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For a minute there, I wanted to brag about my degree from Wyoming. Sadly, the most important factor in earning a degree at a major university (a bad mother of a football team) eluded me and the ‘Pokes lost to super power Texas.

Much like earlier today when I pulled a move of uber machismo and tapped my brother out like an NES controller, Texas flexed their muscle and proved why they are in the national top 5. The Cowboys fought hard on pure adrenaline and kept a close score entering halftime — 13 Texas, 10 Wyoming. But in the second half, Heisman front runner Colt McCoy put on the big boy pants and proceeded to spank Wyoming for 28 second half points.

Not that Wyoming isn’t good (they are much improved), but Texas is a monster. It was a case of Goliath against David with the swine flu . On another, more complete day, the Cowboys might have pulled the improbable. Sadly, it was left to the Bible and not reality on this day.

Overall, my prediction of the ‘Pokes has changed. I’m not going back on my word, rather, I am editing in light of new information. I have the Cowboys slated for five wins. You heard it here months after someone else probably said it, five wins.

Hopefully, the ‘Pokes reverse their fortune and win some games down the road and my brother does not.

Thanks for looking.

In my 20-plus years of living in Wyoming, I cannot remember a more heralded coach to assume the reigns of the ‘Pokes than one Dave Christensen.

The boy wizard of offense from Missouri (aka Missoura in some regions) brought a bag of tricks unlike those of the up-the-middle-one-yard-at-a-time approach by his predecessor… old what’s his name? Not coming to me right now.

Anyway, Wyoming opened said bag of trickery against Division I-AA opponent Weber State on Saturday, though it was less than magical. The Cowboys won, mind you, but it was hard-fought for three quarters and even at the very end when the game looked to be out of reach.

After the game, coach Christensen told his players to sing “Ragtime Cowboy Joe” and to do it loud because, “wins aren’t easy.”

They certainly aren’t and Wyoming knows it.

They will face two Big 12 opponents, three in-conference top-25 teams and a couple solid mid-level programs including Colorado State. From what I saw Saturday, and for the past couple years out of these players, I don’t expect the Cowboys to upend anyone they shouldn’t beat (e.g. Texas, Utah, TCU or BYU), but they may have a shot to beat some others like Florida Atlantic or Big 12 small fry Colorado.

Overall, I predict a 4-7 season. This based solely on the Harry Potter factor(s), which are the tricks and magic contained within Christensen’s play calling.

So despite the fact that the first six letters of his name spell the name of another leader of men, and the fact that he will face great adversity, let’s hope that Christensen is not crucified for not remaining unbeaten in’09.

Thanks for looking.

People outside the Thomas & Mack Center (the building in the background).

so this is it, the big time? i’m on the road with fellow wte bad boy robert gagliardi blogging from within the confines of a very nice media room at the thomas & mack center in las vegas, nev.

ah, the allure of bright lights, sunny days, and an abundance of poolside aesthetics… who can complain? certainly not this photog.

last night we met some interesting people who were also taken in by sin city. one young lovely i met brought a tear to my eye. a working gal who hails from cheyenne. we talked for hours about the virtue of the taco john’s taco bravo in comparison to its taco bell counterpart, the double decker. truly, i was enlightened.

(continue reading…)