Gear Up For Game Day: Hawaii Rainbow Warriors

LARAMIE -- Brett Smith took a "blowtorch" to Hawaii's defense.

Wyoming's junior quarterback set school and Mountain West records on a frigid late November afternoon in 2013, dissecting the visitor's secondary to the tune of seven touchdown passes and 640 yards of total offense in a 59-56 victory inside War Memorial Stadium.

Along with his 498 passing yards, the Salem, Ore., product added 142 yards and another score on the ground.

“People who are around the complex just understand how hard we work and the time that everybody puts in," Smith told the local media postgame. "When you have a performance like that, as an offense, when you are playing at that high of a level, especially when you win, the feeling is indescribable.

"That’s why I play the game.”

Stuart Williams booted through a 36-yard game-winning field goal in the extra frame, giving the Cowboys the opportunity to become bowl eligible in the season finale the following week.

That didn't happen and head coach Dave Christensen was relieved of his duties.

These old rivals combined for an astounding 115 points and 1,487 yards of total offense. Sean Schroeder, only overshadowed by Smith's performance and the eventual loss, also threw for a career-best 499 yards and six touchdowns for the winless Rainbow Warriors, who dropped their second straight overtime tilt.

Chris Gant snagged a school record four of those touchdown tosses and capped the outing with 174 receiving yards. Wyoming's Robert Herron also hauled in four scores in the game.

For Wyoming, it was the sixth straight win in a series that dates back to 1978. The Cowboys lost at Utah State the following week, falling to 5-7 on the year.

“You know you get people in the stands calling you names, you get people starting fights the last time we came off the field -- our own fans," Christensen said. "I don’t read social media, so I can imagine what they say about me -- and I can care less -- but the players see it, they read it.

"So, it's not a very jubilant place to be for them and for them to get the victory and feel good about it, I feel good for them.”

That would be Christensen's last victory in his five-year stint in Laramie. He was fired just hours after the 35-7 setback in Logan.

"We have come to a point where our football program has not achieved at the level of success that we expect, and we know from past experience that we can be successful," Wyoming Athletics Director Tom Burman said in a statement released by the school. "It is with that in mind that we move forward in search of a new leader for Cowboy Football."

Turns out, that was Smith's final win in the brown and gold, too.

After three seasons under center in Laramie, Smith declared for the NFL Draft, forgoing his senior campaign, which would've been played under new head coach Craig Bohl. Smith capped his Wyoming career as the program's all-time leader in passing touchdowns with 76, 20 more than Casey Bramlet.

Smith finished with 8,834 yards through the air, just behind Bramlet (9,684) in that category.

Why did he bolt? Was it the coaching change? Money? Bad advice?

“I wanted to compete against the best,” Smith said told 7220sports.com over the phone from his home in Oregon back in 2019. “I dreamed about being in the NFL since I was a little kid. I wanted to challenge myself. I know so many people have said it was a dumb career move, but I was 21.

“I wanted to continue my story of the guy that’s been overlooked.”

Smith spent time in training camp with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after going undrafted in 2014. He also bounced around the Canadian Football League for the following four seasons.

Back in 2016, Smith quietly returned to Laramie to finish his degree. Burman honored his scholarship, allowing him to come back to the place it all began. From the stands inside War Memorial Stadium, he watched as another dynamic signal caller made a name for himself on Jonah Field -- Josh Allen.

In 2019, Smith earned his bachelor’s degree in social science.

“Tom is one of my favorite people in the world,” Smith said. “We were really close when I was playing there. When I told him I wanted to come back, he welcomed me with open arms. To this day that is one of the greatest things anyone has ever done for me. That’s just the kind of guy he is.”

What does he want Wyoming fans to remember most? It's really quiet simple.

“I just wanted to be great,” Smith added. “I really wanted to be the best.”

Here is all you need to know -- and the links -- for Wyoming's Homecoming tilt with Hawaii:

WHO: Hawaii (1-2, 0-1) at Wyoming (1-2, 0-0)
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 26 at 1 p.m. MST
WEATHER: High of 74, Low 45, Partly cloudy, Wind 10-20 mph
WHERE: War Memorial Stadium, Laramie, Wyo. (25,000-plus capacity)
TRAVEL: WyoRoad.info
STREAMING: CW
TV: CW
RADIO: Cowboy Sports Network
TICKETS: Wyoming Ticket office
BOX SCORE: ESPN
ROSTERS: Wyoming / Hawaii
HISTORY: Wyoming leads the all-time series, 17-12
BETTING ODDS: UH -2.5, O/U: 43.5
HEAD COACHES: Jay Sawvel / Timmy Chang

MORE UW FOOTBALL NEWS VIA 7220SPORTS:

* Wyoming OC on Tyler Hughes: 'He's The Guy ... No Doubt About It'

* Hawaii Notebook: About Those UW Receivers

* Wyoming Loses Starting Center for Season With Injury

* Behind the Numbers: Missed Tackles Mount in Mitten

* Making the Grade: What's Up With Wyoming's Wideouts?

* Pokes Gashed on Ground in 24-10 Setback at CMU

* Turning Point, Unsung Hero and What's Next for UW Football

* Rants and Raves: CMU Chippewas Edition

* FINAL LIVE FILE: Central Michigan 24, Wyoming 10

* Wyoming Wideout Injured After Being Struck by Vehicle

- University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players