Roberts earns degree from UW — 15 years later

Posted on June 13, 2013 by rgagliardi

I caught up with former Wyoming basketball player Jeron Roberts (1995-98) last week. He earned his degree from UW 15 years after he left the school to pursue a professional career overseas.

Jeron Roberts

It was a successful one, as Roberts played 14 years in five different countries. He played against the likes of Tony Parker, Pau and Marc Gasol and a young Ricky Rubio.

For more on this story, and for what Roberts is up to now, see today’s Wyoming Tribune Eagle and Laramie Boomerang, and log on to wyosports.net.

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In-state recruits go in different directions

Posted on June 12, 2013 by rgagliardi

Just got back into town from an awards banquet, but it was a busy last couple of days for two of Wyoming’s top prep football recruits.

Gillette quarterback Austin Fort committed to Wyoming over the weekend after attending a camp in Laramie. Casper Natrona County lineman/athlete Taven Bryan committed to Florida.

Good get for Wyoming to get the commitment from Fort. Even though Fort moved to Gillette recently from Florida, he is the first quarterback from the state to commit to UW since Corey Bramlet of Wheatland in 2001. Fort is big (6-4, 210) with a lot of ability, and will be able to develop at UW over the next couple of years.

A little ironic, isn’t it: Bryan is a Wyoming kid who is going to college in Florida, while Fort is a Florida kid (originally) and now going to go to UW.

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Burns among MW’s best punt returners

Posted on June 9, 2013 by rgagliardi

Mountain West senior writer Mick McGrane has Wyoming junior Blair Burns as the second-best punt returner in the conference heading into the 2013 season.

Blair Burns

Here is the link to the rankings: http://www.themwc.com/blog/2013/06/the-best-of-the-best-in-the-mountain-west-return-specialists.html

McGrane’s rankings of all the positions are done. Burns and junior quarterback Brett Smith were the only players to make his top five. Would like to see Burns be in the top five as a cornerback this season, and have a similar 2013 as he did as a true freshman in 2011 when he earned some Freshman All-America honors.

Check out themwc.com for all of McGrane’s rankings and let me know what you think.

Ranking the MW O-line and D-line

Posted on June 6, 2013 by rgagliardi

Mountain West senior writer Mick McGrane continues his position-by-position ranking for football.

Here are his top five defensive linemen: http://www.themwc.com/blog/2013/06/the-best-of-the-best-in-the-mountain-west-defensive-line.html

Here are his top five offensive linemen: http://www.themwc.com/blog/2013/06/the-best-of-the-best-in-the-mountain-west-offensive-line.html

McGrane isn’t the only one coming out with preseason predictions. Three national magazines have their preseason college football previews out. Wyoming isn’t expected to do a lot in any of them, but find out why this isn’t a bad thing for the Cowboys in my column in today’s Wyoming Tribune Eagle and Laramie Boomerang, and at wyosports.net.

MW announces conference hoops tournament format

Posted on June 5, 2013 by rgagliardi

Twenty-two teams and 20 games over six days.

That’s the new format for the Mountain West men’s and women’s basketball tournaments for the 2013-14 season. Here is the link to the format: http://www.wyosports.net/university_of_wyoming/mens_basketball/mw-releases-basketball-tournament-schedule/article_6f57d64a-cd89-11e2-910f-0019bb2963f4.html

It is good that all 11 men’s and 11 women’s teams will be involved in the tournament. It is also good — at least for fans and media (selfish plug there) that it all will be at the same venue at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

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Top five MW tight ends

Posted on June 1, 2013 by rgagliardi

Mick McGrane, senior writer for the Mountain West, ranks the top five tight ends in the league heading into the season.

http://www.themwc.com/blog/2013/05/the-best-of-the-best-in-the-mountain-west-tight-ends.html

McGrane also has ranked the top five quarterbacks, running backs and receivers. More position rankings will be coming soon.

Ranking MW quarterbacks, running backs, receivers

Posted on May 31, 2013 by rgagliardi

Mick McGrane is the senior writer for the Mountain West and a former colleague when he covered the league and San Diego State for the San Diego Union-Tribune. To me, he is one of the best in the business.

McGrane is ranking the top five football players according to their positions over the next few weeks. Below are his rankings for all three positions.

http://www.themwc.com/blog/2013/05/the-best-of-the-best-in-the-mountain-west-quarterbacks.html

http://www.themwc.com/blog/2013/05/the-best-of-the-best-in-the-mountain-west-wide-receivers.html

http://www.themwc.com/blog/2013/05/the-best-of-the-best-in-the-mountain-west-running-backs.html

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VIDEO: Tanner Gentry and Xavier Lewis

Posted on May 30, 2013 by rgagliardi

Receiver Tanner Gentry (6-2, 190) and safety Xavier Lewis (6-0, 190) were two of the more highly-touted football recruits Wyoming signed in its 2013 recruiting class.

Tanner Gentry

Xavier Lewis

Both went to high school in Aurora, Colo. Gentry at Grandview and Lewis at Eaglecrest. Both were rivals in high school, but both are now friends and have been working out together since they signed with UW in February.

For more on that story, see Friday’s Wyoming Tribune Eagle and Laramie Boomerang, and log on to wyosports.net.

This is what Lewis said about what he hopes to accomplish at UW when he and Gentry get there June 16 for summer school and voluntary workouts.

“I want to go in there and be able to make a positive impact immediately,” he said. “Whether that is starting or trying to compete for a starting job. “I want to push all my teammates and help the program. I think Wyoming is going in the right direction and I am looking forward to getting there.”

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