LARAMIE — A sense of newness and uncertainty surrounds the Wyoming football team.
For now, the offense is adjusting to new coordinator Bob Cole’s plan and junior college transfer Dax Crum at quarterback.
“We pretty much took half of what they had and then added 50 percent of another package,” said Cole, who was hired in December to replace Bill Cockhill. “We installed it in the spring, and everything got better as the spring went on. The players started to understand what we were doing, and everyone is basically on the same page.”
Coach Joe Glenn said a key to Cole’s success is to build his game plans around the current talent.
“He has been trying to evaluate our team and build an offense around who we have, not what he knows,” Glenn said. “He has been the master at getting the ball in the hands of the guys that can produce the most.”
Crum, a transfer from Mesa (Ariz.) Community College, joined in the spring and emerged as the starter after the first scrimmage. He has been untested at the Division I-A level, but his coaches and teammates say his confidence on the field and in the huddle make him a clear leader.
“Hopefully he and I will become one and the same on game day,” Cole said. “I would like him to become an extension of me, come Saturday.”
The Cowboys have had a mix and match of quarterbacks since 2005 when Corey Bramlet ended the five-year stint of family quarterbacks preceded by his brother Casey. Since then, Jacob Doss, Ian Hetrick and Karsten Sween have started. After Sween threw for 2,028 yards and 12 touchdowns and 17 interceptions in 2007, Glenn said the former starter would play behind Crum for now.
The quarterback turmoil throughout the spring and summer left concern about the offensive leaders, but Wyoming returns its “Thunder and Lightning” running tandem of seniors Wynel Seldon and Devin Moore. To the outside, junior wide receiver Greg Bolling will be Crum’s main target.
About the Cowboys
Coach: Joe Glenn (6th season)
2007 record: 5-7 (Overall) 2-6 (Mountain West Conference)
What’s new: Bob Cole (Offensive coordinator). After struggling with the stop and go offensive scheme from 2007, the Cowboys will take Cole’s new plan and adapt it to their current personnel.
What to look for: Another sturdy defense. Tough defenses have been a mainstay at Wyoming and with the defensive line returning intact, a veteran group of linebackers and a pair of brothers in the corners, the Cowboys should continue to put pressure on offenses. The defense will be vital to Wyoming wins as the offense gets comfortable with the new offensive set-up.
Prediction for 2008: 7-5, Wyoming has to protect their home field to make up for tough match-ups on the road.
Five players to watch
Devin Moore — Moore, who was named a co-captain and nicknamed “Lightning”, is a vocal leader and will exceed his successes of 2007 in his senior season. He netted 965 yards on the ground last season.
Ward Dobbs — Dobbs, who was named a co-captain, doesn’t need to speak loud to show his force on the field. He led the team with 98 tackles in 2007.
John Fletcher — Fletcher, who is 6-foot-6-inches, rang up 10.5 sacks in 2007 setting him at No. 11 in the nation. With a successful season behind him, he will continue to scare and pressure quarterbacks into 2008.
Dax Crum — Crum is an unproven quarterback at the Division I level, but his commanding personality in the huddle has his teammates behind him as a leader.
Tashaun Gipson — Gipson will start at cornerback as a true freshman opposite his brother Marcel Gipson. His speed and toughness will most likely make up for any inexperience at the Division I level.
Projected starting lineup
Offense
Quarterback: Dax Crum
Running Backs: Devin Moore, Wynel Seldon
Fullback: Greg Genho
Wide Receivers: Greg Bolling, Donate Morgan, Brandon Stewart or David Leonard
Tight End/H-Back: Chris Sundberg
Left Tackle: Ryan Otterson
Left Guard: Sam Sterner
Center: Tim Bond
Right Guard: Russ Arnold
Right Tackle: Kyle Howard
Defense
Boundary Cornerback: Marcell Gipson
Free Safety: Chris Prosinski
Strong Safety: Quincy Rogers
Field Cornerback: Tashaun Gipson
SAM Linebacker: Weston Johnson
MIKE Linebacker: Gabe Knapton
WILL Linebacker: Ward Dobbs
BUCK Linebacker: Mike Juergens
Defensive Tackle: John Fletcher
Nose Guard: Fred Givens
Defensive End: Mitch Unrein
Special Teams
Place-kicker (PATs, Field Goals and Kickoffs): Jake Scott
Punter: Nick Landess
Kickoff Returner: Devin Moore, Marcell Gipson
Punt Returner: Brandon Stewart or David Leonard or Taushaun Gipson
Schedule
Aug. 30 Ohio Noon
Sept. 6 Air Force 1:30 p.m.
Sept. 13 North Dakota St. 1 p.m.
Sept. 20 at BYU 1 p.m.
Sept. 27 Bowling Green 2 p.m.
Oct. 4 at New Mexico 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 11 Utah Noon
Oct. 25 at TCU 4 p.m.
Nov. 1 San Diego State Noon
Nov. 8 at Tennessee 11 a.m.
Nov. 13 at UNLV 7 p.m.
Nov. 22 Colorado State Noon
Pivotal game: Air Force
The Wyoming and Air Force rivalry has always turned out tight finishes. In 10 of their last 12 games, the scoring deficit has been less than 11 points. With the Air Force game kicking off the conference season for the Cowboys, it could be a definite jump-start for the team.
