Archive for December 30th, 2009

UW-Akron post-game thoughts

December 30th, 2009

Well, another tough loss for the Cowboys as they fall 85-76.

As I say in my column in Thursday’s paper, the extremes from this team need to stop. The Pokes are either extremely good or extremely bad and it’s not good enough to do both and win with any consistency.

Yes, Akron was good and yes they are more experienced and veteran than UW. But the Cowboys were up seven with 10:21 to play. They must learn to finish games and be more consistent. Easy for me to say, but if not wins will be hard to come by in conference play.

No JayDee Luster with a twisted ankle, and that didn’t help UW’s cause. True freshman Desmar Jackson had nine points and four assists, but also five turnovers. Still, UW could have and should have won even without Luster.

Sophomore guard A.J. Davis was impressive with 18 points, including 15 in the second half and he sparked a second-half rally.

There were 52 fouls called, and UW made just 1 of 9 3-pointers. Akron made 9 of 16 and outscored UW 26-13 in second-chance points.

Officiating was iffy at times, but I’m not going down that road.

One last dress rehearsal before conference play next week. Division II Adams State comes to the A-A Saturday at 2 p.m. UW will go after its 300th win in this building.

It should have been in this game with Akron.

See Thursday’s paper for more on the game.

Hammerschmidt talks

December 30th, 2009

Tuesday was a busy day for Dan Hammerschmidt.

The former Wyoming assistant head football coach and receivers coach took at job at Colorado State to be the receivers coach and pass game coordinator.

And it was his deep ties to CSU that led him back there.

He was a player there in the 1980s and spent 13 seasons as an assistant coach. His two kids were born there. And even though he was at Rice in 2008 and UW in 2009, Hammerschmidt felt he couldn’t pass up the chance to go back to his alma mater.

“I always thought I would go back some day, I just didn’t think it would be this fast,” he said Wednesday. “I played there, I coached with a lot of the guys there now.”

But that doesn’t mean Hammerschmidt didn’t enjoy his time at UW, or left because he didn’t like Laramie, his fellow coaches or his players.

“It was hard to leave (UW coach) Dave (Christensen),” he said. “I talked to my players (Wednesday) an told them to keep believing in Dave. He’s a good one. … He did his best to try and talk me out of it. I believe in everything he’s doing.”

“This had nothing to do with me being unhappy or anything like that. I really liked it, and was so impressed with the passion and ferver the people of Wyoming have for their team. I wish every school could see that and experience that.”

Hammerschmidt said the whole thing happened fast, and after UW’s 35-28 double-overtime victory over Fresno State in the New Mexico Bowl on Dec. 19.

Christensen and his family are in Houston for the Texas Bowl where Missouri plays Navy on Thursday. As most of you know, Christensen spent eight years at Missouri as offensive coordinator before being hired at UW. He isn’t there looking for a job, but to watch his former team and spend time with friends and family.

However, he could be looking for a new coach while he’s in Texas, too, or have one already in mind. Christensen hasn’t returned phone messages left for him.

Christensen could hire from within. Running backs coach Jason Ray was a receiver at Missouri when Christensen was there. Director of football operations Jason Petrino and director of recruiting Matt Rahl both could be candidates to become position coaches as well.

Switching gears to Wyoming basketball, join me for the live blog for tonight’s game with Akron at about 6:30 p.m. at  http://wyomingcowboysblog.com/2009/12/24/wyoming-vs-akron-live-blog/

TCU gets top play in USA Today

December 30th, 2009

Wednesday’s sports cover story in the USA Today is on TCU football. Good play for the Horned Frogs and the Mountain West Conference.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/mwest/2009-12-29-tcu_N.htm