April 27, 2009

Cowboy up? Christensen redefining Wyoming football

ESPN.com's Graham Watson has a pretty detailed look at the new state of affairs in Laramie on the College Football Nation blog.

Months after hiring new head coach Dave Christensen, you certainly get the impression that the regime change represents a dramatic shift for the Cowboys.

But when he took the job, he was floored by stories about the past regime. He was asked why he stood out in the middle of the field during practice when Glenn spent practice time schmoozing with donors or passing out candy to kids in attendance.

Christensen had to ask for goalposts and a clock on his practice field because Glenn never had either installed. He was asked by elderly booster after a meet-and-greet function one evening if he'd play the piano or sing the fight song to the group -- a staple of Glenn's shtick after every booster function -- and Christensen replied that he'd do his best to entertain 12 Saturday's out of the year, 13 if things went well.

The whole post is really well done, so go read the whole thing.

Instead of "Jovial Joe", Wyoming now has a coach who thrives on structure and intensity. Forty minutes into a one-hour practice, Christensen stops everything because the team isn't practicing hard.

Christensen's lecture is met with a series of unison "Yes sirs" by a bunch of players who aren't sure what's going to happen next. And then Christensen does something neither he nor any of the coaches he's worked for has ever done before.

He starts practice all over again. From the beginning.

Seriously... go read the whole thing because it's a great look at how rebuilding can take hold in college football.

That said... it's April. There are a ton of puff pieces to write for the next four months, but.... I don't know.

Maybe there are signs of life in Laramie. Realistically, it's going to take several years to build a winner, but it *seems* like things are moving in the right direction.

And... who knows? If Christensen can do half of what he did for Mizzou out in Wyoming, then maybe the Cowboys will be the next BCS buster from the Mountain West.

Comments:

Cowboy up? Christensen redefining Wyoming football
ESPN.com's Graham Watson has a pretty detailed look at the new state of affairs in Laramie on the College Football Nation blog. Months after hiring new head coach Dave Christensen, you certainly get the impression that the regime change represents a dramatic shift for the Cowboys.
But when he took the job, he was floored by stories about the past regime. He was asked why he stood out in the middle of the field during practice when Glenn spent practice time schmoozing with donors or passing out candy to kids in attendance. Christensen had to ask for goalposts and a clock on his practice field because Glenn never had either installed. He was asked by elderly booster after a meet-and-greet function one evening if he'd play the piano or sing the fight song to the group -- a staple of Glenn's shtick after every booster function -- and Christensen replied that he'd do his best to entertain 12 Saturday's out of the year, 13 if things went well.
The whole post is really well done, so go read the whole thing. Instead of "Jovial Joe", Wyoming now has a coach who thrives on structure and intensity. Forty minutes into a one-hour practice, Christensen stops everything because the team isn't practicing hard.
Christensen's lecture is met with a series of unison "Yes sirs" by a bunch of players who aren't sure what's going to happen next. And then Christensen does something neither he nor any of the coaches he's worked for has ever done before. He starts practice all over again. From the beginning.
Seriously... go read the whole thing because it's a great look at how rebuilding can take hold in college football. That said... it's April. There are a ton of puff pieces to write for the next four months, but.... I don't know. Maybe there are signs of life in Laramie. Realistically, it's going to take several years to build a winner, but it *seems* like things are moving in the right direction. And... who knows? If Christensen can do half of what he did for Mizzou out in Wyoming, then maybe the Cowboys will be the next BCS buster from the Mountain West.