Western Carolina vs Gardner-Webb Game Thread

[EagleDawg]

After last week's surprising, exciting and very satisfying win over Akron, Gardner-Webb hosts Western Carolina who is coming off a surprising and what has to be extremely disappointing if not shocking loss to D2 Tusculum College. GWU has won the last two meetings against the Catamounts and should be favored in this one by 10 points or so. WCU gets star receiver Marquel Pittman back after a two game suspension so that should help the Cats cause a bit. It will be a bit unusual for GWU to be favored over a SOCON team but the Cats have struggled mightily of late. If the Runnin Bulldogs take care of business this Saturday then the 3-0 start would consist of wins over a D2, a BCS and a FCS SOCON team. Not too shabby for a program who has moved up to the FCS level not too many years ago.

It will be interesting to see whether the 2 QB rotation continues as both R-SO John Rock and R-Fr Chandler Browning have both played solidly if not spectacularly in the case of Browning who led the Dawgs back from a 31-17 deficit to Akron in the 4th quarter. FR-RB DeJuan Blount has shown outstanding strength and burst along with FR-RB Nino Woolridge. SR-RB Patrick Hall should return soon from a high ankle sprain and the Runnin Dawgs receiving corps of James Perry, Marquis Saunders, Jamaal Patmon and TE-Josh Miller were more than the Akron Zips could handle. The G-Dubb O-line played extremely well against the Zips and I anticipate the ball being in the air quite a bit this Saturday.

Congrats to GWU's James Perry, Bryce Nixon, Ryan Gates and DeJuan Blount who racked up Big South Offensive, Defensive, Special Teams and Freshman of the Week Honors. Perry shared the recognition with Liberty's QB-Mike Brown who directed the Flames win over BCS program Ball State.

GWU 38 - WCU 20

[AppStateAlumQC]

I can't see GWU losing this one or having much of a let down after beating the Zips. Western's only hopes of a win this season come this weekend and against The Citadel in a few weeks.

[g-webb1994]

I think we may come out a bit flat, but will pick up the tempo in a hurry. WCU is in complete disarray only three weeks into the season. Remember, they were losing to Tusculum at one point 51-14....a Tusculum team in their own coaches preseason poll in the South Atlantic Conference were chosen 5th out of 8 teams.

It'll be interesting to see if Patton sticks with one QB when we get to conference play. For now though, our two-headed monster will work just fine.

G-W 34
WCU 17

[elcid83]

Another post describes the end of WCU's QB Jaynes' college career. A real shame for that kid. It sounds like former Gamecock QB Zac Brindise will take over the reins. Brindise came in in the 2nd quarter last weekend during WCU's loss and promptly completed 23 of 39 passes for 304 yds and 4 TDs. While that is concerning, one has to believe that WCU's D is much too porous to stop GW's balanced running and passing attack.

Go Runnin' Bulldogs!

[SpeedkingATL]

WCU's season has fallen into shambles even earlier than expected. GW should win this one going away, but strange things happen in FCS football. Nothing against GW but here's hoping the Whee pulls it together this weekend and at least resembles a SoCon football team.

[Appaholic]

Has Western lost this game yet?

[EagleDawg]

I see that some Mountaineer Fans know how to kick a "Cat" when he's down, I like it. Hope the Dawgs can kick a "Cat" too.

[Mountaineer]

Should be an interesting game. This is one that Western needs to win as chances for picking up a single victory dwindle drastically thereafter.

Other than a chance at The Citadel it could be an O-fer season in the Whee.

[BigDawgPop]

Here kitty, kitty, kitty!

[EagleDawg]

Looks like the Catamounts have lost another offensive player due to career ending injuries. In addition to QB starter Greg Jaynes, it was announced earlier today that R-So RB Dion Wilson has been advised by doctors to give up football due to repetitive concussions. Wilson sustained the second concussion of this season in the loss to Tusculum College this past Saturday night. You hate to see any player injured, especially when it's career ending but a wise decision none the less based on all the recent information and study of repetitive concussions. As a parent of a current Runnin Bulldog player I feel badly for the young man and his family. A lot of folks truly don't appreciate the work these young men put in to earn a scholarship on a football team and to see that effort cut short is gut wrenching.

Here's hoping to an injury free game in Boiling Springs this Saturday for both teams and a Runnin Bulldog victory.

[AZGrizFan]

IF GW is for real, they should win this game by 3 TD's.

[EagleDawg]

AZGrizFan - That's setting the bar a bit high I think. First, this is somewhat of a rivalry game with the two schools located only about 70-90 miles apart, 2ndly the games in this series of recent note have generally been close and come down to the wire, 3rdly the Runnin Bulldogs are coming off the biggest win in their adolescent FCS history against FBS Akron so they may have a bit of a let down and finally, the Runnin Bulldogs are still playing without key players such as Big South Preseason DPOY LB Marty Patterson and may be without last season's Big South Preseason DPOY LB Jeffrey Williams and this season's Preseason All-Conference RB Patrick Hall. I'll be happy to get the win, regardless the margin. A team like Western Carolina at 0-2 and coming off an embarrassing defeat to D2 Tusculum College has nothing to lose and everything to gain so I expect them to throw everything including the kitchen sink at the Runnin Bulldogs.

No excuses but a win is a win is a win.

Go Runnin Bulldogs!

[CAA Flagship]

G-W better not lose. It will hurt our strength of schedule.
See you boys in Norfolk in a few weeks. We'll be busy this week getting a CAA lesson from W&M.

[youngterrier]

Western coaches em up and wins

[EagleDawg]

From the sound of things WCU will bring a decent contingent of fans and with GWU hosting a family weekend, the attendance for this game may be the largest of the last two seasons. Weather leading up to kick-off is to be hot but hopefully with a 6 o'clock kickoff, temps will fall into the lower 80's. GWU's leading returning rusher Patrick Hall is expected to be back in action after missing the last game at Akron but I hear that GWU standout LB Jeffrey Williams is still a game time decision so there remains uncertainty about his playing. Looking forward to another fun Saturday and a Runnin Bulldog win. Maybe cracking the top 25 in the FCS Coaches Poll will be a reward at least for the fans with a W Saturday night.

Go Runnin Bulldogs!

[SpeedkingATL]

The Whee is good for one surprising performance a year (not necesarily a win but a surprise performance). Last year it was EKU; maybe this year it's G-W. The Cats may feel cornered and come out scratching.

[BigDawgPop]

Here kitty, kitty, kitty !

[EagleDawg]

Tailgate menu from the EagleDawg family for tomorrow's Western Carolina game

Lemon Barbecued Chicken
Pork Tenderloin with Fresh Yeast Rolls and a mustard based barbecue sauce
Potato Salad
Deviled Eggs
CupCakes for the better half's Birthday, yes she'll be a sporty 47, still younger than me and smarter too!
Some cold pops/favorite beverages

What's on the menu from the other Runnin Bulldog Family's that gather under the shade trees?

[BigDawgPop]

Boston Butt BBQ
Chips w/ Salsa and Humus
Roasted Peanuts
Favorite Beverages

[Bulldogdad]

Hamburgers and Hot Dogs

[T-Dog]

I saw it was a 6 pm EST start time. Back in 2006 in Boiling Springs, App had a 6 pm start time when we played G-W down there on the 3rd weekend in September.

Here was my view for the first half.

[BigDawgPop]

I saw it was a 6 pm EST start time. Back in 2006 in Boiling Springs, App had a 6 pm start time when we played G-W down there on the 3rd weekend in September.

Here was my view for the first half.

We made it that way on purpose....Called home field advantage!!!

[The Cats]

Here kitty, kitty, kitty !

You got it wrong

....it's... Here doggie, doggie, doggie !

[The Cats]

Catamounts win 28 - 14

[ToTheLeft]

What a bad day for the Big South... congrats Cats tho.