LARAMIE — Development.
That word has been tossed around this building plenty over the previous 10-plus years. It’s a fundamental Craig Bohl built this Wyoming program on. Jay Sawvel isn’t about to deviate from that plan, either.
The original architect and the rookie head coach sat down for dinner in Laramie Tuesday night. Surely they discussed Sawvel’s first eight months at the helm. Bohl probably updated him on the ever-changing landscape of college football. Arizona State, the Cowboys Week-1 opponent, likely came up in conversation. So did personnel and progression. You can bet on that.
Would you be surprised one bit if a Manhattan and a cigar were involved?
„I know coach Bohl had always talked about Wyoming as a developmental program, and there’s truth in that,“ Sawvel said. „The fact that we get really good, talented athletes that maybe some other places in the country had overlooked or didn’t recruit, or something that way. Our job is to develop them into people that can perform and play at the next level beyond here.“
Finding those roses in the thorns has been a trademark around here.
Defensive tackle Jordan Bertagnole certainly fits the bill. So do former players like Logan Wilson, Marcus Epps, Andrew Wingard, and Josh Allen.
While that philosophy is still implemented, progress is typically staggered. Inexperience can be an issue — sometimes glaring — at a certain position. Others may be five deep. Then there’s the NCAA Transfer Portal, an outlet that has allowed, in some cases, the „big boys“ to prey on programs like this.
It’s no coincidence that most players who transfer out of here land at Power-4 schools.
Sawvel will be the first to tell you there are unknowns on this current roster. In fact, he uttered those very words Wednesday in front of a packed house high above War Memorial Stadium in the Wildcatter Suites. A majority of the wide receivers are unproven. The same can be said for the cornerback room.
Evan Svoboda, Wyoming’s projected starter in the desert, has just one start under his belt. He’s attempted all of 36 passes during his two-plus years on campus.
Still, most all of these players have been in the program for an extended amount of time. They’ve double-repped in the summer heat. They’ve lived in the weight room. They know the game plan.
Most of the questions surrounding this team have answers. Concrete ones, too.
Now, it’s time for execution.
„I think we both agree, in one sense is that, yeah, we may be a developmental program, but we have a developed football team right now,“ Sawvel said. „I’m very excited to see that play out.“
The league’s media thinks this Cowboys team will meddle in the middle of the pack this fall. National outlets aren’t exactly giving this group a chance to compete with Boise State, either. Sawvel simply smiles when that topic arises. All he knows, he says, is he doesn’t see a sixth-place team behind the scenes each day.
Promises aren’t being made. Neither are predictions. But make no mistake, this team has a purpose. It’s silver, shiny, and has a football on top of it.
„I said it with our team and we say it internally — one time at the beginning of the semester and one time at the beginning of August — and we don’t use the word again,“ Sawvel said. „So I’m not going to use it today, but we have a goal. It’s a big goal. It’s a goal that we work toward each and every day.“
In conclusion, the Wyoming Cowboys football program under Jay Sawvel continues to uphold the tradition of being a developmental powerhouse. With a roster filled with talented athletes and a coaching staff dedicated to their growth and success, the team is poised to make a statement in the upcoming season. Despite facing challenges and uncertainties, the Cowboys are focused on their goal and are ready to execute on the field. The legacy of development and success at Wyoming is set to continue under Sawvel’s leadership.
