PROVO — There's no catchy name or traveling trophy involved, but there's no doubting the intensity of the BYU-Wyoming rivalry.
For the Cougars, Utah is the undisputed archrival and the two schools meet annually in the so-called "Holy War." The Cowboys have a bitter enemy in Colorado State and the two teams annually stage the "Border War," which dates back to 1899.
But for many Wyoming fans, the Cougars are viewed as the school's top rival. And for many BYU fans, the Cowboys are No. 2 on the list of biggest rivals, right behind the Utes.
BYU and Wyoming will meet for the 71st time Saturday night at LaVell Edwards Stadium and if history is any indication, it should be another memorable showdown.
"I've just learned over the years that whenever you match up BYU and Wyoming, it's going to be a dogfight, unless something really weird happens," said Cougar linebacker Brady Poppinga. "That's what I'm expecting Saturday."
Poppinga knows all about the series between the Cougars and Cowboys, of course. He is a Wyoming native, having grown up in Evanston. "It's fun because where I came from, there's a division between BYU fans and Wyoming fans just because we're so close to Utah and there are a lot of members of the (LDS) Church who live in Evanston," Poppinga said. "In Wyoming, this is a huge rivalry. To the western side of Wyoming, this is their rivalry, while the eastern side is Colorado State. It's their big game of the year in the western part of the state."
So which school is Wyoming's biggest rival — CSU or BYU? Wyoming associate athletics director Kevin McKinney, who has been around the Cowboy program since the 1960s, says it depends on whom you talk to.
"The rank-and-file fan would say BYU is the biggest, especially in the western part of the state," McKinney said. "Down in the southern part, like in Laramie, where we're 70 miles from Fort Collins, people would say CSU is the biggest rival. If you're born in Rock Springs or Evanston, you're going to say BYU is the most intense rival. I was born in Cheyenne. To me, CSU is intense. BYU has been the most successful program while the CSU rivalry has been going on longer. BYU has become a huge rivalry to these people. They love competing with BYU because they've been so successful over the years. It's a program you want to challenge and be as good as."
Here's a rundown of 10 memorable BYU-Wyoming games, in chronological order.
OCTOBER 18, 1969
Wyoming 40, BYU 7: When the Cougars visited Laramie that year, 14 black Wyoming players were kicked off the team by coach Lloyd Eaton after they told him they were going to wear black arm bands to protest BYU and the LDS Church, institutions they saw as racist. This wasn't just a game, it was an event that featured a large band of protesters outside War Memorial Stadium. Reporters from national publications like Sports Illustrated and the New York Times were on hand. The Cowboys won easily that day, but they never fully recovered from the long-term effects of that "Black 14" incident, recording only one winning season in the 1970s.
NOVEMBER 4, 1972
BYU 33, Wyoming 14: In coach LaVell Edwards' first season at the helm of the Cougars, BYU crushed the Cowboys in Provo. It was a sign of things to come, as during Edwards' tenure, the Cougars posted a 19-6 record against the Cowboys.
OCTOBER 24, 1981
Wyoming 33, BYU 20: On the morning of the game in Laramie, conditions were pleasant. But just before kickoff, the clouds rolled in, the snow fell and, suddenly, the Cougars and Cowboys were playing in a full-on blizzard. Wyoming prevailed over quarterback Jim McMahon and BYU, and it was one of only of two losses suffered by the Cougars that season. The experience prompted Edwards to offer his famous quote, "I'd rather lose and live in Provo than win and live in Laramie."
OCTOBER 13, 1984
BYU 41, Wyoming 38: Wyoming nearly wrecked BYU's perfect season and nearly ended the Cougars' dreams of a national championship. BYU entered the Homecoming game in Provo ranked No. 5 in the nation, sporting a 5-0 record and riding a 16-game winning streak. The 3-3 Cowboys gave the Cougars a fierce battle. The game featured six consecutive failed extra point attempts by the two teams. Late in the contest, quarterback Robbie Bosco connected with David Mills for a 14-yard touchdown pass to secure the victory for BYU, which went on to a 13-0 mark and the national title.
SEPTEMBER 1,1988
Wyoming 24, BYU 14: This contest, which was the '88 season-opener for both teams, was significant for several reasons. It marked the first-ever night game at War Memorial Stadium and it was the debut of BYU's redshirt freshman quarterback, Ty Detmer. Detmer, who replaced an injured Sean Covey, committed five consecutive second-half turnovers. Wyoming went on to post an 11-2 record and win the WAC title. Detmer, meanwhile, went on to whip the Cowboys the next three years. Oh yeah, and he also won the 1990 Heisman Trophy.
OCTOBER 17, 1992
BYU 31, Wyoming 28: The Cougars earned a narrow win over the Cowboys en route to another WAC championship. However, because of scheduling issues and conference changes, it was the last time BYU would play in Laramie for seven years.
DECEMBER 7,1996
BYU 28, Wyoming 25 (OT): This was one for the ages. There was plenty on the line in this WAC championship game in Las Vegas. The Cougars boasted a top 10 ranking and a 12-1 record. The Cowboys were 10-1 and nationally ranked. BYU was looking to bust through the Bowl Alliance to a possible berth into the Fiesta Bowl. Clinging to a five-point lead with 2:57 remaining in regulation, and with the ball on his own two-yard line, Wyoming coach Joe Tiller opted to take a safety on fourth down. BYU then drove deep into Cowboy territory, where Ethan Pochman nailed a field goal to send the game into overtime. In OT, Pochman again drilled another field goal to claim the WAC title for BYU. That lifted the Cougars to the Cotton Bowl while Wyoming wasn't invited to a bowl game. The Cougars finished with a 14-1 record and a No. 5 national ranking.
NOVEMBER 13, 1999
Wyoming 31, BYU 17: The Cougars, in their first trip to Laramie in seven years, had an 8-1 record, had won six straight games, were nationally ranked and were looking to wrap up the first-ever Mountain West Conference title. But the Cowboys dominated the game and, in the end, their fans tore down the goal posts. The loss triggered a tailspin for the Cougars, who lost their final three games. After the season, longtime BYU offensive coordinator Norm Chow left the program.
NOVEMBER 10, 2001
BYU 41, Wyoming 34: Once again, the Cougars, under first-year coach Gary Crowton, had a lot at stake going into this game. BYU, ranked No. 9 in the nation, was looking to go 10-0 on the season against a weak Wyoming squad that won only two games all season. The Cowboys played inspired football, but a late defensive stand by BYU preserved a Cougar victory. Wyoming had fourth-and-goal from the BYU 5-yard line with 28 seconds remaining in the game when, on fourth down, a Casey Bramlet slant pass intended for receiver Brock Ralph in the end zone was tipped away at the last second by Levi Madarieta. The Cougars wound up going 12-0 before losing to Hawaii in the regular-season finale.
OCTOBER 18, 2003
WYOMING 13, BYU 10: This game featured two struggling football teams with losing records, but it also featured another exciting finish. The Cougars rallied from a 13-0 deficit and were driving late in the game when a pass by quarterback Matt Berry was tipped and intercepted. Going into the game, Wyoming had a 1-21 record in MWC games since the start of the 2000 season. Once again, delirious Cowboy fans ripped down the goal posts in celebration.
BYU-Wyoming rivalry facts
Total games: 70
Series record: BYU leads, 37-30-3
In Provo: BYU leads 23-13
In Laramie: Wyoming leads, 17-13-3
Neutral sites: BYU leads, 1-0 (1996 WAC champ. game, Las Vegas)
Longest BYU streak: 6 (1989-1996)
Longest Wyoming Streak: 7 (1963-1969)
First game: Nov. 14, 1922 (BYU 7, Wyoming 0 in Provo)
Largest BYU margin of victory: 59 (BYU 59, Wyoming 0—1985 in Provo)
Largest Wyoming margin of victory: 48 (Wyoming 48, BYU 0—1950 in Provo)
Last Wyoming win in Provo: 1987 (Wyoming 29, BYU 27)
Last BYU win in Laramie: 2001 (BYU 41, Wyoming 34)
E-mail: jeffc@desnews.com