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 WCU head football coach Kent Briggs will lead the Cats through a 12-game regular season schedule, including six home contests. |
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April 2, 2003
Cullowhee, N.C. - The Western Carolina Athletics Department announced its 2003 football schedule today. The slate includes two games to start the season at North Carolina State and Duke and six home games, showcasing the new Jordan-Phillips Field House and west side stands at E.J. Whitmire Stadium/Bob Waters Field.
The Catamounts - playing a 12-game, regular-season schedule for the first time in school history - will open the 2003 season on Aug. 30 at North Carolina State, who finished last season ranked 11th nationally, while returning to the Triangle the following week to face Duke on Sept. 6.
"Both schools being in the state makes these first two games exciting," said WCU head football coach Kent Briggs. "The location of N.C. State and Duke will make it easy for Catamount fans across the state to see Western in action. Going to N.C. State and Duke and experiencing the history of those two stadiums and programs will be a great opportunity for our program and all Catamount fans."
The 2003 season will mark the opening of the brand new 4,000-seat west side stands at Whitmire Stadium. "This addition will go a long way in creating an atmosphere that is conducive to taking this program to a higher level," Briggs said. "The completion of the stadium, including the field house, will give our fans and players a great experience every time they come to Cullowhee. That is what this program is all about. I truly feel all Catamounts - past, present and future - as well as Western alumni and fans deserve to have this new stadium. I am very appreciative to everyone who has worked, and is continuing to work, hard to make this facility a reality."
Western Carolina will play the first of its six home games on Sept. 13 versus Johnson C. Smith. That game is set for 6 pm. The following week, on Sept. 20 at 6 pm, Western will open its 2003 Southern Conference schedule at home versus The Citadel. Other home games include Furman, Wofford, Elon and Gardner-Webb. The Furman game (Oct. 4 at 6 pm) will also be WCU Athletics Hall of Fame Weekend, while the Wofford game (Oct. 18 at 2 pm) will be Homecoming. Western's game versus new SoCon member Elon on Nov. 1 (2 pm) will be the first meeting between the schools since 1998. The Catamounts will conclude the 2003 season on Nov. 22 at 6 pm versus Gardner-Webb, when the University will honor its senior class.
"Having six home games and a total of 12 is exciting," Briggs said. "It will give us many opportunities to improve this football program and bring excitement and enthusiasm to the fans of Western North Carolina. It is also very fitting that our senior class will get to play their final regular season game at home to showcase all of our improvements."
The Catamounts' remaining road games will be at East Tennessee State (Sept. 27), at Georgia Southern (Oct. 11), at Chattanooga (Oct. 25) and at Appalachian State (Nov. 15).
Western Carolina University 2003 Catamounts Football Schedule (Times and Dates Subject to Change)
Date Opponent Site Time Aug. 30 at North Carolina State Raleigh, N.C. TBA Sept. 6 at Duke Durham, N.C. TBA Sept. 13 Johnson C. Smith E.J. Whitmire Stadium/Bob Waters Field 6:00 pm Sept. 20 The Citadel * E.J. Whitmire Stadium/Bob Waters Field 6:00 pm Sept. 27 at East Tennessee State * Johnson City, Tenn. TBA Oct. 4 Furman * E.J. Whitmire Stadium/Bob Waters Field 6:00 pm Oct. 11 at Georgia Southern * Statesboro, Ga. 1:00 pm Oct. 18 Wofford * (Homecoming) E.J. Whitmire Stadium/Bob Waters Field 2:00 pm Oct. 25 at Chattanooga * Chattanooga, Tenn. 6:00 pm Nov. 1 Elon * E.J. Whitmire Stadium/Bob Waters Field 2:00 pm Nov. 8 OPEN Nov. 15 at Appalachian State * Boone, N.C. TBA Nov. 22 Gardner-Webb E.J. Whitmire Stadium/Bob Waters Field 2:00 pm
* - Southern Conference game
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