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Wyoming Cowboys football
2011 Wyoming Cowboys football team
File:UW BHR web.png
First season1892
Head coach
3rd season, 10–15 (.400)
StadiumWar Memorial Stadium
(capacity: 32,580)
Field surfaceArtificial turf (2005-present)
LocationLaramie, Wyoming
All-time record486–520–28 (.484)
Bowl record6–7 (.462)
Conference titles15
Consensus All-Americans4[1]
Current uniform
File:MWC-Uniform-UW.png
ColorsBrown and Gold
   
Fight songRagtime Cowboy Joe
MascotCowboy Joe
Marching bandWestern Thunder
RivalsColorado State
Websitehttp://wyomingathletics.cstv.com/

The Wyoming Cowboys are a college football team that represents the University of Wyoming. They compete in the Mountain West Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of NCAA Division I. The team has won 15 conference titles.[2] They were the 2009 New Mexico Bowl Champions, winning 35-28 in overtime against Fresno State.

Stadium

War Memorial Stadium was built in 1950 with an original capacity of 20,000 fans; the current capacity is 32,580 after the completion of 2009-2010 stadium upgrades.[3]

It is the highest Division I FBS football stadium in the nation; the elevation of its playing field exceeds 7,200 feet (2195 m) above sea level. The playing surface was natural grass until 2005, when infield artificial turf was installed.

Rivalries

Bronze Boot

The Bronze Boot is awarded to the winner of the college football game between Wyoming and Colorado State, in nearby Fort Collins. The annual game has evolved into one of the most bitterly contested rivalries in college football. The teams have waged the "Border War" one hundred times since the schools began playing in 1899, playing every year except 1901, 1902, 1906, 1907, 1918, 1924, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1943, 1944, and 1945. This is one of the oldest interstate rivalries west of the Mississippi River, and the oldest west of Lawrence, Kansas. The series is the oldest rivalry for both schools and the "Border War" has been played in three different centuries.[4]

Notable players

  • Mike Dirks - tackle - part of one of college football's best defenses in 1966 and 1967. He was selected as an All-American and All-Western Athletic Conference performer. He co-captained Wyoming's 1967 WAC Championship football team that finished fifth in the nation. Led the Cowboys to a 10-1 record and berth in the 1968 Sugar Bowl. He was part of the Cowboys line that was the nation's best rushing defense for two consecutive seasons. No team in the nation has since allowed fewer rushing yards than the 1966 and 1967 Wyoming defenses. Dirks produced 71 tackles, 30 unassisted tackles, and 26 tackles for a loss. He was inducted into the Wyoming Cowboys Athletic Hall of Fame on October 29, 1993.
  • Jim Kiick - running back - Wyoming's leading rusher for each of his three seasons, 1965-67. He totalled 1,714 yards and ten touchdowns on 431 carries, and 561 yards and five touchdowns on 52 pass receptions. He was the first player ever to earn first-team All-Western Athletic Conference honors three times. Kiick was co-captain of the team as a senior. He was named the Most Valuable Player in the 1966 Sun Bowl victory over Florida State, rushing 25 times for 135 yards and two touchdowns, and catching four passes for 42 yards. He also played in the 1968 Sugar Bowl against LSU, rushing 19 times for 75 yards and a touchdown, and catching five passes for 48 yards. Kiick played in the 1968 Senior Bowl, and was selected to play in the 1968 College All-Star Game.
  • Jerry Hill - running back - was selected as Wyoming's Football Player of the Century during fan balloting in 1992.[5] He was selected as an All-Skyline Conference running back in 1959 and 1960. In those two seasons, Hill was Wyoming's leading rusher. During his career, the Cowboys posted a 25-6 record. Hill was a member of the club that won the 1958 Sun Bowl.[5] His career would finish with 1,374 rushing yards on 288 carries. He was inducted in the Wyoming Cowboys Athletic Hall of Fame on October 29, 1993.
  • Jay Novacek - tight end - was a two sport All-American at Wyoming, also excelling in track. He was the Wyoming record holder in the decathlon and pole vault. As a football player, he was selected to the Kodak All-American football team in 1984.[5] The selection was attributed to setting an NCAA record for receiving yards per receptions by a tight end. Novacek finished his Cowboys career with 83 career receptions for 1,536 yards and 10 touchdowns as a tight end. He was inducted in the Wyoming Cowboys Athletic Hall of Fame on October 29, 1993. He was also inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame on July 19, 2009 [1].

Honors and awards

  • Mike Dirks, First Team All-Western Athletic Conference, 1967
  • Mike Dirks, Football writers of America, Look Magazine, Newspaper Enterprise Association All-American, 1967
  • Mike Dirks, Team Co-Captain on NCAA record setting defense
  • Marcus Harris, Fred Biletnikoff Award[6]
  • Marcus Harris, inducted into the Wyoming Athletics Hall of Fame on September 24, 2004.[7]
  • Jerry Hill, First Team All-Skyline Conference, 1959, 1960
  • Jerry Hill, Selected Wyoming Football Player of the Century, 1992
  • Jerry Hill, Honorable Mention All-American, 1959, 1960
  • Jerry Hill, Admiral Emory S. Land Award Winner
  • Jim Kiick, Tailback, Most Valuable Player, 1966 Sun Bowl
  • Leonard Kucewski, Guard, Most Valuable Player, 1958 Sun Bowl
  • Jay Novacek, First Team All-Western Athletic Conference, 1984
  • Jay Novacek, Football All-American, 1984

Year by Year

Year Record Head Coach Notes
1893 1-0[8] Fred Hess Played Cheyenne HS on February 22 and won 14-0
1894 3-0 Fred Hess and J.F. Soule Played on October 13, November 29 and December 25
1895 1-0 J.F. Soule Beat Northern Colorado 34-0
1896 2-0[9] J.F. Soule Beat Northern Colorado and Denver Manual HS
1897 2-0 J.F. Soule Beat Wyoming Alumni and Cheyenne HS
1898 0-4 Fred Hess
1899 0-1-1 J.F. Soule
1900 3-3 William McMurray
1901 1-0 William McMurray
1902 1-0 William McMurray
1903 3-2 William McMurray
1904 4-4-1 William McMurray
1905 3-4 William McMurray
1906 1-1[10] William McMurray
1907 2-1 Robert Ehlman
1908 1-2 Robert Ehlman
1909 3-5 H.I. Dean
1910 4-4 H.I. Dean
1911 4-3-1 H.I. Dean
1912 2-7 L.C. Excelby
1913 0-5 R.W. Thacker Outscored 0-183 during season
1914 1-5 R.W. Thacker
1915 2-6 John Corbett
1916 1-4[11] John Corbett
1917 3-4 John Corbett
1918 N/A N/A No games played - World War I
1919 3-5 John Corbett
1920 4-5-1 John Corbett
1921 1-4-2 John Corbett
1922 1-8 John Corbett
1923 0-8 John Corbett
1924 2-6 William Dietz
1925 6-3 William Dietz
1926 2-4-2 William Dietz
1927 4-5[12] William Dietz
1928 2-7 G.W. McLaren
1929 1-7 G.W. McLaren
1930 2-5-1 John Rhodes
1931 6-4 John Rhodes
1932 2-6-1 John Rhodes
1933 2-6-1 Willard Witte
1934 3-5 Willard Witte
1935 4-4 Willard Witte
1936 2-5-1 Willard Witte
1937 3-5[13] Willard Witte
1938 2-5-1 Willard Witte
1939 0-7-1 Joel Hunt
1940 1-7-1 Okie Blanchard
1941 2-7-1 Bunny Oakes
1942 3-5 Bunny Oakes
1943-45 N/A N/A No football played - World War II
1946 1-8-1 Bunny Oakes
1947 4-5 Bowden Wyatt Wyatt's first season
1948 4-5 Bowden Wyatt
1949 9-1 Bowden Wyatt Defeated Northern Colorado 103-0
1950 10-0[14] Bowden Wyatt Gator Bowl champions
1951 7-2-1 Bowden Wyatt
1952 5-4 Bowden Wyatt
1953 5-4-1 Phil Dickens
1954 6-4 Phil Dickens
1955 8-3 Phil Dickens Sun Bowl champions
1956 10-0 Phil Dickens
1957 4-3-3 Bob Devaney
1958 8-3 Bob Devaney Sun Bowl champions
1959 9-1 Bob Devaney
1960 8-2[15] Bob Devaney Jerry Hill’s final year
1961 6-1-2 Bob Devaney
1962 5-5 Lloyd Eaton
1963 6-4 Lloyd Eaton
1964 6-2-2 Lloyd Eaton
1965 6-4 Lloyd Eaton 1st yr of Mike Dirks, Jim Kiick
1966 10-1 Lloyd Eaton Sun Bowl champions
1967 10-1 Lloyd Eaton appeared in Sugar Bowl
1968 7-3 Lloyd Eaton
1969 6-4 Lloyd Eaton
1970 1-9[16] Lloyd Eaton
1971 5-6 Fritz Shurmur
1972 4-7 Fritz Shurmur
1973 4-7 Fritz Shurmur
1974 2-9 Fritz Shurmur Mike McGraw and Archie Gray selected in the 1975 NFL Draft
1975 2-9 Fred Akers Lawrence Gaines and Aaron Kyle selected in the first round of the 1976 NFL Draft
1976 8-4 Fred Akers
1977 4-6-1 Bill Lewis
1978 5-7 Bill Lewis
1979 4-8 Bill Lewis
1980 6-5[17] Pat Dye Dye's only season at Wyoming
1981 8-3 Al Kincaid
1982 5-7 Al Kincaid
1983 7-5 Al Kincaid
1984 6-6 Al Kincaid Jay Novacek’s final year
1985 3-8 Al Kincaid
1986 6-6 Dennis Erickson Erickson's only season at Wyoming
1987 10-3 Paul Roach appeared in Holiday Bowl
1988 11-2 Paul Roach appeared in Holiday Bowl
1989 5-6 Paul Roach Craig Schlichting drafted by Vikings
1990 9-4[18] Paul Roach appeared in Copper Bowl
1991 4-6-1 Joe Tiller Doug Rigby drafted by Chiefs
1992 5-7 Joe Tiller
1993 8-4 Joe Tiller appeared in Copper Bowl
1994 6-6 Joe Tiller
1995 6-5 Joe Tiller Brian Gragert drafted by Broncos
1996 10-2 Joe Tiller Marcus Harris won the Fred Biletnikoff Award
1997 7-6 Dana Dimel
1998 8-3 Dana Dimel
1999 7-4 Dana Dimel
2000 1-10[19] Vic Koenning Patrick Chukwurah drafted by Vikings
2001 2-9 Vic Koenning
2002 2-10 Vic Koenning Koenning's final season
2003 4-8 Joe Glenn
2004 7-5 Joe Glenn Las Vegas Bowl champions
2005 4-7 Joe Glenn
2006 6-6 Joe Glenn
2007 5-7 Joe Glenn
2008 4-8 Joe Glenn Glenn’s final season
2009 7-6 Dave Christensen New Mexico Bowl champions
2010 3-9 Dave Christensen
2011 8-5 Dave Christensen Appeared in New Mexico Bowl

Cowboys drafted into the NFL

Draft Year Player Position Round Overall NFL Team
1950[20] Truett Smith Fullback 7 86 Pittsburgh Steelers
1952[21] Dewey McConnell Defensive Back 3 37 Los Angeles Rams
1957[22] Jim Crawford Fullback 14 163 Pittsburgh Steelers
1959[23] Dale Memmelaar Guard 21 242 Chicago Cardinals
1961[24] Jerry Hill Running Back 3 35 Baltimore Colts
1961[24] Chuck Lamson Defensive Back 4 43 Minnesota Vikings
1966[25] Jerry Marion Wide Receiver 10 143 Pittsburgh Steelers
1967[26] Ron Billingsley Defensive Tackle 1 14 San Diego Chargers
1968[27] Jerry DePoyster Kicker 2 37 Detroit Lions
1968 Mike LaHood Guard 2 51 Los Angeles Rams
1968 Jim Kiick Running Back 5 118 Miami Dolphins
1968 Mike Dirks Tackle 5 122 Philadelphia Eagles
1968 Paul Toscano Defensive Back 7 187 Houston Oilers
1969[28] Gene Huey Wide Receiver 5 123 St. Louis Cardinals
1969 David Hampton Running Back 9 220 Green Bay Packers
1969 Dennis Devlin Defensive Back 10 240 New England Patriots
1970[29] Vic Washington Wide Receiver 4 87 San Francisco 49ers
1970 Larry Nels Defensive Lineman 12 298 New York Giants
1970 Joe Williams Back 12 309 Dallas Cowboys
1971[30] Tony McGee Defensive End-Tackle 3 64 Chicago Bears
1972[31] Conrad Dobler Guard 5 110 St. Louis Cardinals
1973[32] Nick Bebout Tackle 6 142 Atlanta Falcons
1975[33] Mike McGraw Linebacker 10 255 St. Louis Cardinals
1976[34] Lawrence Gaines Running Back 1 16 Detroit Lions
1976[34] Aaron Kyle Defensive Back 1 27 Dallas Cowboys
1978[35] Frank Chesley Linebacker 6 157 New Orleans Saints
1979 [36] Ken Fantetti Linebacker 2 37 Detroit Lions
1980[37] Danny Pittman Wide Receiver 4 90 New York Giants
1981[38] Guy Frazier Linebacker 4 93 Cincinnati Bengals
1982[39] Jim Eliopulos Linebacker 3 81 Dallas Cowboys
1984[40] Chris Kolodziejski Tight End 2 52 Pittsburgh Steelers
1984 Jay Novacek Tight End 6 158 St. Louis Cardinals
1989[41] Eric Coleman Defensive Back 2 43 New England Patriots
1991[42] Mitch Donahue Linebacker 4 95 San Francisco 49ers
1992[43] Doug Rigby Defensive End 11 298 Kansas City Chiefs
1994[44] Ryan Yarborough Wide Receiver 2 41 New York Jets
1995[45] Ryan Christopherson Running Back 5 169 Jacksonville Jaguars
1995 John Burrough Defensive End 7 245 Atlanta Falcons
1997[46] Steve Scifres Guard 3 83 Dallas Cowboys
1997 Lee Vaughn Defensive Back 6 187 Dallas Cowboys
1997 Marcus Harris Wide Receiver 7 232 Detroit Lions
2001[47] Patrick Chukwurah Linebacker 5 157 Minnesota Vikings
2004[48] Casey Bramlet Quarterback 7 218 Cincinnati Bengals
2006[49] Derrick Martin Defensive Back 6 208 Baltimore Ravens
2007[50] John Wendling Defensive Back 6 184 Buffalo Bills
2011[51] Chris Prosinski Defensive Back 4 121 Jacksonville Jaguars

Cowboys drafted into the AFL

Draft Year Player Position Round Overall AFL Team
1961[52] Jerry Hill Running Back 2 9 Denver Broncos

Bowl history

See also: List of Wyoming Cowboys bowl games
American football on the field with spectators in the stands.
Wyoming defeated UCLA in the 2004 Las Vegas Bowl to end their six bowl game losing streak.[53]

The Cowboys have appeared in thirteen bowl games and have a record of six wins and seven losses (6–7).Their most recent bowl appereance came in their 35–17 loss to Temple in the 2011 New Mexico Bowl.[54]

References

  1. ^ "NCAA Football Award Winners" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. 2014. pp. 13–18. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  2. ^ "Wyoming Cowboys at CFB Data Warehouse".
  3. ^ "Jonah Field at War Memorial Stadium". wyomingathletics.com. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  4. ^ Wyoming Athletics.com - Bronze Boot
  5. ^ a b c http://www.wyomingathletics.com/trads/hof-1993.html
  6. ^ http://www.biletnikoffaward.com/pastwinner.htm
  7. ^ Wyoming Athletics Hall of Fame entry
  8. ^ http://cfreference.net/cfr/school.s?id=442&offset=110
  9. ^ http://cfreference.net/cfr/school.s?id=442&offset=100
  10. ^ http://cfreference.net/cfr/school.s?id=442&offset=90
  11. ^ http://cfreference.net/cfr/school.s?id=442&offset=80
  12. ^ http://cfreference.net/cfr/school.s?id=442&offset=70
  13. ^ http://cfreference.net/cfr/school.s?id=442&offset=60
  14. ^ http://cfreference.net/cfr/school.s?id=442&offset=50
  15. ^ http://cfreference.net/cfr/school.s?id=442&offset=40
  16. ^ http://cfreference.net/cfr/school.s?id=442&offset=30
  17. ^ http://cfreference.net/cfr/school.s?id=442&offset=20
  18. ^ http://cfreference.net/cfr/school.s?id=442&offset=10
  19. ^ http://cfreference.net/cfr/school.s?id=442&offset=0
  20. ^ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1950.htm
  21. ^ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1952.htm
  22. ^ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1957.htm
  23. ^ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1959.htm
  24. ^ a b http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1961.htm
  25. ^ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1966.htm
  26. ^ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1967.htm
  27. ^ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1968.htm
  28. ^ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1969.htm
  29. ^ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1970.htm
  30. ^ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1971.htm
  31. ^ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1972.htm
  32. ^ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1973.htm
  33. ^ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1975.htm
  34. ^ a b http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1976.htm
  35. ^ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1978.htm
  36. ^ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/1979_draft.htm
  37. ^ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1980.htm
  38. ^ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1981.htm
  39. ^ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1982.htm
  40. ^ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1985.htm
  41. ^ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1989.htm
  42. ^ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1991.htm
  43. ^ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1992.htm
  44. ^ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1994.htm
  45. ^ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1995.htm
  46. ^ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1997.htm
  47. ^ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/2001.htm
  48. ^ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/2004.htm
  49. ^ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/2006.htm
  50. ^ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/2007.htm
  51. ^ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/2011.htm
  52. ^ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1961_AFL.htm
  53. ^ "Bramlett guides fourth-quarter comeback". ESPN.com. Associated Press. December 23, 2004. Retrieved December 18, 2011.
  54. ^ "Temple wins New Mexico Bowl with romp over Wyoming". ESPN.com. Associated Press. December 17, 2011. Retrieved December 18, 2011.
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