Stadium Spotlight: Bob Waters Field at E.J. Whitmire Stadium (Western Carolina Football)

Welcome to Stadium Spotlight, a series from NC Football News highlighting the football venues that shape North Carolina’s college football landscape. From mountain valleys to city skylines, each stadium in the Old North State has its own story. We begin our tour in Cullowhee, home to one of the state’s largest FCS football venues: Bob Waters Field at E.J. Whitmire Stadium, where Western Carolina plays under the peaks of the Blue Ridge.

🏟️ Bob Waters Field at E.J. Whitmire Stadium

Location: Cullowhee, NC
Home of: Western Carolina Catamounts
Capacity: 13,742

Tucked into the southern edge of campus and bordered by Cullowhee Creek, E.J. Whitmire Stadium has served as the home of Western Carolina football since 1974. The facility features modern amenities, a scenic mountain setting and a deep connection to two of the most influential figures in Catamount athletics history.

Originally constructed for $1.66 million, the stadium opened with a 31-12 win over Murray State on Sept. 14, 1974, in front of 7,500 fans. It was named for E.J. Whitmire, a Franklin native and long-serving WCU Board of Trustees member who played a major role in the school’s development. In 1988, the playing field was named in honor of Bob Waters, who coached the Catamounts from 1969–88 and led the program to the I-AA national championship game in 1983. Waters also served as athletic director for 15 years and finished with a 116–94–6 career record as head football coach.

Whitmire Stadium has always featured an artificial playing surface, with the most recent upgrade coming in 2019 when IronTurf was installed. A 4,000-seat expansion in 2003 pushed capacity to 13,742.

The venue includes a well-equipped press box with dedicated radio booths, wireless internet, and coaches’ boxes. On game days, fans pack the stands and celebrate Catamount traditions like the “White Out Whitmire” game and Blue Ridge Border Battle.

Notable Moments:

• 1992: Upset of No. 2 Marshall
• 1998: Win over No. 6 Appalachian State to reclaim the Old Mountain Jug
• 2004: 30-27 comeback win over App State, marking the 100th program win at Whitmire — goalposts carried off by fans
• 2006: Dominant win over No. 2 Furman, 41-21
• 2023: Upset No. 7 ranked Samford 30-7 in a White Out Whitmire game … two weeks later scored 77 points vs. Charleston Southern

2025 Home Highlights at Whitmire:

• Aug. 30 – Gardner-Webb (6 p.m. kickoff)
• Sept. 13 – Elon (White Out Whitmire)
• Sept. 20 – Samford (Family Weekend)
• Oct. 11 – Furman (Heroes Day, EBCI Day)
• Nov. 8 – Mercer (Homecoming ’25)
• Nov. 15 – ETSU (Senior Day, Blue Ridge Border Battle)

📅 View the full 2025 Western Carolina Football Schedule

📸 More on the Catamounts’ home stadium from WCU Athletics

More Western Carolina football headlines