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Nov. 18, 2008
Cullowhee, N.C. - Coming off its scheduled bye week, Western Carolina head football coach Dennis Wagner today took part in the weekly Southern Conference Head Football Coaches Teleconference.
Western (3-8, 1-6 SoCon) will wrap-up its regular season with Saturday's annual gridiron grudge match, the "Battle for the Old Mountain Jug," against archrival, Appalachian State at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field. The game will be televised live on SportSouth as a part of the "SoCon Saturday" package involving a weekly conference match-up.
Fans can also follow all of the action live on the Catamount Sports Network with air time at 2:00 pm and kickoff slated for just after 3:00 pm. The game can be heard locally on WWCU-FM, Power 90dot5 in Cullowhee and 680 AM WRGC in Sylva. Fans can also tune in on 920 AM WPTL in Canton; 1480 WPFJ, the Dove in Franklin; 1590 AM WBHN in Bryson City; and 1600 AM WTZQ in Hendersonville.
Saturday's match-up is the 73rd all-time between the Catamounts and Mountaineers, the longest active series in both team's respective histories. Appalachian State (9-2, 7-0 SoCon), which wrapped up at least a share of its fourth-straight conference title with a 24-16 victory over Elon last weekend in Boone, leads the overall series, 53-18-1, including having won three-straight.
The "Old Mountain Jug" - the replica moonshine jug that was envisioned by the school's respective student government presidents and school sports information directors in 1976 - will again be up for grabs for the 33rd time. WCU last held possession of the Jug in 2004 after a dramatic, come-from-behind win in Cullowhee, rallying from down 11 points in the game's final five minutes.
Wagner, who will conclude his first season at the helm, will try and become just the second, first-year head coach at WCU to win the annual "Jug" game. Bob Waters won in his first attempt back in 1969, 35-7, in Boone as a part of his 9-1 season.
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Here is an excerpt from Tuesday morning's SoCon Coaches Teleconference:
Dennis Wagner, Western Carolina Head Coach:
On preparations made during the bye week:
"We used last week to work on ourselves. We practiced last Monday through Wednesday and got some of our coaches out for evaluation in recruiting. We just tried to work on fundamentals and techniques and not focus in on what Appalachian does. We have had practice Monday and Tuesday and will have two more on Wednesday and Thursday as we prepare this week for App."
On playing Appalachian State:
"They are a great football team and we are going to have to be at our best. It is going to be a great environment here. It's going to be real exciting to have the Southern Conference champion here; that's already been decided and they are going to the playoffs. For us, this is our last game to keep building the foundation of our program on."
"We have got to be prepared to play a football team of their caliber. Offensively, defensively and special teams wise, (Appalachian) is a very good team."
On the "Battle for the Old Mountain Jug":
"You couldn't be here (at Western Carolina) and not know about (the Jug). Obviously, it's a tradition that was started years back and that is what college football is all about. We haven't done our part to be as competitive as we need to be, and that is something that we are certainly striving for. It's our goal here every year to keep that Jug here at our place."
On the injury situation to Quan Warley, Donald James and Marquel Pittman:
"We hope to get them back, but they are all still doubtful. They did not practice or dress at all last week during the bye week which was our choice to use treatment and try to get better. If we were to play tomorrow, they definitely would not play in this game, but we still have a few days to see what's going to happen. If they can play, I know that they want to be out there, but it's really a day-to-day thing with those guys."
On the impact of injuries on both sides with question marks on key players:
"I can speak for ourselves in the sense that we have had a lot of young players that have played for our football team this year. We've had a lot of freshman play for us. But, you always want that experience out there. Quan (Warley) has had a tremendous season when he has been healthy. (Marquel) Pittman has been our leading receiver. But with those guys being beat up and out of the lineup, it just presents depth problems as guys are always on the field and can't be substituted. So, it certainly affects our football team."
"In terms of App, I'm sure that they are concerned that their guy that runs the ship (Armanti Edwards) might be injured. But I tell you what, their back-up guy that comes in is a heck of a football player. It wouldn't change any preparation for us because they will have both quarterbacks ready to play."
On winning the Appalachian State game "redeeming" the season:
"Any game that you win is important. And our program is not a place where you put one victory (on the same level) as a winning season. I would much rather have a winning record than be worrying about whether I beat App or not. I want to do my best and us play to the best of our ability in that game, and of course, win that game. But, it's still more important to have a winning record. Our program is in no position to talk like that - and I won't let the players think that way. Our season is not made on one victory. Our goal, if we continue to play Appalachian at the end of the season, is to play for the conference championship on that day."
"This is the biggest game of our season because it's the game this week and it's the last game of the season. It's a huge game for us in that aspect. It's a building block to go into next season. They are going to the playoffs and they won the conference. We want to get to where they are at and we're going to get there.
Jerry Moore, Appalachian State Head Coach:
On playing Western Carolina:
"(Western Carolina vs. Appalachian State) that's one of the real, real rivalries in the Southern Conference; playing the Catamounts and playing for the Jug."
"(Western Carolina) is a ball club that has really gotten better. They've probably improved more than any team in our league this season. Coach Wagner came in and they had some transition things when he came in back during the spring. I know their win-loss record is not what they wanted. But they've got their kids playing hard and we are looking forward to playing them. I can assure you that their coaching staff is pleased with the effort that team is giving. At least, that's the way I see it when I look at it from the outside."
Importance of the "Old Mountain Jug":
"It's a real jug to begin with; it's not something they went down and bought at a tourist place. I didn't know what the Jug was when I first got here 20 years ago. But it's got a real cork in it and everything and we were real curious to get that cork out of there and see it was real. It's a great battle and a great tradition. It's one of those things that everyone points towards whether you are an Appalachian person or from Western."
On Appalachian State quarterback, Armanti Edwards:
"He's a little bit dinged up. But you get this late in the year, that's part of the deal. He just got bruised or beat up like every kid does. I think he's going to be ok. I expect him to play on Saturday. But if he is not able to go, we aren't going to put him out there."
On both he and WCU coach Dennis Wagner being former Nebraska assistant coaches:
"We weren't there at the same time, but anytime you are around the Nebraska program, you can't help but come out of there as a better coach. You learn so much about football, about people and doing things right. You are very fortunate to be a part of that program."
