Which Wyoming Cowboy wore it best? No. 57

CHEYENNE — Do you ever see a number on a Wyoming football jersey and think of all the great players to wear it? Yeah, me too. In this daily series, I’ll give you my take on which Pokes’ football player was the best ever to don each number. The criteria are simple: How did he perform at UW? What kind of impact did he have on the program?

No. 57 – Robert Midgett

Linebacker, 1987-90, Detroit, Mich.,

Résumé in Laramie
Robert Midgett was a three-time letter-winner at UW and played in three bowl games. Wyoming won back-to-back Western Athletic Conference championships in 1987 and '88. The Cowboys also went 9-4 and played in the Copper Bowl in 1990, where Midgett was named the Defensive MVP. Midgett's career record in Laramie was 35-15.

Why Midgett?
Not many players in Wyoming history can say they have been to three bowl games in their career.

Robert Midgett is one who can.

The linebacker from Detroit was a key cog in Paul Roach's defense in the late 80's, a time when Wyoming seemed to be a linebacker factory with names like Mike Schenbeck, Galand Thaxton, Pete Gosar, and others.

One of Midgett's best outings came in his final game in a Cowboy uniform.

Facing the Cal Bears in the 1990 Copper Bowl in Tuscon, Arizona, Midgett helped hold one of the nation's best rushing attacks to just 89 yards on 46 carries. That's less than two yards per tote.

The Bears weren't much better through the air.

Wyoming limited Cal quarterback Mike Pawlawski to just 172 yards passing to go along with an interception. The Bears finished with just 14 first downs in the game and fumbled the ball three times.

The problem? They recovered all of them and squeaked out a 17-15 victory in front of 36,340 fans inside Arizona Stadium.

Midgett went to three bowl games in his collegiate career and fell short in all of them.

Midgett did, however, go 3-1 against Border War rival Colorado State. He also helped lead the Pokes to the same mark against Air Force. Midgett and the Cowboys were undefeated against Utah and pulled off upsets over Iowa State, Louisville and Washington State.

In 1990, the Cowboys won three straight against nationally ranked teams, New Mexico, Weber State and UTEP.

Honorable mention
Chase Appleby (2014-16) played a major role in getting the Cowboys program to where it sits today.

Though Josiah Hall gets the publicity for his "safety dance" against Boise State in 2016, it was Appleby, the defensive tackle from Texas, who caused the fumble that eventually went through the back of the end zone and gave the Cowboys a 30-28 upset victory over the No. 13 Broncos in Laramie.

Appleby, who was recruited by Dave Christensen's staff, flourished under Craig Bohl, and more specifically interior defensive line coach, Pete Kaligis.

Appleby, by his own account, will tell you that he thought about leaving Laramie. He was out of shape and not seeing the field. A switch eventually flipped. He racked up 52 career tackles, 7.5 for loss. He also picked up a pair of sacks and snagged one interception.

He returned that 55 yards for a touchdown in a 38-17 road win over CSU in the Pokes final game at Hughes Stadium. It was also his birthday.

Who else wore No. 57
Ed Curry (G), Neron Miller (DB), Scot Kofron (OG), Jay Korth (OG), Greg Kuhn (TE), Aron Langley (P), Kevin Hughes (OG), Casey Adams (DE), Derrick Glasper (DL), Jack Tennant (OG), Zack Berg (LB), Patrick Arnold (OL)