At the University of Wyoming, the depth of football fandom is measured in terms of degrees.
As in how low does the mercury on the thermometer have to plummet before a Cowboy fan thinks seriously about not attending a home game? And how many layers of clothing can they muster?
“If it is really, really below freezing and there are strong winds, then, I might hesitate (about going),” said Jan Thomas of Casper, Wyo. The “might” is emphasized because in nearly 40 years she has rarely missed a home game at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie and will not be deterred from Friday’s home opener against Hawaii.
Laid out at an elevation of 7,220 feet in the grassy high plains between the Medicine Bow Mountains to the west and the Laramie Mountains to the east, a place where winds can roar like polar gusts, temperatures are forecast to be in the 30s for the 7:45 p.m. (Mountain Time) kickoff.
Even with a pandemic surge in the state, the late start, live TV and the approximate three-hour drive each way from Casper, Thomas says she plans to be there in what might be the only game UH plays before a gathering of something besides cardboard cutouts this season.
Such tales of dedication heard over seven seasons at Wyoming have prompted head coach Craig Bohl to say, “I recognize it is not a decision to attend Cowboy games, it is a commitment.”
On game days, when the 29,181-seat stadium is close to capacity, the facility becomes the fifth-largest “city” in the state. Wyoming averaged 23,007 per game, or 79% of capacity, in 2019, according to NCAA statistics.
While Wyoming is the eighth-largest state in terms of area, it is 50th in population at 572,381, about 60% of that on Oahu. And Cowboy football is the only game in town or, for that matter, the state.
“Our town, Laramie, has about 30,000 people while our stadium seats just under that, so we’re kind of a Mecca (for the state),” Bohl said.
Which is apparently part of why state officials permitted Wyoming to allow as many as 7,000 fans into the stadium for games this season under COVID-19 guidelines, making the home opener a popular ticket.
A school spokesman said 1,000 tickets were reserved for students and quickly snatched up. The remaining 6,000 spots will go to the higher priority members among the 8,000 or so season-ticket holders.
Since the Laramie area accounts for only about 25% of season-ticket holders, many will be traveling considerable distances to be there. Thomas says her tailgate group includes people from Rock Springs, Evanston and Torrington, most of which involve a three-hour or more drive each way.
“I learned that when I first got hired,” Bohl said. “I hopped in my pickup truck and started driving around the state. One of our former governors once said, ‘If you are gonna lead ’em, then you have to know ’em.’ And, we’re the University of Wyoming, not the University of Laramie, so, for me, it has been enjoyable to get out among the people and get to really understand our state and what kind of people we have.”
Bohl says admiringly, “Some of them travel six or seven hours and, when we play an evening game (like Friday), that’s a real challenge, a real commitment. However many are there (Friday), we’re going to appreciate them.”
Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com or 529-4820.
