UW's Top Revenue Programs Differ in Recruiting Philosophy

LAS VEGAS, Nev., -- Sundance Wicks admitted in late June he is essentially asking recruits to agree to a two-year deal.

Wyoming's head basketball coach is getting just that -- at least -- from two of his brightest young stars Naz Meyer and Gavin Gores.

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"It may sound weird to people, but at the end of the day, two years of developing in our program, you're going to turn into a really, really good player," Wicks said, adding that's the reality of the transfer portal era.

He hopes these brief stints can turn into two seasons of team success.

Jay Sawvel, on the other hand, scoffed at that elevator pitch during the Mountain West's annual football media days event in Las Vegas.

"I'll never say that," he said, accompanied by a head shake. "We aren't JUCO."

The third-year head coach pointed to star running back Samuel Harris as an example. Yes, it took a larger financial obligation to keep the speedy running back they call "Tote" in the stable this offseason. That will happen after a true freshman season that includes a team-best 558 rushing yards and an additional 184 via the passing game.

Opening the wallet was expected.

"Sam Harris was a good player last year," Sawvel said. "I think Sam Harris will be one of the best running backs in the conference this year."

There's another expectation, too.

"My goal is that Sam Harris is here in Vegas." he continued.

Wicks said he wants players to "double up" on who they are as people and players during their time in Laramie. If victories follow, he added, that's no small task here and in this era.

"Your value as a player is now you're a winner," he explained. "You can help programs that don't have all the, quote-unquote, extra stuff, win games. Now you're known as a winner.

"... (Meyer and Gores) were true to their word, and I respect that, man to man. I mean, that's a big deal. Guys who can shake your hand, look you in the eyes, and say, 'you know, we commit to this.' I can recommend them to any echelon organization as they go forward just knowing the fact that they're men of their word."

For Sawvel, it's considered a failure when a student-athlete stays for just a single season, especially if he is productive and does all the right things. Wicks, like his football counterpart, said his emotions would take over and he would get "heated" when a player would hit the open market.

Those days are over. They have to be in this landscape of influx.

While Wicks says he's dealing in the new reality, Sawvel isn't going to that extreme anytime soon.

Is this a basketball problem? Sawvel isn't saying that, either.

One thing that is clear is the two top-revenue generating sports on campus have many differences, including current atmospheres inside their home venues. Sawvel often says Cowboy football is the only thing in this state that brings 25,000 people together in one place, for one common cause.

Less than 4,000, on average, trickle into the Arena-Auditorium on game day. Wicks said that is an underrated aspect of retention.

It's likely a "chicken-or-egg" scenario with the basketball program suffering mass attrition since the portal came into existence back in 2018. Revenue sharing and Name, Image and Likeness have also slowly gained momentum on the high plains leading to some departures.

For both programs, though, consistently landing in the win column has too been a struggle in recent years.

Sawvel said if he could spread around $2.5 million, annually, amongst his roster that would lead to the team "winning a whole bunch of games." Last December, Tom Burman said that figure was close to becoming a reality.

"We have found a way this year to make significant growth, both in football and basketball," the school's longtime athletics director said last December, adding some of that confidence stems from the fact the Cowboy Joe Club is now in charge of generating funds.

The sales job, Sawvel said, won't change for his staff: Come and stay a while. Like, all five years.

Like Wicks, he is also taking advantage of high school recruiting, a lost art these days with Power-4 programs combing free agency instead of taking the development route.

"I want you to come here to want to win a championship," Sawvel added. "I want you to be the best that you can be while you're here because we've got a lot of resources to help you while you're in this spot.

"What you do beyond that, that's not going to be a part of my recruiting pitch."

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