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E.J. Whitmire Stadium/Bob Waters Field is a 13,742-seat football stadium in Cullowhee, North Carolina and home of the Western Carolina University Catamount Football team.
The stadium is named for the late E.J. Whitmire, who spent most of his adult life serving this university and the field is named Coach Bob Waters.
[edit] The Stadium
|
Quick Facts |
|
1 |
Completed |
June 1974 |
2 |
West Side Stands Completed |
August 2003 |
3 |
Current Capacity |
13,742 |
4 |
Playing Field Name |
Bob Waters Field |
5 |
Playing Surface |
Artificial Turf: AstroPlay |
6 |
First Game |
Sept. 14, 1974 |
7 |
Dedicated |
Oct. 5, 1974 |
8 |
Largest Attendance |
15,247 |
9 |
WCU’s Record in Stadium |
102-64-2; 33 seasons |
E. J. Whitmire served Western Carolina University for more than a quarter century with the attitude, leadership and "get it done" ability that made him successful in every walk of life. He served on the WCU Board of Trustess from 1949-72 and was the driving force in the university's unparalleled period of growth. His tireless work served as the cornerstone of the structure that now bears his name.
Robert Lee Waters was honored, following his death in 1988, for his many years of loyal service to the university. His name become a permanent mark on the WCU landscape as the football field is now and forever will be known as Bob Waters Field at E.J. Whitmire Stadium.
Bob Waters served as the university's head football coach for 20 years and worked in a dual capacity as its athletic director for 15 years. During his tenure, he became the school's winningest football coach with 116 victories, 13 winning seasons and top 10 national finishes at three different levels (NAIA, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division I-AA). He also had the privilege of coaching 13 All-Americans and 36 All-Southern Conference players.
The stadium was opened in 1974 and is home to the Western Carolina University Catamounts football team. Dedicated on October 5, 1974, the Catamounts defeated Morehead State, 31-12 in their second game at the new facility. Murray State won the first game played at Whitmire Stadium on Sept. 14, 1974.
Following its silver anniversary in 1999, Whitmire Stadium was granted a face lift. The field was covered with new artificial turf and Phase I a 624-seat grandstand on the west/visitors sideline, with concession building and restroom facilities was completed. The second phase of the stadium expansion calls for the west stands to increase to between 3,700 - 4,000 seats.
A new scoreboard was also purchased, it includes a modernized message center at the south end of the field.
[edit] E.J. Whitmire Stadium/Bob Waters Field Records
Individual Records[1]
- MOST POINTS
- 25 Wayne Tolleson vs. Lenoir-Rhyne, 1976
- MOST TOUCHDOWNS
- 4 Held by three
- last Ron Darby (Marshall), 1988
- MOST TD RUSHES
- 4 Ron Darby (Marshall), 1988
- David Mayfield vs. ETSU, 1986
- MOST TD RECEPTIONS
- 4 Gerald Harp vs. Wofford, 1979
- MOST TD PASSES
- 4 Held by five
- last Brian Gaither (J.C. Smith), 2003
- MOST PAT MADE (KICK)
- 9 Chris Vought vs. Liberty, 2001
- MOST RUSHING YARDS
- 262 Ron Darby (Marshall), 1988
- MOST PASSING YARDS
- 488 Chris Sanders (UTC), 2000
- MOST PASS ATTEMPTS
- 67 Michael Payton (Marshall), 1992
- MOST PASS COMPLETIONS
- 36 Michael Payton (Marshall), 1992
- MOST RECEPTIONS
- 16 Richmond Flowers (UTC), 2000
- MOST RECEIVING YARDS
- 232 Craig Aiken vs. The Citadel, 1992
- MOST TOTAL OFFENSE YARDAGE
- 503 Chris Sanders (UTC), 2000
Team Records[2]
- MOST POINTS
- 77 WCU vs. West Virginia State, 2004
- MOST POINTS QUARTER
- 29 WCU vs. W. Va. State, 2004 (2nd)
- MOST POINTS HALF
- 43 WCU vs. W. Va. State, 2004 (1st)
- MOST POINTS BY AN OPPONENT
- MOST COMBINED POINTS
- 97 Marshall 52, WCU 45, 1988
- LARGEST WIN MARGIN
- 70 WCU vs. West Virginia State, 2004
- MOST TOTAL OFFENSE YARDAGE
- 681 WCU vs. Lenoir-Rhyne, 2000
- MOST RUSHING YARDS
- 489 by Georgia Southern, 2002
- MOST PASSING YARDS
- MOST FIRST DOWNS
- MOST RUSHING FIRST DOWNS
- 26 by Georgia Southern, 1996
- MOST PASSING FIRST DOWNS
- MOST FIELD GOALS
[edit] Top 10 Crowds at Whitmire
|
Opponent |
Year |
Attendance Number |
1 |
Appalachian State |
1994 |
15,247 |
2 |
Appalachian State |
2004 |
14,714 |
3 |
Appalachian State |
1983 |
13,924 |
4 |
Appalachian State |
1998 |
13,785 |
5 |
Furman |
1978 |
13,778 |
6 |
Appalachian State |
2006 |
13,742 |
7 |
Georgia Southern |
1987 |
13,460 |
8 |
Furman |
1989 |
13,227 |
9 |
Appalachian State |
1989 |
13,118 |
10 |
The Citadel |
1992 |
12,818 |
[edit] References
[edit] External links