Football on a Sunday?

It was the first game of the 2016 season. Who wouldn't be excited? The past few year had been rough for the Wyoming Cowboys. In 2014 they ended the season 4-8, and then in 2015, 2-10, were we had the youngest football team and athletic department in the nation .
But with two years at Wyoming under Coach Craig Bohl's belt, things were starting to change. This season looked to be much better. We have a older more experienced team, good leadership, and excited fans.

September 3, 2016, Wyoming v Northern Illinois University, 8:30pm, War Memorial Stadium, Laramie, WY, CBS Sports. I was time to see what the 2016 Wyoming Cowboys were made of.

The cheer teamed arrived at 5pm for warm-up. After a basic skills warm-up, we left for the Pep-rally and Cowboy Walk. What a great tradition. Fans gather at the Gateway Center outside the stadium to watch the band and cheer team perform, listen to Coach Bohl speak, and watch the football team enter the stadium. After the Pep-rally, Cowboy Joe (the pony), band, and cheer escort the football team from the Gateway center, down the street, through the parking lot filled with tailgating fans, and into the stadium. We returned to the field-house for warm-up and snack. Around 8:00 we lined up and began to make our way to the field. But at some point between Cowboy Walk and game time, a large storm had moved into the Laramie valley and it had begun poring in the War. We were informed that there was a lightning delay. We turned around and headed back inside.

Here is a quick run down of how lightning delays work. With each strike of lightning, the delay restarts at 30 minutes which is then followed by a mandatory 55 minute warm-up period for the football teams. SO... If there was 1 minute left in a lighting delay and lightning struck again, the time would restart at 30 minutes. And no, they won't cancel a game for weather.

We waited in the field house, and after 110 minutes of delay, the game finally begun. 10:20 kickoff. But man was it worth the wait. The stadium was packed with excited fans and students. Back and forth these two teams went. We were tied at 13 at half-time. Both teams came back and played hard.

With 1:13 left in the game, NIU scored a touchdown to tie the game at 27-27. And then with 4 seconds left in the game, Wyoming decided to kick a field goal. Cooper kicked the ball. IT WAS GOOD!!  OR so we thought. NIU had called a timeout right has he had kicked the ball. It did not count. He got back out on the field, and... No Good. Regualation had ended and we were still tied.

I can't fully put into word what happened next, so please do me a favor and watch the video.
Over Time in Wyoming

It was like something out of a movie. Wyoming snapped the ball. Allen and Hill with the fake hand off. Allen looked to throw. Incoming defender on the right. Turn around. Across the field. More defenders. Turn back in. Allen dove for the endzone. He's in. Wyoming Scored!!! WYOMING WON!!! The time was 2:34am, Sunday, September 4, 2016.

The team charged across the field, tackling Allen, celebrating in the endzone. The fans were screaming. The cheerleaders jumping up and down. It was a night to remember. After a short celebration, the team and cheerleaders headed across the field and huddled in front of what was left of the student section. Lead by the football captains everyone sang Ragtime Cowboy Joe one last time.


The Wyoming Cowboys had won their season home opener on a Sunday morning. 1-0 

 Until next time,
Ashley