I saddens me greatly to say this, but: Hey, I'm done! No more! Reluctantly, I am officially giving up on caring - for Cowboy sports, or really, for UW, for that matter . To give you all a little background - I was born and raised in WY and am a proud alum of UW. Got a great basic education in my field, so I was very well prepared for graduate work and a professional life elsewhere. Honestly, I haven't physically been back to the Cowboy for decades. I'm a city boy now, and can't imagine living anywhere else than a big city for what I want out of life. My family left Wyoming long ago, and there's always been other places in this world I've wanted to experience whenever I had vacation time. But I kept my connection to my "home" state through UW football, and to a lesser extent, basketball. Would follow Gamecasts (ESPN, etc. - relatively few actual broadcasts where I am), the occasional TV game, even scores in the newspaper. These were what kept me connected. Many, many years later, I'm retired and financially very solid. So when my mother passed last year, I really didn't need the money from her estate. Because of my (and my family's) connections to UW (late father taught there, late mother and late sister were both alums), I decided to take the bulk of her modest (but not peanuts, either) estate and endow a scholarship in one dept., and fund a lecture series in another there. I'm not going to name which departments, because, with the exception of a call from the Dean of the college (again, not going to say which one), I never did get so much as a thank you (call, letter, email, anything....) from the departments where the money went (needless to say, I'm not real pleased with that either - just another reason to stop caring). Suffice to say that my old connections (and my family's connection) to UW made me want to be generous. Now, unfortunately, I'm really starting to wonder why I bothered. Or why I should even remain connected - Wyoming Cowboy athletics certainly ain't doin' it for me anymore..... And with the huge changes going on in college athletics now, I seriously doubt if it ever will again. Sad.
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I'm afraid I'm done
- Thread starter wwplayer
- Start date
LanderPoke
Well-known member
Sad
Itsux2beaewe
Well-known member
Unfortunately I understand. The lack of appreciation, almost expectation, of the university showing no gratitude, is quite disturbing.
I live in Casper, born and raised. I won’t go to another game this year. Too expensive for the return of “no joy”. And I love the super nachos. I’m very uncertain of where the path leads for UW conference wise and extremely alarmed Burman doesn’t have a clue either.
I’m not far behind you……
Try being a Wyoming fan in a state where BOTH universities are 3-0 each and in the Top 15!!!!!!!!!!! One will probably end up in the playoff!!!!!! Gawd I hope it's not going to be Oklahoma!!!!!!!!!
I'll be a Wyoming fan 'til I die but it's getting really depressing to be a fan.
ragtimejoe1
Well-known member
I figured out the WYO mentality to survive.
Expect to fail because there are just too many challenges for little ole WYO. Then, just be happy to field teams because there is no possible way to do better. Yell Cowboy Tough a few times to make the losses feel better.
Expect to fail because there are just too many challenges for little ole WYO. Then, just be happy to field teams because there is no possible way to do better. Yell Cowboy Tough a few times to make the losses feel better.
The biggest bummer in all of this is that Wyoming fans are just getting numb and tuning out. There is a hollow-ness to college sports that is difficult to put your finger on directly but it's perceptible when attending games with interminable media time outs, blaring sponsor messages, donation dependant seating and the general vibe that the event is just here to extract as much money as possible from me. I'm not making a better/worse observation... Just pointing out that the times have changed.
Thanks, everyone for your thoughts. I actually had been sort of thinking of a trip back to Laramie (for the first time in decades), to see the old stomping grounds one last time. Was thinking an early fall trip, maybe even catch a game. Didn't pan out this year for a variety of reasons, plus it looks like the "game experience" would have really sucked anyway. Now I'm thinking, why spoil all the great memories...... Anyway, there's trips to France, NYC, London and Costa Rica on the horizon as nice substitutes. Got other things to do, also, like update the will. Hmmm, did I really put UW in there? Maybe I need to make some serious updates and changes......
Totally understand your frustration.
If you haven't already, make sure you reach out to UW and inform them of your displeasure.
Itsux2beaewe
Well-known member
Who do you inform? If it’s regarding athletics my belief is Burman would just hit the delete button.
LanderPoke
Well-known member
You obviously still care so why don’t you just continue being a fan
Personally, I would start by reaching out to the leadership in whatever departments/colleges the funds he donated went to. If they don't respond, then it can be escalated to the UW administration.
As far as the athletics complaints, the obvious place to start would be with Tom Burman. Regardless of what you think of the job Burman has done, I have found that he has always been surprisingly responsive when I've sent him emails in the past. I've also talked with him a couple times in person and he was always engaging and very gracious with his time. I didn't necessarily agree with everything he had to say, but I do appreciate him for taking the time to respond to a random Wyoming fan.
McPeachy
Well-known member
Hell, unless you are a current kiss-ass big dollar donor, you don't even get acknowledged by the AD.
Tough question. But, you know, at some point maybe you just have to cut your losses and move on. There are other things in this world that one can get behind. Things that maybe don't give so many let-downs compared to rewards. Has there ever been anything in anyone's life where you just had make it a distant memory?
sandiegopoke
Well-known member
I'm still a Wyoming Fan and will make the same effort I have for decades now to support the University, both athletically and academically. I'll just quit going to the NCAA basketball tournament and watching the "haves" on TV. I quit watching professional football a long time ago.
ZapPoke
Well-known member
I will always be a Cowboy fan. Have been for 60 years, it’s in my DNA. I am not always happy with the way things go. I’m disappointed with the evolution of “student athletes” that has resulted in NIL and the transfer portal. But I can understand the reasons for it. I felt pride when little ol Wyo made some noise on the national stage. And I will always support whatever young people choose to wear the Brown and Gold however long they do so.
Itsux2beaewe
Well-known member
I appreciate your dedication. I’m a born and raised Wyoming native.
I can’t. It’s hard to accept when you have a stubborn coach who I feel cares less than I do. Sure, I don’t know everything that goes on in practice. But I have eyes and can see what goes on in a game. I don’t like being gaslighted that I’m not seeing what I’m seeing. What everybody sees. Svaboda today is t going to get many wins. It’s just fact. Unless he improves greatly that’s the reality. Defense is suspect, but it’s pretty tough to expect them to not let down just from the time they spend on the field. The offense has to change. Scheme, players, whatever. This can’t continue.
I totally get where you're coming from. It’s hard to stay connected when it feels like you’re not being appreciated. Sadly, it’s come to this, but I hope you find new passions and things that bring you joy.
Those trips to France, NYC, London, and Costa Rica sound amazing and might just be the perfect reset! If you’re still considering France, I came across a helpful guide that gives some cool insights into tourism there: https://gowithguide.com/blog/tourism-in-france-statistics-2023-all-you-need-to-know-5275 It could give you some ideas for exploring!
Midwest Cowboy
Active member
I had to confront these feelings as well in the time leading up to the BYU game. Bought seven tickets @ $115.00 a pop and flew into miserable DIA on miserable United airlines (another 8 hour delay leaving). The trip cost me thousands of dollars. That's the bad news. The good news. Laramie is a great town. The folks at Woods Landing Resort are top notch. The fishing was great (my buddy caught a 22" rainbow). Seeing my friends from Casper and Torrington was awesome. The Territorial Prison was really cool (only been through it once). A burger joint in town was excellent (a burger joint in Ft. Collins was, too). Having lunch in Prexy's Pasture was cool. The Gap Lakes are stunning. War Memorial is a damn nice stadium. Best of all...time with my wife and 16 year old and reliving some good memories from so many years ago.
Do I care as much about UW football. How can a person? But a trip is a trip, Laramie is cool, and life comes around once.
Do I care as much about UW football. How can a person? But a trip is a trip, Laramie is cool, and life comes around once.
