Western Carolina football

Western Carolina grad Fran Brown hired by Syracuse

December 5, 2023 The Associated Press

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse hired Georgia defensive backs coach Fran Brown as its head coach on Tuesday, giving the Orange a highly regarded recruiter with roots in the Northeast. The 41-year-old Brown, a native of […]

WCU great, 3-time Super Bowl champion David Patten dies in motorcycle accident

September 3, 2021 North State Journal Staff

David Patten, the wide receiver who went from undrafted out of Western Carolina to a three-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots, died Saturday night following in a motorcycle accident in Columbia, South […]

UNC overwhelms Western Carolina on Senior Day

December 5, 2020 Shawn Krest

It was very clear, very early that the pumpkins weren’t turning into coaches. The door mice wouldn’t be transforming. With COVID regulations limiting the capacity at Kenan Stadium, Cinderella wasn’t showing up. The North Carolina […]

100 in 100: Transylvania County’s Manny DeShauteurs, football and wrestling star

July 17, 2020 Brett Friedlander

North State Journal’s 100 in 100 series will showcase the best athlete from each of North Carolina’s 100 counties. From Alamance to Yancey, each county will feature one athlete who stands above the rest. Some […]

NC players on ballot for College Football Hall of Fame

June 24, 2020 Brett Friedlander

North Carolina might be best known for its college basketball. And for good reason. But it’s also produced its share of top football talent over the years, a fact validated by recent inductions into the […]

Young Wolfpack proved ready in opener

September 4, 2019 Brett Friedlander

RALEIGH — It’s still too early to make any meaningful judgments about the young NC State football team this season. But you can already say this much for coach Dave Doeren’s Wolfpups after one game: […]

‘The Baddest Band in the Land’

November 14, 2018 Brett Friedlander

CULLOWHEE — Halftime isn’t usually the best time to visit the concession stand or restroom at a college football game. Unless you’re at Western Carolina. In that case, you can zip right through the line […]

Catamounts travel to UNC for battle of struggling teams

November 14, 2018 Brett Friedlander

CULLOWHEE — It’s been a season of contrasts for the Western Carolina football team. The Catamounts began 2018 with three straight wins for their best start since 1976. But just when it looked as though […]

Big year for the state in NFL Draft

May 2, 2018 Shawn Krest

North Carolina schools had their best showing in the NFL Draft in more than a quarter century. A total of 15 players from schools in the state heard their names called in last week’s draft, […]