Saturday night marked 10th coldest Wyoming game since 1970

LARAMIE -- There's no sugarcoating it -- the temperature Saturday night on the high plains was, to put it bluntly, downright miserable.

The thermometer read 24 degrees at kickoff. Despite the lack of that ever-present Wyoming wind whistling through the open ends of War Memorial Stadium, it felt more like single digits.

Get our free mobile app

In fact, the school claims it was tied for the 10th-coldest home game since 1970. As you know, that's really saying something.

Craig Bohl's one-of-a-kind white jacket, featuring the Wyoming script across the chest, has drawn rave reviews from fans, foes and broadcasters. He sported it on the sideline Saturday night when the Cowboys hosted Boise State.

What you might not know is what was going on under that sweet coat.

"I can tell you this, we have a great equipment manager," Wyoming's ninth-year head coach said Monday afternoon, a grin creasing his face. "I had him go out and buy electrical ... I could have been electrocuted, I had so much stuff on. So, I was fairly warm, but it was cold."

Bohl praised the more than 17,000 in attendance on a frigid November night in the Gem City.

"I looked up one time and a couple of our students are dancing and a guy has no shirt on," he said. "I don't know what kind of antifreeze they had in there, but they were having fun. I appreciate the fans. We appreciate the fans that were there."

MORE UW FOOTBALL NEWS FROM 7220SPORTS:

* UW Football: News and notes ahead of Fresno State

* Step by step, Craig Bohl discusses controversial final play call

* Three stars of the game: Pokes vs. Broncos

* Turning point, unsung hero and what's next for UW football

* Pokes' comeback bid falls short in 20-17 loss to Boise State

* Rants and Raves: Boise State Edition

* Behind the numbers: Wyoming vs. Boise State

* Tuck's Takes: Bohl's 'green light' won't soon be forgotten

Frank Crum, the Cowboys' 6-foot-7, 315-pound right tackle, was born and raised in Laramie. He said he attended a few of the games that landed on this Top-10 list. He's actually suited up for three of them.

Did Crum think it was bone chilling?

"I don't know if I'm buying it," the junior said. "Honestly, it was not that bad. I mean, I also wasn't sitting on metal bleachers. We have heated benches and you're playing the game of football. It takes some serious cold weather to actually rattle you."

Crum didn't even wear long sleeves. None of the offensive linemen did. It's one of the unwritten rules of the game. There's another reason, too.

"You never know if you're going to pick up a fumble," Crum said with a smile. "You can't have slick arms, you know?"

You might not believe this, but the press box wasn't much warmer.

"Our coaches were asking for (equipment manager JD Jordan) to send up hand warmers," Bohl said. "What the hell's going on up there? Are we not paying the electric bill?"

In all seriousness, Bohl said he recruits players to embrace weather like this. He praised his current roster for doing just that in a hard fought 20-17 loss to the Broncos.

"You're going to have some of those games, and if you're going to have an opportunity to win, you better have some guys on the team that look at that and say, 'that's exactly what we want," he said.

Here are the coldest recorded games in Cowboy football history since the 1970 season:

Nov. 22, 2003 - 9 degrees - 26-3 loss to New Mexico

Nov. 11, 2000 - 11 degrees - 34-0 loss to Utah

Nov. 22, 2019 - 15 degrees - 17-7 win over Colorado State

Oct. 10, 2009 - 15 degrees - 37-13 win over New Mexico

Dec. 3, 2016 - 18 degrees - 27-24 loss to San Diego State (MW title game)

Nov. 28, 2015 - 18 degrees - 35-28 win over UNLV

Nov. 9, 1985 - 18 degrees - 41-20 win over San Diego State

Nov. 17, 2018 - 19 degrees - 35-27 win over Air Force

Nov. 1, 2003 - 20 degrees - 35-28 win over Colorado State

Oct. 20, 1984 - 24 degrees - 59-21 win over New Mexico

Nov. 19, 2022 - 24 degrees - 20-17 loss to Boise State

- University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players