UW football wins SADDLE Cup

By Wyoming Sports.org

The University of Wyoming football team has won the SADDLE Cup award for the 2007-08 academic year. The SADDLE Cup is an annual competition between all of the University of Wyoming athletic teams.

The winner of the SADDLE Cup is the team that acquires the most points by participating in a number of personal development exercises, academic workshops and community service projects throughout the year.

“I’m so proud of how these young men have given back to the school and the community through their work in the classroom and their community service,” Wyoming head football coach Joe Glenn. “Our team gpa this past semester was a 2.75, which is the highest grade-point average I can remember of any team I’ve coached at any school. Good citizenship is also important to these young men, and I’m very proud of them for winning this award.”

The competition was devised by the UW Athletics Office of Academic Support to recognize student-athletes who make a commitment to involve themselves in campus and community activities. The Cowboy Football team acquired the most points during the 2007-08 academic year.

“Having the football team win the SADDLE Cup after soccer had won or shared the SADDLE Cup for the past three years is a testament to the growth of our program and the pride that all student athletes have for UW and the state of Wyoming,” said Conrad Chavez, Assistant Athletics Director for Academic Services. “As we continue to increase our programming as it relates to the SADDLE Cup, we look forward to increased competition amongst all of our teams.”

The acronym SADDLE stands for: Student Athletes Dedicated to the Development of Leadership and Engagement. The competition is a component of the NCAA CHAMPS/Life Skills Program. The NCAA CHAMPS/Life Skills program was designed to support the development of the entire student-athlete during his or her higher education experience. CHAMPS/Life Skills outlines five commitment areas: Academic Excellence, Athletic Excellence, Personal Development, Career Development and Service to the Community.

This year’s awarding of the SADDLE Cup will take place at a Wyoming football game later this season.

UW makes football improvements

The UW Athletics Department will introduce a number of improvements when the 2008 college football season kicks off on Saturday at War Memorial Stadium. Upgraded video boards in the north and south endzones, combined with an improved sound system have been added to enhance the fan experience at games this season. As part of the improved audio system, fans will be able to hear the Cowboy Sports Network broadcast throughout the concession areas in the stadium.

Another important improvement that has been made to better serve the parking needs of disabled fans is additional ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) accessible van parking in the Indoor Practice Facility (IPF) lot, just north of the new Indoor Practice Facility, and in the ADA Shuttle lot located at 20th and Garfield one block south of Grand Avenue between the former Laramie Athletic Club and the UW Office Annex.

ADA accessible parking for automobiles is also available in lots AA, D, S, FA, H and HC, as well as the IPF lot and the ADA Shuttle lot. ADA accessible parking is on a first-come, first-serve basis. When ADA parking fills up at one location, parking attendants will be available to refer fans to other lots where ADA parking is still available. There will also will be two shuttle buses transporting fans from the ADA Shuttle lot to the stadium. The two shuttlle buses will run both pregame and postgame. The shuttle buses will drop fans off at Gate 1 on the southwest corner of War Memorial Stadium pregame and will pick fans up at the same location postgame.

While there is ongoing construction still in progress on 15th Street between Grand Avenue and Willett Drive, 15th Street will be open to traffic on gamedays.

The Brown & Gold Outlet is opening a satellite store on gamedays inside War Memorial Stadium. The store will be located underneath the stands on the southwest corner of the stadium, providing Wyoming fans with a comfortable and convenient area to purchase their Cowboy gear.

Also among the improvements will be an experimental postgame tailgate party, referred to as the “5th Quarter.”

The “5th Quarter” will be similar to the pregame tailgate parties already held at Cowboy games. The “5th Quarter” postgame parties will include various vendors, food choices and games available for children. The postgame events will be held in the same location as all UW pregame tailgate parties -- the practice field on the south end of War Memorial Stadium. The events will feature a family atmosphere, as they will be alcohol free. Three “5th Quarter” tailgate parties are planned this season -- following the Ohio game this Saturday, after the North Dakota State game on Sept. 13 and following the Utah game on Oct. 11. For more information on the “5th Quarter” postgame tailgate parties, please contact University of Wyoming Sports Properties at (307) 766-5020.

Fans are reminded that season-tickets and single-game tickets are still available for purchase through the UW Athletics Ticket Office. Tickets may be ordered online at www.wyomingathletics.com, or fans can call the ticket office at 800-922-9461 or 307-766-4850.