The dog days of preseason practices

Richard Anderson photo
Wyoming players do a little extra running at the end of Friday's practice.

By Richard Anderson
Wyoming Sports.org

It was apparent from the first practice six months ago that the Wyoming Cowboys’ workouts under Dave Christensen were no nonsense and at a high pace.

And that was just spring drills.

Two practices into the fall season, there’s no letting up.

The Wyoming coaches put the Cowboys, sans pads, into a quick-paced, two -hour workout Friday morning outside on the practice field south of the War Memorial Fieldhouse.

As if the Cowboys ran enough during that time, they closed things off with a lap drill (by position) of the field that saw the players take at least four laps, with each lap capped off with some sit-ups and a slight rest

It went fairly smooth for those in top shape and not so smooth for others, particularly the offensive linemen who did some extra running after the troops were dismissed.

It was an eye-opener for many.

“If you train hard enough all summer, it should be a breeze,” Christensen said. “Apparently, some guys didn’t do quite what it took to get themselves ready to go. But we have a lot of time and we’ll get them there.”

Christensen almost sounded surprised when asked by the media about the extra running. He said it was just a part of conditioning and their "Winning Edge Program."

Two newcomers, Robert Benjamin and Austyn Carta-Samuels, looked like rabbits leading the quarterback and running backs pack on the first two laps, with veterans Karsten Sween and Dax Crum pacing themselves. In the last couple of laps, the young pups fell back a bit.

“It was a new experience, it was pretty tough on me,” Benjamin said, still trying to catch his breath walking off the field. “It’s just expectations. I have to step up and work hard. I just have to get it taken care of.”

The key now, Christensen said, is to make sure the players understand the speed and tempo of the practices.

“That is first and foremost. We have 47 new players our there. We have a lot of teaching to do in that area,” he said.

The first-year Cowboy coach, though, did said that he was happy for the most part with his returning players.

“They picked up here they left off in the spring in developing those habits,” Christensen said. “I think our defense is doing a good job, particularly our older guys pursuing to the ball. Offensively, we’re still trying to figure out a few things there. But there are signs that we will be OK. Like I said, it is early. Two gosh-darn cloth practices, you won’t find a whole lot out. (Saturday) we’ll put on the shoulder pads and we’ll start to see some things. And a few days after that, we will put (all of) the pads on.”
　
Although the Cowboys were not donned in pads, Friday was still a pretty physical practice.

“That’s football,” Christensen said. “We have to practice at a certain speed and tempo and we’re going to do that. Our practices should be faster now than when we are in full pads because we are lighter.”

And of course, it is just beginning.
　 　

Weather moves Cowboys inside for first practice

Richard Anderson photo

First-year Wyoming head football coach Dave Christensen watches over a drill Thursday in the inaugural fall practice in the Indoor Practice Facility.

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The Wyoming Cowboys first practice of 2009 fall drills began with a bang -- literally -- a bang of thunder.

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Thursday’s practice session, which was originally scheduled for the grass field south of War Memorial Fieldhouse, was forced inside when a rain and lightning storm moved through Laramie just prior to the start of the 3:45 p.m. scheduled practice.

Despite the change of venue, Wyoming head coach Dave Christensen said the Cowboys had a good first day.

“The kids had a great tempo today, and it was nice to finally have a full team of players, with everybody healthy,” Christensen said.

Christensen got off to a slow start as UW head coach, as a number of key players miss a good portion of spring drills due to injury, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.

Thursday’s practice saw the Cowboys practice in helmets but no pads to conform with NCAA rules requiring an acclimation period prior to teams progressing into full-padded practices. The first practice consisted of a combination of fundamental work, broken down by position, as well as some 7-on-7 passing drills, pitting the offense against the defense, and an 11-on-11 session of pre-scripted plays with the offense and defense facing off in the final period of practice.

During that 11-on-11 session, the Cowboy defense came up with two big plays off of turnovers. Senior defensive tackle Mike Neuhaus picked up a fumble and returned it to the endzone, and sophomore cornerback Tashaun Gipson made a spectacular interception.

“It’s exciting to see the defense come up with two turnovers in the first practice,” said Christensen. “We’ve emphasized to our defense that we need them to create more turnovers, and today I thought they did a great job of attacking the football. But on the offensive side, it’s disappointing because that was a problem for this team last year.”

The first week of 2009 fall drills will feature one practice per day. Friday’s and Saturday’s practices will be at 8:45 a.m. Practices are open to the public. Media Day will be held on Saturday from noon to 3:30 p.m.

A “Fan Appreciation Day” will be held Saturday following Media Day from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in War Memorial Stadium. The “Fan Appreciation Day” will give Cowboy fans a chance to come out and meet the players and coaches and get autographs during that hour.

One notable position change that took place in this first week of fall camp was the official move of redshirt freshman quarterback Adam Barry to an inside linebacker spot. Barry was actually a fullback and linebacker up to his sophomore year of high school.

“Adam (Barry) wanted to move to linebacker, and we granted that request,” said Christensen. “He wanted to get an opportunity to compete for playing time at that position, and we wanted to give him that opportunity.”

A total of 59 returning players from 2008, 24 incoming recruits and 22 walkons reported for the first practice, making up Wyoming’s 105-man roster to begin fall camp, which is the maximum number allowed per NCAA rules. An additional five walkons are expected to join the team after school starts on Aug. 24.

When Christensen was asked about junior-college transfer quarterback Robert Benjamin, who participated in his first practice with the Cowboys on Thursday, he had this to say.

“He (Benjamin) does have some athleticism,” said Christensen. “We’ll see how he handles everything when we get in pads. I think all of the quarterbacks did some good things today, and they all did some bad things. The competition is going to be great. It’s very, very early to make any decisions. I think all four kids at that position are competing well, and we’ll know a little bit more about all of them each day.”

The head coach was asked about what kind of timetable he might set for selecting a starting quarterback, and he committed to naming a starter by the Thursday prior to Wyoming’s first game versus Weber State.

In terms of injured players entering the fall, Christensen said that one scholarship player, freshman Spencer Bruce of Gillette, had shoulder surgery this past offseason and will spend his true freshman season rehabilitating the shoulder and practicing on a limited basis.

Only four players, who were on the roster at the end of 2009 spring drills, did not return for fall camp. Senior linebackers Zeb Whipp, from Lander, and Jimmy DeAndrea, from Arvada, Colo., both are physically unable to continue playing football. Whipp underwent back surgery in the spring, and DeAndrea tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee in the first scrimmage last spring resulting in offseason surgery. Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Kaither Holiway, who walked onto the Cowboy program a year ago from Colorado School of Mines, chose not to return to the team. Matt Sebade, who joined the Cowboys in the spring of 2009 as a walkon tight end from Lander also chose not to return to the team.

Cowboys begin practice on Thursday

Richard Anderson photo
Dave Christensen and the Wyoming Cowboys will open the fall season with the first practice on Thursday.


The 2009 college football season begins for the Wyoming Cowboys on Thursday when first-year head coach Dave Christensen will lead his Cowboys through their initial practice of the fall, beginning at 3:45 p.m.

The first week of 2009 fall drills will feature one practice per day on Thursday, Friday (at 8:45 a.m.) and Saturday (at 8:45 a.m.) in helmets and shoulder pads. Media Day will be Saturday afternoon from noon to 3:30 p.m. followed by a fan appreciation autograph session from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in War Memorial Stadium.

“The players have worked extremely hard throughout summer conditioning, and Coach (Trent) Greener and his staff have done an outstanding job with the conditioning program,” said Christensen. “We had virtually all of our veterans and incoming recruits here during the summer, which is a great benefit when we start fall camp.

“I know the coaches and our players can’t wait to get things going on Thursday.”

Wyoming’s first practice in full pads will be Monday at 8:45 a.m. The first day of two-a-day practices begin Tuesday, Aug. 11, with practices at 8:45 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. that day.

A total of 17 starters return for the Cowboys, including seven on offense, eight on defense and two on special teams. Leading the way among those returning starters are three defensive starters who earned All-Mountain West Conference recognition a year ago. Senior defensive tackle John Fletcher was a Second Team All-MWC selection each of the past two seasons. Senior defensive end Mitch Unrein earned Honorable Mention All-MWC recognition in both 2007 and 2008, and junior free safety Chris Prosinski achieved Honorable Mention All-MWC for the first time as a sophomore last season.

The defense returns eight of its top 11 tacklers from 2008.

On offense, the Cowboys return four of their top five receivers from a year ago. The offensive line returns three starters from the 2008 squad, and when you include in that mix senior center and team co-captain Russ Arnold, who was a starter in 2007, you have a combined 75 career starts among the projected offensive line starters.

One newcomer who wasn’t in Laramie for summer conditioning, but who did finish his associate of arts degree during the summer and will be in Laramie to start fall camp on Thursday is junior-college quarterback Robert Benjamin. Benjamin, who will be a junior, signed with Wyoming in February after an outstanding career at Phoenix College in Phoenix, Ariz.

All fall practices for the Cowboys are scheduled for War Memorial Stadium or the Indoor Practice Facility and are open to the public.

Wyoming kicks off the 2009 season on Sept. 5 when they will host the Weber State Wildcats in a game to begin at 1 p.m., Mountain Time.
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2009 University of Wyoming Football
Fall Practice Schedule

Thursday, Aug. 6 -- 3:45 p.m. Helmets, no pads
Friday, Aug. 7 -- 8:45 a.m. Helmets, no pads
Saturday, Aug. 8 -- 8:45 a.m. Helmets and shoulder pads only. Noon-3:30 p.m.; Media Day Luncheon and Interviews; 3:30-4:30 p.m. Fan Appreciation Autograph Session, War Memorial
Sunday, Aug. 9 -- 8:45 a.m. Helmets and shoulder pads only
Monday, Aug. 10 -- 8:45 a.m. First Practice with Full Pads
Tuesday, Aug. 11 -- 8:45 a.m. First Day of Two-a-Day Practices, Full Pads; 3:45 p.m. Shells
Wednesday, Aug. 12 -- 8:45 a.m. Full Pads
Thursday, Aug. 13 -- 8:45 a.m. Full Pads; 3:45 p.m. Shells
Friday, Aug. 14 -- 8:45 a.m. First Fall Scrimmage
Saturday, Aug. 15 -- 8:45 a.m. Full Pads; 3:45 p.m. Shells
Sunday, Aug. 16 -- 3:45 p.m. Helmets and shoulder pads only
Monday, Aug. 17 -- 8:45 a.m. Shells
Tuesday, Aug. 18 -- 8:45 a.m. Scrimmage #2
Wednesday, Aug. 19 -- 8:45 a.m. Helmets and shoulder pads only
Thursday, Aug. 20 -- 7:45 a.m. Full Pads; 11:30 a.m. Front Range Kickoff Luncheon in Denver
Friday, Aug. 21 -- 8:45 a.m. Shells
Saturday, Aug. 22 -- 10 a.m. Scrimmage #3
Sunday, Aug. 23 -- NA No practice
Monday, Aug. 24 -- NA First Day of Classes, No Practice, Position Meetings
Tuesday, Aug. 25 -- 3:30 p.m. Shells
Wednesday, Aug. 26 -- 3:30 p.m. Scrimmage #4
Thursday, Aug. 27 -- NA No practice, Position Meetings
Friday, Aug. 28 -- 3:30 p.m. *Begin Regular-Season Practice Schedule

*Monday will be the Cowboys’ off day during the season.

Texas game to sell out

In what has been called the biggest game in University of Wyoming football history, a sellout is expected when the Cowboys host the Texas Longhorns on Sept. 12.

Only 150 season tickets remain available for purchase to the 2009 Wyoming football season. They are available on a first-come, first-serve basis and are expected to be sold out by Aug. 1. Fans who want to assure themselves a seat in War Memorial Stadium to the Wyoming-Texas game are encouraged to contact the UW Athletics Ticket Office as soon as possible to purchase season tickets. There will likely not be any single-game tickets available for the Texas game.

Single-game tickets for Wyoming’s other five home games versus BYU, TCU, Weber State, UNLV and New Mexico will go on sale Monday, July 27.

Tickets may be purchased by going online at: WyomingAthletics.com or by calling (800) 922-9461.

In addition to the excitement generated by the Texas game, the hiring of new Wyoming head football coach Dave Christensen and a home schedule that includes two other teams, BYU and TCU, that joined Texas in the final BCS Top 25 rankings from last season has resulted in a new school record being set for season tickets sold at Wyoming.

A total of 7,837 season tickets had been purchased for the 2009 Wyoming Football season as of Thursday, July 23. The previous Wyoming season-ticket record was 6,887 season tickets sold in 1999.

“It has been exciting to see the response from our fans,” said UW Athletics Director Tom Burman. “Soon after signing the deal with Texas, I know there was some concern that Texas fans would be buying up tickets to this game, but it has been Wyoming fans who have driven the growth in our season-ticket numbers this season.”

Less than 2 percent of 2009 season tickets sold through the UW Athletics Ticket Office were purchased by fans who could be identified from the state of Texas. The University of Texas was provided 3,800 single-game tickets to sell to their fans per the original contract between the two schools.

Season-ticket renewals for the 2009 Wyoming football season began on Jan. 16. The process in which tickets were made available to fans follows.

1. Season-ticket holders from the 2008 season were given the opportunity to renew their season tickets first, beginning on Jan. 16, 2009. As previous season-ticket holders, they were also given an opportunity to purchase the same number of single-game tickets to the Texas game as they had season tickets. For example, a 2008 season-ticket holder renewing four season tickets was also given an opportunity to buy four single-game tickets to the Texas game.

2. Season tickets were made available to anyone wishing to purchase new season tickets, beginning on Feb. 2.

3. At the end of May, Cowboy Joe Club members were given an opportunity to order additional single-game tickets to the Texas game at a price of $55 per ticket. These single-game tickets were in addition to the season tickets already renewed or purchased by Cowboy Joe Club members.

4. The orders of single-game tickets to the Texas game by Cowboy Joe Club members are still being processed based on Cowboy Joe Club donation level, CJC priority points and availability of tickets. Cowboy Joe Club members will be notified in the near future regarding their requests for single-game tickets.

Additional bleachers are being added to the north and south endzones for the Texas game only to help meet the demand. Approximately 1,700 bleacher seats are being added to the south endzone, and approximately 840 bleacher seats are being added to the north endzone.

Single-Game Tickets
Due to the overwhelming demand, the UW Athletics Department will not have any single-game tickets for the Texas game available for sale at this time.

The only single-game tickets that may go on sale the week of the Texas game would be if University of Wyoming students do not pick up all of the tickets allocated for them to that game. A total of 7,000 tickets are allocated for UW students to each Wyoming home game. They are available on a first-come, first-serve basis to eligible UW Students.

In order to pick up a ticket to the Texas game, eligible UW students will have to show their UW student I.D. at the UW Bookstore Buy Back Windows in the lower level of the bookstore, which is located in the Wyoming Student Union. Those Texas single-game student tickets will be available for pick up Mondays through Fridays from Monday, Aug. 24 to Friday, Sept. 4. Eligible UW students do not have to pay for tickets. No guest tickets will be available to students for the Texas game. Eligible UW students will have to bring that game ticket and their UW student I.D. to the game on Sept. 12 to gain admittance.

If there are unused UW student tickets remaining after Friday, Sept. 4, then those tickets will go on sale to the general public on Monday, Sept. 7, beginning at 9 a.m. at a cost of $55 per ticket.

2009 Ticket Prices
1. Season tickets -- $168.00 per ticket
2. Family Plan (Four Tickets) -- 100.00 per ticket
3. Cowboy 3-Pack -- 72.00 per ticket (For three home games, excluding the Texas game)
4. Single-Game Adult Tickets* -- 28.00 per ticket (For Adults)
5. Single-Game Youth Tickets* -- 14.00 per ticket (For Children ages 3-18)
*There are not currently single-game tickets available for purchase by the general public to the Texas game. If they become available the week of the game, the price for the Texas single-game tickets would be $55.

Tickets may be purchased by going online at: WyomingAthletics.com or by calling (800) 922-9461.

Cowboys picked last in preseason poll

UW's John Fletcher

Individual preseason team

LAS VEGAS -- First year Wyoming head football coach Dave Christensen has plenty to shoot for this year and a little to prove as his team was picked last in the 2009 Mountain West Conference media poll.

TCU was predicted to capture the title in a poll of media members. The Horned Frogs finished second in the MWC in 2008, compiling a 7-1 mark against league opponents en route to an 11-2 overall record and a seventh-place ranking in both the final Associated Press and USA Today Coaches polls.

The Cowboys, meanwhile, received just 46 points from the voting. Individually, Wyoming senior defensive end John Fletcher was the lone Cowboy picked to the preseason team.

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"In regard to the preseason poll, we know that it comes down to proving ourselves on the field," Christensen said. "What I know is I have been impressed by how hard our players have worked ever since our staff arrived in Laramie. They have done everything that has been asked of them during spring drills and during the summer conditioning program.

"I like our kids. I like their work ethic and their attitude. We have 20 seniors on this team who have provided great leadership throughout the spring and summer. We can't wait for practice to start on Aug. 6, and we look forward to taking the field in War Memorial Stadium on Sept. 5 against Weber State."

Fletcher has earned second team All-MWC honors each of the past two seasons and was named to both the Outland Trophy and Rotary Lombardi Award Watch Lists during his junior season. He was voted one of four UW team captains entering his senior season. Fletcher ranks No. 10 on Wyoming's career sack list with 17.0 total sacks.

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TCU returns four starters from a defensive unit that led the nation in rushing defense while ranking second in scoring defense in 2008. The Horned Frogs are led by all-MWC performers Jerry Hughes (DE), Jeremy Kerley (PR/KR), Rafael Priest (DB) and Marshall Newhouse (OT). Seven starters return on offense for TCU, which ranked among the top 25 nationally in scoring and rushing offense a year ago. The Frogs garnered 15 first-place votes and had a total of 207 points.

BYU was chosen second with 190 points and six first-place votes. The Cougars posted a third-place finish (6-2) in Conference play in 2008 and ended the season with a 10-3 mark overall. BYU returns four starters from an offensive unit that ranked among the top 20 nationally in scoring, pass and total offense last season. Eight starters also return on defense for the Cougars.

Defending MWC champion Utah was picked third with 179 points and three first-place votes after posting the nation's only undefeated record (13-0) last season en route to capturing its fourth MWC title (8-0). The Utes, who finished with top-5 rankings in both the final Associated Press (No. 2) and USA Today Coaches (No. 4) polls, enter the 2009 campaign with the nation's longest active overall and bowl win streaks at 14 and eight games, respectively. Utah returns four starters on offense and eight on defense.

Air Force was chosen fourth with 130 points, followed by UNLV (5th - 108 points), Colorado State (6th - 107 points), New Mexico (7th - 60 points), San Diego State (8th - 53 points) and Wyoming (9th - 46 points).

The annual media days continues through Wednesday at Green Valley Ranch near Las Vegas.

Novacek to be inducted Saturday in College Football Hall of Fame

Former Wyoming great Jay Novacek, right, will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame with former Dallas teammate Troy Aikman.

It has been a year of ceremonies leading up to the final celebration for this year’s class of inductees into the College Football Hall of Fame. The final celebration is the annual Enshrinement Festival taking place in South Bend, Ind., on Friday and Saturday.

One of the greatest athletes in University of Wyoming history, Jay Novacek, will be honored this weekend as one of 15 inductees into the 2008 College Football Hall of Fame Class.

CBS College Sports Network will televise the Enshrinement Show live on Saturday from 6:30 to 8:15 p.m., Mountain Time. Check your local cable provider for the CBS College Sports Network station on your cable system. DIRECTV customers will be able to watch on Channel 613, and DISH Network subscribers can tune to Channel 152 to watch the live show.

The 2008 College Football Hall of Fame Bowl Subdivision (FBS) Class was inducted at the National Football Foundation Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 9, 2008, at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City.

This weekend’s enshrinement event gives fans a chance to interact with the inductees through a variety of events, including: a block party in downtown South Bend on Friday; a parade and autograph session on Saturday; and the Enshrinement Dinner and Show on Saturday night.

Novacek, who was a consensus All-America tight end at Wyoming in 1984, still holds the NCAA record for highest average gain per reception in a single season by a tight end, averaging 22.6 yards per catch in 1984. The native of Gothenburg, Neb., also placed fourth in the decathlon at the NCAA Championships his senior season, earning All-America honors in track and field.

During his college career from 1982-84, Novacek had 83 receptions for 1,536 yards and 10 touchdowns, while playing in a wishbone offense.

Novacek will be one of 13 former college players and two former college coaches inducted into the 2008 College Hall of Fame class. He will be inducted with his former Dallas Cowboy teammate Troy Aikman (UCLA, QB, 1986-89).

The other players being inducted are: Billy Cannon (LSU, HB, 1957-59), Jim Dombrowski (Virginia, OT, 1982-85), Pat Fitzgerald (Northwestern, LB, 1993-96), Wilber Marshall (Florida, LB, 1980-83), Rueben Mayes (Washington State, RB, 1982-85), Randall McDaniel (Arizona State, OG, 1984-87), Don McPherson (Syracuse, QB, 1984-87), Dave Parks (Texas Tech, SE, 1961-63), Ron Simmons (Florida State, NG, 1977-80), Thurman Thomas (Oklahoma State, RB, 1984-87) and Arnold Tucker (Army, QB, 1944-46). The two coaches being inducted in the 2008 class are: John Cooper (Tulsa, 1977-84; Arizona State, 1985-87; Ohio State, 1988-2000) and Lou Holtz (William & Mary, 1969-71; North Carolina State, 1972-75; Arkansas, 1977-83; Minnesota, 1984-85; Notre Dame, 1986-96; South Carolina, 1999-2004).

Novacek was inducted into the University of Wyoming Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame in 1993 -- its inaugural class.

He went on to win three Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys at the conclusion of the 1992, ‘93 and ‘95 seasons. Novacek was twice named All-Pro (1991 and ‘92), earned All-NFC honors three times (1991, ‘92 and ‘95) and played in five Pro Bowls (1991-95).

He joins one other former Cowboy player and three former Wyoming coaches as members of the College Football Hall of Fame.

Eddie “Boom Boom” Talboom was inducted posthumously as a tailback in 2000. Talboom played for the Cowboys from 1948-60.

Former Cowboy head coach Bowden Wyatt was inducted posthumously as a player (Tennessee) in 1972 and then was inducted as a coach (Wyoming, Arkansas, Tennessee) in 1997, becoming only the third individual at that time to be inducted as both a player and coach -- the other two being Amos Alonzo Stagg and Bobby Dodd. Wyatt was the Cowboys head coach from 1947-52.

The other College Football Half of Famers from the University of Wyoming are former head coach Bob Devaney (Wyoming-1957-61, Nebraska), who was inducted in 1981; and former Cowboy head coach Pat Dye (East Carolina, Wyoming-1980, Auburn), who was inducted in 2005.

UW football to switch to Nike

2009 Wyoming team captains, from left, junior running back Darius Terry, senior defensive tackle John Fletcher, senior center Russ Arnold and senior outside linebacker Weston Johnson.

The Wyoming Cowboy football team will be wearing Nike uniforms for the first time in school history when the 2009 season kicks off. The Nike brand is the most recognizable equipment brand in sports.

“We are excited to be with the No. 1 apparel company in sports,” said UW head football coach Dave Christensen. “The design and quality of the uniforms is the best available, and from a recruiting standpoint it gives us one more advantage in being able to tell the young men we are recruiting that we are wearing the very best.”

The Cowboys will have four different color combinations that they will wear during the season -- two color combinations for home games and two for road games. At home, the regular combination the Pokes will wear will be a brown jersey with gold pants. For special home games, the Cowboys will also have the option of wearing a brown jersey with white pants. On the road, when UW plays on artificial turf, it will wear white jerseys and white pants. When playing on natural grass on the road, the combination will be white jerseys and gold pants.

“Young people today grow up very conscious of the sports apparel they wear and the sports equipment they use,” said UW Athletics Director Tom Burman. “Nike is not only a company that has an outstanding reputation for the highest quality equipment, but it is the brand that recruits desire. We are happy that we were able to partner with Nike to get this new deal worked out for Cowboy football.”

Wyoming football will also wear Nike shoes and use Nike footballs beginning in the 2009 season.