Wyoming Cowboys

2007 Year in Review

January 8, 2008

Season Report Posted: June 20, 2010 23:12  

LARAMIE, Wyoming - At a scheduled press conference yesterday, Wyoming Cowboys head coach Joe Glenn shared with reporters his thoughts on the 2007 season.

For the second year in a row, we finished the season with an impressive 11-2 record. This year, we did it without winning our bowl game, meaning we lost only one regular season matchup. That is an incredible feat for any team, but one that is even more impressive when you consider our 4 - 8 record from just four years ago.

This year marks the graduation of 11 seniors, seven of whom are members of the first class recruited by the current coaching staff, the group that set in motion this remarkable transformation of Wyoming football.

In the last two seasons, this team has gone an inspiring 22 - 4. Our only losses came at the hands of Colorado State, Louisville and Nebraska, all of whom were ranked in the top 25 at the time we played them. It is a testament both to the ability of our staff to find and recruit quality athletes, and to the work ethic and determination of these fine young men. It is a shame we were unable to win the final game that this special group will ever play together, but these seven seniors will forever hold a special place in Wyoming football history.

Awards

Offensive MVP
Despite a continued emphasis on improving the productivity of our running game, the award for Offensive MVP goes to senior quarterback Kenneth Wingate, who led the team the entire year and finished with 3650 yards and 31 touchdowns. The running game was instrumental in keeping opposing offenses off the field, but when we needed to score, we looked to Wingate and his reliable arm, and he rarely failed to deliver.

Defensive MVP
Once again, only one member of our defense was recognized nationally, and for the second year in a row, the Defensive MVP Award goes to someone else. Strong safety Solomon Swift had a very good year, and certainly deserved Second Team All-American honors for his 60 tackles and four interceptions. The award for Defensive MVP, however, goes to senior middle linebacker David Boyer, who finished with a team leading 61 tackles, 23 for a loss. That includes seven sacks, tied for first on the team. Boyer also had two forced fumbles, a safety, and returned his one interception 25 yards for a touchdown.

Special Teams MVP
As both punter and kickoff specialist, Mark Long helped all year in the field position battle, finishing with an average of

Newcomers of the Year
By far the most improved unit on the team this year was the offensive line. This was especially true at center and at right guard, where Brandon Atkins and Sydney Kidd made it possible for us to both run and pass with effectiveness.

Unsung Heros
On any given football team, no one works harder for less credit than the offensive line. This year the young group did a phenomenal job both protecting quarterback Kenneth Wingate and opening holes for the running back, earning the entire unit the Award as Unsung Heros.

Cowboys Finish Season Ranked 13th

January 8, 2008

Season Report Posted: June 20, 2010 23:09  

LARAMIE, Wyoming - Final editions of the Coaches' and Media college football polls were released last week, and despite losing their bowl game against Louisville, the Wyoming Cowboys finished the year ranked 13th in the Coaches Poll and 14th in the Media rankings, besting the 17th ranked mark set last year. Head coach Joe Glenn was pleased with the recognition.

"It is always nice to be recognized for your accomplishments, and for that reason, I am thrilled that the University of Wyoming continues to receive such accolades on a national stage. More importantly, however, I am excited by what that recognition symbolizes about the growth of our program and the tradition of success that we are building here."

Glenn Declines Offer From USC

January 8, 2008

Season Report Posted: June 20, 2010 23:08  

LARAMIE, Wyoming - For the second consecutive year, a school from the PAC-10 conference has offered Wyoming head coach Joe Glenn a job, and for the second consecutive year, he has turned that offer down. Last year, it was Oregon making an offer after head coach Mike Bellotti unexpectedly decided to throw in the towel. This year, USC head coach Pete Carroll was hired away by the NFL, and the Trojans approached Glenn.

"Last year, I promised that I would stay at Wyoming at least until we won the Mountain West conference championship, Glenn announced at a press conference yesterday afternoon.

"Well, we won it this year, and for a number of reasons, I decided that Wyoming was still the best place for me.

"For one, I am supremely committed to the young men our staff has recruited these last four years, and I have every intention of being here to watch them graduate. For another, I do not foresee the PAC-10 as a conference I want to coach in. Don't get me wrong, the PAC-10 is a great conference, but having grown up watching west coast football, I want to experience life in one of the many other fantastic conferences around the country.

"As I have always said, if and when another opportunity presents itself, I am open to accommodating such change, but for the time being, I look forward to many more wins as the head coach of the Wyoming Cowboys."

Three Cowboys Set Records

January 7, 2008

Season Report Posted: June 20, 2010 23:08  

LARAMIE, Wyoming - Way back in 2004, recruiting experts rated Wyoming head coach Joe Glenn's first recruiting class only the 89th best in the country, and second-worst in the Mountain West conference, perhaps one of the least accurate evaluations ever. If anyone needed any more proof that the so-called experts know a whole lot less than they would have you believe, this class should convince you.

After all, the 2004 class has produced some of the best players in school history, including quarterback phenomenon Kenneth Wingate and standout safety Scott Potts. In all. three members of the 2004 class, Wingate, Potts, and former walk-on tailback Johnny Connor, leave Wyoming with at least one school record.

Leading the way is Wingate, who started all four years at Wyoming, and finished with school records for the number of touchdowns thrown in a season, career touchdowns throw, and career passing yards. Wingate set the record for the number of touchdowns thrown in a season as a junior, with 39, and finished his career with 122 touchdowns. Also as a junior, he set the school mark for career yards, and finished with 14, 570.

As another four year starter, Potts set the school record for career interceptions, finishing with 22.

Finally, Connor set the record for career rushing yards with 3146, while sharing the position for three years with Terrence Billings.