I’ll admit it. An 0-3 start is something that Wyoming football hasn’t seen in nearly a decade. Last time this happened was back in 2015, when the Pokes would drop their first 6 and ultimately finish a dismal 2-10. The season before they ended 4-8.
The coach at the time? Craig Bohl. He was 6-18 in his first two years in Laramie, even after coming off three straight national titles at the FCS powerhouse North Dakota State. My point is, it took some time to turn the program in the right direction.
Coach Bohl definitely was a controversial head coach, and was loved and hated, but there is no denying that amassing the most wins and bowl appearances for any Wyoming head coach means something.
Bohl left this program in the hands of Sawvel, and was a part of the process to pick his predecessor. Despite this however, it is still a new program with a shakeup at the top. Even for an experienced Craig Bohl it took two years to see a winning record at Wyoming.
I understand the frustration of fans. It seemed that with a hire close to home, the program would pick up right where it left off last year, only losing 4 and winning the Arizona Bowl. While that would have been ideal, we may have set our expectations too high. I think that if Sawvel had been an outside hire, opinions would be different.
Arizona State, BYU, and Idaho have a combined record of 8-1 this season, each putting together strong early season performances. Underestimating these schools may have led to higher expectations and ultimately more disappointment.
On the bright side for UW football, they haven’t played any of their conference schedule yet. While their overall record may be rough, a strong presence in the Mountain West is still viable. Last year, Boise State started 2-3 before gaining momentum and earning a title appearance.
This week’s matchup will be a huge opportunity for Sawvel and the team to make a statement. Last year, Wyoming was 1-4 on the road with their sole win being over a struggling Nevada squad. A road win could reinvigorate this team and send them into conference play with a huge confidence boost.
Even if the team comes short again this Saturday, I think we still need to stay patient. The Mountain West will be a completely new landscape in two years, and Sawvel has a chance to lay the groundwork for Wyoming to emerge as the top team in the conference with the recent departures. With all this considered, I believe that Wyoming football still can turn this season around and set itself up for success.
