Gear Up For Game Day: BYU
LARAMIE -- 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.
Despite the horrid start to the season for your Wyoming Cowboys, and the bombshell dropped Thursday morning that Fresno State, Boise State, San Diego State and Border War rival, Colorado State, will be leaving the Mountain West to join the rebuilding Pac-12, I squeezed out a few minutes to think about this bitter Wyoming-BYU feud.
I have only been alive for four Cowboy wins over the "Evil Empire." Two of those -- 1987 and '88 -- came before I could really appreciate what was happening.
Four whole victories in 26 tries.
I've been in attendance for 15 of those, including the heartbreaking 28-25 overtime setback against the No. 6 team in the country in the inaugural WAC Championship back in 1996. The only saving grace on that December night in Sin City was the BYU fan who was so busy talking smack to a 12-year-old he hit his shin on a trailer hitch and biffed it in the dirt parking lot.
A smile creased my young tear-stained cheeks, but that joy was fleeting.
Wyoming, despite finishing 10-2, was not going to a bowl game. Marcus Harris's career was over. Same can be said for Josh Wallwork, David Saraf, Richard Peace and a whole host of my heroes.
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God bless, Tyler Gottschalk.
His 60-yard pick-six against the Cougars in 2003 lifted the Cowboys to a 13-10 victory in Joe Glenn's first season on the sidelines in Laramie. The field was rushed. Goal posts ripped from the earth and carried down Grand Avenue. Brighter days were ahead. Or so we thought.
To make matters even sweeter that day, Brandy Poppinga, a defensive lineman from Evanston, was on that BYU roster.
Petty? Probably.
The triple-shoot attack was just too much for the visiting Cougars back in 1999. Dana Dimel's bunch boat raced the No. 15 team in the land, rolling up 475 yards of offense in a 31-17 upset on the high plains.
Jay Stoner completed 20-of-30 throws for 302 yards and three touchdowns. Wendell Montgomery caught two of those scoring strikes. Fellow wideout Kofi Shuck grabbed the other.
The Cowboys' defense held the Cougs to 29 rushing yards in the win.
That win kept the visitors from outright clinching the very first Mountain West crown. BYU would drop the "Holy War" the following week in Provo and eventually share the title with Utah and CSU.
"I've been waiting for this game a long time," Wyoming defensive lineman Brian Van Emmerik told the media postgame "I felt awesome. We knew what was coming. We knew we were going to get it. We knew we could stop it."
Who went to BYU?
Mitt Romney, Utah Senator and former Governor of Massachusetts, went to school in Provo. So did Ken Jennings (Jeopardy), Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite) and Cody, Wyoming's own Mike Leach.
Check out this interview we did with the late, great Leach back in 2019. Lots of talk about his time at BYU and breaking the famous honor code:
We know about all the great gunslingers that have been under center at that school: Steve Young, Jim McMahon, Steve Sarkisian, Ty Detmer, Robbie Bosco, Marc Wilson, Gifford Nielsen, Max Hall, John Beck and many, many others.
I really want to like McMahon. But ...
Some other star athletes that wore the royal blue are: Danny Ainge (NBA), Wally Joyner (MLB), Jack Morris (MLB), Shawn Bradley (NBA), Jimmer Fredette (NBA), Brett Keisel (NFL-Greybull, Wyo., native), Andy Reid (Head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs) and Kyle Whittingham (Head coach at Utah),
Tidbits:
* I know the focus right now is on realignment, losing four members of the Mountain West and what that means for Wyoming's future. I'm told to keep a close eye on Air Force. If they stay in the fold, this league can move forward and possibly even add a program or two. If they bolt for another conference, independence or get scooped up by the Pac-12, that could mean trouble. A source told me Thursday that the remaining schools are unified. We've heard that one before.
* I asked Jay Sawvel earlier in the week if he would be having any former players coming in to speak with the team about the long, storied history between Wyoming and BYU. He did just that. Sawvel didn't. I'm told Galand Thaxton (1985-87), the program's all-time tackles leader, delivered a message earlier in the week. Was also told current offensive analyst and Hall of Fame wideout Jovon Bouknight (2002-05) gave a passionate speech to the group. No doubt current defensive ends coach Brian Hendricks (2008-11) also gave his opinion about the visitors, too.
* The Cougars will be without their top-two running backs this Saturday night. Hinckley Ropati and LJ Martin are both dealing with injuries. That duo has combined for 176 yards on 39 carries. Both have a rushing touchdown. Martin has also added a score through the air.
* Wyoming has lost nine straight against BYU and trails the all-time series, 46-30-3. This will be the 80th meeting between the two rivals.
* Preseason all-conference selection John Michael Gyllenborg has practiced this week, according to a source. Will the tight end finally see action this Saturday after missing the first two games with a high-ankle sprain?
Meet the Cougars:
* Head coach: Kalani Sitake (9th year) 63-41 overall record, 2-7 in Big 12 play
* Offensive coordinator: Aaron Roderick (4th season); Defensive coordinator: Jay Hill (3rd season)
* Record in 2023: 5-7 overall, 2-7 in Big 12 Conference
* Offense in 2024: Average 29.5 ppg, 431.5 ypg (156.5 rush, 275 pass)
* Defense in 2024: Allow 14 ppg, 246 ypg (120 rush, 126 pass)
* Key Returners/ Newcomers - Offense: Jake Retzlaff (QB - 35-58, 550 yds, 4 TD, 2 INT; 18 rush, 51 yds), Miles Davis (RB - 8 rush, 61 yds; 3 catch, 32 yds), Enoch Nawahine (RB - 5 rush, 22 yds, TD; catch, 1 yds), Chase Roberts (WR - 9 catch, 134 yds), Keelan Marion (WR - 5 catch, 83 yds), Jojo Phillips (WR - 2 catch, 70 yds, TD), Mata'ava Ta'ase (TE - 3 catch, 61 yds, 2 TD)
* Key Returners - Defense: Harrison Taggart (LB - 11 tackles, PBU, FF), Jack Kelly (LB - 10 tackles, sack), Isaiah Glasker (LB - 8 tackles, sack, PBU), Blake Mangelson (DB - 8 tackles, sack), Tyler Batty (DE - 7 tackles, PBU), Tanner Wall (S - 7 tackles), Jakob Robinson (DB - 5 tackles, INT, FR)
* Injuries: Hinckley Ropati (RB - 21 rush, 89 yds, TD; catch, 3 yds), LJ Martin (RB - 18 rush, 87 yds, TD; catch, 7 yds, TD)
Here is all you need to know -- and the links -- for Saturday's tilt in Laramie:
WHO: BYU (2-0, 0-0) at Wyoming (0-2, 0-0)
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. MST
WEATHER: High of 79, low 44, Sunny, wind 14 mph
WHERE: War Memorial Stadium, Laramie, Wyo. (29,181 capacity)
TRAVEL: WyoRoad
STREAMING: CBS Sports Network
TV: CBS Sports Network
RADIO: Cowboy Sports Network
TICKETS: Wyoming Ticket office
BOX SCORE: ESPN
ROSTERS: Wyoming / BYU
HISTORY: BYU leads the all-time series, 46-30-3
BETTING ODDS: BYU -8.5, O/U 40.5
HEAD COACHES: Jay Sawvel / Kalani Sitake
University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players
Gallery Credit: 7220Sports.com
- University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players
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