Sports
Braves Sports coverage from the Star Valley Independent’s Dahl Erickson.
updated August 20, 2008 by the Star Valley Independent in Sports
For the Wyoming Cowboys, who host the Ohio Bobcats on August 30, a lot is being placed on the shoulders of their defense, and in particular their defensive line. And that’s just fine with them.
Fred Givens, Mitch Unrein, and Outland Trophy nominee John Fletcher are all back for their junior season and have the look of a group that is ready to cause trouble for opposing offenses beginning with the Bobcats in just a few days’ time.
In particular, the Independent spent some time with these three players, and especially Mitch Unrein. Unrein is perhaps the one player in the league who is flying under the radar and will have a chance to become a household utterance by the end of the 2008 campaign. Unrein talks about his goals for the season individually and what he expects from the defensive unit.
Be sure to click below for interviews with the UW defensive line and Mitch Unrein as the Independent counts down the days until the Brown & Gold ride again.
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updated August 19, 2008 by the Star Valley Independent in Sports
LARAMIE, Wyo. (Aug. 18, 2008) — On Monday, the University of Wyoming announced its 2008-09 men’s basketball schedule which is highlighted by 16 home games, a road game against UCLA and Saturday home games versus Colorado State, Utah, TCU and New Mexico.
“We are excited to offer 16 home games to our fans this season,” said UW head coach Heath Schroyer. “It will be great to play a Final Four team in UCLA, a top ranked Missouri Valley Conference team in Casper like Northern Iowa and some other very good programs like Boise State and Loyola Marymount during the non-conference. We are also looking forward to renewing an old rivalry with Utah State by traveling to their tournament just after Christmas.
“I think that there is better balance on the schedule with some very good home and away games. I believe that this schedule will really benefit our RPI with the likes of UCLA, Loyola Marymount, Boise State and Utah State in addition to our conference schedule.”
The non-conference schedule is highlighted by a Dec. 23 meeting on the road with UCLA, a team who has reached the Final Four in each of the past three seasons, while also winning the Pac-10 regular- season title in each of those years. The last time Wyoming faced the Bruins in basketball was in the second round of the 1987 NCAA Tournament. Behind 41 points from Fennis Dembo, the Cowboys won that game by a score of 78-68 to advance to the Sweet 16.
The Cowboys will have the luxury of playing their first six games of the season at home in the Arena-Auditorium. They will open the season with an exhibition game against the Colorado School of Mines on Sat., Nov. 8. The other November home games include meetings with Cal State Bakersfield, Prairie View A&M, Johnson & Wales, Texas State and Denver.
“I think that for this team to be able to play our first six games at home in the Arena-Auditorium will be big in a lot of ways,” said Schroyer.
In addition to UCLA, the Cowboys will also face three other NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago in Boise State, BYU and UNLV. The Pokes will travel to Boise on Dec. 3 and play a home and home series in conference play with BYU and UNLV.
Another highlight will be the 2008 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Wyoming Shootout in Casper, Wyo. on Dec. 13. The Cowboys will face Northern Iowa, a Missouri Valley Conference team that reached the NCAA Tournament in 2004, ‘05 and ‘06.
The Mountain West Conference portion of the schedule features Saturday home games against Colorado State, Utah, TCU and New Mexico. During the conference season, 15 of UW’s 16 games will be televised on either The Mtn. or CBS College Sports.
“The league is as strong as ever,” said Schroyer. “It will feature a senior laden group with a lot of experience. Thirteen of the top-20 scorers from last year will be back this season. There is no doubt that UNLV, San Diego State and BYU will be very good teams. I truly feel the rest of the conference teams all have a chance to challenge for a spot in the top half of the league.
The Cowboys will welcome back four significant contributors, including three starters, from the 2007-08 season. The group will be led by senior Brandon Ewing, the MWC’s leading scorer in each of the past two seasons.
“We are excited for the upcoming season,” added Schroyer. “I think our talent has increased, we have better character and a better attitude. It will also be very nice to bring back four guys with a great deal of experience in Brandon Ewing, Tyson Johnson, Ryan Dermody and Mikhail Linskens.
“After having to sit out last season, we are really looking forward to getting Sean Ogirri and Djibril Thiam on the floor. Sean will be a big part of our team throughout the season, while Djibril will be eligible to compete at the end of the first semester after transferring from Baylor last December. We are also looking forward to bringing two redshirts into the lineup in Afam Muojeke and Adam Waddell. All four of these guys were able to practice with us last season and learn our system. They will contribute greatly this year.”
The Cowboys will begin practice for the 2008-09 season on Fri., Oct. 17.
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updated August 18, 2008 by the Star Valley Independent in Sports
Just a month ago, the area where the Braves were to play football this fall looked like a desolate construction zone. Now with crews putting the finishing touches on the newly installed turf, Braves Field is now starting to live up to it’s name.
Yard line markers, large “SV” logos and of course the Indian head and dream catcher will all be parts of the field that will go in this week. While discussion is currently underway as to how is the best way to lay down the track surfacing in between several home contests, most Star Valley football fans are only interested in one day: August 30. It’s on that Saturday the Braves will kick off the 2008 football season, and the 80th year of Star Valley football.
The Riverton Wolverines will be in town for the first time since 2003, and they too will have a new head coach at the helm of their program. It’s a weekend destined to be remembered for the many firsts mixed with the tradition of two historically rich programs.
Be sure to click below for a look at the new field as just 12 days separate fans from the beginning of the Wyoming high school football season.
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updated August 18, 2008 by the Star Valley Independent in Sports
It was a beautiful August evening, and by the looks of the Town of Afton, nearly all the residents were fast asleep. But while they were dreaming of a Monday work schedule, the SVHS Cross-Country team was waiting until the first minute of August 18 so they could begin fall practice
For the third straight year, the Distance Posse, led by their partially sane coach Ty Draney, wasted no time in their season and completed a run of approximately five kilometers (3.1 miles) before 12:30 a.m.
In fact, the crew was then fed by Draney and assistant coach Corina Ricks before setting goals for the season and getting a little sleep before waking up and running again at 7a.m. Monday morning.
Didn’t get a chance to see what was going on while you were sleeping? We at starvalleyindependent.com have you covered with the exclusive coverage of the midnight run and some thoughts from Coach Draney. Be sure to click on the video and discover what Midnight Madness is all about.
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updated August 15, 2008 by the Star Valley Independent in Sports
The tenth anniversary of the formation of the Mountain West Conference is this season and we haven’t even scratched the surface of any MWC trivia here on the stir so far. Well, that has to change.
Some big items are taking place with the conference that has been referred to as the original Western Athletic Conference. This is to say, the members who originally founded the WAC and took it to great heights, broke off from what was a 16-team “super conference” and started the Mountain West.
I can tell you very vividly that the super conference was nothing of the sort. It was too big, the quality of competition between the good and the bad was poor and traditional rivalries like Wyoming vs. BYU were not even being played. One need look no further than the fact that in 1996, the Cougars and Cowboys met up in the WAC championship with Wyoming being the “Pacific Division” champs. What? I still have the pennant on my wall, and that is a bonehead idea for all time.
Anyway, the big news for many MWC fans is that The Mtn., the conference’s dedicated channel will be available on Direct TV for the first time after two very frustrating seasons. I’ve had some folks talk to me and assume that the channel must be a joke. Trust me, it isn’t. It’s well done, and the content is very good. From covering the events as they happen, to being in Laramie for spring ball in the IPF, they get it done. Good stuff. Anyway, the television deal has me thinking about this week’s Stir question.
It’s not like the conference schools live in the largest television markets. Well, except for TCU which is in the Dallas/ Forth Worth area and ranks fifth in the country. But it got me to thinking about enrollment.
BYU has the largest enrollment of any school in the conference with 33,278 students reported over this last year. So, here’s this week’s question, with not one, not two, but three bonus questions.
Which member school has the second-largest student enrollment in the MWC?
Bonus: Within 1,000, how many are enrolled there?
Bonus: Which member school has the smallest enrollment?
Bonus: How many are enrolled in the smallest, within 1,000.
A quick reminder of the rules. Please no researching, only the person guessing the original question will get credit towards their point total which results in Star Valley apparel. Use the comment section to let us know.
So, there ya go. With BYU picked to win the conference in football this year, they have a giant target on their backs with a 16-game conference winning streak. Fans of all schools will be watching the Cougars this year in their free time, especially the folks in Star Valley who will be looking for SVHS graduate Rick Wolfley wearing number 71 in the middle of the defensive line.
Be sure to tab the Independent website as one of your favorites with a lot of great stuff coming up in the fall.
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updated August 15, 2008 by the Star Valley Independent in Sports
Children of the late Dr. Scott Bennett, who passed away tragically in an avalanche on January 12 of this year, will benefit from the upcoming Cycling Association of Star Valley Annual Ride.
Proceeds from the event will be placed in a scholarship fund Bennett’s children Philip, Samuel, Emily, and Elizabeth.
The event will begin on August 23 at 6:30 with registration and check-in at Canyon View Park in Afton, which will proceed into the bike tour. Participants can choose all lengths of tours to allow for many people that go throughout Star Valley.
Following the bike tour a BBQ dinner will be served at 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. at Canyon View Park. Tickets for the dinner will be $12 for adults and free for children five years old and younger. The dinner will be a great opportunity to mingle with other members of the Star Valley community, as well as the Bennett family including his wife, Jamee.
Wasatch Back Band will be performing during the BBQ and community get-together.
The bike tour will be a great opportunity for riders to take in the scenic views of Star Valley, all while getting a healthy workout and contributing to a very worthy cause.
The BBQ dinner is open for anyone who is interested and everyone is encouraged to attend to show their support for the Bennett family and to contribute to their college educations.
The 2008 CASVAR will be the fourth annual bike tour that the Cycling Association of Star Valley (CASV) has sponsored. Currently, there are 65 people pre-registered for the bike tour, which is an average amount. However, the number of participants is hoped to be higher as the tour is for such a worthy cause.
Bennett and his wife were two of the original members of CASV, and in this instance CASV is giving back to the family of the man who gave so much to them and his community.
Online registration will be accepted at www.casv.org or by calling (307) 883-9779. Registration forms are available at the Afton Town Hall and Northern Title Company in Thayne. Pre-registration is not required, but highly encouraged.
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updated August 13, 2008 by the Star Valley Independent in Sports
Wyoming residents know that weather changes and extreme offerings of Mother Nature are more common in the Cowboy State than in many other places. So when it comes to the hopes of Cowboy football in 2008, the fans know that it’s time for an epic storm to crash down upon the Mountain West Conference in the form of Thunder and Lightning.
The nickname, coined by UW Head Coach Joe Glenn, refers to Wynell Seldon (Thunder) at 6′ 1″ 221 pounds and Devin Moore (Lightning) 5′ 10 190 pounds, who carried the Cowboy running game to over 1,500 yards a year ago and 13 touchdowns. Although it sounds great, the numbers still fall short of the potential that fans and coaches are excited about this season as the two tailbacks enter their senior campaign.
Entering the 2008 season, Seldon, who rushed for a Wyoming freshman record with just under 900 yards, is now ranked eighth all time on the Cowboy rushing list with over 2,000 yards and 20 career touchdowns. Moore, who is already being touted as a possible first day selection in next April’s draft, posesses 4.27 speed and in Bob Cole’s new offense could be poised for a monster season.
However, when I talked to the tandem at Wyoming’s media day, their concerns were to take care of their own business of course, but to also help the passing game reach their potential. Look for a lot of cloudy skies over Laramie this season and be sure to click below for an exclusive interview with Thunder and Lightning.
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updated August 12, 2008 by the Star Valley Independent in Sports
The process of a new athletic facility for Star Valley High School is now in the final phase as the new field turf has arrived and is now in the process of being installed on the football/soccer portion of the field.
Be sure to click below for the video update of the progress that has taken place on the field and get a feel for how different the atmosphere may be come kickoff time for the Braves and Wolverines on August 30.
Also be sure to check out the August 14, 2008 edition of the Star Valley Independent for specific requirements for student-athletes this season including practice times and expectations from each of the four head coaches in the fall sports.
Want something else? Be sure to use the comment section and we’ll do our best to make you happy
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updated August 11, 2008 by the Star Valley Independent in Sports
With the departure of two senior cornerbacks, Michael Medina and Julius Stinson, Rogers and Ray will be counted on heavily in the Cowboy secondary. And that’s just fine with them.
Having combined for 138 tackles and ten passes defensed as juniors, this senior tandem speaks with the Independent about their expectations for 2008.
Click below for exclusive video from the University of Wyoming Cowboys media day.
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updated August 11, 2008 by the Star Valley Independent in Sports
From steer wrestling to calf roping to bronc riders, it was two days of serious rodeo action from the Lincoln County Fairgrounds to open this week.
Be sure to click below for some exclusive video footage of Monday’s round. Also, be sure to check back over the next several days for the Star Valley Independent’s coverage of the University of Wyoming media day and exclusive interviews with members of the Wyoming Cowboys football team and coaching staff.
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