Why Wyoming’s football stadium is the highest in the entire American college circuit
In short: Perched at an elevation exceeding 7,200 feet, War Memorial Stadium in Laramie defines the home-field advantage for the Wyoming Cowboys. This high-altitude arena is the loftiest Division I FBS venue in the nation, a unique setting that has hosted the program since its construction in 1950.
The University of Wyoming football program has evolved from its early days on the school's main green, known as Prexy's Pasture, to a regional powerhouse. After struggling through the first half of the 20th century, the Cowboys found significant success between 1949 and 1961, securing seven Mountain States Conference championships. This era included four consecutive titles under coach Bob Devaney from 1958 to 1961. The team later claimed three more titles in the Western Athletic Conference between 1966 and 1968 under Lloyd Eaton.
The program is often viewed as a springboard for coaching talent, having employed future power-conference leaders like Bob Devaney, Pat Dye, and Joe Tiller. However, the school's history is also marked by the 1969 Black 14 incident, where 14 Black players were dismissed by coach Lloyd Eaton after planning a protest against alleged racism during a game against BYU. This event remains a defining, controversial moment in the university's history, later documented in the 2018 film Black 14.
Today, the Cowboys maintain a storied rivalry with Colorado State known as the Border War, a series dating back to 1899 that ranks among the oldest interstate matchups west of the Mississippi River. While the team has seen legendary players like Jerry Hill—voted the program's Player of the Century—and NFL star Josh Allen, the program continues to navigate the challenges of modern college football. With 19 bowl game appearances and 14 conference titles, the Cowboys remain a resilient fixture in the Mountain West Conference.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Wyoming Cowboys football
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