Post by FUBeAR on Jul 13, 2015 13:42:38 GMT -5
...and drivel-ridden than previous writings...
2015 Football Preseason Preview: Mercer
Throughout this preseason, [Redacted] will preview all of Western's 2015 football opponents. Today we look at the Mercer Bears.
For the fifth game of the season, the Catamounts remain in Cullowhee to meet the Mercer Bears for their first ever football visit to Cullowhee.
This is only the second meeting between Mercer and the Catamounts on the gridiron. The Cats picked up a win in the initial meeting between these two teams last season in Macon, so we expect the Bears to will travel to Cullowhee expecting to return the favor.
Mercer
Courtesy Mercer Athletics
When: Saturday, October 10th at 3:30 pm
Where: E.J. Whitmire Stadium. Cullowhee, NC
Radio: Catamount Sports Network
TV / video: ESPN3
Head Coach: Bobby Lamb
Bobby Lamb enters his third season as head coach of Mercer football. In his first season, the Bears set a NCAA Division I record for wins by a first-year program with a 10-2 campaign. The 2013 win total also set a school record for victories, surpassing the previous mark of seven wins by Lake Russell’s 1931 and 1932 squads. Lamb led the Bears into their first season of Southern Conference play in 2014,
Last year’s record (Mercer): 6-6 overall (home: 4-3 away: 2-3), 1-6 in the SoCon
Last Season's Game vs. Mercer (Oct. 18, 2014): ...the Catamounts remained perfect in Southern Conference play with a 35-21 road victory over the Mercer Bears at the Mercer University Stadium. [Note: text in this section shortened by FUBeAR in the interest of brevity].
Offensive starters - Returning/Lost: 11 / 0
Defensive starters - Returning/Lost: 11 / 0
Specialist - Returning/Lost: 6 / 1 - The Bears lose kicker Will Roper to graduation
Offensive Formation: Pistol (Lamb was known for his run-heavy I-formation offenses at Furman, but now he's utilizing a spread attack that closely resembles those of Western Carolina and Chattanooga out of the Pistol)
Defensive Formation: 3-4
Even though the Mercer Bears only had one Southern Conference victory in 2014, Mercer completed the season in second place in scoring offense (32.5 ppg) and fourth overall in scoring defense (24.1 ppg). The Bears also picked up seven individual honors in the postseason. Freshman wide receiver Chandler Curtis was named to the SoCon All Conference first team and freshman Alex Lake (sic) also was first team All SoCon. Two Bear defensive linemen picked up second team honors, Alex Avant & Tyler Ward [NOTE: ADDED by FUBeAR - Completely incorrect, as Avant is a DB and Ward is a LB, but they are fantastic players nonetheless]- while Wilson Heres was named to the second team as an offensive lineman. Defensive lineman Austin Barrett and linebacker Kyle Williams were named to the all freshman team. All 22 of the 2014 starters are set to return for Mercer, and with just one year removed from a NCAA record 10 wins as a first-year program, the Bears made quite a statement in their first year in the Southern Conference. Any doubts, just ask Chattanooga, The Citadel, or Samford. [ADDED BY FUBeAR:...or VMI...or #6 from WCU, who did not return to the contest following this 'statement.' Unsure if he was unable to continue or just declined.]
2014 Mercer Statistics:
Rushing Offense: 2437 yards
Yards per game: 203.1
Yards per rush: 5.0 yards
TDs rushing: 27
Passing Offense: 2375 yards or 187.9 yards per game
Passing Comp-Att-Int: 156-274-10
Total Offense: 5812 yards or 401 yards per game
Passing 1st downs: 96
Rushing 1st downs: 123
Fumbles-Lost: 17 - 7
Penalties-Yards: 77 - 727 yards
3d Down Conversions: 57 of 146 or 39%
4th Down Conversions: 8 of 21 or 38%
Field Goals - Attempts: 7 of 12
Red-Zone Scores: 37 of 45 (82%)
Red-Zone Touchdowns: 33 of 45 (73%)
Punts (No. Yards): 46 (1761 yds)
Avg, per punt: 38.3 yds
Time of possession per game: 29: 16
Sacks: 14
2015 Football Preseason Preview: Mercer
Throughout this preseason, [Redacted] will preview all of Western's 2015 football opponents. Today we look at the Mercer Bears.
For the fifth game of the season, the Catamounts remain in Cullowhee to meet the Mercer Bears for their first ever football visit to Cullowhee.
This is only the second meeting between Mercer and the Catamounts on the gridiron. The Cats picked up a win in the initial meeting between these two teams last season in Macon, so we expect the Bears to will travel to Cullowhee expecting to return the favor.
Mercer
Courtesy Mercer Athletics
When: Saturday, October 10th at 3:30 pm
Where: E.J. Whitmire Stadium. Cullowhee, NC
Radio: Catamount Sports Network
TV / video: ESPN3
Head Coach: Bobby LambBobby Lamb enters his third season as head coach of Mercer football. In his first season, the Bears set a NCAA Division I record for wins by a first-year program with a 10-2 campaign. The 2013 win total also set a school record for victories, surpassing the previous mark of seven wins by Lake Russell’s 1931 and 1932 squads. Lamb led the Bears into their first season of Southern Conference play in 2014,
Last year’s record (Mercer): 6-6 overall (home: 4-3 away: 2-3), 1-6 in the SoCon
Last Season's Game vs. Mercer (Oct. 18, 2014): ...the Catamounts remained perfect in Southern Conference play with a 35-21 road victory over the Mercer Bears at the Mercer University Stadium. [Note: text in this section shortened by FUBeAR in the interest of brevity].
Offensive starters - Returning/Lost: 11 / 0
Defensive starters - Returning/Lost: 11 / 0
Specialist - Returning/Lost: 6 / 1 - The Bears lose kicker Will Roper to graduation
Offensive Formation: Pistol (Lamb was known for his run-heavy I-formation offenses at Furman, but now he's utilizing a spread attack that closely resembles those of Western Carolina and Chattanooga out of the Pistol)
Defensive Formation: 3-4
Even though the Mercer Bears only had one Southern Conference victory in 2014, Mercer completed the season in second place in scoring offense (32.5 ppg) and fourth overall in scoring defense (24.1 ppg). The Bears also picked up seven individual honors in the postseason. Freshman wide receiver Chandler Curtis was named to the SoCon All Conference first team and freshman Alex Lake (sic) also was first team All SoCon. Two Bear defensive linemen picked up second team honors, Alex Avant & Tyler Ward [NOTE: ADDED by FUBeAR - Completely incorrect, as Avant is a DB and Ward is a LB, but they are fantastic players nonetheless]- while Wilson Heres was named to the second team as an offensive lineman. Defensive lineman Austin Barrett and linebacker Kyle Williams were named to the all freshman team. All 22 of the 2014 starters are set to return for Mercer, and with just one year removed from a NCAA record 10 wins as a first-year program, the Bears made quite a statement in their first year in the Southern Conference. Any doubts, just ask Chattanooga, The Citadel, or Samford. [ADDED BY FUBeAR:...or VMI...or #6 from WCU, who did not return to the contest following this 'statement.' Unsure if he was unable to continue or just declined.]
2014 Mercer Statistics:
Rushing Offense: 2437 yards
Yards per game: 203.1
Yards per rush: 5.0 yards
TDs rushing: 27
Passing Offense: 2375 yards or 187.9 yards per game
Passing Comp-Att-Int: 156-274-10
Total Offense: 5812 yards or 401 yards per game
Passing 1st downs: 96
Rushing 1st downs: 123
Fumbles-Lost: 17 - 7
Penalties-Yards: 77 - 727 yards
3d Down Conversions: 57 of 146 or 39%
4th Down Conversions: 8 of 21 or 38%
Field Goals - Attempts: 7 of 12
Red-Zone Scores: 37 of 45 (82%)
Red-Zone Touchdowns: 33 of 45 (73%)
Punts (No. Yards): 46 (1761 yds)
Avg, per punt: 38.3 yds
Time of possession per game: 29: 16
Sacks: 14
