Western Carolina University is known for the endless opportunities and sheer beauty of the surrounding Appalachian Mountain Range. The heart of the catamount nation is fueled by athletes and campus engagement. Alex Gary has been hard at work trying to bring Western Athletics up to the standards of Division 1. Considering football takes up a huge portion of the budget concerning catamount athletics one could only hope they could win a few games. It can be agreed upon by many within the area and football athletes themselves that winning isn't everything but it sure makes things a lot more enjoyable and helpful for the progression of their careers. This can be justified by the growing amount of athletes entering the transfer portal each year from Western Carolina. There is huge historic value in EJ Whitmire Stadium that many students hold near and dear to their hearts however none of these experiences involve winning. With a solid record of 32-60 Coach Speir just can't get it done with a salary of $211,358 a year. Although Coach Speir has inspired many throughout the Western Carolina Region and devoted his heart soul to Western Carolina Football placing super bowl winning Keion Crossen and John Brannon III in the NFL. We as the Catamount Nation feel it is time to explore other options if we wish to continue the growth of this university. It can be assumed that with half of the campus being a construction site expansion is our number one priority. Please consider signing this petition if you believe Western Carolina Athletics can grow to compete for national championships and secure valuable funding for students athletes and students attending Western Carolina University.