Wyoming’s Football Coach is Stronger Than Yours
LARAMIE -- Before Jay Sawvel entered the coaching profession, he was a standout inside linebacker at the University of Mount Union in his native Ohio.
Wyoming's rookie coach tallied 118 tackles in 1993, good enough for second on the team, while helping lead the Raiders to the first of 13 Division III National Championships.
While the 52-year-old is more than three decades removed from his playing days, that doesn't mean he's lost his touch in the weight room.
Sawvel benched 305 pounds Thursday afternoon inside the High Altitude Performance Center. Here's video proof:
"Work to be your best every day," Sawvel posted on Facebook. "Hadn't hit 305 since I was in my 20's. I'm a few days removed from that now."
Impressive stuff.
Sawvel isn't the only one throwing around weight this offseason. There's a video online of starting center Nofoafia Tulafono squatting 585 pounds. Tight end John Michael Gyllenorg also eclipsed the 500-pound mark. Cheyenne native Andrew Johnson, a safety, hit a 330-pound clean.
If Sawvel ever says "I won't ask you to do anything I wouldn't do," these guys are all surely in for a long day at the office.
While Sawvel might be strong, we're not sure if he's crazy.
UNLV head coach Barry Odom snagged a share of that title six days ago when rode a bull named "Widowmaker" at a fundraiser called "Horns & Helmets" at the South Point Casino and Spa in Las Vegas. The event, orchestrated by the UNLV Football Foundation, charged $150 a ticket to raise some funds for the program.
The reigning Mountain West Coach of the Year lasted less than three seconds.
While it's not clear how much money was actually made, the stunt went viral, putting all eyes on Rebel football. The Washington Post wrote a story. So did Yahoo, CBS Sports and a plethora of other national media outlets.
That's called good PR.
Who wouldn't want to see the head coach of the Cowboys jump on the back of a saddle bronc and do his best impression of the Steamboat logo? Could be fun.
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