Jay Sawvel: ‘We Will Never Vote For Captains Again’

LARAMIE -- Get used to seeing four new faces walking out for the coin toss at each game this fall.

Voting for year-long captains at Wyoming is a thing of the past, says head coach Jay Sawvel.

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"Don't ever ask me about it," he said bluntly.

What's the problem?

Feelings get hurt and leaders stop leading, Sawvel said. That happened the last two seasons, he added.

"I've witnessed it," Sawvel continued. "I sat there and watched it happen, you know, even a year ago. I'm like, wait a second, here. 'Well, I'm not a captain, I really can't.' Well, that's a bunch of crap. So, we're not going to do that."

Senior linebacker Shae Suiaunoa, center Nofoafia Tulafono, defensive tackle Jordan Bertagnole and junior quarterback Evan Svoboda were voted by their peers last spring.

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Sawvel said after the season finale one of his offseason goals was to "add an infusion of maturity, talent and competition." That started with addition by subtraction, sending some players packing, while also receiving commitments from current players like offensive linemen Caden Barnett, Wes King and Jack Walsh.

The return of quarterback Kaden Anderson, running back Harrison Waylee and tight end John Michael Gyllenborg, among others, certainly doesn't hurt, either, he added.

"I'm excited with their buy-in," Sawvel said. "I'm excited with the leadership to it, too."

While there were a plethora of issues during a mostly forgettable 3-9 campaign in 2024, Sawvel said a major element was replacing the veterans -- both from a level of leadership and productivity -- wasn't matched. He pointed to players like Andrew Peasley, Frank Crum, Easton Gibbs, Treyton Welch and Wyatt Wieland.

"That was an issue," he added.

That's why the captain "C" has essentially been yanked going forward. Now, Sawvel said, that honor will revolve, possibly on a weekly basis.

For example, if wideout Jaylen Sargent is leading the way for his position group, which Sawvel said he currently is, that could land you the nod.

"Look, I'm going to grab somebody and we'll tell them before the game," he said with a chuckle. "Hey, if we win the toss, we're going to defer. If they win it and they defer, we're going to take the ball.

"I want 25 leaders, not four. So, that's what we have to get to."

- University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players