By Jeff Bugher
8/17/2024
LARAMIE, Wyo.— On Tuesday, first-year University of Wyoming head coach Jay Sawvel announced that running back Harrison Waylee suffered a knee injury during the scrimmage the previous Saturday. Jay stated that the injury wasn’t season-ending and that they really dodged a bullet. He also stated that Waylee would undergo a knee scope the following day. During the subsequent press conference last Thursday, Sawvel delivered reassuring news about Waylee’s status following a reporter’s question.
While the surgery was successful, the exact timeline for Waylee's return remains uncertain.
“Harrison, yesterday and last night, was pretty loopy,” Sawvel said. “I’ve not talked to him today. He texted me last night wanting a freshman talent show at the end of camp—that wasn’t something that was really in the plan, and I don’t know where that text came from. But he’s doing fine. The surgery went well.”
The injury was less severe than initially feared, which is a positive sign for the Cowboys. However, Sawvel emphasized that the next two weeks would be crucial in determining the timeline for Waylee’s return. However, Sawvel has previously expressed that Waylee heals very fast from injury.
“We’re optimistic about his return, but like anything, for the next two weeks, we’ll kind of determine that road map,” Sawvel noted. “If there’s any kind of setback, you’ll know pretty quick, and if things move along well, you’ll know that pretty quick, too.”
Thursday's practice was a crucial piece of the puzzle as the Pokes prepare for the season opener against the Arizona State University Sun Devils on August 31st in Tempe, Arizona. Sawvel described the practice as productive, though he acknowledged there’s still work to be done.
“It’s two good hours. We got a lot done,” Sawvel said. “There’s positives when you go through a 2-hour practice; you’re going to have positives and negatives. I thought, for the most part, we were sharp in a lot of ways. Fundamentally, some things looked better, which is good.”
Special teams were a focus during the practice. Sawvel not only noted improvements but also emphasized the ongoing preparation needed in the lead-up to the season.
“I thought special teams-wise, we looked pretty good today. We’ve got a lot of work to do still in the two weeks plus before we play a really quality opponent,” Sawvel explained.
Looking ahead, Sawvel mentioned that yesterday’s practice would be shorter and focused on special teams scenarios in a non-padded format. This will lead to an important scrimmage today at War Memorial Stadium. The scrimmage will focus on different positions' needs, with some players getting more reps than others.
“Saturday’s scrimmage is positional based,” Sawvel said. “You’ve got players that need a lot of work and some positions where you’ve got players that need just a little bit of work. I’ve seen Isaac White play probably 2,000 plays in games here in his Wyoming career. He doesn’t need a lot of scrimmage work this Saturday, whereas Evan Svoboda needs a good scrimmage and a good run.”
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