| Written by Skyler Corcoran |
| Sunday, 23 November 2008 17:04 |
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Shortly after the Wyoming Cowboys concluded the 2008 football season with a 31-20 loss to border rival Colorado State, the University of Wyoming bid farewell to head coach Joe Glenn.
Glenn initially grabbed the hearts and support of Pokes nation by leading the Cowboys from the abyss of failure, to the pinnacle of a thrilling bowl game trophy.
Glenn’s debut season was marked with victories over archrivals CSU and Brigham Young, and saw the Cowboys win more games than in the previous two seasons combined.
For an encore, Glenn led Wyoming to a bowl game for the first time since 1993, and beat Pac-10 foe California-Los Angeles in the Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl.
After Glenn’s first two seasons at the reins, his Cowboys slipped back to mediocrity.
In the next four seasons, Glenn-led teams went a dismal 19-28, and only became bowl-eligible one more time.
The Cowboys haven’t beat BYU again and would only capture the Border War Bronze Boot two other times.
The 2008 campaign proved disappointing for the Cowboys.
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| Last Updated ( Sunday, 23 November 2008 17:10 ) |
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| Written by UW Media Relations |
| Sunday, 23 November 2008 16:07 |
Laramie, Wyo. (Nov. 23, 2008 ) -- University of Wyoming Athletics Director Tom Burman announced Sunday that head football coach Joe Glenn will not be retained as coach of the Cowboys. Glenn served in his current position for the past six seasons (2003-08).
"We felt that after six seasons under Coach Glenn the Wyoming Football program was not making the kind of progress we had hoped for," said UW Athletics Director Tom Burman. "We had hoped that after six seasons, we would be competing for a conference championship. That has not happened.
"I want to thank Coach Glenn for the way in which he has represented our athletics department and our university over the past six years. There is no finer man, no finer person than Joe Glenn. He has been an outstanding ambassador for Cowboy and Cowgirl Athletics, the University of Wyoming and the state of Wyoming. We will always be grateful to him for his service."
Glenn's high points while at Wyoming included wins over Ole Miss (2004 and 2005), Virginia (2007) and Tennessee (2008). His most memorable win at UW came in the 2004 Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl when he led the Cowboys to a 24-21 upset victory over UCLA.
"I want to thank the University of Wyoming for giving us the opportunity to coach here the past six years," said Glenn. "We have made many friends both on and off the field. I also want to thank our football staff, their families and our players for all their hard work and loyalty. It's been a privilege to be a part of this great game with all of them."
His 2008 Cowboy team ended the season with an overall record of 4-8 and a 1-7 record in the Mountain West Conference, placing the Cowboys eighth.
His best season was the 2004 campaign when his Pokes posted a 7-5 overall mark on way to their Las Vegas Bowl win. Glenn's Cowboys earned bowl eligible status one other season, in 2006 with a 6-6 mark, but were not invited to a bowl game that season. His best conference record in the past six seasons was a 5-3 mark in 2006, placing Wyoming third in the Mountain West that season.
Glenn's overall record as coach of the Cowboys is 30-41 (.423), and his record against Mountain West Conference opponents stands at 15-31 (.326).
During his distinguished career, Glenn has been honored numerous times by his peers. His most recent honor came in 2002 as head coach at Montana when he was selected Big Sky Conference Co-Coach of the Year by his fellow Big Sky coaches. It marked the third consecutive season that Glenn won or shared that honor. He was also named the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division I-AA Region 5 Coach of the Year in 2002, marking the second consecutive season he earned that honor. In 2000, Glenn was presented the Eddie Robinson Award by The Sports Network as the Division I-AA National Coach of the Year. He also won AFCA Division II National Coach of the Year honors in both 1996 and '97. All total, he has been named National Coach of the Year three times, AFCA Regional Coach of the Year on five occasions and conference coach of the year five different seasons. In the spring of 2000, The Denver Post named him one of Colorado's "Greatest Coaches of the 1900's."
Glenn was named the 30th head football coach in Wyoming history on Dec. 12, 2002. He is 59 years old (born March 7, 1949).
His current contract was scheduled to run through the 2010 season. Under the terms of his contract, the University of Wyoming will pay him $316,000 for the remaining two years of his contract.
Burman said that a national search for Glenn's successor would begin immediately.
"Wyoming Football has tremendous tradition," said Burman. "It has been highly successful under names like (Bowden) Wyatt, (Bob) Devaney, (Lloyd) Eaton, (Paul) Roach and (Joe) Tiller. We strongly believe we have the potential to return to the success our fans enjoyed under these great coaches."
Burman believes that a search can be completed in a timely manner, and he has engaged the services of Neinas Sports (www.neinassports.com) to assist in the search process. The contract with Neinas Sports is for $35,000, plus expenses.
"We recognize the magnitude of making a great hire," said Burman. "We are prepared to attract a head coach who will make Wyoming Football a power in the Mountain West Conference."
Glenn met with his coaching staff and his team early Sunday afternoon. Burman is expected to meet with the team on Monday.
Burman will be available on a teleconference on Monday, Nov. 24 at 1:30 p.m., Mountain Time, to answer questions regarding his goals in hiring a new coach and the decision to make a change in the direction of Wyoming Football. He will not answer questions relative to specific candidates that may be considered or a specific timeline.
To connect to Monday's teleconference, call (307) 766-1007. The passcode is 2256#.
Highlights During the Joe Glenn Era at Wyoming
.On Nov. 8, 2008, Glenn led the Wyoming Cowboys to a 13-7 win over Tennessee in Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn.
.In the 2007 season opener, UW defeated the Virginia Cavaliers by a score of 23-3 in Laramie.
.Wyoming recorded its first win in history over a Southeastern Conference (SEC) school in the 2004 season with a 37-32 win over Ole Miss in Laramie.
.The Cowboys also posted their first road win ever over an SEC team when, in 2005, the Pokes traveled to Oxford, Miss., and defeated the Ole Miss Rebels 24-14.
.In Glenn's first season at Wyoming in 2003, he led Wyoming to wins over rivals Colorado State and Brigham Young in his first season on the sideline of War Memorial Stadium. That marked the first time since 1988 that UW had defeated its two archrivals in the same season.
.Two of Glenn's former Cowboys were selected as finalists for the National Football Foundation's (NFF) Draddy Trophy. The Draddy Trophy, which is also referred to as the "Academic Heisman", is awarded annually to the top football scholar-athlete in the country. Fewer than 20 student-athletes from all levels of college football are selected as finalists for the trophy each year. In 2004, Wyoming center Trenton Franz was a Draddy finalist. In 2006, Cowboy safety John Wendling joined that distinguished group. Both received postgraduate scholarships from the National Football Foundation. Franz is pursuing graduate studies in engineering at Princeton. Wendling was a sixth round pick in the 2007 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills, and is a current member of the Bills.
.In the spring of 2005, Wyoming received recognition in a number of college football preseason Top 25 polls.
.When the 2004 season concluded with a bowl victory over UCLA in the Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl, Wyoming received votes in the final ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll.
.He coached two Academic All-Americans in six seasons at Wyoming.
.Two of his student-athletes were named National Football Foundation Scholar-Athletes.
.One former Cowboy was awarded an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship.
.Two Cowboys were National Award Semifinalists. Wide receiver Jovon Bouknight was a semifinalist for the 2005 Biletnikoff Award, and cornerback Julius Stinson was a 2007 Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist.
.Two of Glenn's Cowboys earned All-America honors -- wide receiver Jovon Bouknight in 2005
and safety John Wendling in 2006.
.Seven Pokes earned First Team All-Conference honors, 14 were named Second Team All-MWC and 29 earned Honorable Mention All-Conference recognition during Glenn's first five seasons at UW.
.A total of 77 Wyoming football players have achieved Academic All-Mountain West Conference honors during his tenure as head coach.
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UW President Tom Buchanan's Statement on Joe Glenn Dismissal
Laramie, Wyo. (Nov. 23, 2008) -- University of Wyoming President Tom Buchanan today issued the following statement about the dismissal of UW Head Football Coach Joe Glenn:
"The primary mission of the University of Wyoming is and always will be to provide outstanding undergraduate and graduate education," said Buchanan. "We're also a nationally recognized research university and have an important responsibility to provide service in a variety of ways to Wyoming's citizens.
"Like the vast majority of our peer universities, we also have an NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletics program, ably led by UW Athletics Director Tom Burman. UW has decided to make a change in the leadership of the football program for a host of very sound reasons. AD Burman and I have discussed at length the issues surrounding this decision, and I fully support his decision.
"As is the case with any coaching change, there will be debate about the wisdom of the decision, and nothing I say will change that. But I do want to say two things about Joe Glenn's service to the University of Wyoming. First, over the past six years, there has been no better ambassador for the University of Wyoming than Joe Glenn. He has been a regular visitor to Wyoming's public schools; he has consistently devoted his time and energy to charitable causes; he has been a tremendous citizen of the University's campus participating in a host of events unrelated to athletics; and he has embraced the State of Wyoming with enthusiasm. I have made it clear that there is a place for him at the University of Wyoming if he so desires - he is a valuable asset to the university and the state.
"Second, Joe has managed UW's football program in a way that ensured that our student-athletes were academically successful. The university and our fans can be proud of the behavior of our student-athletes both on and off the field. I can assure you that I will expect the next Wyoming head football coach to bring the same level of commitment and success to academics that Joe Glenn demanded.
"Finally, we will work quickly to name a new coach to ensure that our program can continue with as little interruption as possible. I urge our fans to join me in continuing to support UW's intercollegiate athletics, and to recognize the wonderful contribution that Joe has made to UW and Wyoming during the past six years."
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| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 21 January 2009 14:56 ) |
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| Written by Mike Morris |
| Saturday, 22 November 2008 16:51 |
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Staring down adversity in a tight rivalry game, Colorado State came up with all of the answers in the clutch - and kept its bowl hopes alive.
Dion Morton caught six passes for 160 yards and three touchdowns, including a spectacular diving 31 yard touchdown reception with 11:09 remaining in the fourth quarter, to give the Rams a 31-20 come-from-behind victory over rival Wyoming (4-8) on Saturday at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie.
Morton sprawled out in the north end zone of Jonah Field and hauled in a perfectly thrown spiral from David Farris, just keeping his outstretched body inbounds, to give the Rams a 24-20 lead which they would never cede.
Gartrell Johnson added a five yard touchdown run with 2:42 left in the game, powering his way into the end zone to ensure a Colorado State (6-6) victory with an insurance score.
Johnson began the game slowly, rushing for only 24 yards in the first half, but rose to the occasion in the final thirty minutes, finishing the game with 136 yards and interjecting himself to help the Rams control the ball and the clock in the final quarter.
The Cowboys had a chance to answer Morton’s touchdown after ceding the lead, driving 34 yards to the Colorado State 46 yard-line, but running back Wynel Seldon fumbled with 9:03 remaining, and the Rams controlled the football for the next six-and-a-half minutes.
It was a play only emblematic of a turnover problem which has plagued Wyoming football since the 2005 season; the Cowboys lost three fumbles on the afternoon, the last of which proved to be the deciding factor in the game.
Wyoming quickly seized the lead in the first quarter, emptying its playbook in the season finale with a nifty trick play.
Seldon, generally regarded as a power halfback, took a pitchout, but instead dropped back and found a wide-open Chris Sundberg for a 19 yard touchdown pass to give Wyoming an early 7-0 lead.
After Colorado State answered with a field goal, the Cowboy defense, which has been the team’s bastion throughout the season, came through with a crucial turnover to extend Wyoming’s lead.
Senior linebacker Ward Dobbs stepped in front of a deflected Farris pass and rumbled 24 yards, returning the interception for a touchdown in a play coincidentally similar to Dobbs’ interception return for a touchdown two weeks ago at Tennessee.
The touchdown gave Wyoming a 14-3 lead and the Cowboys appeared to be well in-control headed into the locker room until a last-minute collapse on defense allowed the Rams to narrow the score.
With 27 seconds remaining in the half, Farris dropped back from midfield and found Morton streaking down the field in man coverage; Farris exploited the poor coverage and hit Morton over the top on a 51 yard touchdown pass to pull the Rams within four at the half.
The key play swung momentum in Colorado State’s favor, and an energized Rams team quickly responded in the second half.
Johnson pounded the football for 60 yards on the half’s opening three plays, but fumbled at the tail end of a long run and gave the ball back to Wyoming.
The Cowboys, however, promptly gave the ball right back to Colorado State, as Devin Moore coughed up the football at the Wyoming 46 yard line.
Three plays later, Farris painted the Laramie sky with a beautiful spiral, hitting Morton in-stride on a fade for a 43 yard touchdown in the southwest corner of the end zone and sending the traveling Colorado State student section into a frenzy.
The touchdown gave Colorado State its first lead of the game, and Farris, who finished the game with 235 yards passing and three touchdowns, stepped up and made another clutch throw.
The Cowboys responded with a pair of lengthy drives which consumed most of the rest of the third quarter. Both drives cumulated in Nick Landess field goals, the last of which put Wyoming ahead, 20-17, its final lead of the game.
In the game’s final quarter, however, the Cowboys simply could not subdue Colorado State’s balanced offensive attack.
The Rams gained 131 yards of total offense and controlled the ball for 10:42 of the final fifteen minutes.
In defeat, Seldon gained 107 yards on the ground and added a touchdown pass to his career repertoire; Seldon moved into third on the all-time ranks of leading rushers at Wyoming.
His teammate, Moore, notched an even more-prominent milestone, becoming the Cowboys’ all-time leading rusher with a two yard carry early in the second quarter.
Moore gained 78 yards on the ground on Saturday, capping his stellar career at Wyoming with 2,965 total yards rushing.
The Rams, on the other hand, came away with the true spoils.
The victory helped Colorado State keep the bronze boot and, more importantly, helped the Rams notch a sixth victory and earn bowl eligibility.
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| Last Updated ( Saturday, 22 November 2008 17:14 ) |
| Written by Mike Morris |
| Friday, 21 November 2008 10:22 |
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As the Wyoming Cowboys and Colorado State Rams step onto the field at War Memorial Stadium Saturday for the final time of the 2008 regular season, a dizzying congregation of uncertain and stirring emotions will likely dominate the atmosphere in Laramie throughout the afternoon.
The two teams have divergent stories: one, a CSU team desperately attempting to clinch bowl eligibility, and the other, a Wyoming Cowboys program attempting to salvage some final glory in what has been one of its most disappointing campaigns in recent years.
It may be rivalry week, but the ambiance surrounding the 100th Border War resounds with something more this year, a significance and an emotional backdrop which are perhaps higher than they have ever been this entire decade.
The speculation concerning the future of Joe Glenn as Wyoming’s head coach has abided since the preseason, but it boiled to a climax after the Cowboys’ 22-14 loss last week at Nevada-Las Vegas, a defeat which eliminated Wyoming from bowl eligibility and ensured the Cowboys a fourth losing season under Glenn’s tenure which began in 2003.
Although Glenn turned around a program which was 5-29 from 2000-02 and led Wyoming to its first bowl victory since 1966 in his second season, his team’s struggles since that victory in the 2004 Las Vegas Bowl have led many to believe he may be on his way out of Laramie at the end of this season.
Glenn, who is 19-27 since the beginning of the 2005 season, was unable to guide the Cowboys to a return bowl appearance this season despite a schedule which contained seven home games.
Still, despite being eliminated from bowl contention last week, it is difficult to imagine that the Cowboys won’t be emotionally charged for their rivalry matchup with CSU.
If the Border War is indeed Glenn’s final appearance on the sidelines wearing the brown and gold of Wyoming, his team will undoubtedly be earnestly-focused on sending him off with one final triumph, especially the Cowboy seniors, who would be departing alongside their head coach.
“I know Joe Glenn is a tremendous coach,” CSU head coach Steve Fairchild said. “He’s won everywhere he’s been and not just won, but won big. I know him as a coach, I know him as a personal friend and you’re not going to find a better guy or a better coach than Joe Glenn. I know those players know that as well.”
The Cowboys will also take the field with the intention of exacting a little revenge upon the Rams, who spoiled Wyoming’s bid for bowl eligibility in Fort Collins last season.
“It is a great rivalry and it’s a tremendous, tremendous football game. Like any other rivalry like this, you can kind of throw everything out. They’re going to come with their best shot and so are we,” Fairchild said.
And, as the Wyoming Cowboys and Colorado State Rams prepare to meet for the 100th time, only one thing remains certain: another chapter will be written in the storied annuls of the Border War rivalry – this one with a bit more significance than most of the rest.
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