW (L-R): Liv Wiesenhart, Samantha Harp, Bailey Burk, Julia Gerrer, Ashley Avant, Michelle Davis and Madison Tadlock

WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY – 2022-23 DANCE TEAM

Construction of E.J. Whitmire Stadium was completed in 1974 at an initial cost of $1.66 million that was granted by the North Carolina General Assembly in 1971. The new facility, located on the southern-most expanse of the Western Carolina University campus, replaced Memorial Stadium and included the construction of the Jordan-Phillips Field House.

Dedicated on October 5, 1974, the Catamounts defeated Morehead State, 31-12, in their second game at the new facility. Murray State won the first-ever game played on the artificial surface at Whitmire Stadium on September 14, 1974.

Over the years, Western Carolina has posted highlight victories at the facility including wins over nationally-ranked squads such as No. 2 Marshall in 1992; sixth-ranked Appalachian State in 1998 to regain the Old Mountain Jug; and over No. 2 Furman in 2006.

Goal posts have also been removed from the premises on several occasions. Brad Hoover set a stadium and school-record with 49 rushing attempts in 1998 as WCU upset Appalachian State, ending a 13-year losing skid its archrival. In 2004, Western Carolina again reclaimed the Jug, posting a dramatic, 30-27, come-frombehind win over the Apps, and the goalposts fell once again in what was the program’s 100th victory at Whitmire Stadium.

In 2006, Western Carolina’s defense recorded five intercep tions and Darius Fudge rushed for 133 yards on offense to lead the Catamounts to a 41-21 victory over second-ranked Furman, setting the stage for another goalpost celebration.

The stadium has also hosted numerous television games over the years. One of the earliest came in 1978 as ABC showcased the Catamounts and Mountaineers from Cullowhee. Other broadcasts include ESPNU, SportSouth, Comcast/Charter Sports Southeast (CSS-TV) and most recently, the combined efforts of WLOS-TV and WMYA-TV in Asheville to air select WCU home games..

Currently with 13,790 seats, the football facility is located on the south end of the WCU campus and is bordered by the picturesque Cullowhee Creek on the west side; Jordan-Phillips Field House and WCU Weight Room on its north end; and the Liston B. Ramsey Regional Activity Center, which in addition to serving as the home venue for men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball also features the Dale and Diane Hollifield Football Locker Room, WCU Football Offices and Team Room as well as the athletic training / sports medicine facilities.

Construction Completed: June, 1974 West Side Stands Completed: August, 2003

Current Seating Capacity: 13,790

Playing Field: Bob Waters Field, Artificial Turf (IRONTURF)

First game: Sept. 14, 1974 vs. Murray State (WCU lost 10-3) Dedicated: Oct. 5, 1974 vs. Morehead State (WCU won 31-12)

Largest Attendance: 15,247 on Nov. 12, 1994 vs. Appalachian State

BOB WATERS FIELD PLAYING SURFACE / FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS:

Western Carolina first installed AstroTurf on the playing surface in 1974. A similar product material was used in replacing the artificial surface several times. Following the facilities’ silver anniversary in 1999, a newer version of synthetic grass called AstroPlay was installed in 2000 for a cost of $1.2 million and was the surface that adorned Waters Field for the next eight years.

Amidst the 2008 season, the artificial surface was replaced by the Carolina Green Corporation which installed the Desso Challenge Pro 2 turf, a product of the overseas Desso Sports Systems. That surface remained until the summer of 2020 when Waters Field received a new surface. Designed by Woolpert, Inc., of Charlotte and executed by GeoSurfaces Southeast Inc., out of Mooresville, N.C., the group handled the removal and demolition of the old synthetic surface and replacing it with a new turf called “IronTurf” over a shock pad. The 2020 project also included resurfacing the perimeter immediately around the field and the addition of a new synthetic turf sled and practice area referred to as the “Hog Pit.”

In 2002, the creation of a $93,000 Team Room complete with meeting and office space, as well as storage, was completed on the second floor of the Ramsey Center.

Prior to the 2003 season, more facility improvements and upgrades to the stadium were completed. A $3.1 million addition featured a 4,000-seat West Side grandstand seating area that in cluded concessions and restroom facilities as well as new, updated lighting. The weight room in the Jordan-Phillips Field House was expanded, nearly doubling its previous capacity which also added a hospitality patio that overlooks the stadium on the north end zone. It also includes additional team meeting space, computer lab and visit ing team locker room. The field house and East Side stands were also bricked to match the brickwork of the Ramsey Center and of the new West Side stands.

Also, on September, 16, 2006, the Dale & Diane Hollifield Football Locker Room facility located on the first floor of the Ramsey Center was dedicated. At a cost of $225,000, the 100-plus locker facility was expanded with beautiful, wooden lockers located throughout.

During the off-season prior to the 2010 campaign, a new Dak tronics scoreboard with HD video screen were installed in the south

end zone – Ramsey Center end – of the facility. The state-of-the-art video screen measures 17-feet tall by 32-feet wide and includes a scoreboard with a matching score and time board adhered to the facade of the Jordan-Phillips Field House.

STADIUM BENEFACTORS AND NAMESAKES:

Western Carolina’s football facilities are named after two promi nent figures in Catamount Athletics. The late E.J. Whitmire, for whom the stadium is named, spent most of his adult life involved with the University. An educator, contractor, agriculturalist and public servant, Whitmire – from nearby Franklin, N.C. – served WCU for more than a quarter century with the attitude, leadership and “get it done” ability that made him successful in every walk of life.

Whitmire was on the WCU Board of Trustees from 1949-72 and was the driving force behind the University’s unparalleled period of growth. His tireless work served as the cornerstone of the structure that now bears his name. He was granted the Patron Award in the WCU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1993.

In 1988, the playing surface where Robert Lee Waters made a name for himself in the coaching and administrative ranks while also putting WCU football in the national spotlight was dedicated in his honor and memory.

Bob Waters served as the University’s head football coach for 20 years and worked in a dual capacity as its athletics director for 15 years. During his tenure, he became the school’s winningest football coach with 116 victories, 13 winning seasons and top 10 national finishes at three different levels – NAIA, NCAA Division II and NCAA Division I-AA, now FCS). He also had the privilege of coaching 13 national All-Americans and 36 All-Southern Conference players.

As athletics director, Waters directed the school’s rise from NAIA to NCAA Division II to NCAA Division I competition and move into the Southern Conference in 1976. He was also instrumental in the planning and constructing of Whitmire Stadium, Childress Field (baseball) and the Ramsey Center.

Waters died on May 29, 1989 following a six-year battle with amyotrophic lateral Sclerosis (ALS), more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. He was posthumously inducted into the WCU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1993.

E.J. WHITMIREBOB WATERS

ABOUT THE SOUTHERN CONFERENCE

The Southern Conference, which celebrates its 101st year in 2022, is a national leader in emphasizing the development of the studentathlete and in helping to build lifelong leaders and role models.

The Southern Conference has been on the forefront of inno vation and originality in developing creative solutions to address issues facing intercollegiate athletics. From establishing the first postseason college basketball tournament (1921), to tackling the issue of freshman eligibility (1922), to developing women’s cham pionships (1984), to becoming the first conference to install the 3-point shot in basketball (1980), the Southern Conference has been a pioneer.

The Southern Conference is the nation’s fifth-oldest NCAA Divi sion I collegiate athletic association. Only the Big Ten (1896), the Missouri Valley (1907), the Pac-12 (1915) and the Southwestern Ath letic (1920) conferences are older in terms of origination.

Academic excellence has been a major part of the Southern Conference’s tradition. Hundreds of Southern Conference studentathletes have been recognized on CoSIDA Academic All-America and all-district teams. A total of 20 Rhodes Scholarship winners have been selected from conference institutions, most recently in 2012-13, when former Wofford volleyball player Rachel Woodlee earned the prestigious award.

The conference currently consists of 10 members in six states throughout the Southeast and sponsors 21 varsity sports and champi onships that produce participants for NCAA Division I Championships.

The Southern Conference offices are located in the historic Beaumont Mill in Spartanburg, South Carolina. A textile mill that was in operation from 1880 until 1999, Beaumont Mill was reno vated in 2004 and today offers the league first-class meeting areas and offices as well as a spacious library for storage of the confer ence’s historical documents.

SOUTHERN CONFERENCE – MEMBERSHIP HISTORY

On Feb. 25, 1921, representatives from 14 of the Southern Inter collegiate Athletic Association’s (SIAA) 30 members met at Atlanta’s Piedmont Hotel to establish the Southern Intercollegiate Confer ence. On hand at the inaugural meeting were officials from Ala bama, Alabama Polytechnic Institute (Auburn), Clemson, Georgia, Georgia School of Technology (Georgia Tech), Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi A&M (Mississippi State), North Carolina, North Carolina State, Tennessee, Virginia, Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Tech) and Washington & Lee.

Dr. S.V. Sanford of Georgia was chosen as acting chairman and N.W. Dougherty of Tennessee was named secretary. The decision to form a new athletic conference was motivated by the desire to have a workable number of conference games for each league member. With 30 schools in the SIAA by the early 1920s, it was

2022 SOUTHERN CONFERENCE FOOTBALL STANDINGS

impossible to play every school at least once during the regular season and many schools went several years between playing some conference members. In addition, in 1920, the SIAA voted down proposed rules that an athlete must be in a college a year before playing on its teams and refused to abolish a rule permitting athletes to play summer baseball for money.

Play began in the fall of 1921, and a year later, six more schools joined the fledgling league, including Tulane (which had attended the inaugural meeting but had elected not to join), Florida, LSU, Mississippi, South Carolina and Vanderbilt. VMI joined in 1923 and Duke was added in 1929.

By the 1930s, membership in the Southern Conference had reached 23 schools. C.P. “Sally” Miles of Virginia Tech, president of the Southern Conference, called the annual league meeting to or der on Dec. 9, 1932, at the Farragut Hotel in Knoxville, Tenn. There, it announced that 13 institutions west and south of the Appalachian Mountains were reorganizing as the Southeastern Conference. Members of the new league included Alabama, Alabama Poly technic Institute, Florida, Georgia, Georgia School of Technology, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Mississippi A&M, University of the South, Tennessee, Tulane and Vanderbilt.

According to the minutes of the meeting, Georgia’s Dr. Sanford stated that the division was made along geographical lines. Flori da’s Dr. J.J. Tigert, acting as spokesman for the withdrawing group, regretted the move but believed it was necessary as the Southern Conference had grown too large. The resignations were accepted and the withdrawing schools formed the new league, which began play in 1933.

The SoCon continued with membership of 10 institutions, includ ing Clemson, Duke, Maryland, North Carolina, North Carolina State, South Carolina, Virginia, VMI, Virginia Tech and Washington & Lee.

The second major shift occurred some 20 years later. By 1952, the Southern Conference included 17 colleges and universities. Another split occurred when seven schools – Clemson, Duke, Maryland, North Carolina, North Carolina State, South Carolina and Wake Forest – departed to form the Atlantic Coast Conference, which began play in 1953. The revamped Southern Conference in cluded members The Citadel, Davidson, Furman, George Washing ton, Richmond, VMI, Virginia Tech, Washington & Lee, West Virginia and William & Mary.

A third major shift occurred in 2012-13, when five members an nounced their departures and three schools were added. College of Charleston announced its decision to leave for the Colonial Ath letic Association following the 2012-13 season, while Appalachian State (Sun Belt), Davidson (Atlantic 10), Elon (Colonial) and Georgia Southern (Sun Belt) announced they would depart following the 2013-14 campaign. At the Southern Conference’s 2013 spring meetings in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, the league offi cially extended invitations to former members ETSU and VMI, as well as Mercer, to join the league for the 2014-15 academic year.

Today, the league continues to thrive with a membership that includes 10 institutions and a footprint that spans six states: Ala bama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Current league members are The Citadel, ETSU, Furman, Mercer, UNCG, Samford, Chattanooga, VMI, Western Carolina and Wofford.

at Charleston Southern Sept. 3 – W, 31-28 at Georgia Tech Sept. 10 – L, 35-17

PRESBYTERIAN Sept. 17 – W, 77-21 at #21 Samford * Sept. 24 – L, 35-12 VMI * Oct. 1 – W, 38-17 at #12 Mercer * Oct. 8 – L, 49-6 at Furman * Oct. 15 – L, 47-40

THE CITADEL * Oct. 22 – L, 34-21

WOFFORD * Nov. 5 – 2 pm at ETSU * Nov. 12 – 1 pm

CHATTANOOGA * Nov. 19 – 1 pm

at Campbell Sept. 1 – L, 29-10

#8/9 ETSU Sept. 10 – W, 20-17 at #20 Mercer * Sept. 17 – L, 17-0 at App State Oct. 1 – L, 49-0

FURMAN * Oct. 8 – L, 21-10 at Wofford * Oct. 15 – L, 31-16 at Western Carolina * Oct. 22 – W, 34-21

SAMFORD * Oct. 29 – L, 38-3

#11 CHATTANOOGA * Nov. 5 – 2 pm VA. UNIV. LYNCHBURG Nov. 12 – 2 pm at VMI * Nov. 19 – Noon

MARS HILL Sept. 1 – W, 44-7 at The Citadel * Sept. 10 – L, 20-17

FURMAN * Sept. 17 – L, 27-14 at Robert Morris Sept. 24 – W, 45-3

#10 CHATTANOOGA * Oct. 1 – L, 24-16 at VMI * Oct. 8 – W, 44-21 at #11 Mercer * Oct. 15 – L, 55-33

#15 SAMFORD * Oct. 22 – L, 55-45 at Wofford * Oct. 29 – L, 48-41

WESTERN CAROLINA * Nov. 12 – 1 pm at Mississippi State Nov. 19 – TBA

NORTH GREENVILLE Sept. 1 – W, 52-0 at Clemson Sept. 10 – L, 35-12 at #18 ETSU * Sept. 17 – W, 27-14 at Charleston Southern Sept. 24 – W, 24-19

#16 SAMFORD * Oct. 1 – L, 34-27 at The Citadel * Oct. 8 – W, 21-10

WESTERN CAROLINA * Oct. 15 – W, 47-40 at VMI * Oct. 22 – W, 41-3 #6 CHATTANOOGA * Oct. 29 – W, 24-20 at Mercer * Nov. 12 – 3 pm WOFFORD * Nov. 19 – 1 pm

MOREHEAD STATE Aug. 27 – W, 63-13 at Auburn Sept. 3 – L, 42-16

THE CITADEL * Sept. 17 – W, 17-0 at Gardner-Webb Sept. 24 – W, 45-14 at Wofford * Oct. 1 – W, 42-7

WESTERN CAROLINA * Oct. 8 – W, 49-6 ETSU * Oct. 15 – W, 55-33 at #9 Chattanooga * Oct. 22 – L, 41-21 at VMI * Oct. 29 – W, 55-14 FURMAN * Nov. 12 – 3 pm at Samford * Nov. 19 – 1 pm

#8 KENNESAW ST Sept. 1 – W, 27-17 at #2 GEORGIA Sept. 10 – L, 33-0 at Tennessee Tech Sept. 17 – W, 33-28

WESTERN CAROLINA * Sept. 24 – W, 35-12 at Furman * Oct. 1 – W, 34-27

WOFFORD * Oct. 8 – W, 28-14 at ETSU * Oct. 22 – W, 55-45 at The Citadel * Oct. 29 – W, 38-3 VMI * Nov. 5 – 3 pm ET at Chattanooga * Nov. 12 – 12:30 pm MERCER * Nov. 19 – 1 pm ET

WOFFORD * Sept. 3 – W, 31-0 at Eastern Illinois Sept. 10 – W, 38-20

NORTH ALABAMA Sept. 17 – W, 41-14 at Illinois Sept. 22 – L, 31-0 at ETSU Oct. 1 – W, 24-16

VMI * Oct. 15 – W, 41-13 #11 MERCER * Oct. 22 – W, 41-21 at #24 Furman * Oct. 29 – L, 24-20 at The Citadel * Nov. 5 – 2 pm

SAMFORD * Nov. 12 – 1:30 pm at Western Carolina * Nov. 19 – 1 pm

at #22/19 Wake Forest Sept. 1 – L, 44-10

BUCKNELL Sept. 10 – W, 24-14

CORNELL Sept. 17 – L, 28-22 at Western Carolina * Oct. 1 – L, 38-17 ETSU * Oct. 8 – L, 44-21 at #9 Chattanooga * Oct. 15 – L, 41-13

FURMAN * Oct. 22 – L, 41-3 #16 MERCER * Oct. 29 – L, 55-14 at Samford * Nov. 5 – 3 pm at Wofford * Nov. 12 – 1:30 pm

THE CITADEL * Nov. 19 – Noon

at Chattanooga * Sept. 3 – L, 31-0

ELON Sept. 10 – L, 26-0 at Virginia Tech Sept. 17 – L, 27-7 at Kennesaw State Sept. 24 – L, 24-22 #13 MERCER * Oct. 1 – L, 42-7 at #13 Samford * Oct. 8 – L, 28-14

THE CITADEL * Oct. 15 – W, 31-16 ETSU * Oct. 29 – W, 48-41 at Western Carolina * Nov. 5 – 2 pm VMI * Nov. 12 – 1:30 pm at Furman * Nov. 19 – 1 pm

W CAROLINA

CHATTANOOGA

THE CITADEL

MERCERFURMANETSU

VMISAMFORD WOFFORD

WESTERN CAROLINA HONORED FOOTBALL NUMBERS

#14 • KIRK ROACH – (1984-87)

Kirk Roach was Western Carolina’s – and the Southern Conference’s – first, three-time All-America Selection (1984, 1986 and 1987) ... He additionally was the first player in league history to be a fourtime, first team All-SoCon selection (1984-87), an accomplishment which has since been duplicated just three other times ... Continues to rank as Western Carolina’s all-time scoring leader with 302 points ... He connected on 71-of-101 (70.3-percent) field goals in his career and only missed one extra point, making 89-of-90 (98.9-percent) .... Roach also still holds the distinction of being the highest Catamount taken in the NFL draft, selected in the fifth round overall by the Buffalo Bills in 1987 ... Was listed on the 2019 College Football Hall of Fame divisional ballot. Inducted into the WCU Hall of Fame in 1996; his jersey was honored at WCU in 2006 and he was inducted into the Southern Conference Hall of Fame in 2021.

#41 • BRAD HOOVER (1996-99)

Brad Hoover starred at tailback for the Catamounts from 1996 through 1999 before playing 10 seasons for the Carolina Panthers in the National Football League. Affectionally known as "Hoov," Hoover ranks third in Western Carolina football history with 3,616 career rushing yards, trailing just secondplace Detrez Newsome (3,728 yards from 2014-17) and all-time leader Darrell Lipford, (4,089 yards from 1974-77). His career tally includes a WCU single-season record of 1,663 rushing yards in 1998 which came on a single-season best 331 carries. Hoover's 708 career rushes additionally rank him third in program history, finishing fourth with a 5.10 career rushing average and tied for eighth with 23 scores on the ground. During his recordsetting 1998 season, Hoover keyed an upset of archrival Appalachian State by rushing for 195 yards on a school single-game record 49 carries. WCU upended the second-ranked Mountaineers 23-6 in Cullowhee, returning the "Old Mountain Jug" to Cullowhee. Hoover was a 2008 inductee into West ern Carolina's Athletics Hall of Fame and a two-time All-SoCon selection at running back.

#23 • JERRY GAINES (1970-75)

Jerry Gaines was an Associated Press and Ameri can Football Coaches Association All-America se lection in 1974 ... Also earned All-America honors in baseball and track & field while at WCU ... Set WCU records with 3,449 career receiving yards, a 20.6 average yards per reception for his career and 15 games with over 100 receiving yards ... Only the second WCU football player to have his jersey retired. Inducted into the Western Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame in 1990.

#54 • ART BYRD (1946-49)

Art Byrd was the first football All-America selec tion at Western Carolina, playing guard on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball ... Helped the Catamounts to an 8-2 regular-season mark in 1949 and their first North State Confer ence title ... That team additionally holds the distinction of being WCU’s first team to earn a postseason bid, playing in the Smoky Mountain Bowl (Bristol, Va.) ... Byrd sas the first Western Carolina student-athlete to have a jersey and number retired.

Inducted into the Western Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame in 1990.

HISTORY OF THE VICTORY BELL

Western Carolina continues a tradition resumed in 2009, returning the “Victory Bell” – a mounted, transport able bell that rings the football team’s arrival for pre-game and also accompanies the “Pride of the Mountains” March ing Band and the Catamount Cheerleaders in their pregame parades to E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field.

Whereas the bell is a relatively new tradition, it is ac tually the re-birth of an old tradition on the WCU campus as is noted on the plaque which adorns the Alumni Bell Tower, the centerpiece in the quad. The tower houses the original “Victory Bell,” which hung in the old Madison Hall from 1904 until 1938 and was run to signal class periods. After the building was torn down, the bell was mounted on a stone base between the Moore and former Joyner Building – which was destroyed by fire – and was rung in celebration of Catamount athletic victories.

The bell was later moved closer to the Old Student Union building before making its last active move in the late 1960s to the lawn of the Hinds University Center.

The bell and its traveling apparatus were designed and constructed by Mr. Ron Bumgarner, an assistant professor of engineering technology at Western Carolina, and sev eral students in his class.

Official Football Signals

Igniting Dreams

There’s no such thing as a small dream. And the more support our students have, the bigger they can dream, and the brighter everyone’s future becomes. Which is why the North Carolina Education Lottery is proud to have provided more than $602 million in funding for scholarships and grants to help make college opportunities a reality. Because we believe every student deserves the chance to see their dreams come true.