University of Wyoming - WYO Yearbook (Laramie, WY)

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FOOTBALL 1976 The big dream came true- the Pokes clinched a host position in the 1976 Qiristmas Day Fiesta Bowl VI. A come- from-behind 14-10 victory over the University of Texas- El Paso secured the berth. The Fiesta Bowl appearance mark- ed the first time the Cowboys have played in a post-season contest since the 1969 Sugar Bowl game. It also marked the Cowboy ' s first appearance in the Fiesta Bowl. According to the Neilson ratings, the Fiesta Bowl VI recieved the highest rated television share of any of the country ' s 1976 collegiate football games. The bowl received a 46 share; which means that 46 percent of the people who watched televi- sion in the nation during the time of the Fiesta Bowl, viewed this game. 1977 Head football coach Fred Akers (former University of Texas asst. coach) turned Wyoming ' s football fortunes around in just two seasons (from a 2-9 season record in 1975 to an 8-3 season record in 1977). He led the team to the Fiesta Bowl in 1976. The Cowboys lost the game to the Oklahoma Sooners, 41-7. From this point, the controversy began. Akers announced a week before the Fiesta Bowl, that he had signed a five year con- tract as head football coach for the University of Texas. After the game. University Trustees awarded $62,000 ($10,000 went to Akers) in bonuses to the football staff for their extra work in per- paring the team for the Fiesta Bowl. Akers then headed to Texas, taking five of his assistant coaches and several athletes he spent time recruiting for the Pokes ' 1978 season . Akers commented on the s ituation by saying, We all have goals! Wyoming ' s Athletic Director, (at that time), George McCarty said, Looking at the situation objectively, I can understand his position too! But a lot of people weren ' t as understanding. Many felt Akers had betrayed the University and considered his actions a slap in the face to UW. 1978 At one point in the season, according to the statistics released by the National Col- legiate Athletic Association, UW ranked third nationally in pass defense. Basketball Football WAC Standings Resume WAC Standings Resume Conference All Games 1980 w L Pet. W L Pet. 1980-81 Conference All C ames WYOMING .. 13 3 .812 24 6 .800 W L T Pet. W L T Pet. Utah 13 3 .812 25 5 .833 Brigham Young 6 1 .857 11 1 .909 Brigham Young 12 4 .750 25 7 .781 Colorado State 5 1 1 .786 6 4 1 .591 Texas-El Paso 9 7 .562 18 12 .600 - Utah 3 2 1 .583 5 4 1 .550 San Diego State 8 8 .500 15 12 .555 WYOMING .. 4 4 .500 6 5 .545 Hawaii 7 9 .437 14 13 .518 Hawaii 3 3 .500 7 3 .700 New Mexico . . 6 10 .375 11 15 .423 New Mexico . . 3 4 .428 4 7 .364 Air Force 3 13 .187 9 18 .333 San Diego State 3 4 .428 3 8 .273 Colorado State 1 15 .062 3 24 .111 Air Force 1 5 .167 2 8 1 .287 Texas-El Paso . 1 6 .143 1 11 .083 1979-80 1978 Brigham Young 13 1 .928 24 4 .857 Brigham Young S 1 .833 9 3 .750 Texas-El Paso . 10 4 .714 19 7 .731 WYOMING .. 4 2 .667 5 7 .417 Utah 10 4 .714 18 •10 .643 Utah 4 2 .667 8 3 .727 WYOMING .. 8 6 .571 18 10 .643 New Mexico . . 3 3 .500 7 5 .583 Colorado State 5 9 .357 10 17 .370 Colorado State 2 4 .333 5 6 .454 Hawaii 4 10 .286 13 14 .481 San Diego State 2 4 .333 4 7 .364 New Mexico . . 3 11 .214 7 •21 .250 Texas-El Paso . 1 5 .167 1 11 .083 San Diego State 3 11 .214 6 21 .222 ' —Five of Utah ' s wins were offered as forfeits as well as one of New Mex- 1977 ico ' s. Arizona State . 6 1 .857 9 3 .750 1978-79 Brigham Young 6 1 .857 9 2 .818 Brigham Young 10 2 .833 20 8 .714 Colorado State 5 2 .714 9 2 1 .792 Utah 9 3 .750 20 10 .667 WYOMING .. 4 3 .571 4 6 1 .409 New Mexico . 8 4 .667 19 10 .655 Arizona 3 4 .428 5 7 .417 WYOMING 5 7 .417 IS 12 .555 New Mexico . . 2 5 .286 5 7 .417 San Diego State 4 8 .333 IS 12 .5SS Utah 2 5 .286 3 8 .273 Texas-El Paso 3 9 .250 11 15 .423 Texas-El Paso . 7 .000 1 10 .090 Colorado State 3 9 .250 11 16 .407 1976-77 1976 Utah 11 3 .786 22 7 .758 WYOMING 6 1 .857 8 4 .667 Arizona 10 4 .714 21 6 .778 Brigham Young 6 1 .857 9 3 .750 WYOMING 8 6 .576 17 10 .629 Arizona State . 4 3 .571 4 7 .364 New Mexico . 8 6 .576 19 11 .633 Utah 3 3 .500 3 8 .273 Arizona State 6 8 .428 IS 13 .536 Arizona 3 4 .428 S 6 .454 Colorado State 6 8 .428 13 n .S20 New Mexico . . 3 4 .428 4 7 .364 Brigham Young 4 10 .286 11 15 .423 Colorado State 2 4 .333 6 5 .545 Texas-El Paso 3 11 .214 11 15 .423 Texas-El Paso 7 .000 1 11 .083 EorroR ' s Note Some resume d es between 1976-81 were omitted because Wyoming ' s standing was below fourth place. 12 Sports

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Buildings 1976 Co€ Library Annex (east wing) - This five story addition enlarged the library by 71,000 square feet. 1977 Law Building - This 2.8 million dollar structure is almost three times the size of the old law building. The new law library doubled its ' book capacity as well as its ' reading and study space. Infrared Observatory - This obser- vatory was built 27 miles southwest of Laramie of Jelm Mountain. This infrared telescope is 35 feet long and has a diameter of 92 inches. It is the world ' s largest telescope of its ' kind. This 1.6 million dollar observatory complex puts UW into the forefront of the astrophysics and astronomy community. 1978 War Memorial Stadium Auditorium - This 2.4 million dollar addition added 7,500 seats to the students ' section of the stadium. This brings the stadium ' s total capacity up to 35,500 seats; a figure that meets the NCAA criteria for Division I football schools. 1980 Central Energy Plant - This power plant is located north of the Laramie cemetary. It is a 16.4 million dollar coal burning plant that generates steam to heat the University via an underground utility system connected to all the buildings. The plant was designed with the capacity of supplying more power for additional campus buildings. 1982 Agriculture Building Addition - This six-story, 11.2 million dollar addition will provide an additional 90,000 square feet, nearly doubling the present space. This new addition will house specialized laboratories, classrooms, offices and storage. A small courtyard containing various plants and benches will be located between the old building and the addi- tion. Engineering Building Addition - This 16 million, 130,000 square foot addition will triple the present space. There are seven floors looking from the north side and five floors looking from the south side. This unique feature is a result of the slop- ing ground. The addition will house of- fices and various highly specialized and sophisticated laboratories. Some natural stone will be used to give the addition a look that is consistent with the other buildings on campus. . .that there are over 10,000 thermostats on campus. . .that there are over 20 miles of sidewalks on campus. . .that there are 40,000-50,000 plants planted on campus each spring. Buildings 11

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Above. Charles Bradley kepi the Cowboys off the ground throughout his career at UW. Basketball 1980 Jim Brandenburg, UW head basketball coach, was named Western Athletic Con- ference coach of the year, by Basketball Times magazine. He directed UW to its ' best season in ten years. Since 1978, Brandenburg lead the Cowboys to a combined record of 33-23. Wyoming won more games in 1979 than any other Cowboy team since 1969. Brandenburg brought his continued success from Montana, where he was the head coach for two seasons. During that time, the Grizzlies compiled a 39-16 record, including a 21-8 mark in 1977-78, when Brandedburg was named the Big Sky Conference coach of the year. 1981 UW ' s Cowboy fans earned their DESPICABLE name after the Wyoming vs. BYU game of February 2. Wyoming upset the BYU Cougars in an 86-84 double overtime victory. At one point in the game, announcer Pat Gabriel warned the fans to stop throwing objects. Further in the game, Wyoming ' s coach Brandenburg also cau- tioned the crowd by saying, It ' s gonna cost us the game! The fans continued to throw cups and ice onto the floor. Wyom- ing ' s star player, Charles Bradley, also went out on to the floor in an attempt to control the fans conduct. BYU coach Frank Arnold said, It was the most despicable, disgraceful thing I ' ve ever seen in all my years in basketball! Wyoming ' s Athetic Director (at that time). Bob Hitch, said, I don ' t think you would find the behavior here, any dif- ferent than at any other place around the nation. Since this incident, it ' s a common oc- curance to see Wyoming fans wearing t-shirts that have DESPICABLE Wyom- ing fan printed on the front. UW ' s All-American guard, Charies Bradley, was selected in the first round of the National Basketball Association ' s col- lege draft by the World Champion Boston Celtics. Bradley was one of the three WAC players that were selected in the first round of the NBA college draft. Bradley became the first Wyoming basketball player ever, and third Cowboy athlete overall, to be drafted in the first round by a professional team. While at UW, Bradley was a three-time All-WAC performer and second-team academic All-America. He finished his career as the Cowboys ' second all-time career scorer with 1,744 points. According to the Associated Press release, the Cowboys were ranked 17th on their way into the NCAA tournament. A chance at the National Championship ended in UCLA ' s Pauley Pavillion when 19th-ranked Illinois defeated the Cowboys 67-65, ending the Cowboy ' s best season in 10 years. Sports 13