2018 Wyoming Football Expectations [WyoNation Blog]

[joshvanklomp]

Honestly all it would take is one personnel decision for us to be a top-flight FBS program right now.

No, it really wouldn't.

 

[LanderPoke]

Honestly all it would take is one personnel decision for us to be a top-flight FBS program right now.

No, it really wouldn't.

We can agree to disagree, but if our offense was marginally better last year we would have won 10 games. 10 f*****ing games! I would kill to win 10 games in one year. Give us an offense that was say ~90th best in the country instead of DFL then last year's team would be in the Wyoming Hall of Fame. And 90th is still dog crap! It would have taken a merely mediocre offensive coaching staff to construct a mediocre offense that would have propelled us to lofty heights. and we had a top 10 pick NFL QB! Merely mediocre is all it would have taken.

 

[ELKMT]

The impact of a coordinator is huge. Take no further look than Hazelton. That being said I can see this team winning the conference, but I can also see a mediocre year ( 5 wins). I don’t blame anyone for having tempered expectations after the loss to SJSU. That could be the worst loss in program history, and should be a borderline fire your coordinator type of game ( kind of like the New Mexico game in 16).

 

[joshvanklomp]

Honestly all it would take is one personnel decision for us to be a top-flight FBS program right now.

No, it really wouldn't.

We can agree to disagree, but if our offense was marginally better last year we would have won 10 games. 10 f*****ing games! I would kill to win 10 games in one year. Give us an offense that was say ~90th best in the country instead of DFL then last year's team would be in the Wyoming Hall of Fame. And 90th is still dog crap! It would have taken a merely mediocre offensive coaching staff to construct a mediocre offense that would have propelled us to lofty heights. and we had a top 10 pick NFL QB! Merely mediocre is all it would have taken.

A 10-win G5 team doesn't put us in the conversation with the Alabamas and other top-flight FBS programs was more my point.

 

[J-Rod]

The impact of a coordinator is huge. Take no further look than Hazelton. That being said I can see this team winning the conference, but I can also see a mediocre year ( 5 wins). I don’t blame anyone for having tempered expectations after the loss to SJSU. That could be the worst loss in program history, and should be a borderline fire your coordinator type of game ( kind of like the New Mexico game in 16).

Finally, the speculation will come to an end. Obviously there are some injuries and suspensions (I think that should be singular) for this week's game, but overall we're going to learn a ton about these new players and their progress before the bye. We should have a good grasp on whether we're getting 2016 vibes or not starting this weekend.

 

[Wyokie]

I hope for a repeat of 2016 but with us winning the MW Championship AND beating both Hawaii and the Smurfs. I have friends who roots for both (bunch for the 'Bows and one buddy for the Smurfs) and I want to drive them all insane this year!!!!!

 

[J-Rod]

I hope for a repeat of 2016 but with us winning the MW Championship AND beating both Hawaii and the Smurfs. I have friends who roots for both (bunch for the 'Bows and one buddy for the Smurfs) and I want to drive them all insane this year!!!!!

You forgot that they need to be wearing the 88'-89' uniforms. With 80s rock-and-roll in the background. With a version of Top Gun that doesn't have Goose dying playing on the jumbotron.

 

[LanderPoke]

Honestly all it would take is one personnel decision for us to be a top-flight FBS program right now.

No, it really wouldn't.

We can agree to disagree, but if our offense was marginally better last year we would have won 10 games. 10 f*****ing games! I would kill to win 10 games in one year. Give us an offense that was say ~90th best in the country instead of DFL then last year's team would be in the Wyoming Hall of Fame. And 90th is still dog crap! It would have taken a merely mediocre offensive coaching staff to construct a mediocre offense that would have propelled us to lofty heights. and we had a top 10 pick NFL QB! Merely mediocre is all it would have taken.

A 10-win G5 team doesn't put us in the conversation with the Alabamas and other top-flight FBS programs was more my point.

Misspoke. I meant G5. Which would be absolutely true

 

[PokeTransplant]

Honestly all it would take is one personnel decision for us to be a top-flight FBS program right now.

No, it really wouldn't.

We can agree to disagree, but if our offense was marginally better last year we would have won 10 games. 10 f*****ing games! I would kill to win 10 games in one year. Give us an offense that was say ~90th best in the country instead of DFL then last year's team would be in the Wyoming Hall of Fame. And 90th is still dog crap! It would have taken a merely mediocre offensive coaching staff to construct a mediocre offense that would have propelled us to lofty heights. and we had a top 10 pick NFL QB! Merely mediocre is all it would have taken.

Absolutely!! And I blame Vigen for that. Granted Nick Smith wasn't a Josh Allen by any stretch of the imagination, but the playbook was reduced to a page and a half at most when Allen went down. For a guy like Smith, who had been in the program for a couple of years, why reduce the playbook like that? Not saying Nick Smith could have done anything with the full playbook, but it looked like Vigen didn't even try....

 

[Wyokie]

I hope for a repeat of 2016 but with us winning the MW Championship AND beating both Hawaii and the Smurfs. I have friends who roots for both (bunch for the 'Bows and one buddy for the Smurfs) and I want to drive them all insane this year!!!!!

You forgot that they need to be wearing the 88'-89' uniforms. With 80s rock-and-roll in the background. With a version of Top Gun that doesn't have Goose dying playing on the jumbotron.

87-96 uniforms (2 outright WAC Titles, 3 bowl appearances and a WAC division title)

Sadly there's a sequel coming of that classic movie. :roll:

 

[ItSucksToBeACSURam]

Honestly, I would not be shocked if this team ended up anywhere from 4-8 to 12-0. I really don't know what to think of this team and this schedule. There isn't a single game where you know it'll be a loss and only one or two that you can write in a W. There is no Oregon on this schedule which is beneficial. This is how I think the season will go.

• W - @ NMSU - We're the better team on paper, should win.

• W - vs WA St. - Its at home, we will have he better defense, should win.

• Unknown - @ Miss - This is the first real test where I could see the pokes being an underdog. But in the same breath, Missouri hasn't been great the last few years. I don't foresee this game being as difficult as Nebraska two season ago or Iowa last season. This is a game the Pokes most definitely COULD lose but should win.

• W - vs. Wofford - Better be a blowout of epic proportions with 2nd and 3rd stringers getting the lion's share of the play time

• Unknown - BSU - We have seen in the past that Bohl can scheme with the best of them and we have beaten Boise in the past 2 season. This game could easily go either way.

• L - @Hawaii - I hate to say that, but we HAVE NEVER travelled well to the islands. This could easily be a 50/50, but I just don't see this going our way. Hope I am wrong.

• L - @ FSU - I feel they'll be pesky, I think theyre trending down from last season but will still pose a helluva test on the road. Could go either way but expect an L on this one.

• W - vs UTSt - Should win. Better team all around team.

• Unknown - @ CSU - While I always think the POKES will decimate the sheep, I can't let myself get too cocky on this one. While CSU always likes to tout how they have the better recruiting classes, we will always have the better coaching staff. This game to me is a toss up, one we should win but could certainly give up the boot.

• W - vs. SJSU - This game better be a body bag game. Should be a rout for the Pokes.

• W - vs AF - Should be another win. Bohl and Hazelton seem to have great game plans against the option and should stifle the zips again. Hopefully this will be a game where they wear those badass AC-130 uniforms...

• W - UNM - For the same reasons as AF plus its senior day. I won't be shocked if this one gets out of control

I truly believe this team has the potential to be better than last years team and somewhere on the same level as the 2016 team. We are loaded again with NFL talent (now on the Defensive side of the ball) and have a group of seniors who are not going to let this team get complacent. There are 3 games that could swing this season to an all time great. I think on the whole the Pokes will have another good season and will be Bohling.

 

[J-Rod]

Hawaii ranks 127th in returning experience and will be starting TWO true freshman on the OL as a result of that rampant inexperience. History says Wyoming is guaranteed to have a bad loss this season, but Wyoming should eat that day.

Getting off the fence, I'll say...8-4. Losses to Missouri, Boise, Fresno, New Mexico. The annual "crap ourselves" game has been during the final weekend of the regular season two years running, soooo let's make it three years. Other three losses are because those teams matchup well with Wyoming. Pokes get a solid P5 win in the home opener. I have no idea where they would be bowling in this case.

 

[Wyokie]

Hawaii ranks 127th in returning experience and will be starting TWO true freshman on the OL as a result of that rampant inexperience. History says Wyoming is guaranteed to have a bad loss this season, but Wyoming should eat that day.

Getting off the fence, I'll say...8-4. Losses to Missouri, Boise, Fresno, New Mexico. The annual "crap ourselves" game has been during the final weekend of the regular season two years running, soooo let's make it three years. Other three losses are because those teams matchup well with Wyoming. Pokes get a solid P5 win in the home opener. I have no idea where they would be bowling in this case.

I'll take 8-4 although...14-0 and a big blowout win over a major P5 school in a NYD bowl game would be better but.... :roll:

Hate admitting this but we'll screw up against Missouri...which is sad since I have a friend who attended Missouri a long time ago...in a galaxy far, far away. Hey...someone had to say it.

 

[Wyovanian]

Honestly, I would not be shocked if this team ended up anywhere from 4-8 to 12-0. I really don't know what to think of this team and this schedule. There isn't a single game where you know it'll be a loss and only one or two that you can write in a W. There is no Oregon on this schedule which is beneficial. This is how I think the season will go.

• W - @ NMSU - We're the better team on paper, should win.

• W - vs WA St. - Its at home, we will have he better defense, should win.

• Unknown - @ Miss - This is the first real test where I could see the pokes being an underdog. But in the same breath, Missouri hasn't been great the last few years. I don't foresee this game being as difficult as Nebraska two season ago or Iowa last season. This is a game the Pokes most definitely COULD lose but should win.

• W - vs. Wofford - Better be a blowout of epic proportions with 2nd and 3rd stringers getting the lion's share of the play time

• Unknown - BSU - We have seen in the past that Bohl can scheme with the best of them and we have beaten Boise in the past 2 season. This game could easily go either way.

• L - @Hawaii - I hate to say that, but we HAVE NEVER travelled well to the islands. This could easily be a 50/50, but I just don't see this going our way. Hope I am wrong.

• L - @ FSU - I feel they'll be pesky, I think theyre trending down from last season but will still pose a helluva test on the road. Could go either way but expect an L on this one.

• W - vs UTSt - Should win. Better team all around team.

• Unknown - @ CSU - While I always think the POKES will decimate the sheep, I can't let myself get too cocky on this one. While CSU always likes to tout how they have the better recruiting classes, we will always have the better coaching staff. This game to me is a toss up, one we should win but could certainly give up the boot.

• W - vs. SJSU - This game better be a body bag game. Should be a rout for the Pokes.

• W - vs AF - Should be another win. Bohl and Hazelton seem to have great game plans against the option and should stifle the zips again. Hopefully this will be a game where they wear those badass AC-130 uniforms...

• W - UNM - For the same reasons as AF plus its senior day. I won't be shocked if this one gets out of control

I truly believe this team has the potential to be better than last years team and somewhere on the same level as the 2016 team. We are loaded again with NFL talent (now on the Defensive side of the ball) and have a group of seniors who are not going to let this team get complacent. There are 3 games that could swing this season to an all time great. I think on the whole the Pokes will have another good season and will be Bohling.

In a word, wrong.

 

[WyoBrandX]

I have a legit question....are all you people being this pessimistic about this year's team to keep yourself from having a meltdown if we stink it up, or are you hoping for the opposite in that you can be impressed if they do well. Which is it?! This is a different team, and I can put my finger on two freshman QBs who came in and we're serviceable enough to lead their respective teams to bowl games. Why should VanderWahl be viewed any different "until" proven otherwise. I personally only see 3 games where we are guaranteed underdogs, and will have a tough time, and I don't see a single game where we won't compete.

I think the overall vibe would be different if the first taste of life after Josh Allen weren't that AFA (2nd half), FSU, SJSU block of games from 2017. I mean, the Spartans were unbelievably bad. Wyoming was their only FBS win in 2017. That's what has people on edge.

Now, TVW could be way better than Smith. More than possible. But until people see that, I understand the skepticism.

As much as that SJSU game pisses me off, it was only one game. That lies entirely on the coaches. Look at the stats - we should have won that game.

 

[WyoBrandX]

Until I see different. I predict to be in every game and win every game. Conference Championship. Just the way I'm wired. I am an eternal optimist, especially if I haven't seen anything to counter my thoughts. An all time defense and lots of question marks on offense but almost everyone a year older. I'm a big boy I can take disappointment.

I'm looking forward freezing my ass off mid december in War Memorial Stadium in mid December with -40 F temperature and 100 mph winds as we take the conference championship.

The first 3 games will be tough to judge. Offense will be the problem. Game 4, things click and its on to the tundra in the astroturf.

 

[JimmyDimes]

I'm optimistic mainly because of the defense. And, because the coaching staff seems confident. They are confident in what they have in the Oline. Losing depth puts them in a tight spot, but the coaching staff seems to like what they have. They were also confident enough to move Trey Woods to DE and roll with a couple new guys at RB. And they are happy with what Nico Evans has done to improve his football skills. They have returning starters at most of the skilled positions. They didn't last year. And, they are confident that a RSfreshman QB was better than a guy with 3 years and starting experience under his belt.

I can't see this team winning less than 6 games. How many more than that depends on how the offense plays among other things. But the D is good enough for 6 if the offense doesn't show up at all.

Go Pokes!!

 

[bladerunnr]

Those who want to put the blame on the offensive coordinator are wrong, imo. Blame the recruiting, but not the game plan. How bad was the offensive line? We had 27 yards rushing against Gardner-Webb. San Jose state gave up nearly 50 or 60 points against everyone except us. Bohl has had 4 years to recruit and we have arguably the worst offensive line in the MWC. If Bohl didn't hire a new D-coordinator last year, we might have won about 2 games. And yet, the 2016 offense was the best I can remember since the Roach era. Is this Joe Glen 2.0? Maybe. Put me down for 5 wins.

 

[Poke in New England]

Hawaii ranks 127th in returning experience and will be starting TWO true freshman on the OL as a result of that rampant inexperience. History says Wyoming is guaranteed to have a bad loss this season, but Wyoming should eat that day.

Getting off the fence, I'll say...8-4. Losses to Missouri, Boise, Fresno, New Mexico. The annual "crap ourselves" game has been during the final weekend of the regular season two years running, soooo let's make it three years. Other three losses are because those teams matchup well with Wyoming. Pokes get a solid P5 win in the home opener. I have no idea where they would be bowling in this case.

I think it could be argued that the UNLV loss was worse than New Mexico in 2016. Both were an embarrassment but the Lobos had a decent team that year and ran the ball on a lot of teams (not to the extent that they did on us). UNLV hasn't been good in years and they dropped 69 points on us and we needed a miracle drive and touchdown throw to even get it into overtime.

 

[LanderPoke]

Those who want to put the blame on the offensive coordinator are wrong, imo. Blame the recruiting, but not the game plan. How bad was the offensive line? We had 27 yards rushing against Gardner-Webb. San Jose state gave up nearly 50 or 60 points against everyone except us. Bohl has had 4 years to recruit and we have arguably the worst offensive line in the MWC. If Bohl didn't hire a new D-coordinator last year, we might have won about 2 games. And yet, the 2016 offense was the best I can remember since the Roach era. Is this Joe Glen 2.0? Maybe. Put me down for 5 wins.

Recruiting is to blame, but you'd need the Dallas Cowboys' offensive line to make this predictable, abomination of an offense work.