From the Casper Star Tribune:
Somebody in Wyoming is apparently quite the jetsetter.
And they like to hit up coaching hotspots.
A Wyoming Department of Transportation plane returned to Laramie on Wednesday afternoon after making stops tied to three leading candidates for the Cowboys' vacant coaching gig, capping off a quick tour that indicates athletic director Tom Burman is flying through his search.
The jet visited Lincoln, Neb., for a reported interview with Huskers receivers coach Ted Gilmore on Tuesday, flew to Columbia, Mo., for a likely sit-down with Missouri offensive coordinator Dave Christensen and finished the night in Lansing, Mich., for a layover -- coincidentally the former home of ex-Michigan State coach John L. Smith.
Burman didn't respond to messages seeking comment from the Star-Tribune, but he appears to be moving rapidly to replace Joe Glenn and get UW headed in a new direction.
"We'd like to have a new coach in as quickly as possible," Burman said on Monday. "But this is a very, very important decision and we're not going to rush it and make a mistake."
UW might not be rushing, but it also isn't wasting much time.
Burman obviously had a working short list even before firing Glenn on Sunday after a disappointing 4-8 season, and with so many job openings either available already or expected to be, the Cowboys can't really afford to stay grounded.
They're also woefully behind on next year's recruiting class, another incentive to get the ball rolling -- but not necessarily at the expense of due diligence.
"Recruiting is key, but we believe we have a good group of juniors and seniors on this team and young kids that played a lot this year," Burman said. "Obviously we know we have some holes to fill, so it's going to be important for us to move quickly. But once again, we don't want to rush and make a bad decision.
"We're going to do everything we can to catch up in the recruiting as soon as we get a coach on board, but until then, there's really not a lot you can do."
No matter which coach eventually emerges, he'll have plenty to do offensively when he gets to Laramie.
UW finished the season as the lowest-scoring team in the nation, struggled mightily with a passing attack that featured four different quarterbacks and never developed any sort of identity from week-to-week.
The Cowboys showed signs of improvement down the stretch with freshman Chris Stutzriem at the helm, and after initially threatening to transfer if Glenn was fired, he'll be back along with a number of talented targets.
All three candidates possibly interviewed over the last two days have impressive resumes on that side of the ball, and how each plans to give the scoreboard more of a workout will be critical in the hiring process.
"You know, coming in I always thought I wanted to throw the ball like Texas Tech does," Stutzriem said. "But you know what, I like the offense that we ran this year. The run game was there, and we got play-action off it.
"So I think with the guys that we have and the guys that could come to Wyoming, I think a pro-style offense is the best. Maybe a tight end and a fullback at times, two or three receivers on the field maybe, I'm not saying run the ball every play or throw it every play, but we just need somebody to come in here and work with what we have."
Burman might already be close to finding somebody to get to work on it.
Contact sports reporter Austin Ward at (307) 266-0634 or [email protected].
WEDNESDAY: A Wyoming Department of Transportation plane made three stops over the last two days, all of them with ties to candidates for UW's vacant football coaching job.
JETSETTER: Cowboys athletics director Tom Burman reportedly met with Nebraska assistant Ted Gilmore on Tuesday, then the jet stopped in Columbia, Mo., for a likely chat with Tigers offensive coordinator Dave Christensen. The plane spent the night in Lansing, Mich., the former home of ex-Michigan State coach John L. Smith.
HE SAID IT: "We'd like to have a new coach in as quickly as possible." -- Burman.
Somebody in Wyoming is apparently quite the jetsetter.
And they like to hit up coaching hotspots.
A Wyoming Department of Transportation plane returned to Laramie on Wednesday afternoon after making stops tied to three leading candidates for the Cowboys' vacant coaching gig, capping off a quick tour that indicates athletic director Tom Burman is flying through his search.
The jet visited Lincoln, Neb., for a reported interview with Huskers receivers coach Ted Gilmore on Tuesday, flew to Columbia, Mo., for a likely sit-down with Missouri offensive coordinator Dave Christensen and finished the night in Lansing, Mich., for a layover -- coincidentally the former home of ex-Michigan State coach John L. Smith.
Burman didn't respond to messages seeking comment from the Star-Tribune, but he appears to be moving rapidly to replace Joe Glenn and get UW headed in a new direction.
"We'd like to have a new coach in as quickly as possible," Burman said on Monday. "But this is a very, very important decision and we're not going to rush it and make a mistake."
UW might not be rushing, but it also isn't wasting much time.
Burman obviously had a working short list even before firing Glenn on Sunday after a disappointing 4-8 season, and with so many job openings either available already or expected to be, the Cowboys can't really afford to stay grounded.
They're also woefully behind on next year's recruiting class, another incentive to get the ball rolling -- but not necessarily at the expense of due diligence.
"Recruiting is key, but we believe we have a good group of juniors and seniors on this team and young kids that played a lot this year," Burman said. "Obviously we know we have some holes to fill, so it's going to be important for us to move quickly. But once again, we don't want to rush and make a bad decision.
"We're going to do everything we can to catch up in the recruiting as soon as we get a coach on board, but until then, there's really not a lot you can do."
No matter which coach eventually emerges, he'll have plenty to do offensively when he gets to Laramie.
UW finished the season as the lowest-scoring team in the nation, struggled mightily with a passing attack that featured four different quarterbacks and never developed any sort of identity from week-to-week.
The Cowboys showed signs of improvement down the stretch with freshman Chris Stutzriem at the helm, and after initially threatening to transfer if Glenn was fired, he'll be back along with a number of talented targets.
All three candidates possibly interviewed over the last two days have impressive resumes on that side of the ball, and how each plans to give the scoreboard more of a workout will be critical in the hiring process.
"You know, coming in I always thought I wanted to throw the ball like Texas Tech does," Stutzriem said. "But you know what, I like the offense that we ran this year. The run game was there, and we got play-action off it.
"So I think with the guys that we have and the guys that could come to Wyoming, I think a pro-style offense is the best. Maybe a tight end and a fullback at times, two or three receivers on the field maybe, I'm not saying run the ball every play or throw it every play, but we just need somebody to come in here and work with what we have."
Burman might already be close to finding somebody to get to work on it.
Contact sports reporter Austin Ward at (307) 266-0634 or [email protected].
WEDNESDAY: A Wyoming Department of Transportation plane made three stops over the last two days, all of them with ties to candidates for UW's vacant football coaching job.
JETSETTER: Cowboys athletics director Tom Burman reportedly met with Nebraska assistant Ted Gilmore on Tuesday, then the jet stopped in Columbia, Mo., for a likely chat with Tigers offensive coordinator Dave Christensen. The plane spent the night in Lansing, Mich., the former home of ex-Michigan State coach John L. Smith.
HE SAID IT: "We'd like to have a new coach in as quickly as possible." -- Burman.