Friday, January 15, 2010

A giant to help Catamounts build their program

Western Carolina coach Dennis Wagner, the former offensive line coach at Nebraska, knows a little about big-time football, and he’s pushing the once-moribund Catamounts toward challenging old rival Appalachian State, which has punted WCU all over the Southern Conference over the past two decades.

Wagner brought in an excellent recruiting class last year and is on the way to doing so again. And one of the biggest chunks of the 2010 group will be 6-foot-9, 300-pound offensive lineman Dan Polaski, who transferred in for the spring semester from Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va.

Polaski
is rated a three-star recruit by Scout.com. For comparison, no East Carolina recruit has more than two stars. Which means he could be a significant addition at the FCS level if his stars are in alignment.

When FBS weren’t quick to offer Polaski, Wagner’s experience in developing offensive linemen looked attractive, and the big guy ended up in Cullowhee, where next season he may be the biggest freshman in the country.

*By the way, the Catamounts also may have a transfer with the best, or at least most patriotic, name. Reggie America is a defensive back who came from junior college in Coffeeville, Kan.

--Stan Olson

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

LET'S GO CATS!!!

Anonymous said...

Has to be a reason the FBS schools weren't looking at this guy. Just wonder what it was.

Anonymous said...

Glad to see Western getting some love in Charlotte.

Anonymous said...

Thank you Observer for this small piece of reporting on Western Carolina University. I anxiously look forward to seeing more on a regular basis.

GO CATS!!!!!
WCU'89

Anonymous said...

Western, Western, Goooooooooo Western. Gooooooo Cats!!!

Anonymous said...

Probably not looking at him because he's not too smart. Obviously if he had to attend Hargrave, he didn't have the grades to get in anywhere else. Anyone who's anyone knows that to be a good offensive lineman, you have to be smart. The smarter the better. But then again, Western will likely continue to get worn out by App State. I hope they do, anyway!

Anonymous said...

The FBS doesnt know what it missed out on. Just wait and see, Polaski is an up and coming star. The kid has pro potential.

Anonymous said...

he is actually a great student... simply no exposure from his HS in Western MA...

Anonymous said...

Polaski never went to Hargrave for the grades, his grades were very good, he just went for the exposure. Being from the north there was not a lot of recuiting for him.

Anonymous said...

From what I've heard this kid is smart. He selected WCU for its Biology Dept. not just early playing time. Appears some FBS programs discouraged players from being science majors. I am glad to see he is at Western to be a student athlete!

Unknown said...

Thanks Observer for coverage. Please keep it up. I have included a lot of Biology in my studies at WCU only because the Sheffield twins were lab assistants. They had a good program 50 years ago and its better than ever I hear. Give them hell Cats!

DK said...

Nice Post !

Cheers for western cats !

:)

Student of Canadian college

Best Personal Support Worker Program said...

Yeah he is a great guy for sure as he is performing a very good task and assisting people in performing some good tasks as well. Dennis Wagner has been a very famous football coach in his former time and he has been a great personality as well. He transferred himself in Ellsworth community college after being a JUCO. Other than this he earned All-Western Athletic Conference (WAC) honors and an honorable-mention All-America honor as an offensive guard.