Happy New Year: Here is to hopeful success

[ragtimejoe1]

Reading a few comments here and I would like to clarify a few things.

I am not doomsday nor a negative Nancy. However, I do believe a few things and am highly disappointed that we fail to achieve those.
1) I believe WYO is unique but that uniqueness can be capitalized on with the appropriate branding.
2) I believe our alumni and other fans would be more engaged with the right campaigns, or any campaigns.
3) I believe, with scheduling, marketing, and game weekend planning that we can achieve average attendance over 25K and eventually build to 30K.
4) I believe there are other sources of money besides a wealthy few donors and the state legislature. I believe those funds that do come from the rich and the legislatures should be an investment with a return on investment for WYO.
5) I do not believe that simply building facilities is enough. This is not Field of Dreams.
6) I love the coaching hires but do not believe that is enough.
7) I believe the AD is failing as is illustrated by falling farther behind WITHIN the freaking MWC with TCU, BYU, and Utah removed.
8) I believe our coaches can overcome our AD deficiencies but it will not be sustainable.
9) I believe that WYO football can be BSU-like and WYO BBall can become a consistent tourney team.
10) I believe that acceptance of mediocrity is obvious at WYO among some fans and among some in the AD (not the coaches mind you).

Yet, some of you knuckleheads view aspiring for greatness and accepting nothing less as being a bad fan. As I said before, I would counter that the acceptance of excuses for mediocrity is FAR more detrimental to a program. I give you the last 15 years as evidence.

 

[McPeachy]

I believe...

You have a solid post, and some great thoughts.

Cheers to a safe & happy new year for all UW fans...and hey, next year is almost here!! :lol: :roll:

 

[LawPoke]

I think you nailed it, Ragtime. I do believe we can succeed here. My biggest question marks reside with football, although I do think that we need to start thinking about the day when Papa Shy decides to retire as he is not a young guy.

I think my biggest frustration is that we don't have a vision for Wyoming athletics. I think we could have one, in short order...but we don't yet. To me, Coach Bohl has clearly articulated his desire to reflect the state in his product. Tough. Hard nosed. Stick your hand in the dirt and smack people around. Brand that for all of our programs. If not that, as you say, do something and have it cut across the entire expanse of UW - and not just athletics.

I also think that the administration needs to double down on the average Joe, blue collar fan. Bohl talks about representing that ethic, but the administration does nothing but kow tow to the blue blood fan. They have theirs. Now invest in the rest of us.

 

[ragtimejoe1]

I also think that the administration needs to double down on the average Joe, blue collar fan. Bohl talks about representing that ethic, but the administration does nothing but kow tow to the blue blood fan. They have theirs. Now invest in the rest of us.

Exactly! Hell, maybe host Wyoming's largest outdoor show in the AA during a home football weekend in September (before rifle season). Many WYO folks like to party. Embrace it. Have a brew off and chuckwagon cook off one weekend. Booze cruises from Front Range, Casper, Sheridan, etc.

Something. Anything. Help our coaches establish a new culture!

 

[JimmyDimes]

Good post Ragtime.....I completely agree. Wyoming has been on top of the league in both sports before. I know because I witnessed it in the mid-late 80's to early 90's. I've seen success across the board and know it will happen again. Not sure what happened along the way, but something did to hold Wyoming back. Some bad hire...Vic, Heath, a couple AD's, etc and lack of support from the top. Need to get that winning tradition back and then take it to the next level.

 

[J-Rod]

All comes down to recruiting. Talent rules above all in today's college game. Signing day should be treated like a gameday in Laramie, because it is on that day that it will be determined if Wyoming will succeed or not. The biggest, fastest, and strongest win the day. You wanna start winning championships? Stop building teams entirely made up of "diamond in the rough" types. This isn't a Disney movie. Win signing day, and you have a chance to compete at a higher level. More Brian Hill's, less "Wyoming was my only FBS offer" types.

 

[djm19]

All comes down to recruiting. Talent rules above all in today's college game. Signing day should be treated like a gameday in Laramie, because it is on that day that it will be determined if Wyoming will succeed or not. The biggest, fastest, and strongest win the day. You wanna start winning championships? Stop building teams entirely made up of "diamond in the rough" types. This isn't a Disney movie. Win signing day, and you have a chance to compete at a higher level. More Brian Hill's, less "Wyoming was my only FBS offer" types.

Kind of like....Brian Hill?

http://247sports.com/Player/Brian-Hill-40059" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[wyokoke]

All comes down to recruiting. Talent rules above all in today's college game. Signing day should be treated like a gameday in Laramie, because it is on that day that it will be determined if Wyoming will succeed or not. The biggest, fastest, and strongest win the day. You wanna start winning championships? Stop building teams entirely made up of "diamond in the rough" types. This isn't a Disney movie. Win signing day, and you have a chance to compete at a higher level. More Brian Hill's, less "Wyoming was my only FBS offer" types.

Kind of like....Brian Hill?

http://247sports.com/Player/Brian-Hill-40059" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Yeah, like Brian Hill, but without those 3 other FBS offers he had. Good post, ragtime

 

[djm19]

All comes down to recruiting. Talent rules above all in today's college game. Signing day should be treated like a gameday in Laramidevelopment? it is on that day that it will be determined if Wyoming will succeed or not. The biggest, fastest, and strongest win the day. You wanna start winning championships? Stop building teams entirely made up of "diamond in the rough" types. This isn't a Disney movie. Win signing day, and you have a chance to compete at a higher level. More Brian Hill's, less "Wyoming was my only FBS offer" types.

Kind of like....Brian Hill?

http://247sports.com/Player/Brian-Hill-40059" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Yeah, like Brian Hill, but without those 3 other FBS offers he had. Good post, ragtime

Maybe I should clarify. "Legit" fbs offers. If wyo fans are waiting on that, we will be waiting a long time. Unfortunately, the diamonds in the rough are our best option. Player development, etc will be Wyo's best hope of success. We are getting good players here. I think DC took a dump on them.

 

[wyokoke]

All comes down to recruiting. Talent rules above all in today's college game. Signing day should be treated like a gameday in Laramidevelopment? it is on that day that it will be determined if Wyoming will succeed or not. The biggest, fastest, and strongest win the day. You wanna start winning championships? Stop building teams entirely made up of "diamond in the rough" types. This isn't a Disney movie. Win signing day, and you have a chance to compete at a higher level. More Brian Hill's, less "Wyoming was my only FBS offer" types.

Kind of like....Brian Hill?

http://247sports.com/Player/Brian-Hill-40059" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Yeah, like Brian Hill, but without those 3 other FBS offers he had. Good post, ragtime

Maybe I should clarify. "Legit" fbs offers. If wyo fans are waiting on that, we will be waiting a long time. Unfortunately, the diamonds in the rough are our best option. Player development, etc will be Wyo's best hope of success. We are getting good players here. I think DC took a dump on them.

That's fair, although Northern Illinois is semi-legit, and certainly in a better spot than we are lately

 

[ragtimejoe1]

Does everyone remember when Glenn was coach and a portion of his conversation with Rocky Long was printed in an article? It went something like...Glenn--"why can't anyone get over the hump at Wyoming?". Long--"I don't know, it is just the way it is there".

We should have paid closer attention to that rather than be dismissive of both Long and Glenn. Both of these two men have been around football for a long time.