March 27, 2008

PHOTO GALLERY

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina and first-year head coach Dennis Wagner will begin to make the transition from off-season into preparing for the rapidly approaching 2008 gridiron season over the weekend with the first day of spring practice slated for Monday, March 31 at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field.

Wagner plans on utilizing afternoon practices during the week, with meeting and practice times in the morning on weekends, including scrimmage sessions. The squad will practice five days a week, taking both Wednesday's and Sunday's off from team activities.

"During our spring practices, we will focus on becoming more fundamentally sound on the field, as well as relaying the structure we want to have as we approach next season," said Wagner. "We will spend some time implementing our basic offense and defensive systems, but will not go into any great detail."

The NCAA-regulated, 15-days of off-season practice will be spread over a 20-day period, culminating with the annual Spring Game at 1:00 pm on Saturday, April 19th at Whitmire Stadium/Waters Field in Cullowhee. Festivities will commence with the first-ever "A Taste of Tailgating" at the stadium with area vendors providing free food samples for fans.

Off-season workouts implemented by Wagner and his staff have included 6:00 am sessions including conditioning as well as weight lifting aspects. Wagner feels the team has made improvements in physical conditioning which will translate into an effective spring session.

Western Carolina lost 13 seniors off last season's squad, including All-Southern Conference selections in running back/return specialist Mike Malone and single-season receiving record holder, Eddie Cohen, who was also named second team All-American a year ago. All told, the Catamounts will have to replace five starters on offense and three on defense, as well as specialist Stephen Brown.

WCU does return two All-SoCon picks from a year ago on defense in senior defensive end Jeff Bradley and junior linebacker Quintin Phillips among six returning starters on defense. Offensively, WCU returns seven players which started at least half of the games played last season.

Wagner has signed 21 players - 11 on defense, nine on offense and a punter - to National Letters of Intent since signing day in early February.

The team is slated to report in the fall on Aug. 2, with the first game of the 2008 season scheduled under the lights on Thursday, Aug. 28 at 7:00 pm as the Catamounts entertain Shorter College.