2026-2027 Season - Who's Excited?

[OrediggerPoke]

Even if Wyoming were to pull out a win, I am and will still be pissed about the decision. *Unless we beat them 70 to 0. For me, it isn't necessarily about *winning the game, it is how the deal was done.

I.E.

•Giving CSewe a 7th home game for revenue purposes alone...
•Giving CSewe a home opener vs. WYO to celebrate their new Conference and new Coach
•Giving up a home game (and all the revenue) against a better opponent (North Texas)
•Keeping CSewe from getting their ass handed to them by Indiana (and tank their season)

Might want to add:

1) Handing over the media rights to the game to the PAC and CSU for exactly $0 in compensation. The game is now being widely promoted as the PAC’s first televised game with its new network partner USA Network.
2) Screwing over Wyoming season ticket holders by getting rid of pretty much the only desirable home game.
3) doing all of this while CSU and the PAC are actively suing Wyoming and refusing to pay the exit fees they long ago agreed to pay as a member of the MWC.

So my question is - were there any side oral assurances coming out of Fort Collins and the PAC to take care of Burman (or others) as part of this very one sided deal?

 

[cowpokeguy]

At the time, I remember Burman getting congratulated for inking a deal to generally preserve the Bronze Boot series. But I don't recall any commentary/analysis of what UW gave up (and CSU received) in 2026 or any thoughtful assessment of whether it was a good idea. The specifics seemed to fly under the radar. Maybe the question for General Reeves should be "Are you fully aware of the deal specifics and what a loss would likely mean for the program and its fan-base?" Burman managed to get a seat at the Russian Roulette table...what a guy!

As I Google around back around time of the annoucement, there actually aren't many articles doing much analysis about the announcement. Mostly they are just re-gurgitating the press releases put out by the Wyoming and CSU athletic depts which of course are positive.

Also, this reminds me of one of the smartest but slimiest things that Burman did a few years back. He hired (formerly) respected journalist Ryan Thorburn to pump out puff piece after puff piece about the greatness of Wyoming athletics and really shape a lot of that narrative, all on the University dime. What a deal!! Anyone else really put off by this?

To whit: https://gowyo.com/news/2026/7/1/football-pokes-insider-wyoming-embracing-new-mountain-west-era.aspx

 

[McPeachy]

Might want to add:

1) Handing over the media rights to the game to the PAC and CSU for exactly $0 in compensation. The game is now being widely promoted as the PAC’s first televised game with its new network partner USA Network.
2) Screwing over Wyoming season ticket holders by getting rid of pretty much the only desirable home game.
3) doing all of this while CSU and the PAC are actively suing Wyoming and refusing to pay the exit fees they long ago agreed to pay as a member of the MWC.

So my question is - were there any side oral assurances coming out of Fort Collins and the PAC to take care of Burman (or others) as part of this very one sided deal?

Solid points, and I agree. To answer your question, I have always thought CSewe made a back-alley deal with Burman for some cash considerations or similar. He basically saved their asses in so many ways, particularaly financially.

 

[McPeachy]

As I Google around back around time of the annoucement, there actually aren't many articles doing much analysis about the announcement. Mostly they are just re-gurgitating the press releases put out by the Wyoming and CSU athletic depts which of course are positive.

Also, this reminds me of one of the smartest but slimiest things that Burman did a few years back. He hired (formerly) respected journalist Ryan Thorburn to pump out puff piece after puff piece about the greatness of Wyoming athletics and really shape a lot of that narrative, all on the University dime. What a deal!! Anyone else really put off by this?

To whit: https://gowyo.com/news/2026/7/1/football-pokes-insider-wyoming-embracing-new-mountain-west-era.aspx

Well stated. Go Pokes!

 

[OrediggerPoke]

As I Google around back around time of the annoucement, there actually aren't many articles doing much analysis about the announcement. Mostly they are just re-gurgitating the press releases put out by the Wyoming and CSU athletic depts which of course are positive.

Also, this reminds me of one of the smartest but slimiest things that Burman did a few years back. He hired (formerly) respected journalist Ryan Thorburn to pump out puff piece after puff piece about the greatness of Wyoming athletics and really shape a lot of that narrative, all on the University dime. What a deal!! Anyone else really put off by this?

To whit: https://gowyo.com/news/2026/7/1/football-pokes-insider-wyoming-embracing-new-mountain-west-era.aspx

The comments on Wyoming social media sites at the time was illuminating to me (most were responses to the puff pieces that had been published). Basically 100% positive comments for the change in schedule.

As you point out - the University controlling its own media narrative seems very reminiscent of how certain countries operate (ie Iran, Russia, China, etc…).

 

[Bryoming]

Also, this reminds me of one of the smartest but slimiest things that Burman did a few years back. He hired (formerly) respected journalist Ryan Thorburn to pump out puff piece after puff piece about the greatness of Wyoming athletics and really shape a lot of that narrative, all on the University dime. What a deal!! Anyone else really put off by this?

To whit: https://gowyo.com/news/2026/7/1/football-pokes-insider-wyoming-embracing-new-mountain-west-era.aspx

Make no mistake, Thorburn is still a very respected journalist. If he were still working independently of the University I'm certain his articles would have a different tone.

 

[Brew_Poke]

I mean I was not a Bohl fan late in his tenure at Wyoming. He was stuck in 1980s recruiting and he thinking was only recruit one LB every year. That was evident Sawvel first year when the LB Corps was god awful not to mention the S position. Last year I said I would have never believed you if Johnson and Thomas were starting safeties and we would be successful but I they did great.

Any coach would be at fault for blindly following guidance form a coach who had a terrible O in 2017 with a Top-10 draft pick at QB. I don't think Sawvel was ready to be HC and that is/was clearly evident.

No matter who became coach, if internal hire, was going to have to rebuild because the recruiting had been awful. Bohl never recruited a QB from HS that was a great QB; all of them came from JUCO or were a transfer. The lack of QB development should have been the biggest red flag to Sawvel and the immediate need to fix that before Evan even suited up at QB.

This is the make or break year. The OC and QB will be major upgrades. But I have a huge concern with Tripodi at OL Coach and whatever god awful Special Teams coaches they have on staff from the last two years

Every fucking year is a make or break year, and it's always a break year.

 

[cowpoke pride]

I mean I was not a Bohl fan late in his tenure at Wyoming. He was stuck in 1980s recruiting and he thinking was only recruit one LB every year. That was evident Sawvel first year when the LB Corps was god awful not to mention the S position. Last year I said I would have never believed you if Johnson and Thomas were starting safeties and we would be successful but I they did great.

Any coach would be at fault for blindly following guidance form a coach who had a terrible O in 2017 with a Top-10 draft pick at QB. I don't think Sawvel was ready to be HC and that is/was clearly evident.

No matter who became coach, if internal hire, was going to have to rebuild because the recruiting had been awful. Bohl never recruited a QB from HS that was a great QB; all of them came from JUCO or were a transfer. The lack of QB development should have been the biggest red flag to Sawvel and the immediate need to fix that before Evan even suited up at QB.

This is the make or break year. The OC and QB will be major upgrades. But I have a huge concern with Tripodi at OL Coach and whatever god awful Special Teams coaches they have on staff from the last two years

2026- hopefully, this time, we are not watching history repeat itself.