The goal of every football coach at every university is to win football games and compete for conference championships. When Dave Christensen was hired, Athletic Director Tom Burman stated, “With Dave leading Cowboy Football, I believe our program will make dramatic progress in the coming years and return to a position of prominence in the Mountain West Conference.” As we approach the end of Christensen’s fifth season the Pokes have been nowhere near Mountain West prominence as 22 of Christensen’s 26 wins at Wyoming have been against losing FBS or FCS programs. To be the best you must beat the best and Wyoming isn’t even in a position to compete with the best. Here is the year by year breakdown of Christensen’s record versus ranked teams and those with a winning record.
The last FBS team Wyoming beat with a winning record was San Diego State on October 29th, 2011 in San Diego. The Aztecs at that time were 4-2 and ended the 2011 season with an 8-5 record. Since then Wyoming has been defeated by every single FBS team it has faced with a winning record. The numbers shown above should be disheartening to every Wyoming fan and it is safe to say the program is not trending in an upward direction. I supported the hiring of Dave Christensen as our football coach because of his spread offense and his overall vision. Yet, at the end of his fifth season it is clear to see he has not created the culture and winning mentality that he would have liked. Based on what we know it is safe to say that Wyoming will beat Hawaii at home ( a team with a losing record) and will be defeated by Utah State on the road (a team with a winning record).
The question then turns to, is a winning percentage of 12.9% against winning teams good enough for Wyoming to reach prominence in the Mountain West? The answer is certainly not and it is my belief that it would be best for Christensen and Wyoming to part ways at the completion of this football season.
Great. Now I’m more depressed! Thanks Mr. T!
Sorry, but he’s gotta go…
Aren’t we 0-2 this year against ranked teams, Nebraska and Fresno both ranked when we played them.
@Jason Hatch lol.. don’t blame me! Chad wrote it! 🙂
He needs to go. Not a good fit for this program. He’s thrown out traditions and changed it for the worse.
Yes, Marcy Neb was ranked but are not ranked now. My analysis only took into consideration rankings and records at the end of the season or the current ones for this season. So, I am actually being kind to DC. Thanks, for reading!
It was me…sorry. Send your medication bills to Obama.
What I find funny is everyone bitched about Joe Glenn. Joe atleast could beat winning teams.
Well, Jim, I can tell you that Joe Glenn had a better record against ranked teams for sure.
I could be wrong but I think that Ol Miss and Virginia were both ranked when they we beat them. Glad you are feeling better!!!
I sure hate that it feels to me we are wasting a tremendous talent in Brett Smith.
Couldn’t agree more Jim!!!
His record speaks for itself. Not sure how some folks think it’s going to get any better.
People are stupid to think its going to get better…..it has slowly gone down hill with him. The only good season’s he’s had was with acs as a freshman and Brett as a freshman…..and at least Joe Glenn showed he cared for Wyoming. Dave acts like he could give 2 s***s about Wyoming as long as he gets paid
Honestly, his record reflects his play calling. Like last week for example…32 seconds before half, ball at our own 40, and 3 time outs…lets kneel it and send it to OT down 17
Ouch
He beat a 9-3 Virgina team, ole Miss twice. Won at Knoxville, hammered Utah, and how about upsetting UCLA? Not that Joe got it done in the conference but I think it’s fair to say we hung with the big boys. Joe didn’t lay an egg at home to an FCS team, in fact, NO coach in history has ever done that, except Christensen.
I’m not saying Christiansen doesn’t needed to go, I feel the entire football establishment at udub should be evaluated for their effectiveness
I think the issue lies far before these two coaches ever stepped foot in War Memorial Stadium. Roach elevated the program. Tiller had great success. And from what I understand, Athletic Director Lee Moon “ran” Tiller off. From what I’ve heard/remember Tiller was content in Laramie. However, he took the job at Purdue and Dana Dimel was hired. Dimel was a good coach, but he didn’t care about Wyoming like Tiller previously had. He used Tillers recruits to have a fairly successful three year tenure at Wyoming, but in turn he recruited poorly. From what it appears, Dimel, used his job at Wyoming as a stepping stone. So be it…it happens in college football all the time. Koenning was a poor coach and he had no talent (some on offense, none on defense). Regardless, his time at Wyoming was pitiful. Glenn stepped in (he had a very solid resume) and overall he is a pretty damn good coach. However, he lacked the ability to recruit appropriate talent. He had been around D2/I-AA talent his whole coaching career and that is what he eventually brought to Wyoming. I think the DC is quite the opposite. Not a good coach, but a good recruiter. If only we could merge these two together. The coaching of Glenn, recruting of DC and Glenn’s defenses with DC’s offenses. But, that is so hypothetical. Bottom line: if you are looking for someone to blame for the demise of cowboy football I’d say Lee Moon. Second, it isn’t going to get any better under Christensen.
Sean Schneidmiller,have a look see at this.
Well I’m always tired of rebuilding every 5 years, especially when there aren’t any results to show for it. My solution is we need a young up and comer but one that will hold passion for UW and what he thinks and wants to bring to UW. If a coach is truly happy, rewarded for his loyalty then maybe we’ll get somewhere. DC was a good OC just not a HC, Glenn was a good coach and motivator, he couldn’t recruit D1 talent. I think he should be our new AD cuz most universities with ADs with coaching exp usually do well. Passion, love for the program and state may be what were looking for. Let’s find someone with those qualities and see if we can get back to wins in the MWC for a change
Maybe we need to decide what type of school we wanna be football or basketball.. I vote for bball and invest more $ there and build it up
We need Paul Roach to come out of retirement to get it straightened out!
When schools do that, football dies. I mean it literally goes away. A college football team costs WAY too much money to half-ass it. Either you’re in or you’re out. I went to a school that decided to pull back on football and focus on BBall. 30 years later, the football program has been dead (literally there’s no team) for 25 years, and the BBall team makes the Dance about once a decade on average.
Yeah, and lose to everyone else. His record at UW was pathetic. It doesn’t matter who you beat if you can’t win more than four games a year.
Great comments everyone, thanks for reading!
Especially such a waste at QB that coulda be even more special
imo, find a Wyoming President first.
Send Burman back to the car lot.
Hire a qualtiy AD, that supports and understands Wyoming Tradition (not bs sub-par marquee programs)
Send DC packing, after the first two are in place.
Hire a young gun HC, I like Bohl, Matt Campbell (Toledo), Ogerdon (whom never would come). But there are quality coaches that could buy into a 5 year strategy to get a MWC championship. Must have recruiting ability and a personality that would mesh with a belief in excellence. up the budget to hire great OC, and DC, then let them synthesize the coaching staff. Any other formula, I doubt works.