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.

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My parents went in my place.

Though they hadn't been to a game in Laramie in a minute -- they owned restaurants and Saturdays are kind of busy, ya know? -- those two went to raise hell for me. The photo evidence that followed included them wearing jackets made for the Arctic, huddled around a flaming garbage can in the Summit View lot.

Of course, I'm talking about the frigid 2016 Mountain West Championship tilt against San Diego State.

I hadn't missed a Wyoming game in decades. Literally decades. I missed this one, though. It hurt, badly.

I had just accepted a sports storyteller position at the Lansing State Journal in Michigan. My primary focus was Michigan State University. After the Cowboys knocked off the No. 24 Aztecs 34-33 in the home finale that season, I packed up the U-Haul and headed east.

I got to Lansing just in time to watch Wyoming give up 568 rushing yards in an embarrassing display at New Mexico. You remember that one.

Not only did I miss that title game inside War Memorial Stadium, the Spartan basketball team was playing a meaningless non-conference game against visiting Oral Roberts that night in the Breslin Center. I had to Google the final score. MSU held on for the 80-76 victory. I'm sure it was a great watch.

My mind -- and heart -- was on the high plains.

The only goal I remember that night was staying off social media and ignoring text messages. If someone blows this score for me, I recall thinking, I am quitting this job and moving home. I'll be a trash collector before I miss another monumental moment like this one.

I spoke with Wyoming's wide receivers coach Mike Grant about that game earlier this week. It was his first season on Craig Bohl's staff. His first memory: the weather.

 

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It was 18 degrees, according to UW. The fifth-coldest game on record since 1970. It felt worse, I hear. I've spoken to at least 50,000 fans who were crammed into 29,000-plus seats that night.

Grant also spoke about the talent -- of both teams -- that littered the frozen field that night.

"It was no fluke that those two teams were facing each other," he said.

Wyoming featured future NFL players (some only went to camp) like Josh Allen, Brian Hill, Chase Roullier, Austin Fort, Tyree Mayfield, Tanner Gentry and Jacob Hollister.

That was just on the offensive side.

On defense, there was a young Logan Wilson. Marcus Epps, Andrew Wingard, Rico Gafford, Carl Granderson, Tyler Hall, Cassh Maluia, Eric Nzeocha and Lucas Wacha were also on that unit. That list could've easily included Cooper Rothe, Alijah Halliburton, Shaun Wick and Youhanna Ghaifan, among others.

The Aztecs had plenty of firepower, too, starting with a backfield that included the NCAA's all-time leading rusher Donnel Pumphrey and Rashaad Penny. Damontae Kazee, a fifth-round selection by the Atlanta Falcons, was part of a defining moment in not only that game, but Allen's career in Laramie.

Kazee snagged two interceptions that night. One was picked off the Wyoming 26-yard line late in the first quarter. All alone, the senior raced down the west sideline only to be met by Wyoming's 6-foot-5, 230-pound signal caller at the goal line. Allen forced a fumble just before it crossed the white stripe. It was a touchback -- Cowboy football.

If I was an NFL scout, that's the only play from Allen I needed to see. All heart and effort.

The Aztecs would eventually pull off the 27-24 win.

Both backs eclipsed the 100-yard mark. They added three touchdowns. Penny also added 113 yards on two kick returns. Wyoming turned the ball over three times and converted just 2-of-14 third downs. They failed on all three fourth-down snaps, too.

"They always say, even in pro ball, it's hard to beat somebody twice," Grant said. "I think the guys fought, but (SDSU) was better in the three phases of the game. Their special teams really hurt us. It was a hard-fought game."

I watched that one on the DVR alone in my new living room. I nervously consumed more Coors Banquets than I care to admit.

I recall being proud. I also remember being worried. Was that Allen's last game inside The War? Would he be going pro? We all now know the answer to that one. It's hard to believe, looking back, that Bohl's bunch won just two games the year prior. He was in Year 3 of what would be a decade-long stint on the sidelines here.

This quote sticks with me, too.

"The real problem for the rest of us is that Wyoming is just going to get better and better and that's a problem for all the rest of us," SDSU head coach Rocky Long told reporters postgame.

Man, what could have been.

 

Meet the Aztecs:

Head coach: Sean Lewis (1st year) 2-3 overall record, 1-0 in Mountain West play

Offensive coordinator: Sean Lewis (1st season); Offensive analyst: Ryan Lindley (3rd season); Defensive coordinator: Eric Schmidt (1st season)

Record in 2023: 4-8 overall, 2-6 in Mountain West Conference

Offense in 2024: Average 20.6 ppg, 322 ypg (130.6 rush, 191.4 pass)

Defense in 2024: Allow 22.4 ppg, 376.2 ypg (162.6 rush, 213.6 pass)

Key Players - Offense: Danny O'Neil (QB - 71-113, 791 yds, 5 TD; 23 rush, 16 yds), Marquez Cooper (RB - 126 rush, 583 yds, 5 TD; 10 catch, 58 yds), Jaylon Armstead (RB - 13 rush, 42 yds), Louis Brown (WR - 21 catch, 349 yds, 2 TD), Jordan Napier (WR - 10 catch, 134 yds, 2 TD), Ja'Shaun Poke (WR - 16 catch, 130 yds), Jude Wolfe (TE - 11 catch, 95 yds, 2 TD)

Key Players - Defense: JD Coffey III (S - 29 tackles, PBU, INT, TD), Trey White (LB - 28 tackles, 9 sacks, PBU, FF), Tano Letuli (LB - 24 tackles, sack, INT, FR, TD), Chris Johnson (CB - 22 tackles, 2 PBU, 3 FF), Eric Butler (S - 21 tackles, 2 PBU), Marlem Louis (Edge - 9 tackles, 3.5 sacks)

Injured/ questionable: Brayden Bryant (Center), Kenan Christon (Running back), Joe Borjon (Left tackle), Owen Chambliss (Linebacker)

 

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

WHO: San Diego State (2-3, 1-0) at Wyoming (1-4, 1-0)
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 12 at 1:30 p.m. MST
WEATHER: High of 74, low 42, partly cloudy, wind 11 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 / San Diego State
HISTORY: All-time series tied at 19-19
BETTING ODDS: SDSU -1.5, O/U 42.5
HEAD COACHES: Jay Sawvel / Sean Lewis

University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players

During the summer of 2021, 7220Sports.com counted down the Top 50 football players in University of Wyoming history, presented by Premier Bone & Joint Centers, Worthy of Wyoming.

The rules are simple: What was the player's impact while in Laramie? That means NFL stats, draft status or any other accolade earned outside of UW is irrelevant when it comes to this list.

This isn't a one-man job. This task called for a panel of experts. Joining 7220's Cody Tucker are Robert GagliardiJared NewlandRyan Thorburn, and Kevin McKinney.

We all compiled our own list of 50 and let computer averages do the work. Think BCS -- only we hope this catalog is fairer.

Don't agree with a selection? Feel free to sound off on our Twitter: @7220sports - #Top50UWFB

Gallery Credit: 7220Sports.com

- University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players

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