Fifth place, Wyoming

08-31-2007

By Tom Shanahan, San Diego Hall of Champions

QUARTERBACKS: Wyoming coach Joe Glenn made a quick impact at turning around the Cowboys' program when he guided his team to a win over UCLA in the 2004 Las Vegas Bowl in only his second season of taking over a program that had hit the skids. But so far the Cowboys haven't been able to capitalize on the momentum they gained from beating a Pac-10 school such as UCLA. Wyoming missed bowl games the last two years despite being bowl eligible with a 6-6 record last season. The Cowboys had to win four of their last six games to salvage a .500 season after injuries hurt the Cowboys early in the year. Karsten Sween was forced into a starting role midway through his redshirt freshman and is now back after a promising debut as an experienced sophomore. Sween played in nine games and completed 60.4 percent of his passes (128 of 212) for 1,304 yards with nine touchdown tosses against eight interceptions. The completion percentage and positive touchdown-to-interception ratio in his first collegiate season is the sign of a mature quarterback.

RUNNING BACKS: The Cowboys must find a way to improve their running game after averaging only 3.6 yards a carry last year. Juniors Wynel Seldon and Devin Moore shared the running back role. Seldon has more size and gained most of the work and is the returning starter. But Seldon gained only 610 yards on 156 carries and scored only one touchdown. Moore gained 574 yards on 80 carries for a per-carry average of 7.2. But he doesn't have the size to be an every-down back and he scored only three touchdowns.

RECEIVERS: The Cowboys are hoping a strong passing game can take the pressure off the running game. There is a strong nucleus of receivers to build around with senior tight end Wade Betschart and senior wide receiver Michael Ford. Betschart earned second-team all-conference honors last year, and having an experienced and talented tight end always adds to a West Coast offense. He caught 18 balls for 146 yards and two touchdowns and is a strong blocker. Ford is back after earning honorable mention a year ago for the Cowboys. He led the team with 60 catches for 674 yards and four touchdowns. Senior Hoost Marsh gives the Cowboys a third returning starter among the receivers as a wideout. He caught 23 balls for 280 yards and three touchdowns.

OFFENSIVE LINE: The Cowboys face a major rebuilding job in their offensive line. The two returning starters are juniors Kyle Howard and Tim Bond at right guard. They were the starting guards last year, but they're both moving to new positions to get the best five linemen on the field. Bond shifts to center and Howard takes over at right tackle. Sophomore Ryan Otterson takes over as an under-sized left tackle. The guards are pair of redshirt freshman, with Sam Sterner on the left side and Jack Tennant on the right side next to Howard.

DEFENSIVE LINE: Similar to the offensive line, the Cowboys are thin on the defensive side of the trenches. There are no returning starters up front and all three starters who emerged from spring ball are sophomores. Fred Givens provides 310-pound bulk at nose tackle. The defensive ends are John Fletcher and Mitche Unrein. Except for Fletcher, Unrein and the backups at the end positions are all undersized.

LINEBACKERS: Junior Ward Dobbs enjoyed a breakout season as he earned second-team all-conference recognition playing inside linebacker. Maybe the reason he fit in quickly in Laramie is he was recruited out of Fairbanks, Ala. Dobbs was second on the team in tackles and is the leading returning tacklers. The Cowboys will be strong up the middle as senior Luke Chase returns next to Dobbs at inside linebacker. The third returning starting linebacker is Sean Claffey at outside linebacker. Mike Juergens and Matt Barella are compting for the job opposite of Claffey.

SECONDARY: Safety John Wendling got most of the attetention as a first-team All-MWC pick en route to being drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the sixth round, but the Cowboys also received strong play last year from cornerback Julius Stinson. Wendling led the team in tackles and Stinson was third. Stinson is back for his senior year to lead the secondary after earning honorable mention last season as a junior. Senior Michael Medina gives the Cowboys a pair of returning starting cornerbacks. Starting the season at the safety spots are junior Michael Ray and junior Quincy Rogers.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Billy Vinnedge returns as the Cowboys' punter, but Wyoming's place-kicking could use more consistency despite the return of sophomore Aric Goodman. If he falters, sophomore Jake Scott could take over. The return game should be strong again as sure-handed Hoost Marsh handles the kickoff and punt return duties.

Returning starters: 12; Offense 7; QB: 1; RB: 1; WR/TE: 3; OL: 2; Defense 5; DL: 0; LB: 3; DB: 2; ST: 2.

2006 Record: 6-6; 2006 Conf. Record: 5-3

Head Coach: Joe Glenn (5)

Last Bowl Appearance: 2004 Las Vegas Bowl, Beat UCLA 24-21

2006 Turnover Ratio: -4

Home Surface: Grass

Returning Lettermen: 44

Lettermen Lost: 14

Offense: West Coast

Defense: 3-4