Rich's sometimes disjointed rambling

Moral victories mean very little in sports; it's still a loss whether it is by 51 points or by one point. Wednesday night's 90-85 overtime defeat to Utah State in Logan, Utah, should count for something positive. Despite the defeat, this was possibly the first time this season that the Cowboys showed a little moxy against a quality opponent. It was easily the first time in a while. Winning at Utah State has not been easy as of late, and the Cowboys showed that they have the ability and the heart to win a game like this in unfriendly territory. Now, they just have to just win these type of games. Of their three losses this season, two have been winnable games. Wednesday's tough defeat came against a very good team on the road. Much has been said of Wyoming's weak preseason schedule, but by no means can this game be lumped into that. The non conference is built for a team to get better by conference season and now is the time for the Cowboys. Wyoming opens Mountain W...

Are you as shocked as I am? Mike Shanahan is no longer the coach of the Denver Broncos. Broncos owner Pat Bowlen announced on Tuesday that Shanahan has been relieved of his duties as head coach and director of football operations. A news conference is scheduled for Wednesday. Shanahan now joins Eric Mangini of the Jets, Romeo Crennel of the Browns and Rod Marinelli of the Lions as unemployed coaches, with the latter three canned on Monday. In a released statement, Bowlen said, "After giving this careful consideration, I have concluded that a change in our football operations is in the best interests of the Denver Broncos. This is certainly a difficult decision, but one that I feel must be made and which will ultimately be in the best interests of all concerned." I admit, I did not see this coming. Shanahan is easily the most successful coach in Broncos history, winning Super Bowls in 1997 and 1998. But this is a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately sport and let's fac...

On more than one occasion, my wife has said that I should write a book about my dog, Sam. I wrote about Sam in April on Wyoming Sports.org and here's an updated version for those new to my blog. Check to the right of the page (under my profile) and you'll see his picture, with the heading, "Sam the dog, the guardian of all that is good." It probably should read, "Sam the dog, the guardian of all that drives my wife crazy." Now, don't get me wrong. Teresa loves Sam. He just drives her crazy. It's probably my fault. Many of his bad habits can probably be traced back to me. I let him sleep in the bedroom with us and he likes to begin his night by laying by Teresa's side of the bed. In case you haven't seen the picture of Sam, he's a black lab. A quick jump out of bed in the middle of night is dangerous and often not suitable for children to hear. Of course, Sam is spoiled. Again, my bad. I have a bad habit of doing that. I'll bet I haven...

If you're wondering why Utah State (Logan, Utah) is hosting a basketball tournament called Duel in the Desert, there is a logical reason. OK, logical might not be totally accurate, but there is a reason. The Duel in the Desert is part of Basketball Travelers Inc., and is one of many tournaments run by the group. Last year, it was held in Las Vegas. It will be hosted by Texas Tech next season. Evidently, holiday tournaments are something that Utah State is getting into. According to Shawn Harrison of the Logan Journal Herald, the Aggies will host another tournament next season put on by the same company -- the Basketball Travelers Invitational. This season, BYU hosted that tournament. Maybe Basketball Travelers can work its way east to Laramie some day (instead of the Wyoming Shootout in Casper?). The Duel in the Desert is a four-team, three-day tournament got under way on Tuesday and the Cowboys opened with an 84-74 win over win-less Houston Baptist. Wyoming will face Howard Tu...

The first Monday after the end of the regular season in the NFL is accurately labeled Black Monday. Less than a week after Christmas, it's when the axes fall on several head coaches. Bah humbug!!! As of this writing, three NFL coaches -- Eric Mangini of the New York Jets, Romeo Crennel of the Cleveland Browns and Rod Marinelli of the Detroit Lions -- will be filing their unemployment papers any day now. Actually, that makes me wonder. Do fired professional coaches file for unemployment compensation? Are they actually listed on the national unemployment statistics? I wonder what the fired coaches bi-weekly unemployment checks will be? I'll bet it is more than $330 a week. I blame it on the economy. Forget the fact that the Lions went 0-16 this season. Remember, Detroit is home of the automaker. Forget the fact that Brett's Jets were once 8-3, but lost four of its last five games. New York is home of Wall Street and all of the major financial dealings in this country. No, thi...

There was nobody funnier on TV than Don Knotts as Barney Fife. Here's one of my favorites from the Andy Griffith Show

It's funny who you will bump into away from home. Just walking to the Pauley Pavilion will call at the box office, I ran into UW athletics director Tom Burman . Just minutes later, there was Frank Gambino , former K2 TV sports guru who is now employed by the University of Wyoming. Both seemed a little surprised to see me. I guess in this day and age, little ole' Wyoming Sports.org making the trip to UCLA was a little surprising. Of course, I was in Los Angeles on vacation, but that is a different story. So, as it turned out, yours truly and Eric Schmoldt of the Casper Star-Tribune were the only Wyoming media here covering the Cowboys and Bruins. At halftime, I ventured into the media press room and struck up a conversation with a couple of other Wyoming natives -- Bill McCabe and Steve Aggers . They noticed my brown shirt with the Steamboat logo on it. Yeah, that's a safe bet that he is not from around these parts. McCabe , a UW graduate, is a Casper native and former...

Things didn't get any better for the Cowboys in the second half. Roll stayed on a roll and the Bruins kept on piling on the points. Collinson's two free throws with less than seven minutes left gave UCLA a 40-point lead. He then left to a nice ovation, just after Roll departed for good. One bright spot for Wyoming in the second half was the play of sophomore center Mikhail Linskens , who scored 10 points. Other than that ... well. It was still a turnover fest for Wyoming, compiled by layups, dunks and 3-pointers for the Bruins. Final score: UCLA 113, Wyoming 62. Ouch!

The Cowboys couldn't have asked for a better start, hitting their first seven field goals, including a pair of 3-pointers by Sean Ogirri , for a 16-12 lead. The first miss, however, was a air-ball 3-point attempt by Brandon Ewing and the Bruins would run off 10 straight points as Wyoming would struggle defensively and hanging on to the basketball. While the Bruins are ranked 13 th in the country, Wyoming appeared a little soft on the boards, giving UCLA several second-chance opportunities. The Bruins led 35-25 with 7:23 to play in the first half. The Bruins are proving too quick for the Cowboys, turning more turnovers into points. UCLA also seems to be on from beyond the arc, taking a 47-29 lead with 4:28 to play. UCLA just kept pouring in on, especially from Darren Collinson and Michael Roll, who were nearly perfect. Roll's last-second 3-pointer -- his fifth of the first half -- gave the Bruins a 59-34 halftime lead. Roll had 18 in the first half, with Collinson adding 15.

We arrived safe and sound in California for a little working vacation. Will cover the Wyoming-UCLA game Tuesday night and then continue with the family vacation at the in-laws. When I first saw the Wyoming men's basketball schedule with UCLA, I knew this was a chance too good to pass up. My wife, Teresa, is originally from the Los Angeles area and we normally try to come out in early December to avoid the madness of LAX over the holidays. There's nothing like sports history. Getting an opportunity to see a game at Pauley Pavilion is like going to Lambeau Field (of course), Wrigley Field, Fenway Park or the old Yankee Stadium. You just don't miss it if you can help it. Looking around about 25 minutes before tip-off, I can see why it is historic ... it is kind of old. Wood bleachers wrap around the first level. Glancing to the rafters, though, are all of the national championship banners. That should tell you everything. Regardless of the outcome of the game, it is startin...

If you really want to, you can see any NFL game on television. One way is to buy the NFL Ticket on the dish. You can also get in your car and drive to a local establishment that carries the NFL Ticket. I've done the latter on several occasions throughout the years. But, if you wish to just stay home on a cold Sunday morning/afternoon, then ... let's face it, you're SOL. Especially with the pinheads of local and national television. Here in Laramie on Sunday, the morning game -- one game -- was New England hosting Arizona. On paper, yeah, maybe it's not a bad game. As it turned out, the Patriots crushed the Cardinals 47-7. Yippee!!! Many times in this situation, the network will choose to go to another game. The only other game on FOX at the time -- San Francisco at St. Louis. Double yippee. FOX chose to just stay with the Pats and Cardinals. If you're wondering, Denver's CBS channel chose to not air an NFL game at that time. Thanks. I'm sure they had a good ...

I've been told a time or two that I live in a fantasy world. It doesn't really bother me. I kind of like it. Of course, I'm talking about fantasy sports. What did you think I was talking about? Fantasy football is winding down, as is the NFL season. For the first time, I played in three fantasy leagues this year. I guess I had a pretty good season overall. I won one league on ESPN, beating Packers' buddy Bob Beck in the title game. It's a free league, so there is no prize money. All I won was a picture of a trophy online. If it was a real trophy, it would be huge. League number two is one I have played for several years locally. Instead of getting into statistics, such as points for yards rushing, passing, etc., you pick a team and it is scored only from points scored in the game -- six points for a touchdown, one for an extra point, three for a field goal ... you get the drift. That's going pretty well, too, as I am currently in the title game with another bud...

I'm pushing 50 now and I certainly don't watch a lot of cartoons these days, other than a little Family Guy, the Simpsons , South Park and King of the Hill. The other day I stumbled across the old Jonny Quest cartoon on TV. Jonny Quest was cool. The thing I remember the most about Jonny Quest was that it was shown on prime time television in the mid 1960s, I think on Friday night, and later on syndication . I was about 6 or 7 back then, so there was nothing cooler than Jonny Quest. Think about it, you're about 12 years old and you get to travel around the world with your scientist father, Benton Quest, his assistant Race Bannon (how cool of a name is that), your Indian friend name Hadji , who wore a turban and could do magic tricks that always began with a chant of, " sim , sim , salabim ." Then there was Bandit, a small dog (maybe a pug) who was cool. Bandit was always sniffing around, getting himself in trouble. Who could not dream about being Jonny Quest...

I survived another trip to Casper for the Wyoming Shootout. Driving to Casper in December is not always easy. You've got a choice -- up through the Shirley Basin (fewer miles) or on 1-25 (generally better conditions). The trip to Casper wasn ' t a problem, as the weekend storm hadn't hit yet (other than high winds ... but what else is new?). The arctic blast from Canada, however, did come later on Saturday and it did a nice little number. Although I was warned by UW associate athletics director Tim Harkins that the roads were bad and the Cowboys were staying the night in Casper, I attempted to come back to Laramie after the men's game (of course, after filing for my AP work). I got to Evansville and decided that enough was enough. As it turned out, 1-25 was later closed and 1-80 between Laramie and Cheyenne was closed later that night. The main concern, other than crashing, was if I could get back by noon on Sunday to work the board for the Broncos game on KOWB . L...

If you live in Casper or other parts of the state, then the annual Wyoming Shootout is a good thing. That’s about it. The event really doesn ’t do the University of Wyoming any favors. It’s not much of a money-maker, especially since it has been just a one-day combination men’s and women’s doubleheader. This will be the 10 th year that both the Cowboys and Cowgirls have shared the billing at the Casper Events Center. Neither team has had much of an opportunity to play top-notch national programs, although the Cowboys was able to lure Bobby Knight’s Texas Tech team a few years ago, as well as a very good Wichita State team two years ago that featured current Cowboy Sean Ogirri . The Cowgirls have never really been able to face a big-time program, and this year’s team -- North Dakota State -- is good but not there yet. A yearly quote by the respective Wyoming coaches can be recycled year-in and year-out. “The reason we do it is to give back to the fans in that part of the state who othe...

And you thought your schedule was busy at this time of the year. Here's a look at what Wyoming head football coach Dave Christensen has going for him between his new job with the Cowboys and the end of his offensive coordinator gig with Missouri. Christensen is also coaching with the Tigers through its Alamo Bowl game Dec. 29 against Northwestern. “I am going to head out (Tuesday) morning recruiting and I’ll recruit until Thursday for Wyoming," Christensen said at the Monday news conference in the War Room at the Rochelle Athletic Center. "I'll fly back to Columbia and we’ll practice Friday and Saturday for the bowl game. I’ll fly back here on Sunday, we’ll have a staff meeting Sunday night. We’ll recruit Monday through Thursday again. I’ll go back to Missouri and practice Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, and the 23rd we’ll travel to San Antonio and coach the bowl game there on the 29 th . I might rest for a day and we'll get back here after the first of the ...

According to ESPN.com, Illinois offensive coordinator Mike Locksley has agreed to become the head coach at New Mexico, sources close to the situation said Monday, making him the fourth African-American head coach in the Football Bowl Subdivision, the former Division I-A. Of the three MWC openings, only San Diego State is still vacant. Of course, if you have been in a cave the last cou ple of weeks, then you wouldn' t know that Dave Christensen is the new Wyoming head football coach. Locksley , who also interviewed for the vacant head-coaching position at Clemson according to a source, was is in his fourth season as offensive coordinator at Illinois. He will replace Rocky Long, who resigned Nov. 17 after 11 seasons as head coach.

Earlier this week, I bumped into Wyoming athletics director Tom Burman (figuratively) while going to Cowgirl basketball coach Joe Legerski’s weekly media teleconference. I congratulated Burman on his choice for head football coach (Dave Christensen) and told him everyone seems excited about it. “Now we just have to win,” Burman said. After thinking about things, he is exactly right. As much as it appears that Christensen is a very popular choice, his tenure and popularity at Wyoming will come down to one thing: Winning. Like it or not, in this day and age of collegiate athletics, that is what it is all about. Ask Charlie Weiss at Notre Dame. He’s skating on thin ice these days because the Irish aren’t making a lot of progress. It’s no secret that one of the top priorities for Burman in bringing in Christensen is his offensive mind. Burman was asked earlier this week if a more potent and innovative offense will help bringing in more fans. His response was that if the Cowboys won 13-10 e...

I think we should move indoors now for the Laramie High School winter sports teams -- of course, unless you are the ski teams. The winter season begins on Thursday for the LHS boys and girls' basketball teams at the McDonald's Classic in Cheyenne. Also on Thursday, the L aramie wrestling team opens by hosting Poudre High School of Fort Collins. For the Plainsmen basketball team, this weekend will be an opportunity for Jason Mountain's team to mix it up with the rest of the state and see where they stack. Laramie, which has reached the state tournament in Mountain's first two years, will look to get off to a more consistent start this season. The Plainsmen face Kelly Walsh at 1:15 p.m. on Thursday and will then take on Star Valley at 6:30 p.m. On Friday, Laramie will take on Rock Springs at 8:15 p.m., before closing the tournament on Saturday against Evanston at 12:15 p.m. The Lady Plainsmen will also have the same "get their feet wet"attitude, especi...

Colorado is again on the UW football schedule , now Wyoming athletics director Tom Burman is bringing Nebraska back for the Cowboys. Burman and University of Nebraska athletics director Tom Osborne announced jointly on Tuesday that the Cowboys and Huskers have signed a contract for a three-game football series to begin in Laramie on Sept. 24, 2011. The second and third games in the series are to be played in Lincoln on Aug. 31, 2013 and Sept. 17, 2016. Nebraska’s trip to Wyoming in 2011 will be the first appearance ever by the Huskers in Laramie. “It is exciting to play a program with the tradition of Nebraska, while at the same time renewing a regional series against an old rival,” said Burman . “I believe this is the kind of series our fans want us to play, and to be able to bring Nebraska to Laramie for the first time in history will be a special game for Cowboy fans. “I want to thank Tom Osborne and Bo Pelini (Nebraska head football coach) for working with us to make thi...

Here's an update on Monday's earlier update. I'm going to use my best radio voice here: "This just in, Dave Christensen has been named the new head football coach for the University of Wyoming." If I was on the radio at this time, that's how it would sound. Did you notice the deep voice. Actually, it would go something like this: This just in, Dave Christensen has been named the new head football coach for the University of Wyoming by just about everyone but the University of Wyoming -- until now." As of the earlier writing, Monday, 12:40 p.m., Dec. 1, 2008, UW had yet to announce the hiring. That changed by 5:15 p.m. with the official announcement. It appeared to be old news when Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel announced that Christensen would become the Wyoming coach in his weekly Big 12 teleconference Monday morning . There were also reports that Christensen told the team on Sunday during a senior's banquet that he was taking the UW job. Chri...