American college football season
The 1986 Wyoming Cowboys football team represented the University of Wyoming in the 1986 NCAA Division I-A football season . A charter member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), Wyoming played its home games in War Memorial Stadium , an outdoor facility on campus in Laramie, Wyoming .
The Cowboys were led by head coach Dennis Erickson , in his only season at Wyoming, and finished with a record of six wins and six losses (6–6, 4–4 WAC) . The Cowboys outscored their opponents 299 to 272. Erickson installed his "Air Express" form of the spread offense and led the Cowboys to 3–1 start in September, with road wins at Air Force and Wisconsin .
Hired in early December 1985, Erickson was previously the head coach for four seasons at the University of Idaho in Moscow . His four-year contract at Wyoming included a base annual salary of $ 60,000 plus $20,000 from radio and television, and the rent-free use of a home in Laramie.[1] [2] [3] The Cowboys had previously run the wishbone and were 3–8 in 1985 , tied for seventh in the nine-team WAC.
After the season in early January 1987 , Erickson left Wyoming without notice to return to the Palouse as head coach at Washington State University in Pullman .[4] [5] [6] [7] [8]
Schedule
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 6 No. 12 Baylor * L 28–3120,542
September 13 Pacific (CA) * War Memorial Stadium Laramie, WY W 23–20
September 20 at Air Force W 23–17
September 27 at Wisconsin * W 21–1264,954
October 4 at Iowa State * L 10–2139,710
October 11 Utah War Memorial Stadium Laramie, WY W 38–1412,326
October 18 at BYU L 22–3431,742
October 25 at Colorado State L 15–2031,856
November 1 New Mexico War Memorial Stadium Laramie, WY W 35–25
November 8 UTEP War Memorial Stadium Laramie, WY W 41–127,250
November 15 at San Diego State L 24–3120,168 [9]
November 29 at Hawaii L 19–3540,383
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
References
^ Boling, Dave (December 2, 1985). "Erickson leaves Idaho for Wyoming" . Spokane Chronicle . (Washington). p. C1.
^ "New Wyo. coach will air it out" . Deseret News . (Salt Lake City, Utah). December 3, 1985. p. D5.
^ "Coaches in transition: Idaho's Erickson takes Wyoming top job" . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon). Associated Press. December 3, 1985. p. 2D.
^ Grummert, Dale (January 8, 1987). "Erickson sets lofty goals for Cougars" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . (Idaho). p. C1.
^ Condotta, Bob (January 7, 1987). "Denny's dream comes true" . Idahonian . (Moscow). p. 1.
^ Weaver, Dan (January 8, 1987). "Erickson followed his heart to WSU" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). p. C1.
^ "Pokes' Erickson to Washington State" . Deseret News . (Salt Lake City, Utah). staff and wire reports. January 7, 1987. p. B7.
^ Kiszla, Mark (January 8, 1987). " 'Pokes want coach who will stay" . Deseret News . (Salt Lake City, Utah). (Denver Post) . p. D4.
^ Steve Dolan (November 16, 1986). "SDSU Strong Arms Wyoming, 31-24, in Drive for WAC Title" . The Los Angeles Times (San Diego County ed.). Los Angeles, California. p. III-14. Retrieved January 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com .
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