LARAMIE – The Pokes' 0-2 start didn't build character.
 
It revealed it.
 
Evan Svoboda refused to make excuses after following up a rough opener at Arizona State by completing only 10 passes for 126 yards and a touchdown during Wyoming's exasperating 17-13 loss to Idaho Saturday in front of 25,070 frustrated witnesses at War Memorial Stadium.
 
The 6-foot-5, 245-pound quarterback picked himself up after getting sacked four times and stood tall at the podium during the postgame press conference.
 
After answering a series of tough but fair questions about this two-week false start, Svoboda shook the hand of every media member and returned to the locker room to rally the Cowboys.
 
"We've just got to stick together," Svoboda said. "I'm going to improve; we all have to improve. We know that."
 
UW was inches away from tying the score at the end of the third quarter, but after Svoboda broke the plane of the goal-line for what appeared to be a 3-yard touchdown run, the officials reviewed the play and determined his knee was down inside the 1.
 
A false start penalty on the next snap, a 2-yard loss on a run and an incompletion on third down forced the Pokes to settle for a 22-yard John Hoyland field goal with 14:57 remaining.
 
"Self-inflicted wounds can't happen. We've got to do better," said Svoboda, who was unable to recover a poor snap over his head in the first quarter, which led to a touchdown for the Vandals. "It's a bad taste in our mouth."
 
UW's defense turned Idaho over on downs to give the offense the ball at its own 39-yard line with 12:46 remaining. The Pokes also started drives at the 50 and the Idaho 48 in crunch time but were unable put any more points on the scoreboard.
 
Penalties and sacks prevented the Cowboys, who were coming off a magical 7-0 2023 season at the War, from pulling off another dramatic win in the home opener.

"It's about coming together and getting better right now," safety Andrew Johnson, a Cheyenne native, said after making his first career start. "You've got to look in the mirror before you start looking outward. Focus on yourself, focus on what you can get better at."
 
UW's defensive leaders continue to put their arms around their offensive counterparts while a new offensive quarterback, new starting quarterback, new starting running back and a new group of wide receivers get on the same page.
 
"Our guys always know we've got their back. There's no pointing fingers around here," safety Wyett Ekeler said. "We're all here for each other and this game is going to show us. At points like this you get teams that split, or you get teams that get tighter.
 
"I can tell you for damn sure we're going to get tighter."
 
First-year head coach Jay Sawvel was encouraged the defense was able to blank Idaho, which pushed Oregon to the brink before falling 24-14 a week earlier, in the second half. The veteran unit will have to do a lot of heavy lifting until the offense finds its footing.
 
"Positivity," middle linebacker and captain Shae Suiaunoa said of what his approach to this 0-2 adversity will be. "If you see someone's head down, pick it up. Words and affirmation (are) huge. The love and trust we have on this team with each other, I know we'll get to the top soon. It takes time.
 
"It's all about believing."
 
The Cowboys still believe they can achieve their goals. Their first Mountain West game is three weeks away.
 
It will certainly take much better execution and a galvanized effort to stir the echoes of decades past and beat BYU next Saturday at the War.
 
If you are interested in learning more about NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) or would like to support our student-athletes, please visit 1wyo.org. 1WYO was created out of Wyoming's culture of neighbor helping neighbor. The mission is to promote and strengthen local charitable organizations and develop Wyoming student athletes. 
 
Follow Ryan for more stories on Wyoming athletics on X at @By_RyanThorburn on Facebook at Wyoming Athletics and Instagram at wyoathletics. Also follow him at Pokes Insider at Gowyo.com/pokesinsider.