BYU football: Cowboys brimming with heart, true grit

LARAMIE, Wyo. — Though it's a team that's scored only 10 points in its last two games, there's a sense that Wyoming is a program on the rise.

The Cowboys (4-4 overall, 2-2 in the Mountain West) have already matched their win total of a year ago, when they posted a 4-8 record (1-7 in league play). Last week, the 'Pokes threw a scare into Utah for three quarters before falling, 22-10.

Wyoming will be challenged again Saturday when No. 25 BYU (6-2, 3-1) visits War Memorial Stadium. The Cougars have beaten the Cowboys by a combined score of 134-17 the past three seasons, and Wyoming has defeated BYU just twice in the past two decades. The Cowboys haven't enjoyed a winning season since 2004, and they've had only two winning seasons in the past decade.

Yet there's optimism around Laramie these days. Under first-year coach Dave Christensen, who replaced Joe Glenn during the off-season, the Cowboys need two wins in their final four games to become bowl-eligible.

Despite playing one of the toughest schedules in the country, Wyoming has displayed heart and grit. When No. 2 Texas visited Laramie in September, the Longhorns led by only 13-10 at halftime before running away with a 41-10 victory.

"We've played some pretty good football teams. As a football program, we've competed well in every single game with the exception of maybe the second half of the Texas game," Christensen said. "They may be the first- or second-best team in the country. I think our kids understand what it takes to compete at the highest level, and they're giving great effort. It's a great learning experience for them to play a competitive schedule like we're playing and understand what it takes to compete at that level."

BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall has noticed a different mentality at Wyoming from years past.

"The reason I think they're playing everyone they play close, with the exception of a half early in the season against Texas, is their defense is playing well enough and their offense is capable enough to where they're in every game," he said. "And I think their players know that and that's why they're playing hard."

Added Mendenhall, "The biggest thing is, they're having some success, so it looks like they're playing with more confidence."

Though Christensen, who served as the offensive coordinator at Missouri before being hired by Wyoming, is known for his offensive creativity, it's the Cowboys' defense that has kept Wyoming in games this season.