Flashback Friday: Wyoming Cowboys vs. WSU Cougars

The last time WSU and Wyoming met on the gridiron the Simpsons had just begun airing, Microsoft was releasing Windows 3.0 (still better than Windows Vista) and Dances with Wolves was showing at your local theater. Yes, it has been 25 years since the Wyoming Cowboys have traveled to the Palouse. They will be making their next appearance on Saturday.

On Sept. 8, 1990, the Cougs had Mike Price at the helm and QB Aaron Garcia (who would later be beaten out by the one and only Drew Bledsoe) as signal caller. The line in Vegas was Cougars by 8.

After jumping out to a 6-0 lead in the first quarter, WSU committed six turnovers to aid five unanswered Wyoming scoring drives. Running back Shaumbe Wright-Fair took a 70-yard pass in the flat to the house in the fourth quarter, but that that was all the Cougs could muster.

The Cougs would lose to Wyoming by a score of 34-13 on the way to a dreadful 3-8 season. Wyoming would finish the season with a loss to Cal in the Copper bowl.

The 1990 season was a forgetful one in terms of final results, but giving Bledsoe playing time would eventually work out pretty well (see "1992"). The 1990 season also paved the way for players such as Phillip Bobo and Wright-Fair to become future offensive weapons.

Some quick history between the two teams: WSU holds the overall edge in the series winning three out of five. Both of the Cowboys' victories versus the Cougars came in Pullman, and Saturday’s meeting will be the fourth time the teams have lined up opposite of one another in Martin Stadium.

Wyoming is off to a rocky start this season failing to get W’s against FBS programs North Dakota and Eastern Michigan. After dropping the ball against Portland State, the Cougs pulled off an exhilarating road comeback against a troubled Rutgers team to get even the win-loss column. WSU looks to capitalize on some of the magic left over from last week and capture their first home win this season.

Let’s hope that Saturday’s game does not produce a similar result to that of the last time Wyoming came to town.