Wyoming Cowboys football

Wyoming Cowboys football
2018 Wyoming Cowboys football team
First season 1892
Athletic director Tom Burman
Head coach Craig Bohl
5th season, 24–34 (.414)
Stadium War Memorial Stadium
(Capacity: 29,181)
Field surface Artificial turf
Location Laramie, Wyoming
Conference Mountain West
Division Mountain
All-time record 530–572–28 (.481)
Bowl record 7–8 (.467)
Conference titles 14
Division titles 2
Rivalries Colorado State
Consensus All-Americans 4[1]
Current uniform
Colors Brown and Gold[2]
         
Fight song Ragtime Cowboy Joe
Mascot Cowboy Joe
Marching band Western Thunder
Website gowyo.com

The Wyoming Cowboys are a college football team that represents the University of Wyoming. They compete in the Mountain West Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of NCAA Division I and have won 15 conference titles.[3] The head coach is Craig Bohl, who entered his first season in 2014.

The Cowboy football program has been among the most notable of "stepping stone" programs due to the success of its former coaches. Coaches such as Bowden Wyatt, Bob Devaney, Fred Akers, Pat Dye, Dennis Erickson and Joe Tiller were at Wyoming immediately prior to gaining notoriety at bigger football powerhouses.

History

Conference affiliations

Conference championships

Wyoming has won fourteen conference championships, ten outright and four shared.

Season Conference Coach Overall Record Conference Record
1949Mountain States ConferenceBowden Wyatt9–15–0
1950Mountain States ConferenceBowden Wyatt10–05–0
1956Mountain States ConferencePhil Dickens10–07–0
1958Mountain States ConferenceBob Devaney8–36–1
1959Mountain States ConferenceBob Devaney9–17–0
1960†Mountain States ConferenceBob Devaney8–26–1
1961†Mountain States ConferenceBob Devaney6–1–25–0–1
1966Western Athletic ConferenceLloyd Eaton10–15–0
1967Western Athletic ConferenceLloyd Eaton10–15–0
1968Western Athletic ConferenceLloyd Eaton7–36–1
1976†Western Athletic ConferenceFred Akers8–46–1
1987Western Athletic ConferencePaul Roach10–38–0
1988Western Athletic ConferencePaul Roach11–28–0
1993†Western Athletic ConferenceJoe Tiller8–46–2

† denotes co-champion

Head coaches

Tenure Coach Seasons Record Pct.
1893–1894, 1898 Fred Hess 3 4–4 .500
1894–1897, 1899 J.F. Soule 5 8–1–1 .850
1900–1906 William McMurray 7 16–11–1 .589
1907–1908 Robert Ehlman 2 3–3 .500
1909–1911 Harold I. Dean 3 11–12–1 .479
1912 L.C. Exelby 1 2–7 .222
1913–1914 Ralph W. Thacker 2 1–10 .091
1915–1923 John Corbett 7 15–44–3 .266
1924–1926 W.H. Dietz 4 14–18–2 .441
1927–1929 George McLaren 2 3–14 .176
1930–1932 John Rhodes 3 10–15–2 .407
1933–1938 Willard Witte 6 16–30–3 .357
1939 Joel Hunt 1 0–7–1 .063
1940 Okie Blanchard 1 1–7–1 .167
1941–1946 Bernard Oakes 3 6–20–2 .250
1947–1952 Bowden Wyatt 6 39–17–1 .693
1953–1956 Phil Dickens 4 29–11–1 .720
1957–1961 Bob Devaney 5 35–10–5 .750
1962–1970 Lloyd Eaton 9 57–33–2 .630
1971–1974 Fritz Shurmur 4 15–29 .341
1975–1976 Fred Akers 2 10–13 .435
1977–1979 Bill Lewis 3 14–20–1 .414
1980 Pat Dye 1 6–5 .545
1981–1985 Al Kincaid 5 29–29 .500
1986 Dennis Erickson 1 6–6 .500
1987–1990 Paul Roach 4 35–15 .700
1991–1996 Joe Tiller 6 39–30–1 .564
1997–1999 Dana Dimel 3 23–12 .657
2000–2002 Vic Koenning 3 5–29 .147
2003–2008 Joe Glenn 6 30–41 .423
2009–2013 Dave Christensen 5 27–35 .435
2014–present Craig Bohl 5 24–34 .414
Totals 32 coaches 122 seasons 530–572–28 .481

Bowl games

American football on the field with spectators in the stands.
Wyoming defeated UCLA in the 2004 Las Vegas Bowl to end their six bowl game losing streak.[4]

The Cowboys have appeared in fifteen bowl games and have a record of seven wins and eight losses (7–8). Their most recent bowl appearance came in their 37–14 win over Central Michigan in the 2017 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.[5] Wyoming has participated in 15 bowl games, with the Cowboys garnering a record of 7–8.

Season Coach Bowl Opponent Result
1950Bowden WyattGator BowlWashington & LeeW 20–7
1955Phil DickensSun BowlTexas TechW 21–14
1958Bob DevaneySun BowlHardin-SimmonsW 14–7
1966Lloyd EatonSun BowlFlorida StateW 28–20
1967Lloyd EatonSugar BowlLSUL 20–13
1976Fred AkersFiesta BowlOklahomaL 7–41
1987Paul RoachHoliday BowlIowaL 19–20
1988Paul RoachHoliday BowlOklahoma StateL 14–62
1990Paul RoachCopper BowlCaliforniaL 15–17
1993Joe TillerCopper BowlKansas StateL 17–52
2004Joe Glenn Las Vegas BowlUCLAW 24–21
2009Dave ChristensenNew Mexico BowlFresno StateW 35–28 2OT
2011Dave ChristensenNew Mexico BowlTempleL 37–15
2016Craig BohlPoinsettia BowlBYUL 21–24
2017Craig BohlFamous Idaho Potato BowlCentral MichiganW 37–14

Stadium

War Memorial Stadium was built in 1950 with an original capacity of 20,000 fans; the current capacity is 29,181 after the completion of 2009-2010 stadium upgrades.[6]

It is the highest Division I FBS football stadium in the nation; the elevation of its playing field exceeds 7,200 feet (2,195 m) above sea level. The playing surface was natural grass until 2005, when infilled artificial turf was installed.

Prior to War Memorial Stadium, the Cowboys played at Corbett Field, a small field located southeast of Half Acre Gym where the Business Building and the Student Union parking lot now sit. It was named for John J. Corbett, longtime all-sport coach and director of physical education at the school. The field was the first official stadium for the Cowboys; previously they had played on Prexy's Pasture, the main green of the school.[7]

Rivalries

Bronze Boot

The Bronze Boot is awarded to the winner of the college football game between Wyoming and Colorado State, in nearby Fort Collins. The annual game has evolved into one of the most bitterly contested rivalries in college football. The teams have waged the "Border War" one hundred times since the schools began playing in 1899, playing every year except 1901, 1902, 1906, 1907, 1918, 1924, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1943, 1944, and 1945. This is one of the oldest interstate rivalries west of the Mississippi River, and the oldest west of Lawrence, Kansas. The series is the oldest rivalry for both schools and the "Border War" has been played in three different centuries.[8]

Paniolo Trophy

The Paniolo Trophy is awarded to the winner of the college football games played between Wyoming and Hawai'i. This rivalry started in 1979 when Hawai'i joined the WAC conference and was played annually until 1997, shortly before Wyoming joined the newly formed Mountain West Conference. Hawai'i joined the MWC as a football-only affiliate member in 2012, renewing the rivalry.

Bridger's Battle

Bridger's Battle is the name for the college football games played between Wyoming and Utah State, the winner of which is awarded the trophy of the rivalry, a .50 caliber Rocky Mountain Hawken rifle. The rivalry started in 1903, and renewed as an annual game in 2013 when Utah State joined the Mountain West Conference.

Notable players

Adam Goldberg
Jay Novacek
  • Mike Dirks - tackle - part of one of college football's best defenses in 1966 and 1967. He was selected as an All-American and All-Western Athletic Conference performer. He co-captained Wyoming's 1967 WAC Championship football team that finished fifth in the nation. Led the Cowboys to a 10-1 record and berth in the 1968 Sugar Bowl. He was part of the Cowboys line that was the nation's best rushing defense for two consecutive seasons. No team in the nation has since allowed fewer rushing yards than the 1966 and 1967 Wyoming defenses. Dirks produced 71 tackles, 30 unassisted tackles, and 26 tackles for a loss. He was inducted into the Wyoming Cowboys Athletic Hall of Fame on October 29, 1993.
  • Adam Goldberg (born 1980), NFL offensive tackle. He became only the third junior in University of Wyoming football history to be elected a team captain when he was voted a captain by his teammates in the spring of 2001. He was Honorable Mention All-America and two-time First-team All-Mountain West Conference. He started 44 of 45 career games.
  • Jerry Hill (born 1939) - running back - was selected as Wyoming's Football Player of the Century during fan balloting in 1992.[9] He was selected as an All-Skyline Conference running back in 1959 and 1960. In those two seasons, Hill was Wyoming's leading rusher. During his career, the Cowboys posted a 25-6 record. Hill was a member of the club that won the 1958 Sun Bowl.[9] His career would finish with 1,374 rushing yards on 288 carries. He was inducted in the Wyoming Cowboys Athletic Hall of Fame on October 29, 1993.
  • Jim Kiick (born 1946) - running back - Wyoming's leading rusher for each of his three seasons, 1965-67. He totalled 1,714 yards and ten touchdowns on 431 carries, and 561 yards and five touchdowns on 52 pass receptions. He was the first player ever to earn first-team All-Western Athletic Conference honors three times. Kiick was co-captain of the team as a senior. He was named the Most Valuable Player in the 1966 Sun Bowl victory over Florida State, rushing 25 times for 135 yards and two touchdowns, and catching four passes for 42 yards. He also played in the 1968 Sugar Bowl against LSU, rushing 19 times for 75 yards and a touchdown, and catching five passes for 48 yards. Kiick played in the 1968 Senior Bowl, and was selected to play in the 1968 College All-Star Game.
  • Jay Novacek (born 1962) - tight end - was a two sport All-American at Wyoming, also excelling in track. He was the Wyoming record holder in the decathlon and pole vault. As a football player, he was selected to the Kodak All-American football team in 1984.[9] The selection was attributed to setting an NCAA record for receiving yards per receptions by a tight end. Novacek finished his Cowboys career with 83 career receptions for 1,536 yards and 10 touchdowns as a tight end. He was inducted in the Wyoming Cowboys Athletic Hall of Fame on October 29, 1993. He was also inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame on July 19, 2009.[10]

Honors and awards

  • Mike Dirks, First Team All-Western Athletic Conference, 1967
  • Mike Dirks, Football writers of America, Look Magazine, Newspaper Enterprise Association All-American, 1967
  • Mike Dirks, Team Co-Captain on NCAA record setting defense
  • Marcus Harris, Fred Biletnikoff Award[11]
  • Marcus Harris, inducted into the Wyoming Athletics Hall of Fame on September 24, 2004.[12]
  • Jerry Hill, First Team All-Skyline Conference, 1959, 1960
  • Jerry Hill, Selected Wyoming Football Player of the Century, 1992
  • Jerry Hill, Honorable Mention All-American, 1959, 1960
  • Jerry Hill, Admiral Emory S. Land Award Winner
  • Jim Kiick, Tailback, Most Valuable Player, 1966 Sun Bowl
  • Leonard Kucewski, Guard, Most Valuable Player, 1958 Sun Bowl
  • Jay Novacek, First Team All-Western Athletic Conference, 1984
  • Jay Novacek, Football All-American, 1984

Year-by-year

Future non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of May 5, 2017[13]

2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
vs Missouri vs Weber State vs Montana State vs Tulsa vs Texas Tech at Arizona State
at Texas State at Texas Tech at Northern Illinois vs Northern Colorado vs Portland State vs New Mexico State
vs Idaho vs Utah vs Ball State at Illinois vs Appalachian State
at Tulsa at Ball State at Clemson at North Texas

Controversy and documentary

In 1969, fourteen black team members wore black armbands to a practice, intending to protest the racism they had been victims of at their last game with an upcoming opponent, the Brigham Young Cougars. Coach Lloyd Eaton threw them off the team, "triggering an uproar that consumed the rest of the football season and much of everything else in the tiny college town of Laramie, Wyoming."

In 2018, filmmaker Darius Monroe released a documentary short about the athletes: Black 14. The short "uses only archival footage to tell the story, mostly from local ABC and NBC affiliates in Wyoming, letting the principals – from the students, to the coach, to the school president and even the state’s governor – speak for themselves."[14]

References

  1. ↑ "NCAA Football Award Winners" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. 2014. pp. 13–18. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  2. ↑ University of Wyoming Athletics Style Guide (PDF). August 22, 2017. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Wyoming Cowboys at CFB Data Warehouse".
  4. ↑ "Bramlett guides fourth-quarter comeback". ESPN.com. Associated Press. December 23, 2004. Retrieved December 18, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Williams runs for 210 yards, TD in BYU's Poinsettia Bowl win". ESPN.com. Associated Press. December 21, 2016. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Jonah Field at War Memorial Stadium". wyomingathletics.com.
  7. ↑ "Films of UW Football and Basketball Games Now Accessible Online" County10.com, accessed September 3, 2015
  8. ↑ Wyoming Athletics.com - Bronze Boot
  9. 1 2 3 "University of Wyoming Official Athletic Site - Traditions". wyomingathletics.com.
  10. ↑
  11. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved July 24, 2011.
  12. ↑ "University of Wyoming Official Athletic Site - Traditions". cstv.com.
  13. ↑ "Wyoming Cowboys Football Schedules and Future Schedules". fbschedules.com. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  14. ↑ Lartey, Jamiles (March 10, 2018). "Wyoming's Black 14 matter more than ever in post-Kaepernick America". The Guardian. Nearly 50 years after a group of black Wyoming football players were kicked off the team for even contemplating a protest, a new documentary gives their courage an overdue spotlight.
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