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Puetz leaves football team

April 22nd, 2010

University of Wyoming offensive guard Nick Puetz has left the team for personal reasons, it was learned on Thursday.

A cell phone number for Puetz was no longer in service, and UW coach Dave Christensen offered no further comment Thursday.

Puetz enrolled at UW in January from Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College, and took most of the starting snaps as the starting left guard during spring drills.

Senior Jack Tennant is the leading candidate to replace Puetz, but according to UW’s post-spring depth chart senior Sam Sterner will move from right to left guard and Tennant will play on the right side.

For more on this story, and more on UW’s post-spring depth chart that was released Thursday, see Friday’s Wyoming Tribune Eagle and Laramie Boomerang.

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Posted in Dave Christensen, Football, Nick Puetz, UW spring football 2010

Post-spring news and notes

April 21st, 2010

The Mountain West Conference held a football coaches teleconference Wednesday for its coaches to talk about spring ball and a look ahead to fall camp in early August.

There was a lot of coach-speak and what have you, but Wyoming coach Dave Christensen had an interesting comment when asked if his team was looking too far ahead to next season based on its success in 2009 by going 7-6 and winning the New Mexico Bowl over Fresno State.

“We’d have a team full of idiots if we did that,” he said.

Don’t mistake that for a lack of confidence in his players, but Christensen knows 2010 will be a new season full of changes and challenges.

Christensen also said a post-spring depth chart will be released Thursday, and that junior receiver James Davis (shoulder) won’t be ready until sometime in September. Christensen added the other players who were out for all or most of spring remain on pace to return for summer work outs and/or fall camp.

For more news and notes from around the MWC, see Thursday’s Wyoming Tribune Eagle and Laramie Boomerang.

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Posted in UW spring football 2010

UW opponent football news

April 18th, 2010

The latest spring football stories from Wyoming football foes this season.

http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/04/15/2118888/tcu-wraps-up-spring-football-drills.html

http://voices.idahostatesman.com/2010/04/17/ccripe/southwicks_rally_falls_short_defense_wins_spring_game

http://www.lvrj.com/sports/rebels–execution-lacking-91350479.html

http://www.sltrib.com/utahutes/ci_14910222

http://www.sltrib.com/utahutes/ci_14905743

http://www.sltrib.com/byucougars/ci_14905842

http://www.golobos.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/041710aac.html

http://www.toledoblade.com/article/20100417/SPORTS11/4170408

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Posted in Football, Moutain West Conference, UW spring football 2010

Spring game thoughts

April 17th, 2010

It wasn’t the most exciting spring game I’ve ever seen, but it wasn’t too bad, either.

The Gold beat the Brown 13-6, but how I looked at it was the No. 1 offense and No. 1 defense went at it, and the twos battled the twos.

For some reason I thought it would be the ones vs. the twos on both sides, but that wasn’t the case.

You can only get so much out of scrimmages, but it’s better when the best goes up against the best.

And on this day, the defense dominated.

It held the No. 1 offense to two field goals, zero touchdowns and 148 total yards.

“I think we can  have a pretty decent defense here,” UW coach Dave Christensen said.

And in terms of how the new 4-3 scheme is looking after 15 spring practices, Christensen added: “I’d like to say we’re right on schedule.”

Redshirt freshman defensive tackle Patrick Mertens had the best day for the defense with eight tackles and two sacks. He’s had a nice spring, and player to watch this fall. I probably should have added him to the list as part of my column/analysis piece. For that and more on the spring game, see Sunday’s Wyoming Tribune Eagle or Laramie Boomerang, or go online to www.wyomingnews.com or www.laramieboomerang.com.

Other news and thoughts from the game:

  • Senior outside linebacker Keith Lewis and junior offensive guard Nick Puetz got hurt, but Christensen said their injuries were minor and could have returned if it were a real game.
  • There were no turnovers and only three penalties.
  • The play of the game was a 36-yard catch by junior receiver DeJay Lester where he stretched out to snag a pass from senior quarterback Dax Crum.

“I dove  and when I caught it the ball was on my finger tips and I tried to fall so the ball would cradle to my body,” Lester said. “It almost popped out when I hit the ground.”

  • Sophomore kicker Ian Watts had a tough day with the wet and rainy conditions. He was 2 of 4 with field goals and missed miserably short on ones from 46 and 53. He also missed an extra point. There was no rush on any of his attempts, just Watts, his holder and the long-snapper.
  • When asked why play the game outside in the rain instead of inside in UW’s Indoor Practice Facility, Christensen said: ”I looked on the schedule and there are no inside games so we thought we should just go ahead and play it outside.”
  • More than 60 former players were at the game.

Christensen said he will meet with every player next week, and his staff will meet with them the following week. Then there are finals.

Players will report back the first Wednesday in June for eight weeks of voluntary workouts, get a week off and then start fall camp Aug. 4.

“We’re much more disciplined. We’re much more physical. We’re more athletic. We do everything better than we did a year ago,” Christensen said.

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Posted in UW spring football 2010, UW spring football game 2010

Live blog on for spring game

April 17th, 2010

I will be live blogging for the spring game. Here now and the team is warming up at War Memorial Stadium. There is some rain and mist, but as of now we’re on.

Join me at:  http://wyomingcowboysblog.com/2010/04/14/cowboys-spring-game-live-blog/

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Posted in UW spring football 2010

Live blog reminder

April 16th, 2010

Just wanted to remind you of the live blog/chat for Wyoming’s spring football game Saturday.

We will start at about 1:45 p.m. and go through the game.

But I just got a reminder from UW that if the weather is bad the game will be moved into the Indoor Practice Facility. If that’s the case I won’t be able to blog and probably won’t be able to sent out a note to let you know.

I apologize if this causes any confusion or an inconvenience. Hopefully the weather holds and this is a non-issue.

Once again, here is the link: http://wyomingcowboysblog.com/2010/04/14/cowboys-spring-game-live-blog/

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Posted in UW spring football 2010

Cowboys vote for captains

April 15th, 2010

Sophomore quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels described being voted as a team captain by his teammates as if he were a super hero.

“With opportunity comes great responsibility, and that’s how I look at it. There’s a lot of responsibility on my shoulders.”

Carta-Samuels is the second sophomore to be a team captain since receiver Ryan McGuffey in 2001.

And he appears ready to take on that responsibility, as he did during much of  his true freshman season in 2009 where he was named the Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year and Outstanding Offensive Player in UW’s 35-28 double-overtime victory over Fresno State in the New Mexico Bowl.

“I voted for him and he definitely fits all the criteria. He’s the kind of player you want leading your team,” said senior receiver David Leonard, who also was voted a captain along with junior linebacker Brian Hendricks and senior safety Chris Prosinski.

Prosinski, who is from Buffalo, is the eighth in-state player to be voted as a team captain since 2000. The others include:

  • Mark Sheller, Torrington, 2000
  • Ryan McGuffey, Riverton, 2001, 2002
  • Jon Aimone, Mountain View, 2002
  • Casey Bramlet, Wheatland, 2002, 2003
  • Corey Bramlet, Wheatland, 2004, 2005
  • John Wendling, Rock Springs, 2006
  • Wade Betschart, Torrington, 2007

The 2010 captains all make a lot of sense, both in what they’ve done on the field and are expected to do this season, and even for what they do off it.

“Seems like we do the right things on and off the field and just coming in and working hard every day,” Prosinski said. “There might be a change in being vocal, but overall I’m not going to change much of what I do or who I am.”

For more on this story, and a look at sophomore offensive tackle Josh Leonard, see Friday’s Wyoming Tribune Eagle and Laramie Boomerang. Join me for a live blog/chat during Saturday’s spring game. Things will start around 1:45 p.m. Here’s the link: http://wyomingcowboysblog.com/2010/04/14/cowboys-spring-game-live-blog/

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Posted in UW football team captains 2010, UW spring football 2010

Spring football roundup

April 12th, 2010

Some spring football stories from around the Mountain West Conference and other Wyoming opponents this season:

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700023936/BYU-football-Cougars-auditioning-replacements-on-D-line.html

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700023659/Utah-Utes-football-Defense-shines-in-scrimmage-with-4-takeaways.html

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20100412/SPORTS/4120330/1006/SPORTS/Greenwood-to-see-larger-role

http://www.golobos.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/041010aaf.html

http://www.unlvrebels.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/040910aaa.html

http://voices.idahostatesman.com/2010/04/07/ccripe/breaking_down_broncos_quarterbacks

http://www.toledoblade.com/article/20100411/SPORTS11/4110356

http://www.statesman.com/sports/longhorns/texas-loses-san-antonio-dt-but-gains-offensive-531952.html

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Posted in UW spring football 2010

Spring practice No. 10 recap

April 8th, 2010

It was a little windy and brisk, but it was a clear and sunny afternoon for Wyoming’s 10th spring football practice Thursday at Jonah Field at War Memorial Stadium.

The most notable happenings came at the end when the offense and defense engaged in a two-minute drill. It pitted ones vs. ones and twos vs. twos. The offense started at its own 35-yard line.

The No. 1 defense got the best of the No. 1 offense as redshirt freshman linebacker Devyn Harris intercepted sophomore quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels inside the defense’s 20.

Senior quarterback Dax Crum threw a 13-yard TD pass to junior-college transfer receiver Mazi Ogbonna to lead the No. 2 offense to a score in the two-minute drill.

Some other observations:

  • Junior-college transfer receiver DeJay Lester saw more snaps with the No. 1 offense.
  • There hasn’t been any movement among the starting five offensive linemen in the last couple of weeks. The tackles are junior Clayton Kirven andsophomore Josh Leonard; the guards are senior Sam Sterner and junior-college transfer Nick Puetz and sophomore Nick Carlson remains at center.
  • Sophomore James Caraway has moved up to a No. 2 spot at cornerback with fellow sophomore Kenny Browder. Caraway, a former running back, moved up after sophomore David James left the team last week.
  • Ogbonna and Lester have taken reps returning punts. Senior David Leonard was the primary punt returner last season and UW was among the top 15 in the nation there last season.
  • Caraway, senior receiver Zach Bolger and sophomore outside linebacker Ghaali Muhammad have took reps fielding kickoffs Thursday. Senior cornerback Marcell Gipson and sophomore running back Alvester Alexander are still the top two guys.
  • Senior reserve offensive guard Jack Tennant was limited in practice with knee tendinitis.

See Friday’s Wyoming Tribune Eagle and Laramie Boomerang for a story on Alexander. Hope you will join me Saturday morning for UW’s second full spring scrimmage, which is scheduled to be around 60 plays. We will get started at around 9 a.m. Here is the direct link: http://wyomingcowboysblog.com/2010/04/07/live-blog-cowboys-scrimmage-410/

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Posted in UW spring football 2010

Spring practice No. 9 update

April 6th, 2010

Wyoming completed its ninth spring football practice Tuesday inside its Indoor Practice Facility.

Not a ton of excitement from practice itself.

UW simulated some option offense that its defense will face later this season, mostly against Air Force. It had graduate assistant Jared Petrino be the option quarterback. He ran that offense when he was in high school in Montana. Petrino also played the role of option QB the week of the Air Force game last season.

The Cowboys’ injury numbers continue to mount, but coach Dave Christensen doesn’t seem concerned. Twelve were either limited or not practicing Tuesday, but Christensen said none of the injuries should cost anyone their season.

UW is down to one healthy running back on scholarship. Senior Darius Terry left the team this week. He is still in school and graduates in May.

For more on UW football and some news concerning a departure from the UW men’s basketball team, see Wednesday’s Wyoming Tribune Eagle and Laramie Boomerang.

Plans are coming together to live blog UW’s second full scrimmage of spring drills Saturday morning. Links and times to come soon.

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Posted in UW spring football 2010