The streets of Grand Avenue are bustling with crowds, they come in waves of brown and gold and the occasional goers that did not get the memo. An officer stands in the middle of the intersection directing cars. Those who went the extra mile in full face-paint and foam finger in hand receive an encore of honking and numerous “Go Pokes” from those passing by. It’s college gameday, the holiest day of a game goer’s week. It’s time for college football to start in Laramie.
Americans nationwide love their football and here in Laramie, Wyoming, it’s not any different. In no shortage of school colors, UW’s school pride is quite a sight to behold. Saturday morning you can count on students to arrive at the tailgate park in full game day attire regardless of last night’s ‘festivities.’
Freshman Jonet Jennings has made it a point to attend nearly every home game since the season started and this Saturday will not be any different.
Despite a 4-6 season, Cowboy fans refuse to turn their back on their boys in gold. The fans will come, they will cheer and they will celebrate, win, lose, or draw.
“I feel like we have great school pride, but it could be better,” Jennings said. “Maybe by less negativity. We should stand by them whether we win or lose.”
If you haven’t been able to soak up the gameday vibes from the student section of War Memorial Stadium, it is not too late. Saturday, the Cowboys will face Boise State and 24 Wyoming players will be honored for Senior Day in the last home game of the season.
Senior wide receiver Dominic Rufuran will be playing a game for the books as he attempts to make a nationwide record of longest active streak of catching at least one pass, currently he sits at 47 consecutive games. If he is to make a catch in Saturday’s game, he will set the Mountain West record at 48 consecutive games.
Maybe you are not a red-blooded football lovin’ American that enjoys a good college gameday, and maybe some trash talking on CSU regardless of the game, and that’s okay. Go for the band, go for the Beer Song! Go because your best friend is going and because you can get in for free! Go for over priced pizza and the nachos that taste better because you’re eating them at a football game.
The best thing about UW athletic events is that you do not have to understand the sport, you do not have to follow the team or even know whom we are playing. You have to go because at UW our school pride rocks. If you have not been to a game yet this season, you need to get out there this weekend. The library stacks will always be there on Sunday, but Saturdays were made for college football.
