OCTOBER 29, 2024 |
Photo – UW Cowboy logo – Bigfoot99 file photo
First-year University of Wyoming head football coach Jay Sawvel was reprimanded Sunday by the Mountain West Conference following an angry outburst directed at the officiating crew during Saturday’s home loss to Utah State.
Sawvel was called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for arguing with a referee following a defensive pass interference call on safety Wyett Ekeler in the fourth quarter of the Cowboys’ 27-25 loss.
Sawvel was then penalized for the call.
Sawvel told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle that he regretted his hair trigger response but added that “we’ve had some horse#&%$ officiating.”
The Cowboys are 1-and-7 in Sawvel’s first season as head coach.
The combined 30 yards in penalties on Saturday night at the War moved Utah State into position to score a touchdown.
No rest for the Cowboys. Wyoming is back in action this week with an afternoon showdown against an improved New Mexico team.
Head coach Jay Sawvel summed up the new look of the Lobos this way:
Devon Dampier is the Lobos quarterback. The 5′-10″, 180 pound signal caller not only throws the ball, he’s also the Lobos leading rusher. Dampier threw two touchdown passes against Wyoming last year when the Pokes won 35-26.
For Wyoming, redshirt freshman Kaden Anderson will get his first career start at quarterback for the University of Wyoming against New Mexico this weekend. Anderson finished 15-of-24 for 182 yards, while Svoboda was 2-of-7 for 12 yards and an interception against Utah State.
Maybe the change will light a fire under the offense. Wyoming is 123rd in the country in total yardage at 303.4 per game, and 124th in scoring at 18.1 points.
Running back Harrison Waylee will also return to the line up on Saturday in his season debut.
The new-look Cowboys will try to improve on its 1-and-3 conference record down near the bottom of the Mountain West standings. Neither Nevada nor Air Force have won a conference game this year. The Lobos are 3-5 overall, and 2-2 in Mountain West play.
