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Curious: how'd you earn your WYO fan card?

Born and raised in Laramie. Went to UW football games as a kid, sometimes on my parents' season tickets, and sometimes on friends' tickets when the weather was too bad for anyone sane to want to be at the stadium (i.e. '81 vs. SDSU right after a blizzard). When I didn't go to the games, I used to listen for the cannon firing during the double-feature at the Fox Theater (they sold packages of movie tickets for gamedays at the elementary schools).

Didn't get to go to basketball games until much later, when the Dembo/Leckner teams took hold. Travelled through a snowstorm to Ft. Fudd to see the triple overtime win in Moby in '86.

Attended UW from '87 to '93. Went to every home football and basketball game as a member of the marching band and pep band. Went to several WAC Tournaments and bowl games. Paid for my own hotel room at Little America in Salt Lake when the new band director got us put up in a dive for the Utah game in '91. Was cursed as "Vulgar Slime" by a BYU fan at the '88 WAC Tourney in Provo and got to see the hail mary to Leckner for a 3 miracle win over CSU in the semis. Lived on 12th floor Mac with Turk, Fennis and some others where I got to hear Fennis' teammates try to wake him up to come to practice in '87. I hung the "R" signs when Reggie Slater got rebounds during his senior season. Was gently admonished by the campus PD when I threw a cracker jack box at a referee after we lost to AFA at home in basketball in '89.
 
NDPokes said:
Raised in WYO and am an alumni of UW. Grew up watching many memorable Pokes in the War, Fieldhouse, and AA. Fan Card achieved by lugging and collecting stacks upon stacks of soda cups (the real deal large, plastic soda cups) at every game I attended. Gold UW soda cups. Best souvenir ever. (Anyone still have them stashed away somewhere?)

Attended the WAC Championship in Vegas and to this day, I still agree with Tiller!

Go Pokes!
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We had boxes of them. It was awesome to see how big a stack you could collect and carry. Then we'd build pyramids out of them at home.
 
DINO said:
I was living in Denver and asked a friend of mine to take the trip up to Laramie with me for a game against Utah on November 16, 2002. My friend had to cancel at the last minute but I was determined to go - and did.

The stands that day were empty for the most part -- but I had a blast and I felt an immediate attachment to the team - they became my team during those 4 quarters, it was an experience for me and an awakening.
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You should have been at the Utah game in 2000. If I remember correctly, that was a cold ass game. It seemed like only 100 people or so were there. Maybe I'm confusing it with another one that season, but I remember a game that year being one of the coldest in memories and among the least attended. Brutal year.
 
Born in Minnesota, but grew up in Landiego. Have followed the Pokes my entire life. Have a couple degrees from UW as well.

My first game was against Wichita State on a cold day......but loved every second.

Go Pokes!!
 
When I was around 8, I shoveled snow to earn money to buy knothole tickets to the Cowboys games.

Sat in the metal bleachers in the north end zone in the WAR and watched Aaron Kyle light up a Hawaii guy; I thought he'd never get back up.

Watched the bananas fly in the Field House when we played CSU.

Attended Jim Brandenberg's basketball camps and learned to take a charge from Bill Garnett.

Countless stories best left untold of parties with the players from various teams during my college days.

Numerous championship games, bowl games, basketball tournaments, and tailgate parties since.

I think I've earned my card,

WW
 
I don't post on here a lot but read the board regularly.

I was born in Houston and my family moved to Colorado when I was in middle school. I never particularly liked any of the Colorado colleges but really liked Wyoming after visiting the school. Got both my Bachelor's and Master's at Wyoming attending every sporting event I could.

Have since moved to Phoenix and am waiting for Wyoming to make the Fiesta Bowl for a nice easy trip to a bowl game!
 
Born and raised in RS. Fourth generation WYO fan. I always got stories from my grandpa about games in the old days. And stories from my dad about the 60's and 70's and was basically born into the WYO family. I've met my share of notable coaches and players. Several different times when I was at WWCC I would visit friends at UW and get the opportunity to go workout with the team. Took pride in watching my friend Wendling progress in his career and become a pro! Still can't get his fumble recovery for TD against AF out of my mind. And some pretty hellashish hits he had on some opponents.
When I was younger I would literally study every years basketball and football media guide till I fully knew our history. Went to every game I possibly could growing up. And still follow religiously clear down here in Ks.
Every vehicle of mine dons the patented Bucking Horse, and my flags fly on my truck windows every game day... It really pops when it's surrounded by a crap load of purple and silver flags down here. And 90% of my clothes are UW. I rep the school/teams well down here!
And through the good and the bad I continually bleed the Brown and Gold!

Go POKES!!!
 
Born and raised in Pine Bluffs. My dad is a die hard Pokes fan, and he passed the torch to me. We used to go up every game weekend in our little Chinook motorhome and park in the (dirt) stadium lot next to my uncles and cousins. Dad didn't have season tickets for my brother and I, so we ended up sitting in the knothole. I miss the knothole.

When I was in elementary school one of my dad's good friends' boys were playing for the Pokes; Cory & Jim Talich. They used to take me and my friends to the locker room to meet the other players after the game. I'm pretty sure that I wasn't really a bleeds brown and gold type of fan until then. I thought it was pretty awesome that the jersey my folks got me for Christmas had the number of a guy I'd known my whole life on it. I remember sitting in my uncle's basement watching the '99 WAC Championship game. I disliked byu before then, but that game made me hate them with a passion.

I ended up being a pretty good student in high school, and had plenty of options to choose from for college. The only one I cared about was in the Gem City, though, so I enrolled at UW in the fall of 2001. Spent my time in Laramie drinking hard and playing my saxophones in the marching and pep bands. I was there to watch the shit show that was Vic Koenning's last season. I was there when Joe Glenn got hired. He came out to our marching band walk through before his first home opener and directed us in a round of Cowboy Joe. I've never seen a bigger smile on a coach's face. I was there when Joe beat BYU and CSU at home in the same season. We may have gone 4-8 that year, but there was an energy returning to that stadium. I was there when we beat Utah in the AA for the conference title. Biggest crowd that arena will ever see because there were literally people standing in the aisles screaming their lungs out. I was there when we beat Gonzaga in New Mexico. The kid mopping up sweat under the basket started the "over rated" chant with about 5 minutes left in the game. He was a Lobos fan.

I will never waver from supporting the Pokes. They've been kicking me in the nuts for being a fan for 32 years, but I keep coming back for more. If there were actually a way to bleed brown and gold I would be first in line for the procedure.
 
Born in Cheyenne, moved to Buffalo when i was a year old, graduated from BHS in 1988, went to UW 88-93, lived all over Wyoming, Buffalo, Cody, Gillette, Casper and Cheyenne many many times. Moved away to Denver 3x, always moved back, Phoenix twice, Salt Lake twice, and Omaha once, always, always moved back. Son of a retired Wyoming Game and Fish warden, in Buffalo and Gillette, hunting and fishing and the great outdoors, Wyoming is a true addiction, once it's in ya its in ya. My love for the Cowboys is forever and truly justified by moving away, I attend as many UW games as i can, and i go to one away football game since 2001, always neat to see our travelling crowd and a true sense of unity. didn't go to many games due to my dad's job (hunting season and Buffalo a ways away), but always, always listened to Dave and Kevin and George Kay, hardly even missed any.....really didn't become a huge fan until bball 1982 run in NCAA's...
my 1st game I remember as I was told we used to go when i was a tyker, all the time, but 1987 my senior year in high school after a golf tourney in Laramie, we got to go to the Wyo-Iowa St game after half time and I fell in love with it, then went to school the next year, under Roach and Tiller.

My 1st bball game was at the shootout with Fennis and crew against So. Mississippi in Casper, hooked....
my 1st entrance to AA was in 88 in school.
Can say I've been to over 100+ football games in Laramie, been to away games at Colorado, CSU, many times, Air
Force 4x, SDSU, UNLV, UNM 4x, TCU, Texas A&M, Texas, Okla St, Utah 3x, BYU, never again, Boise St, Fresno St, Nebraska 2 years ago, awesome, Oregon last year, and this year going to Washington St. Nothing like it..

Basketball many many in Laramie, on road at CSU, AF, UNM, Utah, BYU, Colorado, UNC Greeley, Billings, Casper Shootout and yes bring it back, Arizona-Tucson, Mountain West Final game last year, AWESOME, AND made the trek to Seattle last year

I can truly say I bleed Brown and Gold, now if i can find a nice lady friend with that same addiction and desire.
GO POKES
 
Firstly thanks to RTJ for starting such a great thread.

Secondly, thanks to so many of you for writing such detailed and interesting stories as to how you came to Pokes fandom, I've really enjoyed the narratives and hope more are on the way.

This thread has the makings of a book!

Great stuff.
 
Born and raised in Wyoming (Casper). Attended my first game in 1960 and watched Jerry Hill and the Pokes take care of New Mexico. Hill went on to be drafted into the NFL in the third round. Bob Devaney was coach and would only coach one more year before he left for Nebraska. I've been a fan ever since. I was lucky enough to be around when Wyoming was relevant on a national stage, and I've celebrated and suffered right along with the Pokes for the last 55 years.
 
Grew up in Laramie and went to every sporting event that Wyoming had, even their baseball team before Title IX ruined that. I was also Old Faithful Fan of the Year in 1991, and I was will always cherish that memory. I have not been to a game in a long time with deployments, but hop to change that this year when I can watch the Cowboys take on the Wolfpack October 17 in Laramie
 
I can truly say I bleed Brown and Gold, now if i can find a nice lady friend with that same addiction and desire.
GO POKES[/quote]


My wife also graduated from UW but she does not share the same fandom as me. Even though she went with me to Lincoln and Eugene for the games, I cannot get her on board (for sports in general for that matter). She bought a Colorado state flag hat and I almost threw up. It is probably one of the most contentious issues with us!
 
Though I think we've "earned" our card through the down years, I'll give a few of the "up" moments that helped me get mine. Probably one of the funnest moments was packing the goal posts down to the Buck Horn Bar. That poor guy who had to come tear it down to get it out of there looked a little pissed. Really, though, it was a pretty intricate deal to prop a goal post up while intoxicated and avoid the power lines.

Another was sometime around 99 or 00 when we beat the sheep at their place. A group of us (students at the time) decided to storm their field (alcohol may or may not have been involved). Several of us were on the way over the fence, but 1 guy made it well ahead of everyone else. He went running wildly onto the field---alone. Security was on him and he came running back. He jumped for the fence and us WYO fans were pulling him to safety. Security had his legs, but we won the game that day and the tug-of-war.

I've said it a lot, but watching Majerus fume on the sidelines as the POKES ran the Utes out of the gym was wondrous.

I am from the Northern end of Wyoming, so we only made a few games each year growing up. Always loved the cold nights in the hills at elk camp listening to the games.
 
Born and raised in Wyoming, 5th generation to go to UW. Grandparents and parents were students during some very good years for athletics. Parents had the foresight to record the '87 Sweet 16 run so I was able watch Fennis Dembo even though he was before my time. I lived far enough from Laramie that I only went to about 1-2 football games a season until I was a student, so every game was a real treat, however I was lucky enough to catch 4 games in '96 when we went 10-2. Because they weren't on TV much when I was real young, I primarily followed them by listening to Dave Walsh on the radio, sometimes while I was out hunting or ice fishing. Even when they were on TV more, my family would mute the TV and listen to Dave and Kevin as we watched. The Cowboys have been more bad than good over my lifetime, but I have been fortunate enough to see some good times, a few bowl game wins, a few NCAA tourney appearances, and now a conference championship in basketball. Honestly though individual games during the regular season, particularly when we beat BYU, CSU, or "bigger" schools like Oklahoma State, Iowa State, Virginia, Tennessee, Ole Miss, etc are every bit as special for me.

It was an absolute thrill to shake Fennis Dembo's hand when he came to the alumni game in Laramie a while back. I was fortunate enough to not only meet Marcus Bailey, but actually get to know him fairly well for the short time when he came back to Laramie well after his playing days. In many ways he's just like a lot of us, long-time Cowboy fans. He even offered to introduce me to Dave Walsh, unfortunately it never panned out. I left Wyoming in 2010, but was able to return for a few months last year just after my daughter was born. I took her to her first Cowboy football game when she was just 2 months old, and honestly, she handled it like a champ. I took her to another one when the other athletes came to the pre-game and she her picture taken with Larry Nance Jr holding her. We've had to leave Wyoming again, but even at 1 year old now, one of her favorite songs is Cowboy Joe, for a while it was one of the only things that would calm her down. She still lights up when I sing it.
 
My family moved to Powell with the Air Force the summer before my freshman year of high school (1993). We moved from east Texas, where 99% of my family lives, and where I had fallen in love with Texas A&M. My dad retired in my junior year and we stayed in Powell, so I attended all four years of high school there. I actually applied to A&M, Texas Tech, and a couple of other schools, but also applied to UW as my "fallback." I was accepted to all of them, but couldn't afford out of state tuition (even with a couple of scholarships) at the Texas schools. So, I decided to attend UW. The first time I really paid attention to UW football was the BwhYU/UW WAC championship in 1996. The infamous safety...

Attended UW, joined the band, got involved in some campus activities, made some really good friends, and had a helluva time rooting for the Football and Basketball teams as part of the band. But I was the guy that wore my A&M cap in the pep band. I still had every intention of transferring - only bolstered by the fact that my parents moved to College Station after my freshman year in Laramie. Literally lived a block from campus.

But I found my niche at UW. Worked in the residence halls, had a great set of friends most of which I still see at least monthly, really enjoyed the marching and pep bands, watched some great games at the War, the AA, and on the road, and of course met a girl (now my wife). I fell in love with UW in my first and second years there, threw out the A&M cap, and finally purchased a UW one (actually still have it). I became a diehard in my last three years at UW, and then decided to attend grad school there.

Had my dad stayed in the service for another year or two, I'd probably be wearing maroon right now (in state tuition at any school at the time). But looking back now, I'm incredibly thankful that things worked out the way they did, and I wouldn't change it for the world. Wyoming was where I was meant to be for that period of my life and helped to make me who I am today. I'd come back there in a heartbeat if i could. We get back every chance we get, and if the games aren't on TV where we live, the radio/internet is tuned to Dave and Kevin. I'm a Cowboy for life now, and wouldn't have it any other way.

GO POKES!!
 
I'm a bluehair, and I've earned every one of them. Played a lot of football until I got such a severe leg injury that it ended my playing days. After that I spent a lot of time in the military, and while in the jungles of South East Asia, I made up my mind that I would not live anywhere else where it was hot and humid. I have been in Wyoming for 48 years and have been a Wyoming fan for all of those 48 years. We have had season tickets (football & basketball) for so long, I can't even remember when we got our first ones. I remember a blizzard game against N.Mex I believe where there were only about 100 people in the stands and Pistol Pete decided to snowboard down from the top of the lower deck (West Side). He hit one of the exit tunnels and almost killed himself. It has been a long dry spell for Wyoming Athletics, but I think there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
 
Great thread - brings back lots of hazy memories. Moved to wyo in 7th grade - saw the pokes beat ASU(?) on a late, lamer-than-my-3-legged-dog pass. A few years later I saw Ken Fantetti beat the sheep before the coin flip. We won; I thought it was half time, I was so loving cowboy football (or maybe it was the beer - we gave beer to fans on the way out of FOCO, sprayed them with beer if they were local). Lots of appreciation for those who smuggled kegs in the War. My personal best was a 5th of JD.

Learned about basketball watching Tubs, Garnett, Ollie et al in the Fieldhouse. My friend kept saying wait till next year, and he explained why. He was right - what a great team. We played Georgetown and Patrick Ewing to a standstill in the NCAA's one year. Had the same expectation the year I left, when Fennis came in. The Fieldhouse was an awesome arena to watch whiners like the Sheep and Danny Ainge lose in.

Came back from Christmas Break in 1978 to 57 below. Fell in love with UW then, if not before.

I've been an unofficial and unpaid member of the Wyo Chamber of Commerce (or is the Tourism Board?) since high school, to the annoyance of my friends, even tho many have come back with me to trek the Winds and the Absaroka's. I go solo if need be, but that isn't often.

Great times, and places; fun teams. See ya'll in Pullman and then Boise for some hoops.
 
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