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Catamounts Climb to No. 17 in AFCA Coaches Poll

Daniel Hooker


Western Carolina football advanced two spots in this week’s American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Coaches Poll presented by Hudl, tipping the balance at No. 17 this week to mirror the ranking from Monday’s release of the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 by the media. Tuesday marked the second straight day that WCU had moved up in the national polling following its upset bid at No. 24 North Carolina State, also climbing a combined three spots into No. 17 in Monday’s media tabulation

 

The Southern Conference maintains three teams among the national rankings with three more receiving votes from the nation’s head coaches. Chattanooga slid two positions into 10th after opening the year eighth in the preseason poll, while purple brethren Furman fell seven spots from ninth to 16th just ahead of WCU.

 

Mercer remains just outside the Top 25 as the third team listed in the “others receiving votes” category, with both Wofford and Samford garnering votes this week. Two of the next three teams on WCU’s schedule are also listed in the coaches ranking with Elon (Sept. 14) receiving votes and Montana (Sept. 21) leading the way at No. 4.

 

Western Carolina (0-1) opens its home schedule on Saturday (Sept. 7), hosting Campbell with an adjusted 1 p.m. kickoff at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field. The Fighting Camels battled FBS-foe Liberty tough before falling 41-24 in Lynchburg, Va., last Saturday.

 

WCU looks to “White Out Whitmire” on Saturday (Sept. 7) with fans encouraged to wear their white Catamount gear to the game as the football team will wear its white Nike uniforms for the home opener. The first 5,000 fans through the gates will receive a free commemorative “White Out Whitmire” T-shirt as the department begins its celebration of 50 Years of Catamount football at Whitmire Stadium, presented by First Bank.

 

Dubbed the “Ingles Southern Conference Game of the Week,” Saturday’s game will be broadcast regionally through the Nexstar Media Group (check local listings) and simulcast through ESPN+ (paid subscription required). Fans can also listen to the game through the Catamount Sports Network with pregame beginning at Noon along five CSN affiliate frequencies: in Sylva, 105.7 FM and 540 AM WRGC “The River” (wrgc.com); 104.9 FM and 1050 AM WFSC “Franklin’s First Voice” in Franklin (1050wfsc.com); and 1310 AM WISE Sports Radio in Asheville (wisesportsradio.com); and through free, live streaming audio online at CatamountSports.com.

 

The best game day atmosphere in the SoCon roars back to life on Saturday with parking lots opening at 8 a.m., with alcohol-permitted tailgating beginning at 10 a.m. The Catamount Club’s “Purple Zone” pregame event begins at Noon for qualifying Club members. Fans will want to be inside the stadium early for the pregame festivities including the first performances of the “Pride of the Mountains” Marching Band and spirit squads. One of the top traditions in the NCAA FCS is WCU’s Freshmen Run, celebrating its 13th season as WCU’s Class of 2028 runs through the tunnel to lead the Catamounts onto the field.

 

Saturday’s game is presented by Ingles with Asheville media partners 99.9 FM Kiss Country and Star 104.3.

 

There is still time to purchase season tickets for all five of Western Carolina’s home games in #CatamountCountry. For a third straight year, WCU has eclipsed the previous benchmark for tickets and revenue from season ticket sales.

 

Single-game tickets and game day parking permits for each of WCU’s home dates remain on sale now through the WCU Athletics Ticket Office, located on the first floor of the Ramsey Center, or by phone at (828) 227-2401. Fans can also purchase tickets and game day parking in advance online at CatamountSports.com/BuyTickets. Game day parking is $15 in advance and $20 on game days.

 

This Week in Catamount Athletics & Catamount Football:

Thurs., Sept. 5 – Catamount Women's Soccer – vs. Gardner-Webb (CAC, 7 p.m.)

Fri., Sept. 6 – The Bob Waters Memorial – Sequoyah National Golf Club (Cherokee, N.C.)

Sat., Sept. 7 – 2024 Catamount Football home-opener, vs. Campbell (1 pmupdated)

 

 

AFCA FCS Coaches Poll, presented by Hudl – Sept.3, 2024

                                               

Rank

School (1st votes)

Record

Pts.

Prev.

Next Game

1

South Dakota St. (17)

0-1

630

1

Sept. 7 vs. No. 11 UIW

2

North Dakota St. (5)

0-1

624

2

Sept. 7 vs. Tennessee St.

3

Montana St. (4)

2-0

589

4

Sept. 7 vs. Maine

4

Montana

1-0

572

3

Sept. 7 at No. 20 North Dakota

5

Villanova

1-0

527

6

Sept. 7 at Colgate

6

South Dakota

1-0

493

5

Sept. 7 at Wisconsin

7

Idaho

0-1

489

7

Sept. 7 at Wyoming

8

Sacramento St.

0-1

397

10

Sept. 7 at Fresno St.

9

Central Arkansas

0-1

359

13

Sept. 7 at Lindenwood

10

Chattanooga

0-1

342

8

Sept. 7 at Georgia St.

11

UIW

1-0

340

15

Sept. 7 at No. 1 South Dakota St.

12

Southern Illinois

0-1

331

11

Sept. 7 at Austin Peay

13

UAlbany

1-0

302

14

Sept. 7 at West Virginia

14

William & Mary

1-0

300

16

Sept. 7 at Coastal Carolina

15

Richmond

0-1

289

12

Sept. 7 vs. Wofford

16

Furman

0-1

270

9

Sept. 7 vs. Charleston Southern

17

Western Carolina

0-1

221

19

Sept. 7 vs. Campbell

18

UC Davis

0-1

197

17

Sept. 7 vs. Texas A&M-Commerce

19

Lafayette

0-1

156

18

Sept. 7 at Monmouth (N.J.)

20

North Dakota

0-1

152

22

Sept. 7 vs. No. 4 Montana

21

Tarleton St.

1-1

109

21

Sept. 7 at Houston Christian

22

Illinois St.

0-1

95

20

Sept. 7 at North Alabama

23

Youngstown St.

0-1

88

23

Sept. 7 vs. Valparaiso

24

Florida A&M

2-0

82

25

Sept. 7 at Miami (Fla.)

25

Nicholls

0-1

74

24

Sept. 7 at LSU

 

Dropped Out: None

 

Others Receiving Votes: Northern Iowa, 55; ACU, 43; Mercer, 41; Eastern Washington, 40; North Carolina Central, 33; Eastern Illinois, 30; Rhode Island, 26; Southeast Missouri St., 20; Weber St., 17; Delaware St., 14; Harvard, 14; Missouri St., 14; Princeton, 14; Elon, 13; McNeese, 13; Stephen F. Austin, 12; UT Martin, 11; Wagner, 10; Northern Arizona, 5; Wofford, 5; Indiana St., 3; Yale, 3; Tennessee St., 2; Alabama A&M, 1; Murray St., 1; North Carolina A&T, 1; Samford, 1.

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