By Jeff Bugher
8/2/2024
Meet Sally Ann Shurmur, dubbed "The Mayor of Section G" at War Memorial Stadium. Shurmur is a retired journalist who resides in Glenrock, Wyo., with her cherished 11-year-old dog, Sophie, and her boyfriend, a former police officer. Shurmur retired after 43 years with the Casper Star-Tribune and is enjoying retirement life.
Background
The Shurmur family moved to the Cowboy State when Sally was just five years old. Sally's father, Fritz Shurmur, was hired as an assistant football coach at Wyoming under head coach Lloyd Eaton. Shurmur grew up in Laramie where she graduated from high school, then attended and graduated from the University of Wyoming. Sally told us that watching her father's career at the University of Wyoming instilled her passion for the Pokes. Fritz was an assistant from 1962 to 1970 and became the head coach from 1971 to 1974. Following his time at Wyoming, he began a coaching career in the NFL, including stints at the Lions, Patriots, Rams, and Cardinals. Fritz topped off his NFL career as the defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers during Super Bowl XXXI in a victory over the New England Patriots in 1996.
Favorite Memories
Sally Ann has many favorite memories of Wyoming football, the one that stands out the most was in 1972 when her father's Wyoming Cowboys defeated Frank Kush's Arizona State University Sun Devils, 45 to 43 in Laramie. "That was a huge thing. That was a tremendous game," Sally said. "Kush had some really famous quotes after the game about how he'd never come to Laramie again." Shurmur continued, "He [Frank Kush] was really afraid that Fritz Shurmur's defense would take it out on them, and they did…that was awesome."
"Another one of my very favorite games was the first night game at War Memorial in 1988," said Shurmur. "It was the season opener, and we didn't have permanent lights yet, so ESPN had to bring in lights to broadcast the night game. And we beat BYU!."
"It's no secret that I absolutely adored Craig Bohl," said Sally. "I think he was absolutely the perfect fit for Wyoming. I love that he was here for ten years. I was his biggest supporter from day one, and those years were wonderful. The year that we beat Boise State and San Diego State and then hosted the Mountain West Championship game, that was incredible. You can't possibly tell me that Craig Thompson [Mountain West Conference Commissioner at the time], in his wildest, wildest dreams ever, thought that game would be played in December in Laramie. But we earned it, and that was fantastic. The championship game didn't turn out the way we wanted, but that whole season culminating with that game is one I will always remember."
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Game Day Traditions
"Dave Christensen brought the Cowboy Walk from Missouri, and I do think that's great," said Sally. "I love the way the little kids line the walkway...the players dab them up and shake hands with them. I think the Cowboy Walk is really cool—the band, 'Cowboy Joe the Pony', all of it. I usually watch the Cowboy Walk and then go right to my seat as soon as the gates open. I don't drink before the game because I think drinking is for celebrating after the game." Sally said with a grin.
"My one ritual that people think is the craziest is I have to be in my seat one hour prior to kickoff,. People think I'm nuts and ask why I do that. Even my boyfriend, who loves to socialize, doesn't understand it. He usually keeps socializing while I head to my seat alone. I explain it's something I've always done. For me, it's almost a mystical feeling, wanting to soak it all in when it's quiet and there aren't many people around. So, my biggest ritual is that I'm always in my seat an hour before kickoff."
Sally's Outlook for 2024
"I'm very optimistic about the future," Sally said. "I think Craig Bohl and his staff laid a great foundation. It's no secret that I'm a big fan of traditional football. If the game ends 10 to 7, or 7 to 3, I'd be thrilled, but that's rare nowadays unless it's because of the weather. I always watch the defensive side of the ball. I appreciate Josh Allen—just like every mom in Wyoming, I think he's my son. He's got 550,000 moms, and that's awesome. I love what he did for our program and putting it on the map." remarked Sally. "But I'm defense first, and I think defense lays the foundation for the games. I really like Jay Sawvel's defense, and when he was named head coach, I thought it was a perfect fit. The transition has been smooth, the kids love him, and he's brought that extra bit of fire." Sally said with a smile. "He worked out with them in the weight room all winter, which they really noticed and liked. He's also loosened up some of the rules, like putting names on the jerseys. I think he's the perfect fit at the right time."
Football is a Family Tradition
Football runs in the Shurmur family! Sally has three relatives who currently work in football. Pat Shurmur (her first cousin) coached in the NFL for nearly 21 years and was the head coach of the New York Giants from 2018-2019. Pat is now at CU Bolder as the offensive coordinator under "Coach Prime," Deon Sanders. "He loves working for Prime. He absolutely loves it," Sally said. "He loves being back in college football. He was in college football for quite some time and was very successful before he went to the NFL. They love living in Colorado. His wife is a great athlete—she was a Big Ten swimmer at Michigan State and taught herself to ski. She loves being in the mountains, and they are very happy in Colorado." Also, Pat Shurmur's son, Kyle, is an offensive assistant for the Buffalo Bills. The family football tradition continues with Sally's nephew, Jack Plumb, who played college football at Iowa and coincidently was coached by former Wyoming offensive coordinator Tim Polasek, then the offensive line coach at Iowa. Polasek left Wyoming after the 2023 season to take over as the head coach of the North Dakota State University Bison football program. Polasek hired Jack as the assistant offensive line coach. "We're very excited about that. Football just keeps on going in our family for another generation," Sally said. Coincidentally, CU and NDSU will open the 2024 football season against each other in Boulder.
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