The University of Wyoming football team has had a rough start to their season under new head coach Jay Sawvel. The Pokes started their season 0-4 before they finally got their first victory.
To recap, Wyoming quarterback Evan Svaboda finally found some rhythm on Saturday, September 28 to give the Cowboys their first win against conference opponent, Air Force. Running back Sam Scott was able to get things going early for the Pokes offense with an eight yard rushing touchdown early in the first quarter. The Falcons responded in the second quarter with a pair of field goals and touchdown of their own. Despite only throwing for 165 yards with 0 passing touchdowns, Svaboda was able to find the endzone twice with his legs. Svaboda’s second rushing touchdown late in the fourth quarter capped off a 31-17 Homecoming win for the Cowboys,
Despite the combined overall record of their opponents being 15-4, with week 3 opponent BYU currently being ranked 14th in the country, Wyoming being 1-4 is not really excusable. A brutal performance against Arizona State on the road started things off wrong for the Cowboys. The week one loss was followed by another embarrassing show against the Idaho Vandals for a home opener loss to bring their record to 0-2.
A somewhat expected loss to what a great deal of brown and gold fans consider a rival in BYU put Wyoming in an 0-3 hole. The losing streak continued when Wyoming went on the road to play North Texas bringing their record to 0-4.
This is by far the worst start to the season the Cowboys have had since 2015, when the team started 0-6, and finished 2-10. Clearly not the start to the season most fans were hoping for, however the homecoming win against conference opponent Air Force definitely helps.
“I have a lot of pride for the state of Wyoming, I have a lot of pride in the University of Wyoming … It’s a sense of pride that brings us back every single time we go there,” said English teacher and former student athlete at the University of Wyoming, Bryan Coventry.
Coventry attended the university as a track athlete who graduated from Natrona County. He currently holds the second best record for high jump in Wyoming Track and Field history. His wife, who he met at UW, was also a member of the track team. His daughter attended UW and played in the Cowboy marching band and his son, followed in his parents footsteps and currently competes on the UW track team.
With his whole family attending the University of Wyoming, several of them being student athletes, he takes a lot of pride in their athletics and especially the football team.
“It’s been really cool watching a small sort of scale football program grow into what is has become. The place sells out now. It’s fun to tailgate there, it’s fun to go to games. To see them doing so poorly, it’s very disheartening,” said Coventry.
The frustration with the football team stretches to more than just previous generations who have been Cowboys fans for a long time. Younger fans who have not been around to see previous unsuccessful teams, see the games and the program from a different perspective as the Cowboys have had successful years for most of their lives.
“I think the coach needs to focus more on making a more disciplined team while also changing up the playbook from Bohl. Svaboda shouldn’t be wearing #17. But I don’t think hes super bad, just needs more time as a starter to get where he needs to be … I do appreciate Coach Bohl a lot more, as well as Andrew Peasley. I think as a fan you just have to see through this year, but the win against Air Force helped with my faith in the team,” junior Chase Mamot said.
With the 2-10 2015 season being 9 years ago, most of the younger generations of fans have a hard time remembering it. This year is definitely the worst the Cowboys have been in recent memory, nevertheless the Pokes are on a 1 game win streak. The just had their buy week and will be looking to extend their winning streak against the San Diego State Aztecs at War Memorial Stadium this coming Saturday.
