Nov. 7, 2004

Cullowhee, N.C. - The Western Carolina Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is proud to announce that this week -- November 8-14 -- has been designated as "Purple Pride" Week. All Catamount fans are encouraged to wear purple each day throughout the week to the various Catamount athletic events, with festivities culminating on the weekend Western will battle arch-rival Appalachian State in Cullowhee in football and volleyball.

Activities kick off Wednesday, as the Catamount basketball team hosts Erskine in a preseason exhibition. The game is scheduled for 7:00 pm in the Ramsey Center. On Saturday, November 13, Western Carolina will host the Mountaineers in football at E.J. Whitmire in the 29th battle for the "Old Mountain Jug" at 4:00 pm in a game that will be televised live on C-SET. On Sunday, the Western Carolina volleyball team will host Appalachian State in their regular season finale in the Ramsey Center at 2:00 pm. Following the match, the Western Carolina Lady Catamounts will officially tip-off the Kellie Harper era as they will be holding an exhibition game versus the Charlotte Stars at around 6:00 pm.

Western will honor its seniors at both the regular season games on the weekend, including football team and support staff, "Pride of the Mountains" Marching Band, WCU Dance Team, cheerleaders, and the volleyball student-athletes participating in their final regular season collegiate match.

Fans can purchase "Purple Pride" T-shirts and other purple paraphernalia at the Catamount Clothing and Gift store located on the second floor of the A.K. Hinds University Center on campus. The shirts feature the official "Purple Pride Day" logo on the front, with the "Battle for the Old Mountain Jug" depiction with a silhouette of the Jug on the reverse side.

Additionally, various businesses in the Jackson County area will be showing their Purple Pride as they decorate the exteriors of their facilities to support the Catamounts on the weekend. Those participating will be judged by a panel, with the winners receiving free advertising with Western Carolina athletics during 2005-06.

Head coach Steve Shurina and the men's basketball team will begin their march to the Madness, hosting the Erskine Flying Fleet in a preseason exhibition Wednesday, Nov. 10 at 7:00 pm with free admission to the public. The Cats downed the Fleet 77-56 last year in an exhibition match-up.

Western will look to end a five-game losing skid versus the Mountaineers on the gridiron as they host the mountain rival for the first time since the Whitmire Stadium expansion Saturday afternoon. The two have met a total of 68 times entering Saturday's contest, with the past four meetings having been decided by 10 points or less.

Tickets for the game are $20 for adults, $10 for children ages 3-17 and can be purchased through the Western Carolina ticket office in the Ramsey Center, or by calling (800) 34-GOWCU. Reserved seating tickets on the West Side are available to Catamount Club members, with East Side, general admission tickets available as well.

Sunday's season finale for the women's volleyball team against ASU is the 61st all-time meeting, the second-oldest rivalry in Catamount volleyball history. ASU has won three-in-a-row over the Cats, but prior to that, Western had taken nine of the previous 10 meetings between the two. The match is slated to begin at 2:00 pm in the Ramsey Center, with the women's basketball exhibition to follow. Admission is free to both events.