The Wyoming football team held annual football senior banquet the day after the win over CSU last Sunday. Here are the individual winners:
Gabe Knapton earned the Iron Man Award for the second consecutive year as the Pokes’ top performer in the weight room.
The Brian Lee Scholar-Athlete Award went to junior strong safety Luke Ruff.
Tashaun Gipson was the Defensive Back of the Year.
One had to wonder if those who voted in the All-Mountain West football teams would go with TCU’s Gary Patterson, Boise State’s Chris Petersen or Wyoming’s Dave Christensen as the coach of the year.
By the way, here is the link to the entire MW All-Conference teams and individual awards list: http://www.themwc.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120611aab.html
Patterson followed up last season’s No. 2 national finish and Rose Bowl championship with another undefeated league record and a third straight conference title. Right or wrong, fair or unfair, Petersen likely lost his chance after his team lost at home to TCU, even though the Broncos once again finished the regular season ranked in the top 10 nationally.
Then there was Christensen, who took a team picked to finish sixth in the MW in the preseason by the media and had the Cowboys finish third with a true freshman quarterback.
The Wyoming senior defensive end has recovered five fumbles this season, among the nation’s best. Think he and the Cowboys’ defense can force No. 7 Boise State into turning the ball over Saturday?
Some leftover quotes from Wyoming’s 31-20 loss to TCU on Saturday.
“This year was a different mindset. We expected to win. We came into this game thinking we could win. At halftime we knew we could win.” — senior linebacker Brian Hendricks. UW lost the previous three games to TCU by a combined score of 144-17.
“The majority of it was missed tackles. We were in position and didn’t wrap up. They have a good trio of running backs and a powerful offensive line, and when you play a team like that you have to wrap them up.” — coach Dave Christensen on TCU running for 390 yards.
Here are some leftover quotes after Wyoming’s thrilling 30-27 victory over San Diego State last Saturday night in San Diego.
“Hope we can carry this in the next game and the rest of the year because that first half is what we’re capable of being.” — true freshman quarterback Brett Smith, who was 2o of 24 for 287 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, and he also ran 10 times for 39 yards and two scores.
Shades of 2009?
Wyoming won at San Diego State in 2009 30-27, and came back from a 27-6 fourth-quarter deficit. Saturday night was the same final score for UW, but this time it hung on for the win.
“We’re very excited about this win and what it means to the conference for us,” said junior receiver Chris McNeill, who posted career-highs with eight catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns — all in the first half.
Nine Wyoming football players made Phil Steele’s midseason All-Mountain West team, which was released today.
In my earlier Twitter post on this, I said there were eight. Sorry, math and counting were never my specialty. LOL
None made the first team, but three made the second team and six made the third team.
A team captian this week, Biezuns talks about everything from the changes being made on defense this week, to trying to get over the 63-19 loss to Utah State to fond homecoming memories. It is homecoming at UW this week.
The big news from Monday’s interview session with Wyoming football players and coaches was some of the changes made on defense following last Saturday’s 63-19 loss at Utah State.
Senior Gabe Knapton will move from defensive tackle back to defensive end, where he played last season. I like that move. Despite his tenacity and want-to, Knapton is just too small at 6-3, 263 to play DT.
Junior Korey Jones will move from defensive end/outside linebacker to middle linebacker. He will compete with sophomore Devyn Harris for the starting job. Again, at 6-2, 225 I think Jones is undersized to play DE. Another good move. Jones played linebacker in the spring before UW made the switch in fall camp.
Wyoming’s senior defensive end and junior center, respectively, talk about the loss to now No. 8 Nebraska last Saturday.