April 12, 2008

Cullowhee, N.C. - The Western Carolina Catamount football team returned to the field for spring practice number 10 which featured a controlled live scrimmage simulating next weekend's annual Spring Game. The 95-play session spanned 90 minutes of the nearly two-hour workout on the turf at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field Saturday morning.

"I thought the scrimmage went well. They players worked hard and were able to get a good feel for how things will work next Saturday during the Spring Game," said WCU first-year head coach Dennis Wagner. "We did some good things both offensively and defensively, but still have a lot of room for improvement."

"The defense was able to stop the run early which helped put the offense's back against the wall, but they responded well and were able to come up with some big plays," added Wagner. "The main thing is I felt we made each other better today."

Pitting the offense against the defense with both teams able to score points based on traditional means, as well as rewarding points for special circumstances such as negative plays, turnovers, etc., the offense downed the defense, 28-15. The defense forced the offense to stall early in the scrimmage with a pair of turnovers before the offensive unit found its rhythm later in the workout, tallying four touchdowns in the scrimmage.

Wagner stated that he felt the two sides were well matched.

"I would like to see our offense get on track a little earlier and for the defense to finish as strong as they started," Wagner said.

Following the morning session, the WCU coaching staff spoke at a football clinic in Waynesville at Tuscola High School. Wagner introduced his coaching staff, with Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator, Matt Pawlowski, speaking about the defensive unit.

Western will take Sunday off from practice, but will continue the positive momentum building towards the Spring Game. Players will be at four area Ingles Food Stores in Sylva, Waynesville, Canton and Franklin Sunday afternoon - as well as at the Wal-Mart in Sylva - from 3:00 pm until 5:00 pm passing out reminder "free tickets" for next weekend's culmination of spring drills.

The annual Spring Game is set for Saturday, April 19 at 1:00 pm at Whitmire Stadium / Waters Field. Festivities, which are free to the public, are set to begin at Noon with the first-ever "A Taste of Tailgating" on the west-side patio located inside the stadium gates. Participating restaurants, including Bogarts, BoJangles, Brushy Mountain Smokehouse, O'Malley's, Papa's Pizza, Sonic, Sub Station II, Subway, and Zaxby's, will be serving up free samples to fans in attendance.

The Catamounts have five additional practice sessions including the spring game, taking Wednesday off for community outreach.

2008 Catamount Football Spring Practice:
Practice 11: Monday, April 14
Practice 12: Tuesday, April 15
Practice 13: Thursday, April 17
Practice 14: Friday, April 18
Practice 15: Spring Game - Saturday, April 19