Brady Cates
bcates@uwyo.edu
Both the Wyoming Cowboys and BYU Cougars’ head coaches had some high praises for each program yesterday morning.
UW (8-5) will be playing in its first bowl game since 2011 and will try to win its first bowl game since 2009, while BYU (8-4) will try to snap a three-game bowl losing streak.
“We’re excited to be here and enjoy the festivities and everything that’s been organized by the Bowl, and I just want to thank everyone that’s been involved in helping us have this great experience,” head coach Kalani Sitake said. “I can tell you from our players and our coaching staff and support staff, it’s been a wonderful experience for them and they’ve made great memories.”
This game will renew the rivalry that dates back all the way to the 1920s and the players and coaches have that in the back of their minds. Coach Sitake and a number of BYU’s coaches played against Wyoming when the rivalry was in full force.
“You kind of have to teach them all about what the rivalry was really like and we’re dating ourselves when we talk about back when we talk about when I played against Wyoming,” Sitake said.
UW head coach Craig Bohl said that these are the games that you want to be in, that you work really hard to get to and this is why the game is played. The players recognized that, they heard about this from former players, but quite frankly as Coach Sitake said, it’s a whole generation ago. The UW players know about BYU, but Bohl said he does know one thing, a bunch of guys who played college football have came up to him in the hotel and this game is a big deal for them.
This bowl game means a ton for Wyoming’s seniors on the team, as they have not reached a bowl game in their tenure at the university. Getting to this point was a big goal for this team this year and they made it happen.
“I said this time and time again, we put signs up on our indoor practice facility that those who stay will be champions,” Bohl said. “This senior class, those guys who have stayed and bought in and then for them to be able to cap it off and go out as a senior and play in a great bowl game against a great opponent, I think it’s going to be something that they will always remember.”
There will be some key matchups in this game, but both coaches talked about the line and how important it will be to win the line of scrimmage from the start of the game.
“Their guys are always in the right spot and they establish the line of scrimmage,” Bohl said. “There are always new players coming in, so they also have a tremendous amount of depth. That’s a real challenge right there.”
This season has been so important for the state of Wyoming and a ton of loyal fans have taken the trip out to San Diego to watch their Cowboys play one last game for their 2016 season. The fans of Wyoming have been incredible all year long and they have taken their support and pride for the Cowboys with them to San Diego.
“A lot of our fans have shown up and they are Cowboy tough,” Bohl said. “Our state has gone through challenges with the energy industry but we have tough, resilient people and tough times don’t last but tough people do. It’s been great to see our football team rally our state around that.”
This will be a game that these players will remember for the rest of their lives and will talk about their experience with their kids someday.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. MST tonight from Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. Follow the Branding Iron on twitter to get live updates throughout the game.
Twitter: @UW_brandingiron
