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One of the best Wyoming games I’ve ever photographed. Entering this week in Albuquerque, I was pretty sure, as were most, that Fresno State would truck the Pokes en route to a New Mexico Bowl Title. Apparently, we were wrong.

The Cowboys won a 35-28 double-overtime thriller to capture their second bowl title this decade. In scoring 35 points, Wyoming racked up their second highest total this season — the highest, appropriately enough, came in their 37-13 win against New Mexico earlier this season.

With Dave Christensen at the helm of the Pokes, I hope we can make it an annual assignment to cover a bowl game.

Thanks for taking a look.

A few additional photos from my take at the installation of Wyoming Catholic Bishop Etienne.

Growing up my mother always told me horror stories about going to catholic school.  Wooden ruler slaps on the hands by nuns were mentioned more than once. Mom made it clear that nuns were strict and put up with no nonsense.  I often got this speech after getting a couple of swats from the principal or when teachers complained about me being a distraction in class — so most days.

So with this in the back of my mind, I got up at 5 a.m. in mid-November and headed south of the Wyoming border to the Abbey of St. Walburga. I must say I was startled when Sister Scholastica answered the door of the abbey with a wide smile and warm words.  I  could hear Gregorian chants echoing in the background as the nuns started their morning prayers.

I was extremely careful and selective while photographing during the morning service. The spiritual meditation of the service was obviously disrupted with the noise of my camera’s shutter. It made me nervous when the nuns would look at me every time I took an image.

However, after the service the nuns went about their daily duties and  made me feel like they were happy that I was there.  They laughed often and not once did I feel the wrath of a wooden ruler across my hand.  These women have made an admirable choice and were happy to talk with someone from outside of the abbey.

I hope you enjoy the pictures as much as I enjoyed not being swatted.

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.

WTE photo editor Michael Smith shot the first day of public school in Cheyenne on Wednesday. Today was more than just the first day of public school for the students of Rossman Elementray — it was the first day of the newly-built school. The $12-million school was completed this summer and principal Dennis Dix opened its doors for the first-ever classes within the halls of Rossman.

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