LARAMIE — Is there a more bipolar team of late in the Mountain West Conference?

Fresno State, led by first-year head coach Matt Entz, won five straight games after an opening-day blowout loss at Kansas. Fueled by a dominant ground game and a seemingly always stingy defense, the Bulldogs grinded out back-to-back wins over Hawaii and Nevada.

Then, the bottom fell out.

Facing a one-win Colorado State team in Fort Collins, EJ Warner, son of NFL Hall of Famer Kurt Warner, tossed three interceptions and lost a fumble in a stunning 49-21 setback. Uncharacteristically, the visitors allowed the Rams to roll up nearly 200 rushing yards and three scores on the ground.

CSU quarterback Jackson Brousseau, making just his second-career start, also completed 12-of-18 throws for 144 yards and three touchdowns.

The Bulldogs made the switch under center the following week at home against San Diego State, inserting Carson Conklin into the lineup. The former Freshman All-American at Sacramento State was picked off twice in a 23-0 blanking at the hands of the Aztecs.

Was the ship sinking?

Not quite.

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Conklin, despite only connecting on 10 of his 21 passes for just 35 yards, helped lead Fresno State to an improbable 30-7 victory over Mountain West heavyweight Boise State, inside Albertsons Stadium, no less. The defense took center stage on The Blue, holding the high-powered Broncos to just 193 yards of total offense. They also took advantage of three turnovers and injured starting signal caller Maddux Madsen.

“I haven’t really even broached that topic with our team,” Entz said when asked if it gives his team hope they can still win a league title with all the upsets within the conference this fall. “All that matters is we got to take care of business this week. We’ve got to have a great week of prep, find ways to win each day and find ways to be competitive on Saturday.”

What does Wyoming’s staff make of this Bulldog team it will see Saturday night inside Valley Children’s Stadium?

“They’re still a team that is still competing for a conference championship,” cornerbacks coach Benny Boyd said, adding whether it’s Conklin or Warner at the helm, Fresno State has had plenty of success stretching the field horizontally. “So, regardless of what it may look like on the outside, they’re finding ways to win games.”

Boyd and Co. are focused on the ‘Dogs loaded backfield, which features Rayshon Luke and Bryson Donelson, but no one is sleeping on No. 17.

“He’s got some savvy to him,” Boyd added, referring to Conklin. “He has experienced some success. So our job is to make sure we can make him as uncomfortable as possible, to eliminate throwing windows, and again, when we have opportunities to capitalize, we need to make plays.”

Wyoming ranks 26th in the nation on pass defense, allowing just 184.9 yards an outing. The secondary has combined for five of the team’s nine interceptions, too.

Jay Sawvel said to become a truly dominant unit, the Cowboys need to put a halt to the run game completely. That hasn’t happened thus far this season. If that happens in California’s Central Valley, the underdogs could become one step closer to postseason eligibility.

There’s another category, though, the head coach has his sights set on.

“Minus-3.”

That’s where Wyoming sits in the turnover department. An unacceptable number, Sawvel said, when you consider his defense has forced 13 takeaways through nine weeks.

“That has been a problem,” Sawvel said. “We have 12 of them in Mountain West games. So, I think, if you single out one thing right away to start this game is the fact that we’ve got to win turnover margin. We’ve got to be able to do that. We’ve got to take care of the ball. We’ve got to make great decisions with the ball. That’s going to be important for us to get started.”

Fresno State, in its three conference victories, is a plus-9. In the two losses to Colorado State and San Diego State, that number plummets to minus-4.

Kickoff is slated for 8:30 p.m. Mountain Time and the game will be televised on FS1.

Meet the Bulldogs:

* Head coach: Matt Entz (1st year)

* Offensive coordinator: josh Davis (1st year); Defensive coordinator: Nick Benedetto (1st year)

* Record in 2024: 6-7 overall, 4-3 in Mountain West Conference

* Offense in 2025: Average 26.1 ppg, 347.9 ypg (154 rush, 193.9 pass)

* Defense in 2025: Allow 21.8 ppg, 300.9 ypg (127.7 rush, 173.2 pass)

* Key Returners/ Newcomers – Offense in 2025: EJ Warner (QB – 139-202, 1,486 yds, 10 TD, 9 INT; 31 rush, 69 yds, TD), Carson Conklin (QB – 35-69, 259 yds, 2 INT, 11 rush, -3 yds), Rayshon Luke (RB – 80 rush, 495 yds, 5 TD; 25 catch, 167 yd, 2 TD), Bryson Donelson (RB – 103 rush, 473 yds, 4 TD, 16 catch, 107 yds), Josiah Freeman (WR – 31 catch, 353 yds, 4 TD), Richie Anderson III (TE – 24 catch, 233 yds, 2 TD), Ezekiel Avit (WR – 19 catch, 197 yds)

* Key Returners – Defense in 2025: Jadon Pearson (LB – 78 tackles, PBU), Simeon Harris (CB – 38 tackles, sack, 3 PBU, 3 INT, FF), Finn Claypool (DL – 33 tackles, 5.5 sacks, PBU, FF), K’Vion Thunderbird (LB – 32 tackles, 3 PBU, 2 INT, TD), Camryn Bracha (DB – 32 tackles, 2 INT, FF), Jayden Davis (DB – 28 tackles, sack), Al’zillion Hamilton (DB – 27 tackles, 2 PBU, 2 INT), Martin Owusu (DL – 25 tackles, PBU)

– University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players

If you love Wyoming, you better love different seasons. Sometimes you can enjoy all four seasons in one day. Especially during this time of year.

By the way, was that not just about the nicest September-October fall in Wyoming’s history?  Wow.

Here in mid-November, it is still usual to wake up to chilly weather, suddenly feel the sun come out or a Chinook-type wind warm up the place, then a big cloudbank appears, and by nightfall, a wet snow is falling.

This is common in all corners of Wyoming from Newcastle to Evanston and from Cheyenne to Powell. And everywhere in-between — including Worland, Greybull, Rawlins, Rock Springs, Kemmerer, and Riverton. 

This is the kind of fall when you might run your furnace and your air conditioner on the same day. 

Veteran Wyomingites wear layers – you start out in jeans and sweaters and by mid-afternoon, you are down to a short-sleeved shirt . . . sometimes even shorts.

I know two guys, my son-in-law Jerry Johnson, a PE teacher,  and Methodist Preacher Mark Calhoun, who try to wear shorts year-around. And they almost always pull it off.

Convertible Weather?

Guys like me who love our old convertibles just keep trying to get one more day of top-down weather before giving up. My late friend Dave Kellogg drove his VW top down while wearing a parka and big hat for years as he tried to stretch out the sunny season. And it worked.

My wife Nancy gets frustrated when we run errands because I insist on putting the top down on our ancient 2002 convertible.  She thinks it’s cold and it messes her hair. My excuse: “This might be my last chance to drive with the top down. Sit back and enjoy!”

The above story reminds me of when I was attending a Greater Yellowstone Coalition event in Cody and managed to get loose from the activities early.  I had always wanted to drive through Yellowstone Park in a convertible with the top down. So off I went.

I wrote about this trip in a recent column. I liked the ending: “It appeared that I had experienced all of Wyoming’s seasons during this trip.  It was sunny when I left Cody. It was cold and windy throughout the park with rain spitting.  As I left the National Park area and headed over Togwotee Pass, it even snowed a bit.

Must Love Seasons

Back in the mid-1980s, Wyoming suffered a terrible bust and Lander was hit the hardest of any town in the state. We lost 2,500 good-paying iron and uranium mining jobs. It was awful. 

As president of the local economic development group, The Leader Corporation, I dreamt up the idea of recruiting retirees to our town. 

We had 600 homes in foreclosure, a wonderful climate (least windy place in the Rockies), and wonderful medical care.

In our nation-wide promotion, I wrote up a brochure selling the benefits of Lander. But I said we were looking for “vigorous” retirees. This was not for the Sun City crowd. The ads also said “Must Love Seasons.”

By the end of the first year, we had 99 of those homes sold and we were on our way.

IBM and the military were both laying off large numbers of workers and we focused on these folks plus anyone else we could attract. The idea was that it was impossible for us to lure a $6 million business to town, but if we could recruit 200 people, each with an annual retirement of $30,000, it would mean the same.

An added bonus was that most of these folks had the time, talent, and inclination to get involved in the community. They contributed greatly. 

Weather Will Get Colder 

Despite this wonderful fall weather, we all know that it is going to end soon. Thanksgiving can often be brutal, especially for folks trying to home for the holidays. 

It is good news that the national government just reopened, which will make flying more practical to a lot of people.

My tips for people this time of year consists of three things:

1.   Wear layers and throw in a stocking cap. Wear dry shoes or boots.

2.   Always carry an emergency kit in your car – a big blanket, some bottled water, some trail mix or cookies or other snacks. Make sure you have a good scraper and a functioning flashlight.

3.   When you take a trip, always leave early. If possible, watch the weather and try to travel in nice weather and despite the short days, drive as little as possible at night. And watch for our poor deer on the road.

Bill Sniffin can be reached at: Bill@CowboyStateDaily.com

A significant wildfire ignited near Laramie, Wyoming on Monday. The blaze started along Interstate 80, causing immediate concern for local residents. Authorities swiftly issued mandatory evacuation orders for surrounding areas.

The fire prompted a large-scale emergency response. According to information from Watch Duty, the evacuation zone was east of I-80 and west of the Laramie River. An evacuation center was established at the Albany County Fairgrounds to assist displaced individuals.

Emergency Response and Evacuation Zone Details

The Albany County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the emergency measures. They directed evacuees to the county fairgrounds located at 3510 South 3rd Street. The fire’s proximity to major infrastructure like I-80 heightened the response urgency.

The specific area under the evacuation order was defined clearly. It encompassed the region east of the interstate and west of the Laramie River, north of Curtis Street. This precise mapping helped ensure resident safety and efficient emergency operations.

Assessing the Wildfire’s Impact and Community Risk

Wildfires in this region pose a serious threat to communities and natural resources. The rapid spread of such fires is often fueled by dry vegetation and weather conditions. This incident highlights the ongoing wildfire risks faced by states like Wyoming.

The immediate impact involves displaced residents and potential property damage. The long-term effects can include environmental changes and economic strain on local communities. Emergency services continue to prioritize containment and public safety above all else.

The swift response to the Laramie fire underscores the critical importance of community readiness. This Wyoming wildfire serves as a stark reminder of nature’s power. Officials continue to monitor the situation closely as efforts to control the blaze proceed.

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