Western Carolina is ranked 19th in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) FCS Preseason Coaches’ Poll announced on Monday morning.
As posted when the media tabulations were released on Aug. 5, the last time WCU carried a preseason national ranking into its season opener came back in 1994 when the then 17th-ranked Catamounts hosted Lenoir-Rhyne. Earlier this summer, WCU was ranked 16th in the HERO Sports polling while Craig Haley slated the Catamounts No. 23 in his early-summer balloting. The Catamounts were ranked 20th in the Preseason Stats Perform FCS Top 25.
WCU climbed as high as No. 8 in last year’s Stats Perform FCS poll before finishing the year at No. 23, while the ascent in the coaches poll was slower with WCU reaching its highest ranking at No. 14 in early-to-mid October. The Catamounts were not ranked in the final AFCA Coaches Poll.
Western Carolina is among three Southern Conference teams to earn preseason Top 25 in the coach rankings, joined by Chattanooga (8th) and Furman (9th). Both Mercer and Samford appeared in the ‘others receiving votes’ designation. Two of WCU’s three nonconference FCS opponents also graced the first AFCA votes with 2023 national runner-up Montana ranked third and Elon receiving votes.
Reigning national champion South Dakota State tops the poll after receiving 25 of a possible 26 first-place votes, followed by North Dakota State, Montana, Montana State, and South Dakota rounding out the top five.
WCU completed its 12th preseason practice on Monday morning, working out in full pads following Sunday’s team photo day and a third helmet-only session coming on the heels of last Saturday’s scrimmage. Workouts are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday before an off-day Thursday. Friday’s session is scheduled for helmets-only before the team’s second scrimmage next Saturday, Aug. 17, with a 2:30 pm start time.
Catamount head football coach Kerwin Bell will join WCU's three other fall sports head coaches – Karen Glover (VB), Chad Miller (WSOC), and Jesse Norman (XC) - for the 2024 Catamount Fall Sports Preview Facebook LIVE event, on-location from Catamount Jaxe (114 Market St.) in Cullowhee. Fans can see the show on the official Catamount Athletics Facebook page (fb.com/catamountsports) beginning at 6 p.m.
Both season and single-game tickets for the five home dates in #CatamountCountry 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.
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