Sept. 22, 2005
Cullowhee, N.C. - With Hurricane Rita -- which will go down in history as the third most intense hurricane on record in the Atlantic Basin -- threatening the state of Louisiana, Nicholls State has informed Western Carolina that this Saturday's football game in Thibodaux has been cancelled. No make up date will be scheduled for this year, but the schools will work to make up the game in a later year. Also, there are no immediate plans for the Catamounts to schedule another game at this time, leaving Western with nine regular-season contests.
Thibodaux is approximately 45 miles southwest of New Orleans and will likely be affected by the storm.
Western Carolina Chancellor Dr. John W. Bardo offered to house the Colonel football team and other students as long as necessary, but instead, Nicholls State prefers their students to be with their families at this time.
"Once again, our thoughts and prayers are with all those at Nicholls State and in the region," said WCU director of athletics Chip Smith.
This marks the third time since 1989 that a Western Carolina has had a football game affected by a Hurricane. In 1989, the Western Carolina-Citadel football game was moved to Columbia, S.C. at South Carolina's Williams-Bryce Stadium on Oct. 7 due to Hurricane Hugo. In 1999, WCU and The Citadel were set to play on Sept. 18, but Hurricane Floyd forced the game to be postponed until Nov. 20.
The Catamounts and Bulldogs had a third game rescheduled in 2001, as their game on Sept. 15 was postponed until Nov. 17 due to the national tragedies surrounding Sept. 11.
Western Carolina will return to action on Oct. 1, hosting The Citadel for Family Weekend. Kickoff at E.J. Whitmire Stadium/Bob Waters Field is set for 6:00 pm.
