Oct. 2, 2000
CULLOWHEE, N.C. --- Coming off a disappointing performance at Furman, the Western Carolina football team will face the nation's top-ranked team, Georgia Southern, on Saturday evening.
Bleil, who addressed the media Monday afternoon at his weekly press conference, and his Catamounts will be looking to continue their winning ways at home, where the Cats are 12-6 under Bleil.
"Our kids are excited to be playing at home this week," said Bleil. "I don't think many people like coming to Cullowhee to play. We've got great crowds and our fans are so supportive and because of that I think it's a hard place for opponents to play."
The Catamounts (2-3, 1-2) and the Eagles (4-1, 3-0) will meet for the 11th time in history, Georgia Southern currently holds an 8-2 advantage over WCU. The last time the teams met in Cullowhee, the nationally ranked Eagles barely escaped E.J. Whitmire Stadium with a win, 28-21. The Cats come into the game, as they did in 1998, off a big win at home and a tough loss on the road.
"They're very similar situations. At the time in 1998, we're coming off a big East Tennessee State win here, lost to Furman on the road and then came back home to face Georgia Southern," stated Bleil. "They [GSU] were very confident coming in here then and will be again. We'll need to make some big things happen."
The Catamounts will be facing one of the nation's best running attacks for a second consecutive week as Georgia Southern ranks number two nationally in rushing offense with 269 yards per game.
"I think at home our kids will really rise to the occasion," said Bleil.
Leading the Eagle attack is Heisman Trophy candidate Adrian Peterson. Peterson became the Southern Conference's all-time leading rusher this past Saturday against VMI and has tallied 6,092 yards in this just his third-year of competition. He ranks seventh in the county in rushing, averaging over 156 yards per game.
"They do a great job of getting him [Peterson] the ball in a number of ways," explained Bleil. "Adrian has Division I-A ability and we've got to work hard to limit his yards."
The Southern Conference game is scheduled for a 6 o'clock kickoff at E.J. Whitmire Stadium/Bob Waters Field in Cullowhee.
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