Gear Up For Game Day: Arizona State

TEMPE, Ariz., -- As always, I love to utilize this space each week during the season to not only give you the important info -- game time, TV channel, betting lines, etc. -- but also drop a bit of randomness on your plate.

So, here goes.

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Winners of six of its first seven games, Wyoming was rolling through the 1965 campaign under fourth year head coach Lloyd Eaton.

Aside from a bizarre road blowout, a 42-3 setback courtesy of an eventual three-win Utah team, the Cowboys averaged nearly 33 points per game in victories over rivals Air Force, Colorado State and BYU.

Then, the wheels fell off.

Army blanked the Pokes 13-0 at West Point. Arizona State held on for a 14-10 win in the desert and national power and eighth-ranked USC handed the Pokes a 56-6 thumping inside the Coliseum.

Lesson learned.

MORE UW FOOTBALL NEWS VIA 7220SPORTS:

* Wyoming to face youngest coach in the FBS Saturday in Tempe

* Nerves? What nerves? 'It's just football'

* Know Wyoming's Foe: Arizona State Sun Devils

* Wyoming Football: News and Notes Ahead of Arizona State

* Aaron Bohl is writing his own story at Wyoming

* How do you prepare for ASU's new-look offense, 30 incoming transfers?

* Wyoming's unknown pass rusher looking to become household name

* Get to know all the latest college football rule changes

* Q&A with Wyoming's new offensive coordinator Jay Johnson

* Wyoming's new OC very familiar with Arizona State's starting QB

Alert Wyoming Clouts Sun Devils, 23-6

Led by talented signal caller John Goodman, bulldozing back Travis Williams and top pass catcher Ken Dyer, the first marquee showdown on the Western Athletic Conference slate in 1966 quickly became a 23-6 laugher in front of nearly 20,000 fans inside War Memorial Stadium.

Goodman would go on to toss three first-quarter interceptions, including one right into the hands of Dick Speights, who raced 34 yards into the end zone. Vic Washington snagged the initial pick off Goodman. On the third one, the combo of Washington and Speights thwarted yet another ASU drive. The former got the tip, the latter hauled in the floater.

Wyoming led the heavily favored team from Tempe 17-0 after one frame.

It didn't get much better for Frank Kush's bunch.

"We just weren't mentally prepared for this game," a dejected ASU head coach told the local newspaper. Kush also delivered the other quote highlighted above after the loss.

On nine first-half drives, ASU came up empty in each, turning the ball over four times and failing on a 4th-and-short. The visitors only reached the red zone twice all afternoon.

Wyoming quarterback Rick Egloff connected on 9-of-19 passing attempts for 150 yards. Wingback Hub Lindsey reeled in a 15-yard touchdown pass from the Denver product in the first half. The Cowboys defense, led by the likes of Mike Dirks, Pedro Billingsley and Washington, limited the Sun Devils to just 61 yards on the ground. Williams finished with just 22.

The Cowboys would go on to win their first six games of the season before the infamous "bounce pass" axed perfection in Fort Collins. That 12-10 loss to the Rams was the lone blemish on the resume that year.

Wyoming would win three straight on the road -- at Wichita State, Texas Western and BYU -- before stunning Florida State 28-20 in the Sun Bowl.

Goodman and the gang shouldn't feel too bad about that early loss. That Cowboys defense pitched two shutouts and held opponents to single-digit scoring seven times that fall.

We all know about the 1972 meeting between these two, but this one not only put a halt to a two-game skid against the Sun Devils, it vaulted them into the national spotlight and to the top of the WAC standings. Wyoming claimed three straight conference crowns and owned a record of 27-5 from 1966-68.

Who went to Arizona State?

It's always fun to see what famous folks once strolled ASU's campus.

The athletic stars are plentiful: Barry Bonds (MLB), Reggie Jackson (MLB), James Harden (NBA), Phil Mickelson (Golf), Jake Plummer (NFL) and the late, great Pat Tillman (NFL) among many, many others. If you don't know Tillman's story, do yourself a favor and read THIS.

The list is seriously impressive. Arguably the two best are Casper's own Mike Devereaux (MLB) and Adam Archuleta (NFL), who was born in Rock Springs. Wyoming grad Xazavian Valladay (NFL) was pretty good, too. He's the Cowboys second all-time leading rusher with 3,281 yards. He tacked on 1,192 during his one season in Tempe.

Bias? Maybe.

Here are some other celebs who attended school in the Valley of the Sun: Al Michaels (Sportscaster), Chris Cohan (Owner of Golden State Warriors), Derrick Hall (CEO, general partner of Arizona Diamondbacks) and Ryan Wood (Co-founder of Under Armor).

Oops, that's all sports again. How are the Sun Devils not one of the best programs on planet earth?

Here are some real important people: Jimmy Kimmel (TV show host, comedian), Andrew Santino (Comedian), David Spade (Actor, comedian), Mary Kay Letourneau (The school teacher that, well, you know ...) and Scott Peterson (Convicted murderer).

Hey, we give you the good and bad.

MORE UW FOOTBALL NEWS VIA 7220SPORTS:

* THROWBACK THURSDAY: Pokes stun No. 11 Sun Devils, 45-43

* Show us your picks: Week 1

* Around the Mountain: Bring on the big boys

* Nic Talich: 'I couldn't love Wyoming football more'

* Tuck's Take: Wyoming has the horses to compete right now

* Wyoming Cowboys in the NFL: Preseason Week 3

* Justin Stevenson is ready to take next step, become playmaker

* Pokes' D Shifting Focus to ASU's versatile running back

* When will we see Dawaiian McNeely back on the field?

* PODCAST: Recapping Mountain West Media Daze

* Bohl: 'He was proud to be the coach at Wyoming'

* 'Cheat Code': UW QB Evan Svoboda has heard Josh Allen's Praises

* Sawvel reiterates trash talking is 'banned substance'

Here is all you need to know -- and the links -- for Saturday's tilt in Tempe:

WHO: Wyoming (0-0, 0-0) at Arizona State (0-0, 0-0)
WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 31 at 8:30 p.m. MST
WEATHER: High of 107, low 84, sunny, wind 8 mph
WHERE: Mountain America Stadium, Tempe, Ariz. (53,599 capacity)
TRAVEL: AZ 511
STREAMING: FS1
TV: FS1
RADIO: Cowboy Sports Network
TICKETS: Wyoming Ticket office
BOX SCORE: ESPN
ROSTERS: Wyoming / Arizona State
HISTORY: Arizona State leads the all-time series 9-6
BETTING ODDS: ASU -7, O/U 47.5
HEAD COACHES: Jay Sawvel / Kenny Dillingham

Meet the Sun Devils

* Head coach: Kenny Dillingham (2nd year) 3-9 overall record, 2-7 in Pac-12 play

* Offensive coordinator: Marcus Arroyo (1st season); Defensive coordinator: Brian Ward (2nd season)

* Record in 2023: 3-9 overall, 2-7 in Pac-12 Conference

* Offense in 2023: Average 17.8 ppg, 321.5 ypg (111.2 rush, 210.3 pass)

* Defense in 2023: Allow 31.8 ppg, 396.8 ypg (133.5 rush, 263.3 pass)

* Key Returners/ Newcomers - Offense: Sam Leavitt (QB - 15-23, 139 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT; 13 rush, 67 yds at Michigan State), Cameron Skattebo (RB - 164 rush, 783 yds, 9 TD; 24 catch, 286 yds, TD), Kyson Brown (RB - 23 rush, 106 yds), Xavier Guillory (WR - 21 catch, 226 yds, TD), Troy Omeire (WR - 20 catch, 223 yds, 3 TD), Melquan Stovall (WR - 18 catch, 207 yds), Jordyn Tyson (WR - 22 catch, 470 yds, 4 TD at Colorado), Chamon Metayer (TE - 23 catch, 258 yds, 5 TD at Cincinnati)

* Key Returners - Defense: Shamari Simmons (DB - 73 tackles, sack, 6 PBU, INT, 2 FR), Caleb McCullough (LB - 52 tackles, sack, 2 PBU, FF), Clayton Smith (DL - 21 tackles, 4.5 sacks, PBU), CJ Fite (DL - 15 tackles, PBU, FR), Keyshaun Elliott (LB - 101 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 5 PBU, FF at New Mexico State), Jordan Crook (LB - 28 tackles, sack, FF at Arkansas), Cole Martin (DB - 20 tackles, PBU, INT at Oregon), Elijah O'Neal (DE - 11 tackles, 0.5 sacks)

* Injuries: Prince Dorbah (DE - 30 tackles, 6 sacks, PBU), Tate Romney (LB - 52 tackles, sack, 4 PBU, FR), Sean Na'a (RG - sophomore), Jalen Klemm (OT - Redshirt sophomore), Raleek Brown (RB - 42 rush, 227 yds, 3 TD; 16 catch, 175 yds, 3 TD at USC)

- University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players