He says things (and puts things in emails) that he shouldn't, but he doesn't mince words. THIS ISN'T SAFE FOR WORK

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congrats to him and his family

We see some players follow their HC to new school when he’s hired away. We didn’t see any UWGB players follow Wicks to UW. Henry was committed to UWGB prior to coming to UW but never played there. So what’s that say about players he coached there? Not good enough for MWC? Not sold on Wicks coaching? He was only there one year but surely there were one or two players that could play for UW. He did recruit and offer Gavin Gores while at UWGB so there’s that.

Candace Thornton

Ian, can you check on the status of Maren McKenna returning? The Cowgirls could sure use her next year.

Some good CU players in the portal. I wonder if Coach Harrell has any insight on them. How many more UW players will enter? Have to love the days of College Athletics right now.

"Iamaleava is considered one of the top quarterback prospects in college football entering the 2025-26 season. But he wanted to renegotiate his $10 million NIL deal with Tennessee, which spanned multiple years, according to ESPN."

So Iamaleava decided to sit out and refused to play in the Spring Game while demanding to renegotiate his $10M NIL deal. The LSU coach said that Iamaleava would not be the last. I must commend Tennessee's head coach, Josh Heupel for saying that no one is bigger than the program and that includes himself. Heupel said that he took Iamaleava off of the roster, goodbye Iamaleava. Tennessee will now try to find a QB in the transfer portal. Unfortunately, if Tennessee starts to lose this coming season, then Heupel and his ethics will be fired, and that is too bad. The only ethics these kids know is in the size of the check.

Goodbye college football. Some coach somewhere will pay the ex-Tennessee QB what he wants most likely, so the wars begin, and what is REALLY important to these players is the name on the back and how big are the checks. As those academic all-stars on the Maryland men's basketball team said, "The coach do pay..."

Someone within the powers of collegiate football/athletics has to grow some cajónes and get this situation straightened out.

On a side note, I read that one of the big donors who has given in the millions of dollars to UW and the School of Engineering is "re-thinking" his commitment to UW based upon UW's firing of the head of the school of engineering. Beam me up Scotty, there is no more intelligent life left on this planet!

Not much additional info here. Perhaps some thought on timing of media deal before the MWC lawsuits are settled.

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What will we do, a Walk-on has entered the Portal! I hope Sunny can replace him. 😂

Not Athletics related, but it does make one wonder regarding the current leadership.

Or the lack thereof.

LARAMIE, Wyo. (April 10, 2025) – Cowboy basketball head coach Sundance Wicks announced on Thursday the addition of Division I Transfer guard DeMarion Dennis and junior college transfer guard/forward Buddy Hammer Jr. to the 2025-26 roster. The two are the first addition to the transfer class for the Cowboys this season.



“In this year’s recruiting class, we have targeted specific guys for a specific mission. Each young man we sign has been intentionally identified, obsessively analyzed, and thoroughly vetted to fit our Cowboy Culture,” Wicks said. “We know that we are the home of the underdog, and the underdog mentality has always suited us well in the wild west. This class will feature a multitude of players who are relentlessly competitive, high character team first guys, have helped their team win along their journey, and have a massive chip on their shoulder that gives them an everyday edge. We call them OKC’s (Our Kinda Cowboys). Please help us in welcoming our first two OKC’s of the 2025-26 transfer class.”



Wicks on Dennis

“Dennis was identified by our staff as one of the most efficient players in the country this season per his usage. Dennis is a full-time dawg! He helped lead TAMCC to 20 wins this season, but the first thing that stood out to us on tape was how he would pick up opposing handlers the full 94 feet. Dennis is a defensive disruptor and an offensive connector. We completely nerded out with Damarion. He has an offensive rating of 124 that puts him in the top 100 nationally. He has an insanely low turnover rate (8.8) which is top 80. Most importantly per our metrics that matter, a GSOAT (greatest stat of all time) of 3.1. You just don’t stumble across players who play the game as efficiently and aggressively as Damarion Dennis. Please give a wild west welcome to Damarion Dennis, an Every Day Dude and a FULL TIME DAWG!”



A native of San Antonio, Texas, he comes to Wyoming after a strong freshman season at Texas A&M Corpus Christi. He appeared in 34 games with nine starts. He averaged 6.7 points per game and 1.9 rebounds per contest along with 1.3 assists per game.



Dennis shot 48 percent from the field and shot 39 percent from behind the arc with 29 makes on the year. He scored a career-high 13 points at New Orleans on Jan. 6, 2025. He also made a career-high five field goal in the contest. He made a career-best three triples against Southeastern Louisiana.



He is. Graduated of Veterans Memorial High School. He earned All-District and All-League honors. He led his team to a pair of District Titles and a State Tournament appearance. He is the all-time leading scoring and earned District MVP honors



Wicks on Hammer jr.

“Say the name Buddy Hammer Jr. and know that he is a perfect fit for our Cowboy Culture and the hardest playing Junk Yard Dog in all Junior College the last two years. One skill set that I know translates to the next level is rebounding and Buddy is an elite rebounder. He has hauled in over 100 offensive rebounds in each of the last two seasons. Buddy can rope and he most definitely will Ride (For the Brand). The best part about Buddy Hammer Jr. is that he is a WINNER! Buddy was 58-11 in his two junior college seasons. He raises the intensity level on any floor he steps on. Help me welcome Buddy Hammer Jr. to Cowboy Country, the blue collar, hard-nosed, ultra-competitive winner who is not afraid to get a little bloody!”



A native of Westville, Okla., Hammer Jr. spent one season at NEO. He averaged 12.6 points per game last season along with 10 rebounds per game. He shot 54 percent from the field and was 13-of-30 from behind the arc. He scored in double-figures 17 times and grabbed 10 or more rebounds 15 times. He scored 27 points against Western Oklahoma and had 17 rebounds against Tabor College.



He played at Connors State College his first collegiate season. He averaged 13.9 points per game and 7.1 rebounds per contest. He shot 58.3 percent from the field and added 2.3 assists per game.



Hammer Jr. graduated from Westville High School and helped lead his team to the 2021 Class 3A State Tournament. He earned Tulsa World Herald Honorable Mention All-Tulsa hoors and was the conference Player of the Year. Hammer Jr. was also selected to the 2023 Native All State Game and was a 2023 OCA East All State Selection. Hammer Jr. was also the OCA Region 3 Player of the Year and was an OBCA All Star Game MVP for Class 3A. Hammer Jr. was also a part of the OCA All State by Class 3A Selection.

UW Prez received a no confidence vote from different faculty and yet how does he keep his job?

Went and watched Practice
-Anderson has firm control of being the Starter
-Sims looks pretty good. Bautista is a big kid and fast. Drube can hold his own and throws a nice ball but is not ready to challenge Anderson. Which QB enters the portal after Spring Ball?
-RB Kellman will be good, shifty and physical. Little depth there right now. Having Scott back will help but a few others will need to emerge in Fall
-WR room is deep, will be a strength on O. Deblanc will be a good Slot guy.
-TE, JMike should be first team MWC. Depth at TE
-Was impressed with Gavyn Helm, left footed punter can boom it!
-Oline seemed to be solid but hard to really tell against the D.

Defense is way behind. Nobody really stuck out. LBs are bigger but seem to lack speed. A lot of new faces and hard to tell what to expect from them this early.

the school’s athletic funds. Scott Frost at UCF donated $500K to his school.

LARAMIE, Wyo. (April 8, 2025) – Head football coach Jay Sawvel announced the addition of running back coach Gary Harrell to the Cowboy coaching staff on Tuesday. Harrell comes to Wyoming after serving as the running back coach at Colorado since the 2023 season.



“Coach Harrell really stood out during the interview process with his experience with the position and his overall experience as a coach which includes time as a head coach at his Alma Mater” Sawvel said. “He is well-respected with a great sense for the game offensively, and we are excited to have him here at the University of Wyoming and excited to get him in the room and out on the field with our team.”



Affectionately known as "The Flea," Harrell is a native of Miami, Fla., and played collegiately at Howard University where he is a member of the School’s Hall of Fame. He spent two seasons in the NFL and spent time in the World league and the Canadian Football League. He also served as head coach at his alma mater.



“I’m very excited for this next step and excited to be amongst this staff,” Harrell said. “I have heard great things about the atmosphere here at the University of Wyoming and excited for this opportunity to bring my energy and work with this great group of young men.”



He was named running back coach at Colorado in December of 2022. He helped lead the Buffs to the 2024 Alamo Bowl. Prior to his time in Boulder, Harrell coach at Jackson State joining the program in November of 2020, after serving as running backs coach for a season at Alabama State.

Prior to joining Alabama State, he served coaches for two-years under Lane Kiffin at Florida Atlantic. He joined the Florida Atlantic staff in January of 2017. His attention was given to the wide receivers who rotated throughout the season seeing the quarterbacks utilize a total of nine receivers. Senior Kalib Woods was named the Conference USA Championship MVP, and Willie Wright was the team’s most consistent wideout leading the Owls with 56 catches and a total of six touchdowns. Following the year, Wright earned a spot on the Conference USA All-Freshman team.

Prior to his time at Florida Atlantic, he spent time as as the head coach at Howard starting in 2011. He served as Howard’s head coach for five seasons. During his tenure student-athletes worked under the premise that athletics and academics were evaluated equally. In 2012, Harrell was honored by the D.C. Touchdown Club as the Local College Coach of the Year. During his time at Howard, he finished with a 20-36 overall record including a 7-4 mark in 2012.

Prior to his time at Howard, Harrell spent two seasons as the offensive coordinator for Bowie State, from 2009-10. Harrell began at Morgan State in 2008 where he remained through 2009 before seizing the opportunity to move from a position coach with the Rattlers to an offensive coordinator position at Bowie State. He was a part of a team that finished 6-6 in 2008 and 6-5 in 2009. While at Morgan State.

Harrell started his career coaching Howard’s wide receivers from 2002-04. He served as a Texas Southern assistant coach, for wide receivers, from 2004-06. Harrell returned to the east coast as an assistant coach in 2006.

He played two NFL seasons, seeing action in four games in 1994 and '95, with the New York Giants. He also played one season (March 1996-June 1996) for the World League’s Frankfurt Galaxy and two seasons in the Canadian Football League with the Montreal Alouettes (1996-97).

He was a four-year letter winner as a wide receiver and punt return specialist at Howard. He started every game for Howard’s undefeated 1993 team and was a member of the MEAC Championship team that same season. Harrell holds the Howard record for most receptions in a game (13) and in a career (184). He was inducted into the Howard University Hall of Fame in 2005, and also received a proclamation from the City of Miami declaring it Gary “Flea” Harrell Day. Prior to attending Howard, he was a varsity athlete for Miami’s Northwestern High School.

Harrell earned his degree in Marketing from Howard in 1994. He and his wife (Tenika) have two children, a daughter – Jasmine – and son – Gary, Jr., who played football at Howard.

We definitely need a injection of fresh air in the athletic department.

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Thanks Asstecs for representing.......the PAC 12 so well. Down 40 to a team that shouldn't even be there! Couldnt happen to a smugger bunch of jerks.

Nm

Cowboy Football Opens Spring Practice on Tuesday

UW will have 15 practices this spring

LARAMIE, Wyo. (March 21, 2025) – The Cowboy Football team will return to the field next Tuesday, March 25 for the start of spring practice. Wyoming will practice 15 times this spring with the Spring Game set for April 26 inside War Memorial Stadium.

Wyoming will have open practices to the public on Saturday's this spring with times and more information to be released later. The Cowboys will host a youth football clinic after practice on April 5 with additional information available in the coming days.

Sawvel on Spring Practice
We are excited to get started and is time to get started. Our players did well this offseason. We have hit some markers and I see a lot of leadership from the veterans in terms of how they operate day to day. I have been very pleased with the new guys that we added from a physical and maturity standpoint. We have a lot of things to get done with the two biggest things for me is to increase the number of winnable offensive lineman and that is a development thing. On the defensive side, we have a lot of new players, and we have to get them play the way we need them to play to be successful.

About the Cowboys
Second-year head coach Jay Sawvel returns some key veterans on both sides of the ball with numerous All-Mountain West performers back. Sawvel also added 40 players during the signing period with 16 of those being transfers from all levels of college football.

The Cowboys return a solid foundation on offense, including quarterback Kaden Anderson, All-MW tight end John Michael Gyllenborg, with a mix of veteran and young running backs led by

Sam Scott
. Also back are wide receivers Jaylen Sargent, an Honorable Mention All-MW selection, and Chris Durr Jr., along nine offensive linemen from the 2024 two-deep that includes Al-MW selection Jack Walsh.

Defensive end Tyce Westland, nose tackle Ben Florentine, defensive tackle Jayden Williams, cornerback Keany Parks and nickel back Wrook Brown return for a solid defensive core. Brown earned Honorable Mention All-MW honors a season ago. Sawvel brought in 10 transfers on the defensive side of the football to compete with talented returners and redshirts that saw Wyoming lead the nation in third down defense last season.

Read more on winter workouts with the Cowboys on Pokes Insider by clicking here.

New Faces on the Sidelines
Sawvel announced the addition of three new coaches to the staff earlier this offseason. Former Cowboy wide receiver and UW Athletics Hall of Famer
Jovon Bouknight
takes over the wide receiver's group after serving as an analyst last season. Deonte Gibson comes to UW from Air Force and will coach the defensive tackles. Donnell Kirkwood, Jr., who played for Sawvel at Minnesota is coaching running backs for the Brown and Gold.


Wyoming also added a trio of graduate assistants to the staff in former Cowboys Mason Schultz and Cameron Murray. Schultz spent time at Colorado Mesa with Murray coming to UW after spending last season at New Mexico Highlands. Bryce Missey also joined the staff and served as offensive coordinator at Whitworth University last season.

Former graduate assistant and assistant director of player development
Austin Maus
moves into the role of Director of Player Personnel. A pair of Cheyenne natives in Jamison Brown and
Brandon Haselbeck
joined the staff. Both served as interns, Brown is now the assistant director of player personnel after spending last season at North Dakota State. Haselbeck is the video coordinator and comes back to Wyoming after time at Kansas State.


The Cowboy sports performance staff for football led by
Eric Donoval
welcomes four coaches. Andrew Espinoza comes to Wyoming from Central Florida, as he spent three seasons with the Knights. Victor Evans comes to Wyoming after three seasons at Florida Atlantic. Gaines Jordan comes to Wyoming after working at Auburn last season. Robert Marco comes to Wyoming after time at Florida Atlantic along with Liberty and Kansas.


2025 Schedule

Home Schedule

• After opening the season on the road, the Pokes will host back-to-back home games inside War Memorial Stadium hosting Northern Iowa and longtime rival Utah.
• The Utes will make their first trip to Laramie since the 2010 season.
• Wyoming opens the conference slate hosting UNLV and first-year head coach Dan Mullen
• The Cowboys will open the conference slate with back-to-back home games hosting San Jose State on October 11
• The Border War is slated for Saturday, October 25. The two teams have played in the month of November in five-straight seasons.
• Wyoming closes the home portion of the schedule hosting Nevada on November 22.

Road Schedule

• The Pokes will open at Akron for the first ever meeting against the Zips. Sawvel a native of Ohio, will lead the Cowboys to their first trip to the state since facing Bowling Green in 2011.
• The Cowboys will face regional rival Colorado on the road on September 30 for the first meeting since 2009 and the 28th meeting all-time.
• Wyoming opens the road portion of the Mountain West schedule with a trip to Air Force on October 18. The Pokes will play within the Rocky Mountain Region in September and October.
• The Cowboys will make their first trip to San Diego State since 2019 and the first time in Snap Dragon Stadium.
• - Wyoming will play at Fresno State on November 15
• The Pokes will play for the Paniolo Trophy at Hawai'i to close the regular season on November 29 for the first November meeting in Hawai'i since the 1994 season.