Wyoming Cowboys

2005 Year in Review

January 4, 2006

Season Report Posted: July 07, 2009 20:40  

LARAMIE, Wyoming - At a scheduled press conference yesterday, Wyoming Cowboys head coach Joe Glenn shared with reporters his thoughts on the 2005 season. A full transcript is printed below.

Now this is more like it. This was the kind of season I had hoped for when I took this job back in 2002. Even though we lost a couple of games that we probably should have won, this team really showed character and determination by staying with it, making the adjustments and pulling off huge wins against Colorado State and Louisville. Unlike the last two years, when the team packed it up when the conference games got tough, this team played its best games against the toughest teams.

Of course, that also means we will be working on mental preparation and stamina in the off-season, with the hope that we can avoid some of the mental mistakes and emotional letdowns that cost us this year, but I am thrilled by the level of returning talent and the early returns on the positive impact that our bowl win should have on recruiting.

Awards

Offensive MVP
The only thing I can say is that I can promise the award will go to someone other than Jovon Bouknight next year. I feel like a broken record [laughs], but how can you not reward the guy who set five school records in his time here? The numbers are phenomenal, the work ethic unparalleled, and the leadership probably inimitable. Undoubtedly one of the best players to ever set foot in War Memorial Stadium.

Also Considered: Kenneth Wingate, Johnny Connor

Defensive MVP
Also for the third year in a row, the defensive MVP award goes to a safety. This year, the winner is free safety Scott Potts. With teams looking to avoid his partner Herbert Holland, Potts was in position for team highs in tackles (64) and interceptions (7). Potts also received national attention for his work, finishing second in the Thorpe Award, and securing a spot on the 2nd team All-American squad.

Also Considered: Walton

Special Teams MVP
With incredible speed and the decision-making skills of a veteran, freshman Andre Kirkpatrick played his way into a starting spot both on offense and on special teams as a punt and kick returner. His ability to consistently make the first two or three tacklers miss gave the Cowboys great field position all year.

Newcomer of the Year
Once again, the coaching staff recruited several players who made an immediate impact on the quality of our team. This year, this was especially true on defense, where freshman defensive tackle Vic Bennett led the team with 11 sacks and 18 tackles for loss. Even more impressive, and the winner of the Newcomer of the Year award, was freshman linebacker Earl Walton, whose surprising speed and incredible feel for the game earned him a starting spot on the outside before the season began. That impressive start translated to a very successful freshman season, as Walton finished second on the team in tackles, with 56, including eight for loss, and two interceptions, the only two by a linebacker all season.

Unsung Heros
This year, the unsung hero award goes to two guys who share one position, and share it well, halfbacks Terrence Billings and Johnny Connor. Without the other, neither would be nearly as effective on the field, as their running styles complement each other perfectly. More importantly, without both, our team would not have had anywhere near as much success, both running and passing the ball. They don't get the attention Wingate and his receivers do, but they make everything they do possible.

Glenn Offered Three Year Extension

January 4, 2006

Season Report Posted: July 07, 2009 20:37  

LARAMIE, Wyoming - University of Wyoming officials announced yesterday a three year extension to head football coach Joe Glenn's contract, which was set to expire at the end of this academic year.

"We are thrilled by what Glenn has done for this program so far. We couldn't ask for a more devoted coach, everyone at Wyoming looks forward to all his future success," athletics director Gary Barta told reporters.

There had been some speculation near the end of the season that Glenn was looking to take a job at a more prestigious program, and his name had been mentioned in connection with expected openings at Washington and Vanderbilt. Glenn dismissed the rumors with a wave of his hand.

"Nonsense," Glenn said at the press conference.

"This process had nothing to do with the interest of any other institution. It was simply a matter of making sure this program has its priorities straight. I love Laramie, and there are a number of things that I set out to accomplish when I got here that are still on the table. Chief among them is winning the Mountain West, something that I think this school is more than capable of doing.

"I'm not going to stand here and guarantee that I'll never change jobs, but if and when I'm ready for a change, you'll know it. I'm not going to make a secret of it."

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Bouknight Shatters Receiving Records

January 1, 2006

Season Report Posted: July 07, 2009 20:36  

LARAMIE, Wyoming - At a school with a rich history of outstanding receivers, none has left his mark on the Wyoming record books with quite the gusto that graduating senior Jovon Bouknight has this year. The two time All-American set or tied six receiving records during his three year EA Sports career, including records for career yards receiving, with 4185, and career touchdown receptions, with 48.

Bouknight also set the single season record in both categories as a senior, with 2045 yards, just 15 yards shy of the NCAA record set in 1996, and 22 touchdown receptions.

"If I had known he was only 15 yards shy, I probably would have run another play or two for him in the fourth quarter," Wyoming head coach Joe Glenn said after Wyoming's 21 - 18 victory over Louisville in the AXA Liberty Bowl.

"I know Jovon isn't big on awards and things, but this kid is special, and he certainly deserves the recognition."

Bouknight also holds the record for yards receiving in a game (279), set in the win over Utah in 2004, and tied the record for most touchdowns in a game (4) on two separate occasions.

"I'm just glad the team was able to have some success while I was here, especially in the Liberty Bowl, in my last game and all. That win means more than any receiving record could," Bouknight said in characteristically unselfish fashion.

Wyoming in Liberty Bowl, Bouknight Recognized

December 6, 2005

Season Report Posted: July 07, 2009 18:29  

LARAMIE, Wyoming - After finishing the season at 8 - 4 overall and 5 - 2 in the Mountain West Conference, the Cowboys knew they were assured of their first bowl bid in the Joe Glenn era, but they had to wait until after the conference championships to find out which bowl it would be. Monday, they found out that Mountain West champion Colorado State had accepted a bid to play in the BCS sponsored Fiesta Bowl, against undefeated and third ranked Oregon.

As a result, Wyoming, who as the second place team from the Mountain West was expected to play in the Las Vegas Bowl, was invited to take Colorado State's spot in the AXA Liberty Bowl. The Cowboys will face a tough Louisville squad that finished the regular season 11 - 2, and is ranked 17th in the country. Wyoming is not currently in the Top 25, but was ranked as high as 23rd in Week 11 after upsetting then sixth ranked Colorado State.

Also Monday, the Cowboys learned that standout wide receiver Jovon Bouknight was honored with the Biletnikoff Award as the country's best wide receiver. Bouknight ended the regular season with 90 receptions for 1971 yards and 20 touchdowns, setting both single season and career school records for most yards receiving and touchdown catches. Bouknight also finished second in Maxwell Award voting, and third in his bid for the prestigious Heisman Trophy.

The only other Cowboy finalist for post-season recognition was sophomore safety Scott Potts, who finished second in the Jim Thorpe Award, with 58 tackles and seven interceptions.

Bouknight and Potts will lead the Cowboys, none of whom has ever played in a bowl game, into their December 31st contest against the Louisville Cardinals. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:08 p.m.