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For 25 years the Catamounts have called E.J. Whitmire Stadium home.
Erected in 1974, the stadium begins its 26th season in 2000 as the host of Western Carolina football.
Following its sliver anniversary in 1999, Whitmire Stadium was granted a face lift that is currently under construction.
This summer the field was covered with new artificial turf and the process for the completion of the west stands began.
The improvements to the stadium will be completed in two phases.
Phase I calls for a 624-seat grandstand on the west/visitors sideline, concession building and restroom facilities.
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 this summer. The scoreboard includes a modernized message center at the south end of the field.
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.
The stadium, which currently seats 12,000, boasts a state of the art artificial surface, is located just off the main campus next to the Ramsey Center. The football office and all athletic administration offices are located on the second floor of the Ramsey Center, while the football locker room and training room are located on the first level.
The stadium is named for the late E.J. Whitmire, who spent most of his adult life serving this university.
An educator, contractor, agriculturalist and public servant, 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.
Following his death in 1988, Robert Lee Waters was honored for his many years of loyal service to the university. He had his name become a permanent mark on the WCU landscape as the field is now and forever will be known as Bob Waters Field at E.J. Whitmire Stadium.
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.
As athletics director he directed the school's rise from NAIA to NCAA Division II to NCAA Division I and into the Southern Conference. He was also instrumental in the planning and constructing of Whitmire Stadium, Childress Field and the Ramsey Center.
Waters died on May 29, 1988, following a six-year battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gerhig's disease). He was posthumously inducted into WCU Atheltics Hall of Fame in 1993.
During its 25 year occupancy of Whitmire Stadium, the Catamounts have an overall record on 83-50-2 on their home turf, which included victories over No. 2 Marshall in 1992 and No. 6 Appalachian State in 1998.
Four of the 10 largest crowds in stadium history have gathered to witness the "Battle for the Old Mountain Jug" against Appalachian State.
Goal posts have also been removed from the premises on several occasions, the most recent being the 1998 Appalachian State game in which the Catamounts ended a 13 year losing streak to their arch-rivals.
The stadium has also hosted seven television games, including ESPN's second nationally televised college football game in 1979. The Catamounts were defeated by Appalachian State, but nevertheless made their mark on television history. The network has only visited Cullowhee once more over the past 20 years. ABC also showcased the Cats and Mountaineers from Cullowhee in 1978.
Traditionally, the home opener on Bob Waters Field at E.J. Whitmire Stadium has belonged to the Cats. WCU has won eight consecutive home openers and ate 19-6 all-time in its first game of the season amongst its beloved fans.
