Wyoming Downplaying Renewed Rivalry Matchup with Utes

LARAMIE -- Yes, Jay Sawvel is well aware the Wyoming faithful is no fan of Saturday's opponent.

No, he's not going to dwell on that.

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Wyoming's head coach said Monday during his weekly press conference he is living in the moment. Admittedly, he has enough on his plate, preparing for the No. 20 team in the nation.

"I vote in, I think, the USA Today Poll, is what it is," Sawvel said from behind the podium, eyebrows raised. "I had them 12th a week ago. I had them 10th this week. So, you know, I value them a lot more than maybe what someone else on the outside is right now."

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While his focus is on stopping the elusive, electric Devon Dampier -- and getting past two All-American tackles to even reach the junior quarterback -- he knows this matchup has been circled on the calendar for Wyoming fans since this game was originally supposed to be played in Laramie back in 2020.

COVID-19 put a six-year delay on this much-anticipated tilt between former conference rivals.

"I don't get into all that," Sawvel said. "We'll talk about some of the history to it, and that part of it, but I deal in the here and now -- and the here and now is that Kyle Whittingham has a great football team. That's going to be a big, big challenge for us Saturday night."

The Cowboys and Utes have met 84 times, with the latter holding a 51-32-1 advantage in a series that hasn't been played since 2010. Before Urban Meyer rolled into Salt Lake back in 2003, Wyoming had won eight of the previous 15 meetings. Since, that record stands at 1-7, the last victory coming in 2006.

Brian Hendricks, Wyoming's defensive ends coach, played for the Cowboys from 2008-11. He was 0-3 against the Utes. Will he share some of his memories with this current group of edge rushers?

"I'll give them a rundown, you know, that they used to be in the conference, but I don't think it needs to be very long," he said. "... You know, sharing a border, it's going to be heated on both sides. That's something that I think the players do need to know that this isn't just another team coming in.

"But, no, I'm not going to spend too much energy on proving that or making that an emphasis."

Hendricks was a true freshman in '07 when the infamous middle finger incident happened inside Rice-Eccles Stadium. Then Wyoming head coach Joe Glenn made the gesture toward the home bench after Utah attempted an onside kick despite at the time leading, 43-0.

That story might come out this week, Hendricks joked.

There was also the 1999 rout in Salt Lake City that featured eight total fumbles and four interceptions, three off the right arm of quarterback Darnell Arceneaux. The Utes' signal caller would suffer what the university called a "massive concussion" after being hammered into the field-goal post simultaneously by Wyoming's Patrick Chukwurah and Jared Jernigan. Cortney Barnes pounced on the resulting fumble, giving the visitors a commanding 18-point fourth-quarter lead.

The Cowboys rolled to a 43-29 victory, their last inside that venue.

Tyce Westland simply said any rival of yours is a rival of his.

"I know our fanbase hates them, so I'll just play with that chip on my shoulder, too, for a little extra boost," the senior defensive end said with a smile.

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Fellow lineman Brayden Wilson spent the previous three seasons at Weber State in Ogden, Utah, twice being named to the All-Big Sky Team. The Kaysville product said Utah did extend an offer after he earned First-Team All-State honors during his senior season at Farmington High school.

There wasn't a scholarship attached to it.

"I did a bunch of their recruitment camps and they ended up offering me a preferred walk-on," said the 6-foot-5, 243-pound Wilson.

Why didn't he accept?

"Because I wanted a full ride," he continued. "I wanted to be where I felt like they were 100% bought into me. Scholarships say you are bought into that person. PWO's don't."

Jaylen Sargent heard that same spiel from Whittingham and Co. Only they wanted the now senior wideout to play cornerback.

The Logan, Utah native said he grew up an Aggies fan, anyway. His dad, for a brief period, even played at Utah State. That was his initial dream.

Then Wyoming came calling.

"I got a full ride here -- and they wanted me at receiver," he said with a smile. "I like scoring touchdowns."

Wyoming and Utah are scheduled to kickoff Saturday at 6 p.m. inside War Memorial Stadium. The game will be televised on CBS Sports Network.