Fifty Years at The War Memories From the Press Box Through the history of War Memorial Stadium there have been many memorable moments -- some well-known, others not so well-known. On the following pages are some of those memories from individuals who've played a part in the rich history of "The War". Larry Birleffi "Fifty years of The Old War -- War Memorial Stadium, born and built despite skepticism at Old Wyoming which had never had a winning football season or a major victory. "Perhaps it was the game that dedicated the Stadium on Sept. 23, 1950, that was to become the most memorable and important game over the next half century. WYO defeated Baylor, a pass-minded team, 7-0 on that Dedication Day. "As I look back, the impact of that game, the first victory over a so-called 'Big-Time' opponent, seemed to grow and grow and always served as a reminder that the Cowboys could play with any of them. The game had another fascinating and historic sidelight, as though it was all predestined. Wyoming's great tailback, Eddie 'Boom Boom' Talboom, went down with an injury the week of the game. Without him, Wyoming's seemingly slim chance appeared all but gone. "Coach (Bowden) Wyatt came up with a kid from Illinois, whom nobody had ever heard of, by the name of Royal McMullen to replace Talboom. It turned out to be a Royal McMullen flush. He played a near perfect game under the conservative single-wing offense. The media described him as 'sensational and intelligent.' Royal was virtually never heard from again. He completed his career after the undefeated 1950 season, but not before playing quarterback in the most memorable and important game in the 50-year history of this Grand Old Stadium." Larry Birleffi is a 1942 graduate of the University of Wyoming. He began covering the Cowboys for The Branding Iron in 1937. He continues to write a sports column for The Wyoming Tribune-Eagle, and has a weekly spot on KGWN-TV in Cheyenne. He has covered the Cowboys for over 60 years and has seen over 1,200 UW athletic events. The press area in War Memorial Stadium was named after him in 1992. Bob Hammond "Wyoming vs. Arizona State in War Memorial Stadium. The date was Oct. 5, 1968. I remember the hype as if it were yesterday," said Hammond. "In its first two games of the season, Arizona State had destroyed Wisconsin, 55-7, and beaten UTEP 31-19." "They are the greatest array of running backs in America," said Wisconsin coach John Coatta. "That's the fastest college football team I've ever seen," said Sugar Bowl President Dr. Fred Wolfe Jr., who witnessed the ASU-UTEP game. "Coatta and Wolfe Jr. were talking about Sun Devil speedsters J.D. Hill, Larry Walton and Art Malone," added Hammond. "Hill, the Western Athletic Conference's sprint champion, ran a 9.3 100-yard dash, while Walton was timed in 9.5 and Malone in 9.7. Coming into the Wyoming game, the ASU trio had combined for 606 yards rushing in the Sun Devils' first two games. "When Arizona State arrived in Laramie on Friday, the team immediately went to War Memorial Stadium for a quick 'run through' in sweats and helmets. The Sun Devils were a confident and loose bunch ... perhaps too confident and loose. "During a warm-up passing drill, a Sun Devil receiver cut across the middle of the field and dropped a pass that hit him right in the numbers. "The air fell silent and all action stopped when the booming voice of legendary ASU coach Frank Kush echoed through the empty stadium, 'What the hell do you think this is , a picnic or something?' " "The next day, Arizona State jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first nine minutes of play, but Wyoming came back to tie the game, 10-10 at halftime," said Hammond. "The Cowboys took control of the contest in the second half, and went on to record a 27-13 upset victory. "The Sun Devils finished with six first downs and 120 yards in total offense. Malone rushed for 41 yards in 14 attempts, Walton for 36 yards in 11 tries and Hill for 10 yards on five carries. The trio combined to average 2.48 yards in 35 tries against the Cowboy defense. With 57 yards in losses, ASU finished the game with 49 net rushing yards. "On the chalkboard in the ASU locker room following the game, Kush scrawled this poignant message: 'GUTS BEATS SPEED EVERY TIME.' " George Kay Sports Director KTWO-TV, Casper, Wyo. "The game that stands out in my memory was the Wyoming-BYU game in October 1981. This one didn't start out well for the Cowboys. The weather was threatening at kickoff and didn't get any better. Jim McMahon got the Cougars rolling early, with two first quarter touchdowns. The Cowboys were down by 14 points and the blizzard was getting worse. Visibility was terrible, but the Pokes put on a remarkable comeback, battling the elements and a very good BYU team. Wyoming put up two second quarter touchdowns and the game was tied at 14 at the half. "The Cowboys continued to play inspired football in the second half. The field was snow covered, but Phil Davis led the Pokes on a drive that resulted in a quarterback keeper by Davis, who crossed the goal line to give Wyoming the lead and from that point on it was Wyoming's day. McMahon performed like the All-American he would become, but the Cowboys would not be denied as Wyoming finished the afternoon with a well-earned 33 to 20 victory over the 13th-ranked Cougars. Davis actually out-played McMahon, running for 140 yards and three touchdowns. Despite the adverse weather conditions, the Cowboys managed to roll up 474 yards in total offense. "It was an incredible comeback and despite the awful weather, a large part of the big crowd stayed until the final gun, savoring a superb come-from-behind triumph that has to rank as my favorite War Memorial Stadium experience." John Mooney Sports Editor (Retired) The Salt Lake Tribune "The War Memorial Stadium was truly the predecessor of all the football stadia in the area. You could arrive in Laramie from any direction, and the Stadium was the first thing that caught your eye. It set the standard for future building at Fort Collins, Air Force, Utah, Utah State, BYU, New Mexico and the Arizona schools. "Wyoming's building of War Memorial Stadium showed a commitment to big-time athletics and the loyalty of the Cowboy Joe fans. "It was the Taj Mahal of football in the Rockies." John Mooney and Larry Birleffi were both covering the old Skyline Conference when War Memorial Stadium opened in 1950. Bill Young Sports Information Director University of Wyoming "War Memorial Stadium, on my first day as the Cowboys' new sports information director in July 1960, looked impressive, from the meticulously manicured field to the corrugated steel press box. My indelible, but not fondest, memory of Memorial Stadium came three months later, Oct. 29, when Skyline Conference rival Utah was the opponent for Homecoming. "A 35-mile-per-hour north wind and a temperature of 25 degrees plunged the wind chill to minus 12. The norther whistled through all uncaulked seams in the less-than-solid steel press box, converting it into a walk-in freezer. The 14,168 huddled on the aluminum seats undoubtedly had little sympathy. "The Cowboys didn't mind, however. They scored on their first possession as senior halfback Jerry Hill rumbled 45 yards down the west sideline, flattening the Utes' All-America center/linebacker Ed Pine about the 10. John Mooney, the revered sports editor of the Salt Lake Tribune, shattered the no-cheering-in-the press box edict by shouting, 'My God, he's knocked out Ed Pine! He's knocked OUT Ed Pine!' Indeed he had. "The Pokes added a field goal and led 10-0 at the quarter. Time to print the play-by-play and the stats. Gene Bryan, now vice president and chief legislative officer for travel and tourism for the state of Wyoming, was a young, and thankfully strong, student assistant. He began cranking the Ditto, then the indispensable duplicating machine that used an antifreeze-like fluid in its printing process. Nothing. Pump some more fluid. Nothing. That antifreeze-like fluid froze. Reporters and broadcasters were yelling for the stats. What to do? "Only one thing: lug the machine down 35 rows (no elevator in those days) and into Memorial Fieldhouse to thaw. Gene and I gradually coaxed life back into the Ditto, printed the stats and sprinted back up to the box. We continued that exhausting round trip for the rest of the game. "Dittos, dodos, fresh air and walk-up press boxes are extinct. Electronic gadgets control the flow of information to the working stiffs, who arrive by elevator to a warm office away from the office. But those hands-on early days evoke indelible memories. "P. S. Wyoming won, 17-7." Bill Young was the Sports Information Director at the University of Wyoming for 15 years from 1960 to 1975 when he moved into an Assistant Athletics Director position at UW. Young also later served as Interim Athletics Director and Director of the University of Wyoming News Service. In 1970, he was elected to the College Sports Information Directors of America Hall of Fame. Young and his wife Sally still make their home in Laramie. |
