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Cowboys NCAA Champions 1943
The 1943 NCAA Basketball Tournament involved 8 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men’s NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 24, 1943, and ended with the championship game on March 30 in New York City. A total of 9 games were played, including a third-place game in each region. Top-ranked Illinois declined to participate in the NCAA Tournament or NIT after three of its starters were drafted into the Army.
Wyoming, coached by Everett Shelton, won the national title with a 46–34 victory in the final game over Georgetown, coached by Elmer Ripley. Ken Sailors of Wyoming was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
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Wyoming Cowboy – Josh Allen
In his first year at Wyoming, he played in two games and made one start. In his first career start, he attempted only four passes before suffering a broken collarbone which ended his season; because the injury occurred early in the season, he qualified for a medical redshirt. Allen returned from the injury in 2016 and was Wyoming’s starter.
After throwing for over 3,200 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2016, he contemplated declaring for the 2017 NFL draft, initially telling his family, girlfriend, and a few friends that he would turn pro. Shortly before the deadline to declare for the draft, Vigen called Allen’s father to explain why he should stay at Wyoming an extra year; according to Eisenberg, “When Joel Allen got off the phone and entered his son’s room, he found his son riddled with anxiety about his decision.” Before the draft declaration deadline, Bohl told Allen that staying in school one more year would improve his long-term NFL prospects, and Allen also sought advice from Wentz, who told him that in the NFL, he would have many league veterans depending on him to “win games and help secure their jobs.” Allen ultimately remained at Wyoming. He threw for 1,812 yards, 16 touchdowns, and six interceptions in 2017.
Wyoming’s school song is Ragtime Cowboy Joe, and the fight song is Fight, Wyoming, Fight!, played by the Western Thunder Marching Band and UW Pep Band. In football and basketball, the school song and fight song are sung throughout the game in whole or in part, including when the team runs on the field or court, at timeouts, and after points are scored.
During football games, a cannon above the north end zone is fired by UW Army ROTC Cadets every time a point is scored. When the football team runs from the RAC locker room to Jonah Field, each member touches the Steamboat bronze statue for good luck. During basketball games, a short riff is played by the drum set and bass players after every point scored.
The Beer Song is also a long-standing tradition at Wyoming; students will chant “Beer Song” at every home game until the band has performed the song several times.
College Sports Established
1886
Location
Laramie, Wyoming
College Name
University of Wyoming
Collegiate History
1973 – Present / NCAA Division 1
1921 – 1973 / University Division of the NCAA
1907 – 1921 / Athletic Association of the United States
Conference History
1999 – Present / Mountain West Conference
1962 – 1999 / Western Athletic Conference
1938 – 1962 / Skyline Conference
1921 – 1938 / Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
Nickname
Cowboys – The nickname Cowboys was used as early as 1891 when a true cowboy assisted the Wyoming football team against a team from Cheyenne, Wyoming. One of the Cheyenne players allegedly yelled “Hey, look at that cowboy,” and the name stuck.
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men’s Basketball 1
1943
Women’s Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
