Wyoming
Wyoming heads west for test against San Jose State
WYOMING AT SAN JOSE STATE
Records: Wyoming (1-5, 1-1 in Mountain West play) and San Jose State (4-2, 2-1 in MWC play)
Location: San Jose, California (CEFCU Stadium)
Date/Time: Saturday, October 19th at 2:00 p.m. (Mountain Time)
Television: Mountain West Network
Streaming: Mountain West Network App
Radio: KOWB 1290 AM – 95.1 FM / KOWB App (Cowboy Sports Network)
Head-to-Head: Wyoming holds a 7-6 lead in the series. However, San Jose State has won five of the last six meetings between these two.
The Cowboys’ last win came in 2018.
Tale of the Tape
OFFENSE
QUARTERBACKS – Advantage to San Jose State
- Evan Svoboda had moments of good against San Diego State, but his passing efficiency was nowhere near where it needs to be if the Pokes want to pull off an upset Saturday afternoon.
12/31 and two interceptions.
Not good.
Halfway through 2024, I don’t expect to see Svoboda reinvent himself.
He can burn you with his legs if needed, but he is not going to consistently beat you through the air.
- Head coach Ken Niumatalolo and the Spartans are in a weird position.
QB Emmett Brown started the first four games for SJSU – nearly leading them to a shocking 4-0 start before Washington State outlasted the Spartans in double OT, 54-52.
However, in the last two weeks, Brown has been sputtering and backup Walker Eget was given the chance to spark SJSU’s offense.
Eget propelled them to a comeback win against Nevada.
Last week, neither Brown nor Eget found a way to push the Spartans past Colorado State.
There is uncertainty at the most important position in football, but both have shown the ability to lead San Jose State to wins.
RUNNING GAME – Advantage to San Jose State
- Injuries continue to pile up for UW, and the running back room is no exception.
Dawaiian McNeely and DJ Jones have suffered from the injury bug – leaving Sam Scott to do the heavy lifting.
Scott is finding his way as the season progresses, but without a complementary passing game, it is challenging to run the ball positively.
- Even though San Jose State likes to throw the ball around the yard, Chalk Floyd has done well for himself – punching the ball into the endzone seven times this year. He isn’t averaging an absurd amount of yards each game, but he is running for a shade under five yards each time he touches the rock.
When Floyd takes to the sideline, Jabari Bates steps in and has done a serviceable job thus far.
WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS – Advantage to San Jose State
- There is not a lot to write home about for the Pokes.
Not a single receiver has reached the 200-yard mark.
Tight end John Michael Gyllenborg is the glue that allows Svoboda to get the ball out early.
But he can’t do it alone.
Jaylen Sargent had a nice 70-yard snag against San Diego State.
Tyler King caught a pair of passes for 34 total yards,
That is it.
Freshman Chris Durr Jr. didn’t find his way into the box score despite a high ceiling that coaches and media have raved about.
You have got to give the kid more opportunities.
There is no reason not to.
Not in today’s world of NIL and the transfer portal.
Nick Nash.
One of the longest-tenured players in Mountain West history.
Nash has been at SJSU for six years – starting in 2019 as a QB.
Since he transitioned to wide receiver, he has been stellar, already eclipsing his 2023 totals for receiving yards, receptions, and receiving touchdowns in just six games.
Justin Lockhart serves as Nash’s “Robin” – collecting over 400 receiving yards in his own right.
And Treyshun Hurry has over 200 receiving yards.
This trio will be darn-near impossible to stop, but the goal for defensive coordinator Aaron Bohl must be to limit the damage.
OFFENSIVE LINE – Advantage to Wyoming
- How a given offensive line performs requires in-depth statistical tracking beyond how many sacks/tackles-for-loss a team allows.
That’s where Pro Football Focus (PFF) is such a helpful tool.
According to PFF, Wyoming holds a 67.0 pass-blocking grade and a 66.8 run-blocking grade.
8th and 6th in the Mountain West.
Pretty…pretty…pretty…bad.
Using the same PFF rankings, the Spartans have a 46.2 pass-blocking grade (only ahead of Air Force) and a 48.1 run-blocking grade (the worst in the conference).
11th and 12th in the MWC.
San Jose State can score with the best in the conference, but it’s because of their skill position players, not their offensive line.
DEFENSE
DEFENSIVE LINE – Advantage to Wyoming
- The defensive line for the Pokes is stingy and always full of grit and toughness.
Last week, DE Sabastian Harsh brought his lunch pail and went to work – finishing with four tackles-for-loss.
Running on Wyoming is never easy, and despite this being a down year, that still rings true.
PFF ranks the Cowboys as the second-best rushing defense in the Mountain West (82.1 grade – just behind Hawaii’s 83.4).
- The Spartans are generally on par with Wyoming regarding rushing yards allowed (166.2 yds for SJSU vs. 171.3 yds for WYO).
Senior Soane Toia is the stat leader on the defensive line – accounting for two tackles-for-loss and one sack.
Not much meat on the bone for the Spartans in the trenches.
LINEBACKERS – Advantage to San Jose State
- Wyoming’s linebackers showed some mustard last week as tandem Shae Suiaunoa and Connor Shay combined for 1.5 tackles-for-loss and one interception.
The next step for those two is to consistently churn out that type of production instead of it being a blip on the radar.
- Without question, the leader of the Spartan defense is LB Jordan Pollard.
He leads SJSU in total tackles with 60 so far.
Next on the list?
Robert Rahimi with 38 tackles.
Pollard has also registered two sacks and an interception.
Pairing up with Pollard is Jordan Cobbs.
He adds two sacks to the list and two interceptions.
Both of these guys make plays and can swing momentum heavily in their favor.
SECONDARY – Advantage to San Jose State
Wyoming recorded its second interception of the season in their loss to San Diego State.
The not-so-good?
It came via the linebackers.
You take interceptions any way you can, but in 2024, Wrook Brown is the only Cowboy in the secondary to convert an interception.
Last week, Wyoming allowed San Diego State to pass for over 250 yards.
On average, the Aztecs pass for 201 yards each outing.
Danny O’Neil was afforded time to be efficient in the pocket and finish the night with a 59.2% completion percentage.
If the secondary doesn’t shape up prior to kickoff, it will be a long day for Wyoming.
- San Jose State’s backline has been awfully good at forcing turnovers.
Out of their ten total interceptions as a team, six have come from the secondary.
Five of those six have come from a trio of starters – Robert Rahimi (2), DJ Harvey (2), and Michael Dansby (1).
Wyoming’s Svoboda threw two interceptions last Saturday.
Mistakes could let this game get out of hand quickly.
SPECIAL TEAMS
KICKERS – Advantage to Wyoming
- John Hoyland has been consistent.
From inside 50 yards, he is a perfect five for five.
Beyond 50, he has missed both of his attempts.
Last year, Hoyland had a knack for making some difficult attempts.
Not this year.
- San Jose State relies on Kyler Halvorsen for kicking duties.
In 2024, he is four of six, with his long being just 34 yards.
That’s why I don’t trust him to outduel Hoyland.
PUNTERS – Advantage to Wyoming
- After a terrific start to 2024, Jack Culbreath has settled into a rhythm – averaging a dependable 42 yards night in and night out.
- I don’t love the Spartans using two punters.
Trent Carrizosa is the “big leg” of the two, while Dino Beslagic is primarily used for short-field, accurate attempts.
Just like with any other position on the field, switching folks in and out doesn’t allow either player to develop a rhythm.
RETURNERS – Advantage to Wyoming
- Last week was an abysmal one for the Pokes’ return game.
They fielded zero yards the entire game.
Tyler King and his lone kickoff return touchdown is the only reason I give this advantage to Wyoming.
- San Jose State has done nothing in this department.
Zero TDs and a long of 37 by the unit as a whole.
No threat has been established.
Notable Injuries/Announcements
WR Malikhi Miller – QUESTIONABLE
LG Alex Conn – OUT
LB Connor Shay – DOUBTFUL
S Wyett Ekeler – QUESTIONABLE
S Isaac White – QUESTIONABLE
OL Wes King – QUESTIONABLE
OL Jack Walsh – QUESTIONABLE
DE Tyce Westland – QUESTIONABLE
DT Ben Florentine – QUESTIONABLE
Why San Jose State Will Win
The Spartans torch Wyoming’s pass defense.
Wyoming won’t be able to keep up in a shootout.
The Cowboys have broken the 20-point barrier twice this season.
San Jose State has scored less than 20 points just once.
Whether it’s Emmett Brown or Walker Eget, SJSU staying with one QB throughout the game would prove dividends.
Throw in a few forced turnovers by way of WYO’s Evan Svoboda and the Spartans could wrap this puppy up early.
Why Wyoming Will Win
They control the clock and establish a reliable ground attack.
SJSU’s defense is quite good in the air…so limiting the chances for the Spartans to create a takeaway is critical.
Let RB Sam Scott try to win this game for you.
The trenches are where the Pokes can create an advantage.
On defense, the best thing you can do is force SJSU to make small gains and drive down the field.
Explosive plays will kill the Cowboys.
3 Players to Watch
Each week, I will highlight three players who may not be household names but could be the difference-makers in this matchup.
Sam Scott (Running Back – Wyoming)
- Listed down the depth chart to begin 2024, Scott has taken grabbed the opportunity given to him via injuries
Floyd Chalk (Running Back – San Jose State)
- Assuming that Wyoming attempts to key in on SJSU’s passing game, Chalk has a chance to churn out a big day on the ground.
Michael Dansby (Cornerback – San Jose State)
- He may not lead the team in interceptions, but he creates plenty of opportunities.
Dansby leads the Spartans with six pass breakups, double the amount anyone else has on the San Jose State roster.
Spread: Wyoming +11.5, San Jose State -11.5 (-110 to WYO and SJSU)
Total: 52.5 points (-112 to the over and -108 to the under)
Straight Up Money Line: Wyoming +330, San Jose State -425
Prediction
This is a bad schematic matchup for the Wyoming Cowboys.
Playing a pass-heavy team with talented personnel on the perimeter is not what the Pokes look forward to when scouting opponents.
I don’t see Wyoming compiling enough stops and scoring enough to pull off a Mountain West upset.
San Jose State wins and covers.
SAN JOSE STATE SPARTANS 35 – WYOMING COWBOYS 17
In the comments, let us know your predictions for Saturday’s game between the Cowboys and Spartans!
CASPER, Wyo. — A proposed pumped storage hydroelectric facility at Seminoe Reservoir drew strong criticism Wednesday at a public meeting in Casper that featured dozens of community members, conservationists and elected officials. The event was hosted by a number of organizations, including Friends of the North Platte, Trout Unlimited, the Wyoming Wildlife Federation and the Wyoming Wild Sheep Foundation.
In an April presentation to the Natrona County Board of County Commissioners, representatives from rPlus Hydro — the company behind the proposed project — said the facility would generate 970 megawatts of power. The planned system would pump water from Seminoe Reservoir to a new 120-acre upper reservoir during periods of surplus energy, releasing it back down through turbines when demand peaks to provide up to 12 hours of full-output energy storage. The project requires the construction of an access bridge, an underground powerhouse, a main access tunnel and a 29-mile transmission line to the Aeolus substation.
However, community members at the meeting voiced a wide range of concerns about possible drawbacks to the project.
Trout Unlimited representative Jim Hissong said the project could have serious impacts on the fish populations of Miracle Mile, a 5.5-mile tailwater stretch of the North Platte River located about 50 miles southwest of Casper, where the project is planned to be built.
Hissong said the impact on fish and insects will be twofold. First, he said the facility is expected to raise water temperatures, which would endanger the fish.
“Trout, when it’s about 68–70 degrees — when you hook them, the stress on the fish will be so great that it’ll kill them,” he said. “That’s why Game and Fish puts on the restrictions where once it hits a certain temperature, you pick up your rods and go home.”
Hissong added that the expected increase of sediment in the water could kill insects like mayflies and stoneflies, as well as suffocate trout eggs.
However, the project could impact more than just the aquatic species in the area, Wyoming Wild Sheep Foundation Executive Director Katie Cheesbrough said. According to Cheesbrough, the area’s bighorn sheep population — which she said is the biggest in the state and critical for the species’ health in the region — could also be harmed.
“For those of you who don’t know, you have a very special bighorn sheep herd above and around the Miracle Mile,” she told attendees at the meeting. “It’s a huge success for bighorn sheep conservation. This is a reintroduced herd and it went from 13 sheep maybe in 2003 to close to 400 sheep now. That effort came with a lot of partnerships, funding and work. Currently, it’s the healthiest bighorn sheep herd in the state. … This is the only bighorn sheep herd that we can use to reintroduce sheep to their native range in other parts of Wyoming or other parts of the country.”
But it wouldn’t be the impacts to the water that would pose the largest threat to the sheep. Instead, Cheesbrough said, the sheep would likely be driven away by blasting that is expected to take place over several years as the project gets underway.
When the sheep are driven out, Cheesbrough said they will migrate east to the Pedro Mountains in Carbon County, though they are not allowed to live there and will be subsequently removed. From there, she said, the animals will likely die.
“Removal is killing,” she said.
With impacts to the animals and environment expected, Trout Unlimited Wyoming Government Relations Director Patrick Harrington said impacts to outdoor recreation and tourism would follow. Citing a draft environmental impact study, Harrington said the area is projected to see roughly 117,000 lost recreation visits during the five-year construction period. Once completed, he said, the disturbance to the water, wildlife and landscape would likely continue to affect recreational visits.
“I think we’ll see a decline in the fishery, first initially in construction, when we may see large fish kills from large plumes of sediment going downstream. But over time, through consistent operation, we’ll see what was once a world-class fishery decline into just an average fishery,” Harrington said.
Sen. Larry Hicks, who represents Wyoming’s 11th district, said that the electricity generated by the project likely won’t be used by Wyomingites.
“This is going to go out of state, folks. We don’t need this electricity in Wyoming,” Hicks said, adding that 75% of the energy consumed in Wyoming is generated by oil and coal. “Let’s just make that clear: We’re a net exporter right now.”
“It isn’t going to be the people in Las Vegas or southern California or Phoenix that suffer the impact — it’s you and your family. Sometimes you just have to know what’s not for sale,” Hicks added, drawing applause from attendees.
On Thursday, the Travel, Recreation, Wildlife & Cultural Resources Committee of the Wyoming Legislature will meet at 8:35 a.m. at the Thyra Thomson State Office Building, 444 W. Collins Drive, to discuss the project.
Harrington urged those in attendance to attend the Thursday morning meeting, and said he was encouraged by the turnout at Wednesday’s event.
“This is a community that cares about their river and their wildlife, and it was awesome to see so many turn out to support it,” he said.
Related
If your mailbox is anything like mine, it’s starting to fill up with gaudy campaign mailers from politicians who are trying their damnedest to channel Chris LeDoux (and we’ll tip our Stetsons when that name is mentioned) and failing miserably. It’s comical to watch these dudes and dudettes try to cowboy up just to get the voters’ attention!
I don’t own a television, but I’ll bet a dollar to a donut the same stuff is assaulting your eyeballs from the boob tube screen.
Their mailers and ads show politicians standing nervously next to a photogenic horse, forcing smiles through their fear. That’s because there isn’t enough money in the campaign budget to convince them to climb aboard a critter as big and scary as a horse. They wear a sombrero that looks like it was purchased under the stands at Frontier Days, and a brand new pearlsnap shirt with the price tag still attached.
Or they pose in front of a buck n’ rail fence in some rustic Wyoming meadow, clutching a gun with their trigger fingers outside the guard, as the director instructed. You can almost hear the photographer’s voice off-camera suggesting, “Now, try to look tough.”
What we are seeing in our mailboxes and on our screens is the classic Madison Avenue ploy of manufacturing opinion through an appeal, not to the consumer’s logic or reason, but to emotion and attachment to symbols. The American cowboy is one of the most powerful symbols in the propaganda professional’s toolbox, and he gets trotted out to work his magic every election season.
Decades ago, I worked on several Marlboro commercials as a wrangler and background model. The producer, from Leo Burnett advertising company of Chicago, told me that the image of the Marlboro Man was worth several billion dollars a year to the tobacco company, because the cowboy symbol sold cigarettes to folks in countries like Libya and North Korea who hated America but loved cowboys.
Think about that for a moment. One simple image is powerful enough to sell a carcinogenic American product to millions of people who hate America but identify with cowboys. That is the psychological power of advertising symbols.
Edward Bernays, Sigmund Freud’s nephew, is widely regarded as the godfather of modern advertising, public relations and propaganda. Bernays understood, in the early 20th century, how symbolic images and slogans could bypass critical thinking and implant a message directly into the subconscious reptilian part of the human brain, where instinct and emotion rule. When that part of our brain is stimulated, we act instead of think. We just say “ditto!”
That is precisely how political media manipulation works on us.
The political advertisements, resplendent with drugstore cowboy politicians, that bombard us every election are the direct lineal result of Bernays and the public relations/advertising/propaganda machine he created, and it has made vast fortunes and influenced our society for over a century.
The irony is that these mailers and videos never show politicians doing real cowboy stuff — like indulging in a three-fingered dip of Copenhagen, drinking Wild Turkey 101 straight from the bottle or getting bucked off into cactus and rattlesnakes. Images like that aren’t very mythological and won’t gather many votes.
But I digress. Every election season, we become lab rats in an ongoing experiment in politics and psychological manipulation, and the laboratory is our own brains. We are inundated with evocative pictures and slogans intended to short-circuit our intellects and engage our emotions. We are force-fed politicians who wrap themselves in appealing images and focus group-approved slogans that are intended to make us switch off our brains.
We confront Edward Bernays’ ditto-ism machine whenever we open our mailboxes or look at our screens. With every political advertisement, we are invited to suspend our intellects and just go along with the crowd.
A real cowboy would call bullshit on that nonsense.
So, it is critically important that we understand how and why political advertisers try so hard to make us act without thinking. Knowing the forces at work during a political campaign, and how they try to worm their message into our noggins, builds a healthy immune system that can resist manipulation by seductive but meaningless symbols.
A healthy skepticism toward political messaging is a necessary component in a functioning bullshit detector. Here endeth the lesson.
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