Too many "body bag" games?

[The Virginian]

Is scheduling two "body bag" games in one season, one too many? To me playing either Oregon or Michigan State in one year would be OK, but BOTH? This is nuts.

Look, let's be real here. The potential for big blowouts of the Pokes are great in each game. I'm sick and tired of seeing the boys getting shellacked. Once a season is enough. Now, we can all hope for a miracle in one of these games but I'm not holding my breath. I don't know if I can even stand watching the games. I hope I'm really, really wrong.

 

[gbpoke]

Is scheduling two "body bag" games in one season, one too many? To me playing either Oregon or Michigan State in one year would be OK, but BOTH? This is nuts.

Look, let's be real here. The potential for big blowouts of the Pokes are great in each game. I'm sick and tired of seeing the boys getting shellacked. Once a season is enough. Now, we can all hope for a miracle in one of these games but I'm not holding my breath. I don't know if I can even stand watching the games. I hope I'm really, really wrong.

I could be wrong, but don't these games get scheduled years in advance? With that being said, I'm sure that when they were scheduled DC and company were looking at having a very senior laden team to take into both places led by a stud QB in Smith. There is no way to know 3-5 years in advance who will be on your roster.
It will be tough to watch, but hopefully it's an opportunity for the Pokes with a new coach--one who actually seems to understand the game for once--to learn some valuable lessons that will help them to grow into a better team down the road.

 

[J-Rod]

Agreed. I don't like the timing of these games, although I guess there really isn't a good time either.

Here is the straight up reality...Wyoming narrowly beat an FCS program and a subpar Air Force team and struggled vs. both at home. That said, this team has gathered a confidence it hasn't had in awhile. Players are buying in. I really hope this isn't the case, but Oregon and Michigan State have the potential to beat that confidence to death and then some.

I also worry about injuries. Boise, Fresno, Utah State, Hawaii, you name it....all played nasty P5 teams with great talent, and all emerged with multiple injuries to key players. I worry the roster could go through the grinder in the coming weeks.

It is important to stay healthy and keep the ego intact going into the bye week before Hawaii. Let's be real...everyone and their grandma knows Wyoming could get absolutely destroyed in these coming road games. If that happens, nobody can walk around like they're stunned. This is supposed to happen. Confidence and health...that is the key to surviving this gauntlet.

 

[yopaulie]

I think everyone is realistic about the games. I think Bohl will put the right perspective on it with the team, and they won't lose confidence for conference play. It's a chance to get a first benchmark against two of the best in the country, and also to see how well the defense can do at stopping big plays. I think the Pokes may be able keep it surprisingly close with MSU (maybe keep it within 10), but all bets are off with Oregon.

 

[GoPokes86]

The Oregon game had been scheduled for quite a while, the MSU game was a desperation move by the MSU AD to fill an open weekend when something happened with their scheduling. I'll agree it's an absolutely brutal schedule. Let's just hope that we get through it healthy and can use the bye week after MSU to get healthy for conference play.

 

[calpoke25]

The Oregon game had been scheduled for quite a while, the MSU game was a desperation move by the MSU AD to fill an open weekend when something happened with their scheduling. I'll agree it's an absolutely brutal schedule. Let's just hope that we get through it healthy and can use the bye week after MSU to get healthy for conference play.

This.

The administration didn't go out and try to schedule like this. The MSU game was a coincidence of us having an open date (can't remember why) and MSU really needing a game. It was scheduled considerably later. It would either be us taking the money going to MSU or us paying low-level FCS team to come to Laramie when we already had Montana scheduled I believe.

 

[J-Rod]

Yep, sorta reminds me of Boise's game with Ole Miss. How on earth were both schools supposed to know those two teams would be Top 15 teams come time to play these games? Just unlucky.

 

[mwc fan]

Barring any injuries does anyone think playing these two games will make our players and team better? If we play the # 2 team in the nation will our players gain better skills and game knowlage playing teams of that level? I know the money ain't bad, but is there a payoff for the players in the long run?

 

[calpoke25]

Barring any injuries does anyone think playing these two games will make our players and team better? If we play the # 2 team in the nation will our players gain better skills and game knowlage playing teams of that level? I know the money ain't bad, but is there a payoff for the players in the long run?

Let's be clear, only one of these games is a "body-bag" money game. Oregon is scheduled for a home-home. That is not a bodybag, that is a high-quality OOC home-home.

MSU is a money game. The reason they are occurring in the same season are outlined above.

 

[joshvanklomp]

The Oregon game had been scheduled for quite a while, the MSU game was a desperation move by the MSU AD to fill an open weekend when something happened with their scheduling. I'll agree it's an absolutely brutal schedule. Let's just hope that we get through it healthy and can use the bye week after MSU to get healthy for conference play.

This.

The administration didn't go out and try to schedule like this. The MSU game was a coincidence of us having an open date (can't remember why) and MSU really needing a game. It was scheduled considerably later. It would either be us taking the money going to MSU or us paying low-level FCS team to come to Laramie when we already had Montana scheduled I believe.

The MSU game was scheduled in 2012. Would this have been because of the BYU defection?

EDIT: I was close. Before the MSU game, the previous nonconference game scheduled was Utah State. So it was the MWC/WAC merger that caused it.

 

[WyoExpat]

Is scheduling two "body bag" games in one season, one too many? To me playing either Oregon or Michigan State in one year would be OK, but BOTH? This is nuts.

Look, let's be real here. The potential for big blowouts of the Pokes are great in each game. I'm sick and tired of seeing the boys getting shellacked. Once a season is enough. Now, we can all hope for a miracle in one of these games but I'm not holding my breath. I don't know if I can even stand watching the games. I hope I'm really, really wrong.

I could be wrong, but don't these games get scheduled years in advance? With that being said, I'm sure that when they were scheduled DC and company were looking at having a very senior laden team to take into both places led by a stud QB in Smith. There is no way to know 3-5 years in advance who will be on your roster.
It will be tough to watch, but hopefully it's an opportunity for the Pokes with a new coach--one who actually seems to understand the game for once--to learn some valuable lessons that will help them to grow into a better team down the road.

Now often is Michigan State was a top ten team anyway. Usually they are a mid-tier Big Ten team that can influence, but not win, the conference championship going into the final weekend. Using past history as a guide, I doubt that we scheduled that game expecting a top-ten team--even in despiration.

My guess is that the Oregon game was for Brett Smith to play in front of the folks back home as a senior.

We can't shock the world if we don't play the game. David had to take the field and put his life on the line against Goliath to win that battle too.

 

[WyoExpat]

Is scheduling two "body bag" games in one season, one too many? To me playing either Oregon or Michigan State in one year would be OK, but BOTH? This is nuts.

Look, let's be real here. The potential for big blowouts of the Pokes are great in each game. I'm sick and tired of seeing the boys getting shellacked. Once a season is enough. Now, we can all hope for a miracle in one of these games but I'm not holding my breath. I don't know if I can even stand watching the games. I hope I'm really, really wrong.

I could be wrong, but don't these games get scheduled years in advance? With that being said, I'm sure that when they were scheduled DC and company were looking at having a very senior laden team to take into both places led by a stud QB in Smith. There is no way to know 3-5 years in advance who will be on your roster.
It will be tough to watch, but hopefully it's an opportunity for the Pokes with a new coach--one who actually seems to understand the game for once--to learn some valuable lessons that will help them to grow into a better team down the road.

Now often is Michigan State was a top ten team anyway. Usually they are a mid-tier Big Ten team that can influence, but not win, the conference championship going into the final weekend. Using past history as a guide, I doubt that we scheduled that game expecting a top-ten team--even in desperation.

My guess is that the Oregon game was for Brett Smith to play in front of the folks back home as a senior.

We can't shock the world if we don't play the game. David had to take the field and put his life on the line against Goliath to win that battle too.

 

[billings]

NM My point was already made that Oregon is a home and home

 

[MedievalPoke]

Is scheduling two "body bag" games in one season, one too many? To me playing either Oregon or Michigan State in one year would be OK, but BOTH? This is nuts.

Look, let's be real here. The potential for big blowouts of the Pokes are great in each game. I'm sick and tired of seeing the boys getting shellacked. Once a season is enough. Now, we can all hope for a miracle in one of these games but I'm not holding my breath. I don't know if I can even stand watching the games. I hope I'm really, really wrong.

I was talking to Maddog last week. He said his only wish was that the Cowboys come out of these two games healthy.

He has seen enough of this before. He and I both recalled how playing (as we recalled) Auburn then TAMU shortly after one another was a bad deal for injuries.

 

[The Virginian]

Is scheduling two "body bag" games in one season, one too many? To me playing either Oregon or Michigan State in one year would be OK, but BOTH? This is nuts.

Look, let's be real here. The potential for big blowouts of the Pokes are great in each game. I'm sick and tired of seeing the boys getting shellacked. Once a season is enough. Now, we can all hope for a miracle in one of these games but I'm not holding my breath. I don't know if I can even stand watching the games. I hope I'm really, really wrong.

I was talking to Maddog last week. He said his only wish was that the Cowboys come out of these two games healthy.

He has seen enough of this before. He and I both recalled how playing (as we recalled) Auburn then TAMU shortly after one another was a bad deal for injuries.

This. Either one of these games would have been OK, but two is just risking injury. I'd rather have the team healthy for the MWC schedule.

 

[ragtimejoe1]

I agree with you guys about injury.

I wish we had a better way to make money. Hopefully, Oregon rests some players in this game and works on depth.

 

[BJC]

I am sure the players are pumped for these games...obviously injury is a concern but injuries can happen at any point (practice..training..etc).

I tough loss shouldn't ruin the moral of the team...should put things into perspective and realize how much work needs to be done. And.....you can't see Boise as a giant after playing both of these teams. :twocents:

 

[djm19]

Honestly, when I saw this schedule several years ago, I was thrilled. Brett was going to be a senior. We were deep at RB and WR. If Brett were still the QB, I would still chalk these up as losses, but definitely more interesting to think.

 

[ragtimejoe1]

I am sure the players are pumped for these games...obviously injury is a concern but injuries can happen at any point (practice..training..etc).

I tough loss shouldn't ruin the moral of the team...should put things into perspective and realize how much work needs to be done. And.....you can't see Boise as a giant after playing both of these teams. :twocents:

This is also a good point. Perhaps even a selling point to recruits...you get to play against teams like Nebraska, Texas, Oregon, Michigan State, and we have a chance at a guaranteed spot in a major Bowl.

Good point. I think most apprehension, at least for me, is the year more than anything.

 

[BeaverPoke]

How about we go win this game and Bartlett commits to Wyo right then and there?