FOOTBALL: GAME NOTES

CU BROADCASTER PREVIEWS CONCORD VS WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN

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Concord Sports Information Director Kyle Cooper also doubles as CU's radio play-by-play announcer.  Now in his fourth season as the Voice of the Mountain Lions, Cooper shares his notes on Saturday's football game between Concord and West Virginia Wesleyan at Callaghan Stadium.  Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 pm.


So much of the talk surrounding the Mountain Lions this week has to do with the playoffs.  It's been a long time since CU has played in the post-season and, well, fans are naturally excited over the possibility of getting back.

But if Concord doesn't win on Saturday, all that talk and all those hopes will disappear.  Heck, even if Concord does defeat Wesleyan, it's no guarantee of a playoff bid.  But that's another story for another time.

The stakes on Saturday are simple:  The winner claims the outright WVIAC championship.  For Concord, it would be the first since 1990 – before many of this year's players were born.  For the Bobcats, it would be the first since taking back-to-back titles in 2002 and 2003.

There's a lot of history wrapped up in Saturday's contest.  CU is vying for its 11th WVIAC title, while WVWC is seeking its seventh.

West Virginia Wesleyan's championship pedigree stretches all the way back to 1926, which was only the second season the WVIAC designated a champion.  Concord won its first conference title in 1962, and got its second four years later – each under head coach Don Williams. 

Under Tony Colobro, the Mountain Lions won four championships in five years, claiming three in a row from 1976-78 and returning to the top in 1980.

Concord won titles in 1984 and 1987 under Marvin Williams, and claimed their most recent championships in 1989 and 1990 with Bob Mullett at the helm.

Saturday will be Concord's Senior Day, and CU head coach Garin Justice says that will provide extra incentive in a day that should be brimming over with it.

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"Our seniors have worked so hard to turn our program around," Justice said.  "They know what it was like when things weren't going so well around here.  They remember how it felt to lose to Wesleyan last year.  Now they have a chance to go out as champions.
"As a former player, I know how important Senior Day is.  When you're senior, you don't want to lose your last home game.  When you're a younger player, you want to make sure you don't let down the older guys.  You just don't want to lose on Senior Day."

This season, Concord is 6-3, 6-1, thanks in large measure to its defense.  West Virginia Wesleyan is 9-1, 6-1, with its offense grabbing the headlines.

The Mountain Lions are coming off a down-to-the-wire 32-29 win at West Liberty last weekend.  It was CU's first win over the Hilltoppers since 1996.  The Bobcats are coming off their first loss of the season, a 28-17 upset at the University of Charleston last Saturday.

One piece of history will be made tomorrow, regardless of the outcome -- a rookie head coach will win a conference championship.  Justice took over the CU program last January, while Jonas Jackson -- who was named interim coach after Denny Creehan's depature last spring -- was officially named the Bobcats' bench boss on September 29.

I've been Concord's SID since September 2009, and I can tell you that no other game has generated this much media attention.  Newspaper, radio and television from all around the state will be paying close attention.

One special note about Saturday's game is that it's 'Military Appreciation Day' and 'Championship Camo Day.'  All military personnel, active or retired, will get free admission with a valid military ID.  All fans are encouraged to wear camouflage to honor the service of our nation's soldiers and veterans.

Saturday's game will be broadcast on News/Talk 620 WWNR in Beckley, which also has a local 101.1 FM signal.  Coverage begins with the “Mountain Lions Preview Show” at 12:30 pm.

Concord will also provide live, streaming video coverage, and Live Stats.  The links are included below.



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