Fall Saturdays in the south are synonymous with college football, and this weekend is the perfect opportunity to enjoy some football festivities with the Bear Lake family. Join us this Saturday, November 6th, as the Western Carolina Catamounts battle the Furman Paladins in a FCS Southern Conference showdown! It may not be a heavyweight SEC rivalry, but there are plenty of reasons to look forward to this afternoon matchup in Cullowhee.

                After an 0-6 start, the Catamounts found their footing with consecutive wins on the road against The Citadel and Wofford thanks to their high-powered offense led by QB Rogan Wells. Meanwhile, Furman is coming off back-to-back losses to East Tennessee State and Chattanooga in which they only scored a combined 16 points. Both teams are 2-3 in Southern Conference play, so look for this to be a spirited game as both teams fight to reach .500. My key to the game? WCU’s dangerous offense vs Furman’s stout defense.

                The return home for the Catamounts should also feel extra sweet for Kerwin Bell, after he picked up his first two wins as WCU’s head coach. Catamount fans should be thrilled for him and his future with the program. He has a long track record of success both as a coach and a player after beginning his collegiate career as a walk-on at the University of Florida. Bell was the SEC Player of the Year in 1984 as Florida’s QB before being drafted in the 7th round by the Miami Dolphins in 1988. He then went on to play 13 years of professional football in the NFL, CFL, and WLAF including stops with the Atlanta Falcons, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Indianapolis Colts. After coaching Jacksonville University for 9 seasons, Coach Bell led the Valdosta State Blazers to a Division II Championship in 2018. His QB there? Rogan Wells. It’s been a challenging first season for Coach Bell but look for his group to finish strong as they continue to build something special in Cullowhee!

                If you’re as excited for the game as we are, come join us for tailgating at 12 pm (noon)! Just email activities@bearlakereserve.com to let us know you’d like to attend, and we’ll provide a shuttle to the tailgate. We’ll also have drinks, but we ask our guests to bring food. Sharing is caring!