The Cowboy Chronicles

UW-Southern Utah five things to watch

September 3rd, 2010 No comments »

1. Line play: How will the Cowboys’ new defensive line look in their 4-3 scheme debut? More importantly, can the defensive tackles get a push inside? I think a lot of people are curious and wondering how the offensive line will play. All five starters got most of the reps in fall camp, which is a good sign. Can this group open up running lanes and protect sophomore quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels? We shall see.

2. Receiver watch: UW is supposed to be faster and more athletic at receiver. Will Southern Utah be a good test to show this? Probably not as good as next week’s game at Texas. But can this group stretch the field deep and get more yards after the catch? Don’t be surprised if UW tries to find this out early in the game.

3. Corner coverage: The Gipson brothers, Marcell and Tashaun, both had great off-seasons and are poised to have big years. There is talk there will be more man-to-man coverage with them. We may see that in this game. Southern Utah does have some good receivers. This should be a good test to see if UW takes a few more chances with its coverages or will still try not to get burned deep.

4. End of the line: This kind of goes back to line play, but watch what junior defensive ends Gabe Knapton and Josh Biezuns do in their debuts. Knapton was an inside linebacker last season and Biezuns was a hybrid outside linebacker/defensive end. I got a feeling these two will play well. They also will play a key role in keeping Southern Utah sophomore quarterback Brad Sorensen in the pocket, and possibly dragging him down. Sorensen is a big fella at 6-foot-5, 225 pounds.

5. Showing off Schober: Sounds silly, but one of the most exciting things to watch in fall camp was first-year player and junior linebacker Oliver Schober of Germany boot the ball on kickoffs. His ability to kick the ball into and through end zone was one of the biggest highlights and positives that came from camp. And as a linebacker, he’s not afraid to run down and make a tackle. Kickoffs normally are not that fun to watch, but watching Schober is.

Southern Utah has some good players and UW won’t be picture-perfect. But it still will be impressive and the fans will leave the seventh night game in War Memorial Stadium history happy and hopeful.

Wyoming 38, Southern Utah 16

Join me at 6:30 p.m. Saturday for the live blog for the game. Here is the link http://wyomingcowboysblog.com/2010/09/01/live-blog-wyoming-vs-southern-utah/

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Posted in Austyn Carta-Samuels, Football, General, Marcell Gipson, Oliver Schober, UW-Southern Utah football

UW gets verbal from Texas RB/WR

September 3rd, 2010 No comments »

London Muse, a 5-foot-11, 170-pound running back/wide receiver from Dulles High in Sugarland, Texas, has verbally committed to play football at Wyoming next season.

Muse runs a 4.5-second 40-yard dash, and also had received offers from New Mexico and Utah State. TCU, SMU and Texas A&M also were recruiting him.

A receiver in high school, Muse caught 19 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns last season.

Muse is the third verbal commitment for UW. He joins linebacker Malkaam Muhammad (6-0, 210) of St. Joseph, Mo., and defensive back Chad Reese (5-11, 174) of Tyler, Texas. Muhammad is the younger brother of current UW sophomore linebacker Ghaali Muhammad.

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Posted in College Football, London Muse, UW Football Recruiting 2011

McCoy looks good as punter and kicker

September 1st, 2010 4 comments »

For the last few weeks junior Austin McCoy has been pulling double-duty as Wyoming’s punter and kicker. He will handle the place-kicking chores in Saturday’s season opener with Southern Utah because sophomore Ian Watts will serve a one-game suspension for violating team rules.

During fall camp when McCoy was doing both, he was inconsistent at both. Wednesday at practice he looked sharp. He made a 46-yard field-goal near the end of practice, and also boomed a 70-yard punt from his own end zone. He also did a good job of getting hang time on his punts on a short field.

“He’s kicking a lot better and getting good height on the ball,” coach Dave Christensen said. “We’re not going to ask him to kick a lot of 50-yard field goals, but he’s certainly good from the 30-yard line and in. He’s done a nice job. … He’s punted well and has been consistent there.”

McCoy did both at the start of last season. He was 4 of 6 in field goals with a long of 25. He also made 3 of 4 field goals. He averaged 43.3 yards per punt, which was nearly five yards better than his average in 2008 as a freshman.

Some other thoughts and observations from Wednesday’s practice:

–Junior Bryson Studnicka has been moved from defensive end to fullback.

–UW lists nine receivers among the four position spots on this week’s depth chart, and its likely all nine will play against Southern Utah based on the rotations in practice.

–True freshmen quarterbacks Sam Stratton and Austin Woodward shared time as the scout team quarterback this week, as has true freshman receiver Drew Martinez. Woodward, a walk-on from Sheridan, is listed as the backup punter to McCoy.

–UW had five running backs practice today, only four will be available for the opener and only one — sophomore Alvester Alexander — has any game experience.

–Shane Sullivan, a walk-on true freshman receiver from Orange, Calif., broke his leg early in fall camp and has been on crutches and in a cast since. But he still goes to every practice and meeting. He told me the leg feels pretty good and hopes to be out of the cast soon.

–Christensen on BYU leaving the Mountain West Conference: “It hasn’t changed my thought process any. We’ve got to get ready for Southern Utah. I have no control over it and I don’t spend a lot of time on things I don’t have control over.”

Join me at 3 p.m. Thursday for a live chat about UW football, anything UW sports related and even the latest happenings in the MWC. Here is the link http://wyomingcowboysblog.com/2010/08/31/live-chat-cowboy-football/

You also can go to this blog and scroll down until you see it.

And, be sure to join me at 6:30 p.m. Saturday for the first live blog of the year for the season-opener against Southern Utah. Here is that link http://wyomingcowboysblog.com/2010/09/01/live-blog-wyoming-vs-southern-utah/

See Thursday’s Wyoming Tribune Eagle www.wyomingnews.com and Laramie Boomerang www.laramieboomerang.comfor a story on UW junior offensive guard John Hutchins and how he doesn’t plan to let another opportunity to start for the Cowboys slip away. Also see a reaction story from other UW coaches on BYU’s departure from the MWC.

Speaking of that, here is a good story by Frank Schawb of the Colorado Springs Gazette on that as he talked to MWC Commissioner Craig Thompson Wednesday http://gazetteafasports.freedomblogging.com/

4 comments »

Posted in Alvester Alexander, Austin McCoy, BYU, College Football, Craig Thompson, Dave Christensen, Moutain West Conference, UW-Southern Utah Game

BYU, ESPN agree to TV deal

September 1st, 2010 2 comments »

Independence is looking better for BYU now with this deal announced today.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/cougars/50203188-88/byu-football-espn-games.html.csp

2 comments »

Posted in BYU, College Football, MWC Expansion, Moutain West Conference

Live Blog: Wyoming vs Southern Utah

September 1st, 2010 No comments »

Game 1 for the Cowboys. Robert will be live blogging the Cowboys match up against Southern Utah. Game kicks off at 7pm, but we’ll begin at 6:30pm.

Go Cowboys (chat window after the break)

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Posted in Football, Live Blog, UW-Southern Utah Game

Reaction to BYU going independent

August 31st, 2010 8 comments »

Here is some reaction Tuesday from BYU’s announcement it will go independent in football and to the West Coast Conference in other sports:

University of Wyoming President Tom Buchanan

““It’s BYU’s decision to leave the MWC, but I know that UW and the rest of the Mountain West Conference will be moving forward, continuing to build our reputation in all of our sports and aggressively seeking opportunities for our student-athletes to compete at the highest collegiate level. Rivalries energize crowds, raise the level of competition and provide fans with exciting moments in Cowboy and Cowgirl athletics. I’m confident that level of excitement will continue to be the hallmark of the MWC.”

UW Athletics Director Tom Burman

“BYU was a long-time rival, but we have to look forward. We can’t lose sight of the fact that this league has much to be proud of. We look forward to working with the other members of our conference and to continue building for the future. We’re proud of what we have accomplished across all of our sports, and we are proud of the accomplishments of our Mountain West rivals, which we’re pleased to say now include Boise State, Fresno State and Nevada.”

BYU football coach Bronco Mendenhall to The Salt Lake Tribune

“I support our administration’s decision. I think there will be a chance for tremendous exposure for our program and more details will come [Wednesday], I am certain. As far as I am concerned, I am supportive of it and anxious to coach the team in a new situation.”

Loyola Marymount Athletics Director William Husak to The Salt Lake Tribune

“I can’t speak for every athletic department, but I can tell you there was a unanimous consensus about the prospect of bringing BYU into the West Coast Conference.”

MWC Commissioner Craig Thompson

“Since its inception, the Mountain West Conference has worked strategically to grow and strengthen the league, in order to position itself at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics. Our Board of Directors’ diligent exploration of options to advance the membership’s objectives is ongoing. This includes conversations with our television partners to address issues of mutual importance, as well as determining the optimal configuration for the Conference and investigating the possibility of various collaborative alliances. We look forward to the future with great excitement – particularly welcoming recent additions Boise State, Fresno State and Nevada into the Mountain West.”

For more on this, see Wednesday’s Wyoming Tribune Eagle www.wyomingnews.com and Laramie Boomerang www.laramieboomerang.com

8 comments »

Posted in BYU, College Football, Conference expansion, Craig Thompson, Tom Buchanan, Tom Burman

Familiar faces for Lester, Ogbonna

August 31st, 2010 No comments »

They may not have an advanced scouting report, but Wyoming junior receivers DeJay Lester and Mazi Ogbonna are familiar with some of the Southern Utah players when the two teams play Saturday in Laramie.

Lester and Ogbonna came to UW last winter from Snow College in Ephraim, Utah, which isn’t that far from Southern Utah in Cedar City.

Starting right tackle Brandon Beddes, starting defensive end Tyler Osborne and starting punter/kicker Ryan McNamara were teammates of Lester and Ogbonna at Snow.

“I talked to a couple of them (Sunday) night,” said Lester, the backup behind sophomore Chris McNeill at one of the four receiver spots. “They texted and said they were ready to come up here and play. (Southern Utah) has some good persoonel. Some of the players we played with at Snow that are there are high-caliber players.”

Ogbonna is listed as a starter in this game.

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On his radio show Monday night, UW coach Dave Christensen said UW has 71 players on scholarship right now. The maximum for a FBS program is 85.

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After 10 starts as a true freshman last season, you would think UW quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels has a better feel of what to expect in his first start of 2010.

Maybe, but that doesn’t diminish his excitement.

“It’s incredibly different and really exciting starting a new chapter with a whole new team, and me being a major part of it,” he said. “Every year is a different year and for me my year really started against UNLV last year (his first ever start). I have that same feeling in my stomach now.”

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This will be UW’s first true night home-opener since 1988 when it beat Brigham Young 24-14. It also will debut its new suites and club seats, and the hype seems to be at a similar level for this opener that the one in 2007 when a sellout crowd watched the Cowboys beat Virginia 23-3.

But that game was played during the day.

“You can’t get caught up in the hype, but it adds excitement to the whole thing,” Carta-Samuels said. “College football is more exciting because more people are involved and more is riding on each game. But high school football is the most fun to play because you’re playing at night under the lights. You have everyone you know there.

“It’s going to be awesome under the lights in our home stadium. I will have my family there behind me, as well as the student body who is like my new family. It will be really exciting.”

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The first Mountain West Conference coaches teleconference was Tuesday morning. It went about 30 to 40 minutes long due to the influx of questions.

BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said he knows nothing, and likes it that way, in terms of whether or not his school will leave the MWC. BYU has until Wednesday to decide if it wants to be elsewhere next season.

MWC Commissioner Craig Thompson wasn’t available for comment on the call. He often is at the end after all the coaches are done.

TCU coach Gary Patterson put his teams through the heat this summer, and Colorado State looks to be the only FBS team to start a true freshman at quarterback.

For more on that, see Wednesday’s Wyoming Tribune Eagle www.wyomingnews.com and Laramie Boomerang www.laramieboomerang.com.

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I made a mistake in my post yesterday. My live chat to talk Wyoming football, or anything for that matter, will be at 3 p.m. THURSDAY. Not Friday as I stated yesterday. Here is a direct link to the chat http://wyomingcowboysblog.com/2010/08/31/live-chat-cowboy-football/

On Friday, our special UW football section comes out. I think you’re going to like it. You definitely need to pick up a copy of the Tribune Eagle or Boomerang that day to check it out!

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Posted in Austyn Carta-Samuels, BYU, Colorado State, Craig Thompson, DeJay Lester, Live Blog, MWC Expansion, Mazi Ogbonna, Moutain West Conference, TCU, UW-Southern Utah football

Live Chat: Cowboy Football

August 31st, 2010 No comments »

On the brink of the Cowboys football season, Robert will be hosting a chat to talk anything Cowboys football.

Chat is set to get under way at 3pm on Thursday. Bring your questions and comments!

Go Cowboys (chat window after the break)!

» Read more: Live Chat: Cowboy Football

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Posted in Football, Live Blog

Week 1 depth chart is out

August 30th, 2010 2 comments »

No big surprises among the starters and backups. This first depth chart pretty much held true from the start of fall camp in early August. Here is the link to the depth chart: http://www.wyomingathletics.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/wyo/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/depth-chart

Some things that caught my eye:

–The two junior-college defensive tackles: Kurt Taufa’asau and B.J. Sumter are both No. 3. Taufa’asau worked with the No. 2s a lot during camp. Sophomore Ben Durbin and true freshman Tyler Strong are the backups behind sophomore Mike Purcell and redshirt freshman Patrick Mertens.

“Both those kids have a redshirt year and we think they can be great prospects here,” Christensen said. ”If we can redshirt them and they had a year to grow in our program they both could be impact players for us.”

Christensen added the decision to redshirt those two isn’t final, merely and option at this point.

–The depth chart listed sophomore James Caraway and true freshman Robert Herron as the No. 1 kickoff return duo. But during his news conference Christensen said sophomore outside linebacker Ghaali Muhammad will join Caraway. He said it was an “executive decision.” Herron is still in the mix, but Christensen wanted a more experienced player out there in Muhammad.

Last year’s top duo was cornerback Marcell Gipson and running back Alvester Alexander. Both averaged between 22 and 23 yards per return. Gipson said he was disappointed not to be returning kicks, but understood the move when the coaches told him they wanted to keep him on the field more as a cornerback. Alexander is the only running back on the roster with game experience.

–UW will have a linebacker return kicks in Muhammad and a linebacker kicking the ball off in junior Oliver Schober.

“I’m glad we’ve got a guy that can kick (the ball) in the end zone, and it doesn’t matter that he plays linebacker and looks like Vin Diesel.”

Schober also is listed as the backup behind junior Brian Hendricks at middle linebacker, and Christensen said Schober will play in the opener.

As far as the possiblity of getting Hendricks and Schober on the field at the same time, Christensen said: “I don’t know. We’ll have to see.” Christensen later said it’s a possibility both will play at the same time.

–Secondary coach Alex Grinch said the first cornerback to come off the bench in passing situations will be true freshman Marqueston Huff. Huff also is listed as the backup behind junior Tashaun Gipson.

–The Cowboys played 12 true freshmen and started eight last year. According to the two-deep heading into this game the only freshman starter is Mertens, but he is a redshirt freshman and was in the program last season.

–As far as the No. 2s go on offense and defense, 15 of the 22 have never played in a game at UW, including all five offensive linemen. Three are true freshmen: Huff, Strong and right tackle Justin DiRe.

–Christensen said he doesn’t plan to rotate guys in and out along the offensive line right now.

“I like our second guys, but our first five are definitely our first five at this point and time,” he said.

See Tuesday’s Wyoming Tribune Eagle www.wyomingnews.com and Laramie Boomerang www.laramieboomerang.com for more on UW’s first depth chart and other news and notes.

And a reminder that I will have a live chat at 3 p.m. Friday to discuss the Cowboys’ opener and anything else UW or sports related. A link will be posted later this week. And I will live blog Saturday’s season-opener beginning at 6:30 p.m.

2 comments »

Posted in Alvester Alexander, Brian Hendricks, Dave Christensen, General, James Caraway, Justin DiRe, Marcell Gipson, Mike Purcell, Oliver Schober, Robert Herron, Tashaun Gipson, UW post fall camp depth chart 2010, UW-Southern Utah football