By Jeff Bugher
When I started PokesNews.com, I was told that July is a really slow time of the year for sportswriters, yet I have found this to be the opposite. There seems to be plenty of news and notes starting to swirl in, especially with all of the excitement for what is being built in Laramie for the 2023 season.
Mountain West Media Days are this week - July 19-20:
Mountain West Media Days is being held this week at the Circa Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada which serves as a major platform to preview the upcoming 2023 college football season. Head Coach Craig Bohl will be accompanied by junior linebacker Easton Gibbs and graduate quarterback Andrew Peasley as they represent the University of Wyoming.
Craig Bohl Continues the Charge Into His 10th Season as Head Coach:
As Craig Bohl enters his 10th season as head coach of the Wyoming Cowboys, he becomes the longest-tenured head coach in school history. Bohl had previously tied former coaches John Corbett (1915-23 and Lloyd Eaton (1962-70), who each led the Cowboys for 9 seasons. Bohl has led his team to three consecutive bowl victories. Wyoming won the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in 2017, the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl in 2019, and another Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in 2021. Bohl is also the first coach in Wyoming history to lead five teams to bowl appearances. With five winning seasons in the past seven years, including eight wins in 2016m 2017, and 2019, the team has established a culture of success.
Place-Kicker John Hoyland Racking Up Preseason Honors:
Junior Wyoming Cowboys place-kicker John Hoyland has earned a spot on the Athlon Sports 2023 Preseason Second Team All-America squad and has been selected as a Third Team 2023 Preseason All-American by Phil Steele. In the 2022 season, Hoyland was selected to the First Team All-Mountain West place-kicker by MW head coaches and media. He was also a Semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award in the same year. As the 2023 preseason approaches, he has continued to receive recognition, being chosen as the First Team Preseason All-Mountain West Conference place-kicker by both Athlon Sports and Phil Steele. In 2022, Hoyland led the Mountain West Conference in field goals made, averaging 1.69 per game, and ranked seventh nationally in the same category. He also held the second-highest field goal percentage in the conference and 18th in the entire FBS, with an impressive 88.0 percent success rate. Hoyland made 22 out of 25 field goal attempts throughout the season, setting a new Wyoming single-season school record. He surpassed the records previously held by former Cowboy All-Americans Cory Wedel, who scored 20 field goals in 1996, and J.D. Wallum, who scored 20 in 2001. Hoyland made four field goals of over 50 yards, including a 55-yard kick. His 55-yarder ranked fifth-longest in the FBS during the 2022 season. All information provided by the University of Wyoming.
17 Starters Return:
In the 2022 college football season, the Wyoming Cowboys defied expectations as the fourth youngest team in the country. Despite their youth, they showcased their "true grit" and talent, finishing the season with a 7-6 record. The Cowboys finished the season in second place in the Mountain West Conference Mountain Division and earned them a coveted spot in the Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl. The '22 Pokes defeated Air Force, Colorado State, Hawai'i, New Mexico, Utah State, and Tulsa from the American Athletic Conference.
17 out of 24 starters from 2022, will be returning, including 10 out of 11 on the defensive side of the ball and five on offense.
The 17 returning starters form a significant part of the 48 returning letter winners for the upcoming season. This group consists of 22 players on offense, 22 on defense, and four on special teams.
The team also has a wealth of strong leaders. The official team captains for the 2023 season will be determined during fall camp, all four captains from the previous year will be returning. Linebacker Gibbs and nose tackle Cole Godbout will provide valuable leadership on the defensive front, while quarterback Peasley and tight end Treyton Welch will lead the offense.
Preseason All-Conference Honors from Athlon and Phil Steele:
Athlon Sports honored a total of 13 Cowboys with selections to their Preseason All-Mountain West Teams. Among them, six players were named to the First Team, including standout place-kicker Hoyland, graduate offensive tackle Frank Crum, and dynamic running back Harrison Waylee, who joined Wyoming after transferring from Northern Illinois. On the defensive side, junior defensive tackle Jordan Bertagnole, middle linebacker Easton Gibbs, and graduate nose tackle Cole Godbout were also recognized on the First Team. The Second Team featured three Cowboys: junior defensive end DeVonne Harris, junior offensive center Nofoafia Tulafono, and graduate tight end Treyton Welch. Sophomore defensive end Braden Siders represented Wyoming on the Third Team, while junior free safety Wyett Ekeler, graduate punter Stewart, and junior linebacker Shae Suiaunoa earned spots on the Fourth Team. The 2023 Phil Steele Preseason All-Conference teams included 10 Wyoming Cowboys. Leading the way was place-kicker John Hoyland, who received First Team All-Mountain West honors. Joining him on the Phil Steele First Team were defensive tackle Jordan Bertagnole, offensive tackle Frank Crum, middle linebacker Easton Gibbs, and defensive end DeVonne Harris. Running back Dawaiian McNeely and tight end Treyton Welch were named to the Second Team. The Third Team featured sophomore defensive end Sabastian Harsh and linebacker Shae Suiaunoa, while nose tackle Cole Godbout secured a spot on the Fourth Team. Bohl's Overall Team Evaluation:
With an experienced defense returning and an offense that will blend a group of key returning players as well as new players, it is easy to be optimistic about the 2023 Wyoming Cowboys.
Head coach Bohl not only likes the talent and depth coming back from last season, but he also likes the mental make-up of his 2023 team.
"I like the attitude of this team. They're a hard-working group, and we do have good ability," said Bohl. "I think our conference is a great conference. We certainly have a very competitive non-conference schedule this year, but I'm excited about coaching this team, and we'll see how far we go."
The chemistry that has developed in the Wyoming Football program during Bohl's tenure has come about due to building a team with players who have a passion for being Wyoming Cowboys and adding transfers who fit the team identity that Bohl and his staff have fostered.
"What has occurred is we've been able to distill the players who really want to be here and appreciate that it's a privilege for them to wear the Brown and Gold," said Bohl. "They work hard. They play together. They're the type of team that I got into coaching for. This has been a really good group. They want to learn. They want to play together and want to do things the Wyoming way."
"What we've done with the transfers is we've done our homework and got some really good character references from people we knew and trusted who had worked with these guys before. I think that has helped. We haven't hit on 100 percent of them, but for the most part, these guys have fit into our program."
"One of the reasons we had another winning season last year is we had good chemistry in the locker room, and that wasn't by chance."
"Every year is a new year, but it (2022) was probably one of the most enjoyable years I've had as a head football coach because I thought the team chemistry was outstanding. We had a lot of guys who achieved close to their potential, which is one of the things you always look for in a program. It was a good year for us."
Regarding the 2023 Schedule:
The Wyoming Cowboys are gearing up for a challenging 2023 football season with a schedule that is tough but also offers a valuable home advantage. The team will enjoy the benefit of playing seven home games throughout the season. The non-conference segment of the schedule begins with a highly-anticipated nationally-televised game on CBS from Laramie. The Cowboys will face off against Big 12 opponent Texas Tech on Saturday, September 2, at 5:30 p.m. Two weeks later, they will take on another Big 12 rival, the Texas Longhorns, in a challenging away game in Austin, Texas, on Saturday, September 16. Wyoming will host FCS member Portland State from the Big Sky Conference on Saturday, September 9. Additionally, the Cowboys' non-conference slate includes a home game on September 23 against Appalachian State. Known for their history of notable upsets in college football, Appalachian State has recently achieved impressive victories such as a road win against Texas A&M (17-14) and a close battle against North Carolina (61-63). Wyoming's early season momentum will be fueled by five of their first six games being played at home. This includes their Mountain West Conference opener against New Mexico on September 30 and a home clash against the defending MW Champion Fresno State on October 7. Other highly-anticipated home games will feature a Friday night Border War against rival Colorado State on November 3 and a Saturday matchup against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors on November 18. While the Cowboys enjoy the benefits of numerous home games, they will also face challenging road contests in conference play. Their away matchups include games against Air Force on October 14, Boise State on October 28, UNLV on Friday night, November 10, and Nevada on November 25. Head coach Bohl recognizes the advantages and difficulties presented by the schedule. "It is a favorable schedule from a home game perspective, which we feel is great for our players and our fans," said Bohl. He acknowledges the daunting nature of the non-conference schedule, with tough opponents like Texas Tech and Appalachian State. Bohl also emphasizes the challenge of facing the University of Texas on the road. However, he remains confident in the team's ability to rise to the occasion, noting the team's excitement and the advantage of having a significant number of early-season home games.
No More Divisions:
The 2023 Mountain West season will not have any divisions. Simply the two teams with the highest Conference winning percentage will compete in the championship game.
UW press releases contributed to this story.
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