Oct. 28, 2005
Cullowhee, N.C. - As friends, family, and alumni of Western Carolina University converge on the mountain campus this weekend, Catamount athletics will take center stage hosting numerous home events. Western's football, volleyball, and women's soccer team will all hold contests in Cullowhee over the weekend.
Homecoming festivities kick off this evening (Friday, Oct. 28) at 6:15 pm with the annual Homecoming parade in downtown Sylva. Groups and organizations from campus, as well as the athletic teams and Pride of the Mountains marching band, will participate in the pageantry through the twilight. Following the conclusion of the parade, everyone is invited to the front lawn of the A.K. Hinds University Center in Cullowhee for Spirit Night. The evening will include music from the Pride of the Mountains, as well as performances from the Western cheerleaders and WCU Dance Team. Head football coach Kent Briggs and members of the Catamount football will also speak and get fans fired up for the Homecoming football game.
On Saturday, Western will host Elon in the annual Homecoming game at E.J. Whitmire Stadium/Bob Waters Field with a 2:00 pm kickoff. The Catamounts have won three-straight over the Phoenix and six of the last eight overall in the series. This weekend also marks the sixth time the Catamounts and Phoenix have squared off for a WCU Homecoming contest. Western is coming off a win over the then first-place Chattanooga Mocs, 38-20, last weekend in Chattanooga in a game that saw the Cats block two punts on special teams for touchdowns.
At halftime of the game on Saturday, Western will crown its 2005 Homecoming Queen, and announced the winners of several on-campus spirit competitions which have been taking place throughout the week.
Saturday evening, at 6:00 pm, the Catamount volleyball team will host the College of Charleston Cougars in a Southern Conference cat fight. The match will be played in historic Reid Gymnasium, the site of Thursday nights "Catamount Madness," which kicked off the 2005-06 Catamount basketball season. Western is 10-12 all-time versus CofC and will look to snap a three-game losing skid in conference play. Admission on Saturday night in Reid will be free.
The Volleyball Cats return to action on Sunday back in the Ramsey Center, hosting The Citadel in the age-old rivalry of Cats versus Dogs. Game time on Sunday is 2:00 pm. Western holds a 12-2 lead in the overall series with the Bulldogs. Also on Sunday, the Catamount women's soccer team will play its 2005 season finale, hosting the SoCon-leading Davidson Wildcats at 4:00 pm at the new Catamount Athletic Complex. Sunday is also Senior Day for the Catamounts' six, fourth-year players, making their final regular season home appearance in Cullowhee
Also, children are encouraged to attend the matches dressed in their best Halloween costumes which will allow them free admission at both events on Sunday. There will be costume contests at each match, with prizes awarded to the best outfit, as well as other fun Halloween games.
Cullowhee is the place to be this weekend for Homecoming 2005 with Catamount football, volleyball, and women's soccer action. Fans can also follow the action on a variety of sources. The Catamount Sports Network will carry the football game on Saturday, which includes radio affiliates in Asheville (WZNN, 1350 AM), Cullowhee (WWCU, 90.5 FM), Franklin (WFSC, 1050 AM), Hendersonville (WTZQ, 1600 AM) and Sylva (WRGC, 680 AM). If you are out of those media markets, fans can follow the game on the internet at www.wwcufm.com (free), www.supertalk1350.com (free) or www.catamountsports.com (subscription). The pregame radio show starts 45 minutes prior to kickoff. The Catamount volleyball and soccer matches on Sunday will be carried on the Internet with live GameTracker, presented by Carolina West Sports Medicine, at catamountsports.com.
