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Catamounts Firmly In Playoff Race Behind Bell, Dickens
The WCU football team has won an incredible 5 games in a row following a 3 game losing streak to start the season due to the absence of All-American record-breaking QB Taron Dickens. The Catamounts hold a 5-3 record, with a 4-0 record in SoCon play, as well as the best point differential in the conference.
Nationally, the Catamounts have the 7th best overall offense in the FCS, and the 2nd best passing offense in the FCS. Surprisingly, the Catamounts also have the 4th best turnover margin in the country as well, but that doesn’t seem to be getting much attention because it doesn’t fit certain peoples narrative that the WCU defense is bad. I have been arguing this point for what seems like ages, so I will make it abundantly clear here for the folks in the back that aren’t listening. Western Carolina should be a 7-1 team. The only, and I mean only reason that is not the case, is because Taron Dickens missed the first 3 games of the season.
The Math
The fine folks at r/FCS seem to insist that despite Taron Dickens being one of the best QBs in the country at any level, he does not give Western a better chance to win. I have proven that the exact opposite is the case. Over the 3 games where Dickens was out, the Catamount offense averaged only 28.7 points per game, versus 42.4 points per game in the 5 games Dickens has started.
One of the biggest arguments against Western by r/FCS seems to be that Dickens doesn’t play defense and therefore has no impact. This demonstrates a fundamental lack of understanding of how football is played. If your offense is better, you have better field position. If you have strong field position, the range of plays you can call becomes less limited. This in turn keeps your defense off the field for longer, allowing them to stay rested for later in the game.
While Dickens was out, the Catamount defense allowed an average of 43.7 points per game, versus only 27.2 points per game while Dickens is the starter. That’s a 16.5 point difference, just on defense! That is before you even add in the 13.7 point difference that Dickens has created on offense. This means that Taron Dickens accounts for a 15.1 point per game difference for the Catamounts. If you apply that 15.1 point increase to the final scores of those 3 games, the Catamounts would now have a 7-1 record, with the lone loss coming against FBS team Wake Forest.
Looking Ahead
The Catamounts are having an incredible season thanks to Taron Dickens and head coach Kerwin Bell, to the point that there are real concerns that both could leave Cullowhee in the offseason. It is no great secret that Western unfortunately cannot financially compete with the likes of the ACC, B10, Big 12, or SEC when it comes to financial backing. We can all see it.
Taron Dickens is the best quarterback in both the FBS and FCS, and Kerwin Bell runs a high-powered offense that will be very attractive to FBS teams. The FBS currently has the most open head-coaching jobs since 2021, and that number looks very likely to increase. There will likely be multiple G5 and even P5 schools that will come calling for the services of Taron Dickens and Kerwin Bell. Folks, go out of your way to watch this team in the Purple and Gold while you still can. These are two Catamount legends in the making and they deserve our support while we still have them.
I hope I’m wrong and Bell and Dickens are back in Cullowhee next season. You’ll be hard pressed to find a member of the Catamount faithful that doesn’t feel like both Bell and Dickens deserve that level of spotlight and payday. Only 4 games remain this season. The Catamounts are on the bye this week, and wont take the field until they face the Mocs down in Chattanooga on 1/11 at 4pm EST on ESPN+. The Catamounts then get conference leader Mercer at home, ETSU at home, and then they finish the season on the road at VMI in one of the most obvious trap games I think I have ever seen.
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