bob-sabin_1_08-06-2025_103409: 0:12

Welcome to Tracking the Cats. You've got your co-hosts Bob Saban, me and Steve White today. And as usual, we're not only just following all things Catamount. We're going back into history a little bit, and we are brought to you by Stanbury Insurance with offices in Silva, Waynesville, and Highlands. They cover all your insurance needs and they cover our costs of putting this podcast together. So we thank them a whole lot today. We've got a great guest. We're, like I said, we're stepping back in time a little bit, but he's got great stories, great information. A guy who most. People who have followed the cats at all. Even if you're a, a newer student, you may know who he is. Was highest draft pick ever from Western Carolina. Fifth pick for the Buffalo Bills. He owns several, not only Western Carolina records, but NCA. Won AA records and he's got a me. He's a member of Western Carolina's Hall of Fame, athletics Hall of Fame. It needs no more introduction. That is Kirk Roach. You've got a lot of history since you've left. Colory and some, some fun things to do besides not just being a, a pro NFL player, but also you've been successful in your own right. With a, a long tenure at everybody knows who a DP, the accounting and payroll software firm and also a sales trainer and has done his own podcasts. It's Kirk Roach, class of 87. Welcome, Kirk.

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 1:47

Hey, thanks guys. What an honor it is to be here. Love this format. Love how you keep everybody informed and involved in the Cattle Mountain Nation. So thank you. I, I really appreciate it.

bob-sabin_1_08-06-2025_103409: 1:56

You've got some, things that you wanna talk about, about this year's team that we'll get to in a little bit. But Steve's got a couple of questions for you to, to roll things out. Here we go.

Steve White: 2:05

Okay. That's right. Uh, Kirk course, everybody knows a little bit more in that background. The, uh, only two players in Southern. Conference history have been named, uh, all conference, all four seasons. Uh, Kirk Roach is one of those two. And of course, uh, the one time, the only three time all American in, uh, Southern Conference history. Now both, he still has both of those records. Western Carolina history, four time all conference, three time, uh, all American. And these are legitimate, all American. This is Associated Press, the big all American team. So, yeah. Uh. Kirk, uh, just a couple of little things Uh, go. back, uh, a lot of people, yeah, you've told this story before, but just how did you become a barefoot kicker? Uh, everybody knows that, you know, when, hey, what's that guy doing that there? He lost his shoe, you know? Uh, maybe give us a little background on that, how that evolved.

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 3:02

I will. And, and real quick before I jump into that, Steve, as I always say, right, you mentioned three time All American, four time, all conference. Please know that that speaks more to your SID qualities and capabilities than that what I ever did. So you're, you were the best in college, so I appreciate

Steve White: 3:19

I am still

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 3:19

yeah. Yeah, it may still be a while. But you know, obviously, so I was a running back linebacker when I was young. Loved football. And I remember being eight years old and my dad and I, every Sunday we'd just go to the park and, and do some things and I said, Hey, I wanna learn how to kick and we must have tried for an hour and I couldn't get the ball, you know, five feet off the ground. Right before we left, for some reason I just took off my shoe when I was eight years old and I kicked it and it was beautiful. So I always kind of felt like I could kick better barefooted obviously throughout Georgia High School and stuff like that. I had to have a shoe on. And I think we had played Boston College my freshman year. The year flute wins the Heisman. We went up to Boston College and then we came back and that Monday was Labor Day. just before practice, I just took my shoe off and I was kicking and the ball was going like 10 yards further. And Coach Waters looked at me and said, son, what are you doing? And I just said, coach, I feel like I, I'm more accurate and I can kick the ball further. And he said, okay, well show me. And I kicked about five balls for him and he just said, okay, you're good. And that was it. You know, obviously Kickings. It's a lot like golf. It's a big confidence thing and I, I just felt so much more confident without a shoe than I did a shoe. I think that was as simple as it was.

bob-sabin_1_08-06-2025_103409: 4:35

Well you had an interesting story about how you got to Kie and then how you became our first first string kicker.

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 4:45

Yeah. I, like my son Curtis. I had no offers, you know, all my friends in February, they were going, they'd signed scholarships and I, I was kind of regulated to just going to a local college here in Atlanta. And one Friday night in March, I think it was, coach Dalton calls me up and calls my dad and says, Hey, I hear you can kick. And I'm like, yes sir. And he said, Hey, I can't work you out. I can't try you out. That's against NCAA rules. But I'm going to be jogging around your high school track tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock if you happen to be kicking. And I said, I see what you're saying, coach. I got you. So I show up that Saturday morning and I'm kicking field goals and here comes coach, coach Dalton and I just kinda introduced myself and he said, Hey, I've watched your film. I understand you can kick field goals. Would you mind kicking off for me? He goes, I'm gonna go down to the far end zone and stretch. And I said, be glad to. you guys may not know this, but in DeKalb County, in Georgia, we don't play home games. At our, at our schools. There's, there's four or five local stadiums and those are our home fields. What Coach Dalton didn't know, and I don't think I've ever told anybody, this is our practice field was beautiful. But it was only 90 yards, he's down in the end zone. So I'm, I'm at our 40 kicking off. I'm really at midfield. So I'm kicking, not only kicking'em in the end zone, I'm kicking'em through the uprights. And afterwards he's like, Kirk, you know, I watched your film and you know, you weren't kicking off like that. And I just, I just said, yes sir, coach, you know, obviously I've grown a little bit, I'm more stronger. And I said, I've actually changed my angle, so I'm getting more of my hips into it. That's probably what it is. You know, rest is history. But I, I was, I was going to do anything I could to get a chance to kick.'cause I, I felt like, I felt like I could kick in college. And so that's, that's how I got to, I, I guess you could say I cheated my way into Western Carolina.

bob-sabin_1_08-06-2025_103409: 6:42

You're not the first one.

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 6:47

So yeah, that was crazy. But I tell you what, you mentioned, how did I become the kicker? That was the craziest night of my life. We were, we were in Chattanooga. It was the third game of the year. It was a windy night. It was a really windy night. And in presie, in pregame, the starting kicker. I don't think he made a kick. And so, but we go forward kind of the first half. We have a slow start. We're down seven, nothing. It's late in the second quarter and we mounted a drive and so we stall out about their 25 or 30 and called timeout. Kicker goes on the field to kick the field goal. Well then all of a sudden they start hollering for me. They're like, Kurt, go kick it. And I'm like, what? been standing around for an hour and a half. I'm jogging on the field trying to get my shoe and my sock off. So I get on the field and I'm like, Hey, they want me to kick it. Well, he told me to go do something to myself. I can't really say. And I just pointed to the sidelines and the coaches are like, come here, come here. And so luckily I I, we hang around, I make the kick. At Chattanooga, you're, you're kind of far from the locker room back then. So I stay on the field at halftime to put my sock and shoe on. Bob, I'm the last one to last player to go into the locker room. And when I go in, the starting kicker was in his street, closed with his luggage, and he had quit the team and he was out the door. And from

bob-sabin_1_08-06-2025_103409: 8:04

Wow.

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 8:05

on I was the kicker. So it was a, it was a crazy night. I'm just very thankful that I made that first

Steve White: 8:10

Yeah. Let me give you a little stat there about that freshman season. Uh, he went on to kick 16 field goals as a freshman. He was 12 of 12 inside the 45 yard line. He kicked a record 53 yarders at that freshman season. Uh, he was perfect on all 24 extra points, 35 of his. Kickoffs 35 of his kickoffs were not returnable. And, uh, of course we know what happened there. Um, he became, uh, all American as a freshman Southern Conference freshman year. And again, everybody forgot about Dean Bucci, the great player from the previous four years who he just took over and did not miss elect. As far as our kick concerned,

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 8:59

That was a fun year for a 17-year-old

Steve White: 9:01

yes.

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 9:01

tell you what, that was a lot of fun. That was a talented

Steve White: 9:03

Yes, it was That team should have gone onto the playoffs. Had we won that game at Chattanooga, uh, you. know, we would've made the playoffs. And at the end there, that's another story about how it came down to the last game of the season. We won, but Appalachian State would've put us into the playoffs by beating Chattanooga, but their kicker hit the upright. Fell back into the playing field as opposed to going through and they went to the playoffs and we didn't. That's, that's another story. for another time.

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 9:35

That is

Steve White: 9:36

Yes. Yes. Yeah.

bob-sabin_1_08-06-2025_103409: 9:40

We have too many of those, but hopefully not as many in the future as we have in the past, so,

Steve White: 9:46

Yep.

bob-sabin_1_08-06-2025_103409: 9:48

oh man. So what was it like following up Bucci? I mean, I remember Dean and I was like, wow, nobody's ever gonna be able to, to do what he did

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 9:59

Yeah. I mean, obviously he was

bob-sabin_1_08-06-2025_103409: 9:59

because He went on to a pro career too.

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 10:01

had a phenomenal, I think 12, 14 year career. I mean, he was phenomenal. He was a much better kicker than I was. He you know, I, I didn't know anything about Dean, obviously. I knew he was a senior and I knew there was an opportunity. I remember watching the Furman, Western Carolina semifinal game'cause it was on TV I had a lot of friends that went to Furman,'cause some of my classmates had went to Furman. And, I really didn't know anything. And then I get to colory when I report, and I don't know a soul I, but I just keep hearing about Dean and I was like, wow, this guy was amazing. But obviously I just kind of took it as a, I kind of used it as incentive and motivation and, and, and I had a chip on my shoulder that just said, kind of succeed in spite. And, and I gotta tell you, Dean went on to just become a great mentor and he, he supported me. He's a great friend. And that wasn't easy because Bob, the starting kicker who quit the team was Dean's best friend. So, so it took a little while for Dean and I, but man, he, he I really looked out to him. He gave me a lot of sound advice and I'm grateful for what he did for me. Mm-hmm.

Steve White: 11:04

Yeah. Uh, go back, talk about the field goals. Maybe look back, I know there were so many field goals that you, that you kicked in your career at Western Carolina. 71 career field goals. Is there one that really stands out, a memorable field goal that you just remember just still etched in your brain?

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 11:24

Oh yeah, absolutely. It was the last play of my college career. We were playing app state and we were losing by a couple touchdowns, but the last play of the game, coach Waters said, go kick this 57 yard field goal. And was like, cool. And everybody in the huddle. Was saying, let's take a delay a game so you can make it a 62 yarder. And I'm like, guys, I'm not gonna be selfish that this is a team sport, right? We're we're gonna do the right thing. And, and I noticed that my dad had already left the stands and because he always met me, you know, down on the field and he was under the uprights as the field goal goes through. And so I have an image of, you know, kicking a 57 yarder, which was really cool against Appalachian, which was cool. But then to have my dad right there that was incredibly memorable. So that was pretty cool.

bob-sabin_1_08-06-2025_103409: 12:10

That is cool. So you also, I got a visit from a relatively famous coach,

Steve White: 12:16

Is.

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 12:19

Yeah. Yeah. I tell you. Oh, buddy, buddy Ryan. He he calls me one day out of the blue and he is like, Hey, this buddy Ryan, I'm gonna be at your field at 12 o'clock. I wanna watch you kick. He hung up, didn't say another word, just, just hung up. And I was like, was this a prank? He said, I did remember he said noon. So of course I'm excited. All my friends are excited, so they're going down there'cause they wanna see buddy. So I get down there, I swear at like 10 30 an hour and a half beforehand just to make sure I was loose and ready and I, I was trying to get mentally into it. Well, about 1115 buddy shows up and, i'm like, wow, he's early. He doesn't say a thing. He just walked straight up to me and said, bleep roach. I called you yesterday at noon and you're not loose yet. So like, I'm ready buddy. Let's go. But he was, he was he was at the end. He was very complimentary. Luckily, I kicked really well. And I actually thought I would get a free agent tryout with the Eagles due to that kick. But he was, there wasn't a whole lot of conversation. He did not like kickers. He made that very clear, which I totally understand that'cause I was embarrassed to be one. But he but buddy, it was pretty cool to have Buddy

Steve White: 13:32

And Kirk could tell you thing about that. You know, he brought his own a bag of balls. He did not trust the college balls. He brought these NFL footballs with a big bag with him on the plane. Just to make sure that it was legitimate. These were NFL balls.

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 13:48

That's, exactly right. Steve and I asked him, I said, would you sign one and let me have it? And he goes, well, when you get in the NFL and establish yourself, I will.

Steve White: 13:59

That's good.

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 14:03

But yeah, he sure did. That was fun. That was pretty cool. And all my friends, all the, you know, I had a bunch of guys there. They loved him.

bob-sabin_1_08-06-2025_103409: 14:11

Well, you did get picked by Buffalo their fifth pick. And tell me, tell us what how things went on from there.

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 14:20

You know, back then ESPN, I think they only showed the first round on TV and it was on Sunday and there was 12 rounds. I went home and I, I left about noon to head back to Colory and, my friends and I, we went, we went down to the tuck and we went fishing and caught some trout and we were cooking them and out of the blue, I don't know, like eight 30 o'clock or something like that, Marv Levy calls at the apartments. I'm living over at Laurel Oaks and he said, Hey, this is Marv Levy, and I hung up the phone. And I said, funny guys. About two seconds later, the phone rings again and it, he says, Kirk, this is Marv Levy. Please don't hang up on me. And I was like, oh, coach, I'm really sorry. And he said, Hey, it's the fifth round. We're gonna select you. Are you good with that? And I was like, absolutely, yes sir, let's go. And it was pretty cool. I always wanted

bob-sabin_1_08-06-2025_103409: 15:10

Imagine.

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 15:11

since I was four years old. That was my goal. That was pretty special. Unfortunately I had a hernia surgery in training camp and think Steve, I think they tried to teach me how to kick. And the last thing Kirk Roach needs to do is to think, and, you know, they're like, they're like, Kirk, you stand in a different spot every time. You know, your plant foot's in a different spot. And I'm like, well. Did it go through the uprights and, you know, I just, I wasn't a good kicker in practice. That's why I think it took me three games. That's why Coach Waters wouldn't let me kick. Probably I wasn't a good practice kicker. I was like, guys, just let me get in the huddle. I'll look at my teammates and I won't let'em down. And but really never got that chance. I always said, you should change your goals.'cause my goal was always to get to the NFL. I probably should have changed'em to get there and stay there. it, well, you know what? Honestly, I don't know how to kick. I still don't know how to kick. I just happened to be able to do it. I, I didn't understand the art. the science of it, I was more of just an artistic kicker. But it was such a blessing to, to get that phone call. You know, not many people get that. And to spend a year up there, you know, catching passes and, you know, pre gay or pre-practice with Jim Kelly and Bruce Smith, and Cornelius Bennett, Thurman Thomas, I mean, that team was loaded.

Steve White: 16:24

back to a little bit about Western Carolina, you've talked about Coach Waters a couple of times. Maybe some thoughts about Coach Waters, what he meant to you, what he meant to Western Carolina. A lot of the people nowadays, you know, that's, uh, he. Passed away in, in, uh, in 89, 88. And, uh, uh, a lot of people just don't know the, they may see Bob Waterfield, they hear the name, but they don't know much about him. And he, I worked with him for 20 years his entire career here at Western and, and I know you played for him, so just maybe a couple of thoughts about Coach Bob Waters.

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 17:03

Just, I mean, number one, he was just the classiest person. I mean, he I think I, and honestly I was looking at this, I think I'm actually the last four year class to have a winning overall record and an, and a Southern conference winning record. So that goes back a while, but, you know, he was just, his belief in me gave me just supreme confidence, right? There was zero fear of failure. He taught us to do the little things that our competitors don't do, which I've brought into my business and taught my salespeople, right? That's the difference in success in mediocrity. I loved him, Steve,'cause he let me be a football player. He let me run down and make kickoff tackles on kickoffs. I gotta run routes with the receivers. I got to do tackling in Oklahoma drills. I was on the hands team when we were expecting an onside kick and I think he knew I didn't like being a kicker. and I just man His impact on me other than my dad. I, I, I don't know that I had anyone else who was as impactful on me. And I think that's why I try to stay involved. I contribute to Western. I try to always promote and defend Western Carolina. I play, I play in his golf tournament every year since 2006. And I know that's in five weeks and I can't wait for that'cause that's always special. And getting to see Sherry, and, and she's still as beautiful as she ever was. So. Waters is just, he, he, me, he meant so much to me. Now, my first time I met him was not so good. Remember it was the first day of practice and I didn't know anything about the school. Right. I came up and I didn't know where Madison Dorm was, so I said, I'll go to the field house and asked Coach Dalton. So I come running in there and walking down the stairs as Coach Waters. I'm like, Hey Coach, how are you? Hey, I'm, I'm here for for football. Can you tell me where Madison is? just for five seconds, doesn't say a word. He's like, who are you? was like, oh. I said, my name's Kirk Roach. I, I'm here to play football. I'm a kicker. Hmm. He said, well, Kirk, first thing you're gonna do is take that hat off while you're indoors. Then he says, you're gonna go and you're gonna leave here. You're gonna go up to a red light, you're gonna turn left, go up a hill. And Madison dorms up there. And he said, in Kirk. When you get to that red light, if you look to your right, there's a barbershop and I suggest you go in there. And he walked away and I was like, oh what a great

Steve White: 19:23

And you, and you got to make, uh, the Mayor Pressley.

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 19:30

I sure did. I sure did. He, I'll

Steve White: 19:33

Yeah. Yeah.

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 19:34

he took

Steve White: 19:35

And you know, you was talking about, uh, things he'd do, it did. in practice. A lot of us always thought about Kirk. He, would've been a, i, I think a great tight end. He was, he loved to contact, he would do this, And we always, no, don't throw, gotta put a guy out there with, uh, one shoe on, uh, playing tight end. I don't think we're gonna do that. No, they didn't. He was, he was too valuable at what he was doing to become a uh, an everyday position player. They, what he was doing was very important to us.

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 20:06

I would've loved it. Yeah. Yeah. I

bob-sabin_1_08-06-2025_103409: 20:10

So compared to today, how many coaches were there back then? Now that's the amazing thing

Steve White: 20:17

Yeah.

bob-sabin_1_08-06-2025_103409: 20:18

How many like four.

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 20:19

let's see. Well, we had coach Setzer, coach W, coach Millwood, coach

Steve White: 20:23

Dalton. Yeah.

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 20:24

coach Hodgen,

Steve White: 20:26

Yeah,

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 20:27

coach Dalton, and Coach Briggs, and I think that was it. Coach Dalton, I mean, coach

Steve White: 20:32

yeah, yeah. He was the offensive line Coach Yes. I think there were six full-time coaches and maybe two graduate assistants at that time. Yeah. Besides the head coach Yeah.

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 20:43

Yeah, I think, yeah, I think you're right. Mm-hmm.

bob-sabin_1_08-06-2025_103409: 20:47

One thing about coach Waters, you know, there's 5,000 kids in school. When I was there, and I think in the middle of my freshman year, I had met Coach Waters once'cause I was working at the campus radio station. I'm walking across campus. I said, Hey, coach. He

Steve White: 21:02

Yeah.

bob-sabin_1_08-06-2025_103409: 21:03

Bob.

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 21:04

Wow.

bob-sabin_1_08-06-2025_103409: 21:04

Wow.

Steve White: 21:05

Yeah.

bob-sabin_1_08-06-2025_103409: 21:06

cool.

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 21:07

that is cool. I tell you what man, he, my freshman year, we would play catch before

Steve White: 21:12

No, he, was the original shotgun, quarterback with the 49 ERs. You're right. he had a great career. Kirk, another thing about about those days and everything like this, I know you had a lot of friends at Western Carolina, a lot of special teammates, a lot of people you still connected with. could you just maybe pick, say one or two, say your favorite teammate?

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 21:35

Gosh, how hard would that be? Well, you know, I, I had a couple of guys I was really close with that unfortunately are no

Steve White: 21:42

Yeah. Oh boy. That's a pair. Yeah.

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 21:44

That, that was a pair. Tony and I came in together and, and Shep and I were captains together. I was always friends with the lineman, so, you know, like Steve Hall, Todd, Underhill, Ola, all those guys. if I had to pick two, like, like I would pick two who are still. Again, they were seniors, Steve, when I was a freshman. And so I was intimidated by them at first, but they were so kind to me. And I think maybe the two best that I ever

Steve White: 22:11

Yeah.

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 22:12

that was Coop and probably Tiger Lewis, Cooper and Tiger were just like, they were just different. Know, I think

Steve White: 22:18

Yeah, he does. He does.

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 22:20

for blocked kicks in his career. They were, they were both just amazing athletes. They they were intent and they were intimidating to the, to the opponents. And I think both of'em went on for, you know, gosh, 8, 10, 12 year NFL careers. but they,

bob-sabin_1_08-06-2025_103409: 22:36

Yeah. Tiger Green was,

Steve White: 22:38

Yeah.

bob-sabin_1_08-06-2025_103409: 22:39

was all pro several times.

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 22:41

I mean, he, he was, he was something, Clyde was obviously, Clyde was there. I don't know that I could pick a

Steve White: 22:47

Oh my goodness.

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 22:48

Eddie Fox was my roommate for many, many years.

Steve White: 22:52

Yes.

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 22:52

You know, obviously he went on to fly helicopters in, in Desert Storm. So he was, he, he and I had a lot of, a lot of fun. and then like I said, I was the, the people in Madison and because we were in Madison dorm, you know, we were such a close team. I just, I, I'm on a group text right now, probably with 50 xca amounts and we still communicate we hold each other accountable, trying to get fit because of, you know, we've lost a couple of players and it's just great to always catch up and, and know that anytime I need something, man, they're always just a text away.

bob-sabin_1_08-06-2025_103409: 23:28

That's great. Well, let's, let's switch gears a little bit and move it up to present day. I know you follow us and you're, you. Know a lot of the folks with the program right now. Tell me your thoughts overall on what you're seeing for the 2025 football season.

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 23:43

I'm probably as excited as I as I've ever been. I, I told Steve, I think yesterday, I think that this is, this team's just as talented as that 90 19 84 team where we were ranked number one in the country. Preseason. I have a lot of optimism. I think we had a great summer session. I'm looking forward to the scrimmage on Saturday.

Steve White: 23:59

Yes.

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 24:00

it, I think we had 11 players on the preseason also con team,

bob-sabin_1_08-06-2025_103409: 24:05

Yes, we did.

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 24:06

which is tied with Mercer for the first. So I think the other coaches are starting to notice the talent that Coach Bell is assembling. And I, I, I think that it's taken a while because I think the portal makes it even harder. But I think Coach Bell finally has his culture. We know what athletes he looks for, right? He wants those fast and twitchy athletes. He wants to be athletic upfront. He wants to live on the edge and take risk and push boundaries and really put the pressure on our competitors. that's where I'm really excited. You know, I, I mean, to be honest with you, Bob, before Kerwin. I hate to say it, but we've kind of become the Vanderbilt of the Southern Conference.

bob-sabin_1_08-06-2025_103409: 24:42

Right.

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 24:42

think he has absolutely created a belief, right? You talk about a chip on his shoulder, I think he has a chip on his shoulder, which I love. And I think, you know, our thoughts, our actions and our choices have to reflect a championship. And I think one of the things that I'm starting to see, right. With not only the team, but the university with the stadium. I think we now finally have one unified singular heartbeat of success. And football is the ultimate team sport. And it takes all your players well, to be a successful program, you gotta have everybody on board, from the administration to the students, the teachers, everyone. And I think that Coach Bell has really created that. I think secondarily, if why I'm excited is I think with Coach Odom in his second year as the coordinator on defense. I really think they're gonna be aggressive and relentless. They're gonna fly around. There's a lot of athletes over there and I think if we can just eliminate the big play,

Steve White: 25:36

Kirk, uh, just following up what you're saying there, you're talking about being optimistic. I was sitting around the uh, dinner table here, um, a couple weeks ago, and I said, talking to my wife Elaine, and I said, you know, I really, I really feel like this is, this is the year. I just haven't felt like this in a long time. That this, everything's in place and so forth. And she says, what? You know, how long have we been married? And I said, what? 52 53 years? You know, something like this. She says, I think I've heard this in August, about 40 different years. And I said, well, I. got, it's gotta happen sometime.

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 26:18

That's right. That's right. The odds are in our favor. But no, seriously, you're right. I, I love the talent and I think the mentality, and I

Steve White: 26:24

Yes.

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 26:25

than anything, there's now an expectation. And I think when you, when you get to that confident expectation. Man, you know, and just there, there should be no doubt, there should be no fear. Just go play football. We're in the defense. We shouldn't have to think. We're now

Steve White: 26:42

Yes.

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 26:42

to respond. And I just, I'm really, really excited about it.

bob-sabin_1_08-06-2025_103409: 26:47

It, it, it's good to, to have these expectations after all the years of being hopeful. Right. And similar to Steve when I told my wife Susan, that, were gonna be, I think we're gonna be at the top of the, the conference this year. She looked at me, kinda rolled her eyes and said, that would be great. And how many times have I heard that?

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 27:10

Right.

Steve White: 27:11

Yes.

bob-sabin_1_08-06-2025_103409: 27:12

know?

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 27:15

new mug got

bob-sabin_1_08-06-2025_103409: 27:16

Oh, nice.

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 27:17

for Catamount Corner.

Steve White: 27:19

better be ready now for the Bob Waters. You better be ready for the Bob Waters'cause you know you know who won it last year. Well, we ended up in a. Tie for first place with the chief, Michelle Hicks. And we go. over and I ask him after the tournament's over we're tied and they're gonna have a card playoff. I said, chief, who do you think's gonna win this card? Playoff? He says, it's my dang golf course. Who do you think's gonna win?

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 27:49

Yeah, he's not lying. Well, we don't play, we don't play to win. I, I've got two guys that live, live in my neighborhood. They're both from the Northeast and then I play with my son Curtis, and we go up. We leave early on Thursday, go play around at Sequoia and then we stay at the casino. Those boys love to play craps, so then we do that Thursday night, play in the tournament,

Steve White: 28:11

Yeah,

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 28:11

back to the casino, and then we head over to tailgate and

Steve White: 28:14

can't either.

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 28:15

It's kind of our tradition and I can't wait.

bob-sabin_1_08-06-2025_103409: 28:20

Well, you mentioned Curtis and that he's gotta be somebody you're proud of because he's got a great story being at Western as well. 10 years ago,

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 28:29

Yeah, he does. You know, obviously Curtis, you know, I

bob-sabin_1_08-06-2025_103409: 28:34

also a walk-on.

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 28:35

Yeah. I, I kinda, kinda knew he was an athlete three, four years old. Right. He, for some reason, you could just tell he had that sports IQ. But he was always the smallest kid. So I think that that taught him right, I gotta play every down full speed. I gotta anticipate, take proper angles, I gotta have situational awareness. It was funny when he was in Little League, his nickname was TNT'cause he would just, he was the smallest kid on the field, but he would light people up and you know, he got, had a great high school career. He was an Allstate performer at the highest level here in Georgia. He was a defensive back though, and he was too small to play linebacker in college. he was too slow to play defensive back, so he didn't get any offers. And, and I think luckily Coach Spear gave him a walk on, I didn't want him to go there'cause heck, I wouldn't wanna play with my dad's jersey hanging up there. But he had had familiarity from going to games up to Colory and. Heck, he's, he, he got noticed by his teammates and coaches early. He started playing in the second year ends. Up to your point, Bob, getting a scholarship. He actually started several games. And I tell you what, I was really proud because he earned that by being Curtis, not Kirk's son. And that meant a lot. And I tell you, I got more enjoyment outta watching him play than I ever did when I played. it was such a great decision for him. He had his wedding in April and there must have been 20 or 25 ex teammates there. Several were his groomsmen. I got close with those guys too. Yeah, my, the best part about the games. Was after the games, all the players would come to our tailgate spot'cause they would just clear out the rest of the food we had and we would sit there for hours and I would get insights into the game. And it ended up being a fantastic experience for him. I think he's a proud cat mount. He's got two degrees and like I said, he's gonna be heading up there with me again in a couple weeks for the, for the golf tournament. So it was, I. I can't tell you how much fun we had traveling around on Saturdays throughout the southeast. I mean, he gotta play at Oklahoma, Alabama, North Carolina, NC State, Carolina. I mean, he gotta play at some, you know, really cool places. And so he, yeah, like I said, I didn't want him to go there, but I'm looking back. I'm so glad he did.

bob-sabin_1_08-06-2025_103409: 30:48

Earning the, the scholarship. I, I remember watching, they posted that video online when he was in the locker room and coach came up to him and announced that he was getting the scholarship. I had to wipe a tear from my eye.

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 31:01

Yeah.

bob-sabin_1_08-06-2025_103409: 31:01

just watching that and watching the teammates,

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 31:04

Yeah,

bob-sabin_1_08-06-2025_103409: 31:05

go nuts when they announced it.

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 31:07

I had plenty of tears. There's no doubt. There's no doubt.

Steve White: 31:10

Yeah, just, uh, like I say again, uh, all kinds of records at Western Carolina for Kirk Roach. Uh, 71 career field goals, as we said, uh, eight of the still today, I didn't realize this. I looked it up today. You still have eight of the 10 longest field goals in Western Carolina history. Uh, I don't know if you knew that or not Kirk, but, uh, again, uh. Again, you, you're, you're just special, you know, four time all conference, three time All American. I don't know if that'll ever, ever, ever happen again, but, uh, it's just, it's been a pleasure here having you on, uh, tracking the cats.

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 31:53

Oh, are you kidding me?

bob-sabin_1_08-06-2025_103409: 31:54

Absolutely.

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 31:54

Yeah, this is an honor and you guys, like I said, I love this. I watch all of'em. I love the format. And I gotta tell you once again, Steve, you know, thank you for your kindness and for what you did for my career. You created some publicity for a fat slow kid from Doraville, Georgia, and you know, I, I, again, that speaks volumes to you as a SID some

Steve White: 32:14

Yeah.

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 32:15

And also I had some pretty amazing teammates and coaches too as well. So you can understand why Western

Steve White: 32:20

Well, you made it easy with your numbers, what you did field. that makes it easy for us. Exactly. I.

kirk_1_08-06-2025_103408: 32:32

about kicking, it's, it's not subjective. It's very objective. It.

bob-sabin_1_08-06-2025_103409: 32:38

Well thanks so much for being with us today and that's gonna wrap up this edition of Tracking the Cats. Keep your eye out. We may have a special edition next week as Steve and Kirk are gonna be at the scrimmage this Saturday, August. Ninth is It. And we will be hopefully putting together something following that practice. Give everybody a little bit of update on, on how things are going. But follow tracking the Cats on YouTube on Buzz Sprout. Also on Amazon and Apple Podcasts, Spotify, wherever you listen to podcasts. And as always, we're brought to you by Stanbury Insurance. Three offices, Silva, Waynesville and Highlands anywhere in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia. They can cover your insurance needs. That does it, and we will see y'all again soon.