Pokes in the Pros: Week 14

LARAMIE, Wyo. (12/12/23) – Any number of statistics are recorded during a National Football League game. From tackles to completions to quarterback hits, many things are documented in 60 minutes of football action.

Carl Granderson has put his name into many different statistical categories this season for New Orleans. That was no different Sunday when the former University of Wyoming student-athlete enjoyed a strong game against Carolina.

Granderson logged five tackles, one tackle for loss, one sack and one quarterback hit in a 28-6 victory. For the season, he owns 62 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, 17 quarterback hits, one pass defended, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery for 6-7 New Orleans.

Granderson wasn’t the only former Wyoming football player making headlines for his professional franchise. Below is a list of the Pokes and how they did in Week 14.

Logan Wilson, Cincinnati Bengals

Wilson registered a very strong game in the Bengals’ 34-14 victory over Indianapolis. He boasted 10 tackles and one pass defended.

For the season, Wilson has 107 tackles – which ranks 15th in the league – four tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, three interceptions, seven passes defended and three quarterback hits for 7-6 Cincinnati.

The Bengals host Minnesota in Week 15.

Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

Allen had a gritty game in the Bills’ 20-17 win at Kansas City. He was 23-for-42 for 233 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Allen also ran it 10 times totaling 32 yards with one score.

For the season, he is 318-for-475 for 3,447 yards with 25 touchdowns and 14 picks. Allen has added 374 yards on 72 carries with 10 scores for 7-6 Buffalo.

The Bills host Dallas in Week 15.

Tashaun Gipson, San Francisco 49ers

Gipson recorded a solid day in the 49ers’ 28-16 win over Seattle. He made four tackles.

For the season, Gipson has carded 48 tackles, two tackles for loss, one interception, three passes defended and one quarterback hit for 10-3 San Francisco.

The 49ers travel to Arizona in Week 15.

Mike Purcell, Denver Broncos

Purcell put together an OK game in the Broncos’ 24-7 win at the Los Angeles Chargers. He made one tackle and had one quarterback hit.

On the year, Purcell lays claim to 14 tackles, four quarterback hits, three passes defended and one fumble recovery for 7-6 Denver.

The Broncos travel to Detroit in Week 15.

Andrew Wingard, Jacksonville Jaguars

Wingard registered a decent game in the Jaguars’ 31-27 loss at Cleveland. He made three tackles and had one forced fumble.

For the year, Wingard lays claim to 31 tackles, two passes defended and an interception for 8-5 Jacksonville.

The Jaguars host Baltimore on Sunday Night Football.

Marcus Epps, Las Vegas Raiders

Epps had one of his better games of the season in the Raiders’ 3-0 loss to Minnesota. He racked up six tackles to go alongside one pass defended.

For the season, Epps has 53 tackles, three tackles for loss, one fumble recovery and two passes defended for 5-8 Las Vegas.

The Raiders host the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday Night Football.

Chad Muma, Jacksonville Jaguars

Muma didn’t record a stat in the Jaguars’ 31-27 loss at Cleveland. For the season, Muma has registered 15 tackles for 8-5 Jacksonville.

The Jaguars host Baltimore on Sunday Night Football.

Tyler Hall, Las Vegas Raiders

Hall didn’t record a stat in the Raiders’ 3-0 loss to Minnesota. On the year, he owns 17 tackles for 5-8 Las Vegas.

The Raiders host the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday Night Football.

Currently in the portal:

Air Force 4
Boise State 4 (including QB Taylen Green)
csu 3
Fresno State 5
Hawaii 8 (including 3 QBs')
Nevada 5
New Mexico 12
SDSU 20
SJSU 3
UNLV 3
USU 6
Pokes 2

…does that mean he’s kept the program stable? Did Dave Christensen get canned too early before he could make the program stable? I chuckle a bit when I read posts stating how Bohl brought “stability” to the program. In Dave Christensen’s five years he went 27-35 overall compared to Bohl’s 28-25. Bohl did him three games better in conference play though, going 19-21 to DC’s 16-23. So apparently three games separated “program in shambles” necessitating a firing---so we could bring in a new guy and develop a stable foundation who escaped the ax.

Starting to wonder if Sawvel wins 9 games next year, maybe Bohl should get the credit.

Perhaps if we had kept DC around for another five years he too could have (like Bohl did) go 32-25 overall and 18-20 in conference play-- and brought stability to the program. Really lay a foundation. We’ll never know, but the definition of “solid foundation” has taken on a whole new meaning in recent days. We’re really now saying 32-25 overall and 18-20 in conference in the last five years is foundational stuff; I guess it is then....beating Toledo will probably change the term again.

A lot of narratives being pushed by UW and "company men" that seem like they're trying too hard. Much of the praise directed toward Bohl seems to be everywhere except the football field. I’m just glad the AD made a bold move and walked down the hall to find his next head coach.

Bohl recruited well on defense, misused Josh Allen, recruited Brian Hill, Curtis Granderson, Logan Wilson and beat up CSU(which probably played a not-so insignificant factor in his longevity). I wanted him extended after the one and only Boise win.

I also remember a $hitload of injuries, (is Sean Chambers walking without a boot yet?), the home losses to New Mexico and Hawaii in 2021, and of course the call vs. Boise St. last year at home.

Can’t and won’t buy the stability talk. One can also claim correctly that he enjoyed the grace of an ineffective AD who chose to retain a .500 coach for 10 years rather than take a risk and aspire to higher goals.

Good luck to the new guy though…by the new standards, he should have a decent shot at success.

The score, 78-73. I don't care for either school, but with Ike at Gonzaga and they are paying him all that NIL money, really does choke me up...............not!

Coach Sawvel's hire

This is a "make or break" hire for T.B. & I feel he know's it.....

Go Pokes

With the portal officially opening today, I'm a little surprised we haven't heard more about UW players leaving yet. I know there are a couple out there, but nothing like the last couple years.

Maybe indicates that players are getting wise to the fact that the portal rarely works out in their favor, and/or that Bohl and staff are doing a better job with retention?

SFA looks big and athletic

I am serious as a heart attack, I am going to think long and hard about pouring more money down the rabbit hole called UW athletics. We have a tone deaf AD , and a broad range of under performing athletic programs and an administration that doesn't care and doesn't want to hear anything. They are long at wanting to get into your pockets but short on producing conference championships. I have poured a lot of money into supporting athletic programs over the years, but like many others I have areas in my life; church, family and hobbies that I could get more enjoyment and reward for directing my money towards. Since the administration doesn't listen to people like me, and doesn't care, why should I continue to support people like this?

Yners and Ewes both lost in upsets on the hardwood today!

.........than when Bohl came into replace Christensen in 2013. There is no doubt about it from my perspective.

Did anyone go to the press conference?

Our 2 three star commits dropped down to two stars. So dumb.

New o line commit!

Do folks think we will once again see names on jerseys?

Drives my wife nuts not to have names, me not so much, as pretty well know "who's who" by numbers.

What are folks thoughts?

Go Pokes

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LARAMIE, Wyo. (Dec. 7, 2023) – The Cowboys continue their homestand on Saturday hosting Stephen F. Austin of the Western Athletic Conference at 2 p.m. inside the Arena-Auditorium. The Pokes are 3-0 at home this season, as it marks the first Saturday home contest of the season.



The first 500 fans will receive Wyoming themed Snowglobes. Also on Saturday the Cowboy basketball will host its annual Teddy Bear Toss. Fans are encouraged to bring a stuffed animal to participate at halftime. All stuffed animals will be donated to Ivinson Memorial Hospital.



Fans can watch, listen to the contest, as well as follow stats on GoWyo.com. The game will be streamed on the MW Network and the MW App and will be broadcast live on radio over the 26 affiliate stations of the Cowboy Sports Network, as Keith Kelley on the call and Kevin McKinney on color.



About The Teams

Wyoming is 5-3 on the season. The Cowboys earned a 80-59 home victory over South Dakota Mines on Tuesday. Wyoming is shooting 48 percent from the field for the season and is allowing opponents to shoot 42 percent. The Pokes are connecting on 42 percent of their attempts from behind the arc for the season, which is first in the conference and third in the nation. Wyoming holds opponents to 30 percent from deep. The Cowboys are grabbing 34.9 rebounds per game and are forcing 6.8 steals per contest.



The Lumberjacks come into Saturday holding a 5-4 record after dropping a home game to Louisiana Tech, 56-49, on Tuesday. SFA is hitting 45.7 percent of its field-goal attempts, which includes a 34.5 percent clip from 3-point range. The Lumberjacks are allowing foes to make 40.4 percent of their shots from the floor and 33.9 of their attempts from deep. SFA is collecting 37.2 rebounds per contest and creating 8.6 steals per game.



About The Players

Wyoming is led in scoring this season by Sam Griffin at 18.5 points per game. He is shooting 52 percent from the field and 50 percent from behind the arc. He also leads the team with 31 assists on the season. Akuel Kot adds 14.6 points per game. He leads the team shooting 88 percent from the free throw line. He also has 22 assists on the season, which is second on the team. Cam Manyawu adds 10.5 points per night and leads the team with 7.5 rebounds per game and has five double-doubles on the season.



The Lumberjacks are led by Sadiadriene Hall who tallies 10.6 points per game to go alongside a team-best 5.1 rebounds per contest. Four players average between 7.4 and 8.8 points per game, and Latrell Jossell paces that group. AJ Cajuste leads the Lumberjacks in assists at three per contest.



About The Series

The Cowboys and Lumberjacks have met once before. Wyoming took that one and only meeting, 94-55, in Laramie during the 1987-88 season.



Up Next

The Cowboys remain at home and play host to Weber State. That game is slated for Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. inside the Arena-Auditorium.

LARAMIE, Wyo. (Dec. 6, 2023) – Jay Sawvel was introduced by University of Wyoming Athletics Director Tom Burman as the new head coach of the Wyoming Cowboys during a team meeting on Wednesday morning. He will replace head coach Craig Bohl following Wyoming’s bowl game against Toledo in the Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl on Dec. 30. Bohl announced he will retire after the Toledo game to the team on Wednesday. Bohl leaves the program after 10 seasons that saw him engineer one of the most successful runs in program history.



“Jay has done a masterful job in his time at Wyoming building strong relationships with players and staff,” Burman said. “His defense embodies Wyoming’s culture in that we play physical, disciplined and with passion.”



Sawvel is the 33rd coach in Wyoming history and has served as the team’s defensive coordinator and safeties coach since February of 2020. Over his career, he has been part of 21 teams who advanced to postseason play, including 14 bowl appearances and seven NCAA Playoff appearances.



“His vision on the future of Cowboy Football energized me and I feel he will help us reach a Mountain West Championship in the near future,” Burman said.



Sawvel has learned from some of the top minds in college football history. Some of the names include Craig Bohl, Lou Holtz, Roy Kidd and Jerry Kill. Of the seven head coaches that Sawvel has worked for, the group owns over 1,200 wins.



“I’m excited and honored to be the next head football coach at the University of Wyoming,” Sawvel said. “I have loved working and learning under head coach Craig Bohl for the last four years. The infrastructure Coach Bohl has put in this program makes me very excited to be the next leader of this program.”



The 2023 Cowboy defense ranks No. 17 in the nation thus far in turnovers gained. The Cowboys rank sixth in the nation this season with 11 fumble recoveries. The Wyoming defense ranks No. 24 in the nation in fewest yards allowed per pass attempts. Sawvel’s 2023 defense ranks No. 2 in the Mountain West Conference in scoring defense (allowing only 22.9 points per game) and ranks No. 3 in the MW in total defense (allowing opponents only 360.2 yards per game). Linebacker Easton Gibbs, a first-team All-MW selection finished the 2023 regular season averaging 8.8 tackles per game to rank No. 4 in the Mountain West and No. 29 in the nation. Gibbs will enter Wyoming's bowl game with 359 career tackles as a Cowboy to rank eighth in school history and 13th among all active FBS players. Defensive tackle Jordan Bertagnole, was a second-team All-MW selection ranking No. 3 among all Mountain West defensive linemen in tackles this season, averaging 4.8 tackles per game. Safety Wyett Ekeler ranked third on the Cowboy team in tackles this season with 75 and ranked No. 9 among MW defensive backs in tackles, averaging 6.25 per game. Ekeler was twice named MW Defensive Player of the Week in 2023 and was an honorable mention All-MW selection.



Sawvel’s 2022 defense ranked No. 2 in the Mountain West and No. 21 in the nation in sacks, averaging 2.85 per game. His defense also ranked No. 2 in the MW and No. 33 in the FBS in defensive touchdowns scored, with two. Sawvel’s defense featured three All-MW honorees as selected by coaches and media. Those three were: Easton Gibbs (LB), who earned First Team All-MW; and defensive end DeVonne Harris and cornerback Cam Stone, who both earned Honorable Mention honors. Phil Steele’s All-MW team included: Gibbs and Stone on his First Team; defensive tackle Jordan Bertagnole on his Second Team; and Harris on Steele’s Fourth Team. Freshman defensive end Braden Siders was also named an Honorable Mention Freshman All-American by College Football News.

The Wyoming Cowboys entered the 2022 college football season as the fourth youngest team in the country. But given that, the Cowboys went on to record a 7-6 record, finish second in the Mountain West Conference Mountain Division and earn a spot in the Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl. Along the way the ‘22 Pokes defeated rivals Air Force, Colorado State, Hawai’i, Utah State and American Athletic Conference member Tulsa. Wyoming’s 7-6 record gave them their fifth winning season in the past seven seasons.

The Cowboy defense in 2021 was one of the top pass defenses in the nation. Wyoming allowed opponents only 189.8 passing yards per game to rank No. 1 in the Mountain West and No. 12 in the nation. The Cowboy defense was also No. 13 in the nation in defensive touchdowns scored, with three. Wyoming held opponents to 23.7 points per game in the 2021 season to rank No. 5 in the MW and No. 43 in the country out of 130 FBS programs. The Cowboys posted a 7-6 record and won their third consecutive bowl game, with a convincing 52-38 win over Kent State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

Linebacker Chad Muma was one of six national finalists for the Butkus Award in 2021. Muma earned Second Team All-America honors from the Walter Camp Football Foundation and Pro Football Focus and was a Third Team selection by Associated Press. He was selected as the Sixth Pick in the Third Round (70th overall) by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2022 NFL Draft. Sawvel also had six of his defenders earn All-Mountain West Conference honors in 2021. Muma was a First Team selection (MW Coaches/Media and Pro Football Focus), cornerback C.J. Coldon (Second Team MW Coaches/Media), nose tackle Cole Godbout (Second Team Pro Football Focus and Honorable Mention MW Coaches/Media), cornerback Azizi Hearn (Second Team Pro Football Focus), defensive end Garrett Crall (Honorable Mention MW Coaches/Media), linebacker Easton Gibbs (Honorable Mention Pro Football Focus).

In his first season guiding the Wyoming defense as defensive coordinator in 2020, the Cowboys were among the best in the country, ranking No. 16 in the nation in total defense, allowing opponents only 328.0 yards per game. UW’s defense also ranked No. 21 in rushing defense (125.3 yards per game), No. 24 in scoring defense (21.0 points per game) and No. 29 in pass defense (202.7 yards per game). Three of his Cowboy defenders earned All-Conference recognition in 2020. Junior linebacker Chad Muma earned First Team All-Mountain West honors from MW head coaches and media. Senior free safety Esaias Gandy earned Honorable Mention honors from the conference head coaches and media, and sophomore cornerback C.J. Coldon earned Fourth Team All-MW from Phil Steele.

Before coming to Wyoming, Sawvel served as the defensive coordinator at Wake Forest University in 2017 and ‘18. He was named the defensive coordinator at Wake Forest in January 2017 and helped the Deacons to the 2017 Belk Bowl. During his first season at the helm of the Wake Forest defense, the Deacons set school records for tackles for loss in a single season and finished the season ranked No. 7 nationally in tackles for loss.

My guess is A Bohl

he said they must be able to pass the ball whenever is needed. On any down at any point in the game. Doesnt want Defenses to game plan around "wyoming not being able to pass the ball." Good interview with him on the Sports Zone yesterday.

The Cowgirls lost to Montana State in the 5th set to lose the match. Cowgirls won the first and the third sets. After the first set, though, they had trouble pulling away and were frequently fighting from behind. It was a disappointing end to the season, but I"m still glad this team had the opportunity to play three games in the post season tournament. There was a good crowd but not a sellout. it will be interesting to see if this group continues to grow and improve.

I hereby and henceforth dedicate this post, post #500 of my illustrious GoWyoGo posting career to none other than Mr. .500 himself, Craig Bohl.

Since you couldn’t win the ‘Ship, Old Bald Coach, take this post as my appreciation for all you’ve done for the program. How bout that team GPA? How bout all these Bowl appearances that over half of all FBS teams get to partake in? How bout those Natty’s at a team I’ve never followed or cared to follow up in the cold white north of the Dakota territory? The Buffalos? Hell I don’t remember… Anywho, I dedicate this prestigious post to you Bohl. May your predecessor be worthy of my 600th post as that would just be the cat’s ass.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t offer the things I’ll miss as you embark on your next chapter. I’ll miss the giggles I’d get from family and friends as I’d bust out my best Elmer Fudd impression at the tail end of the first half and down the stretch in important football games. I’ll miss the suspense of wondering if those timeouts will ever be called in critical moments of games. I’ll miss the barking of my dog as I hollered at my television set as we had a “few bounces not go our way.” I’ll miss the way the offense had trouble passing the football but you never had trouble passing the buck. Not sure how I’ll live without “Hats off to the other coach” and “That was a good football team we played tonight.”

In all seriousness, I’m grateful for the stability Bohl provided. Grateful for the memories made during this tenure. Had a few highs to balance out the lows and watched a lot of live football over the last decade. I appreciate the overall gameday atmosphere in Laramie (The product on the field drove this.) I appreciate cheers for my Pokes in the pros. For JA17 and the Governor up in Cincinnati. I appreciate the decrease in embarrassing, blowout losses. Drank a lot of beers and shed a lot of tears these last ten years.

From a reformed “sunshine pumper,” to present day “doom and gloomer.”

The one, the only,

-COLT.44

Go Pokes!

WYOMING vs SOUTH DAKOTA MINES GAME STATS: https://sports.yahoo.com/ncaab/south-dakota-mines-hardrockers-wyoming-cowboys-202312050661/

LARAMIE, Wyo. (Dec. 5, 2023) – The Wyoming Cowboys playing with only seven available scholarship players due to illness surged passed South Dakota Mines in the second half in an 80-59 win on Tuesday evening in the Arena-Auditorium in Laramie. It was the first home contest in 24 days for the Pokes, as Wyoming opened their three-game homestand with their third home win this season.



“It was good to get reaccumulated with your home court and that happens alot when you play on the road,” UW head coach Jeff Linder said. “For us to have the first half we did, which was not ideal, but considering the circumstances with Wenzel and Newton out sick and players under the weather our guys really pushed through. In the second half we got to the second and third action and we got what we wanted. We had better rhythm in the second half. They have older guys and you look who we are playing with two true freshmen in the starting lineup. It was good for us to get those guys experience. You look at the schedule now it gets tough with some tough teams. We have to keep moving forward and get these guys healthy soon than later. All in all we found a way to win.”



Freshman Cam Manyawu recorded a career-high 20 points and 11 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season. Sam Griffin added 17 points and tied a career-high with eight rebounds with seven assists. He has scored in double figures in all eight games this season along with Akuel Kot. He added 15 points and grabbed a season-high in rebounds with five. Kael Combs recorded a career-high eight points.



Wyoming shot 53 percent from both the field and behind the arc. It is the fourth game shooting 50 percent or more from the field and third game shooting 50 percent or better from behind the arc. Wyoming held SD Mines to 38 percent for the third game holding an opponent to under 40 percent from the field. Wyoming held a 40-26 advantage on the glass for the night.



SD Mines got off to a fast start with an early 10-3 lead on the Cowboys hitting a trio of three pointers during the run. Griffin recorded the Cowboy’s first three pointer of the game to make it a 12-10 contest for the Hardrockers five minutes into the game.



Oleg Kojenets gave Wyoming a brief 15-14 lead at the 12:11 mark, but the Hardrockers added a triple the following trip to take back the lead. Kot added a triple of his own for a 18-17 lead for the Pokes with 11 minutes left in the opening frame.



SD Mines would take the lead back and Caden Powell tied the contest at 21-21 with eight minutes left in the stanza. Griffin would add a triple seconds later for a Wyoming lead. Kot made it a six-point game later with a three pointer, but a run by SD Mines of 6-0 tied the game at 31-31 with over three minutes left in the half. They capped a 9-0 run for a 34-31 lead with 2:30 left on the clock.



Jacob Theodosiou made a free throw and added a layup in transition that gave Wyoming a 35-34 lead with under a minute left in the half and that was the score at the half.



Griffin and Kot got the Pokes off to a fast start in the opening seconds of the second half for a 40-34 lead for the Brown and Gold. Mayawu pushed the lead to nine points at 48-39 with a slam and later a free throw with 16 minutes left in the game.



Kael Combs pushed the lead to 11 points at 52-41 with 14 minutes left on a nice cut to the bucket. The Wyoming offense would go cold with no field goals for over eight minutes until Manyawu added a score for a 61-51 contest with 5:36 left in the game.



Combs added a three off a pass from Griffin for a 66-51 contest capping a 9-0 run with 4:26 left. Wyoming would push the lead to 18 points and would cruise to the 80-59 win.



SD Mines was led by Cameron Cohn with 14 points in the contest. Alejandro added 12 points in the contest.



The Cowboys return to action on Saturday hosting Stephen F. Austin at 2 p.m. in the Arena-Auditorium.

Newton is hot tonight! Good to see another scorer emerging.