LARAMIE – Jay Sawvel has been patiently answering questions about his disappointing first season as Wyoming's head coach for about nine months.
 
That continued to be the case during an interview with the Denver Post on Thursday and Friday's press conference with local media.

Sawvel perfectly summed up his feelings with two words as the Cowboys shifted the focus from fall camp to next Thursday's opener at Akron.
 
"It's time," Sawvel said.
 
There are many reasons why Sawvel is counting the seconds until he can officially turn the page on last year's 3-9 campaign when UW kicks off the 2025 season against the Zips at InfoCision Stadium (5 p.m., ESPN+).
 
Sawvel and his staff are on the same page.
 
This will be the second year for offensive coordinator Jay Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Bohl in those roles at UW. The hiring of assistants Jovon Bouknight (wide receivers), Deonte Gibson (defensive tackles) and Gary Harrell (running backs) have noticeably upgraded the competition and talent of those key position groups.
 
Sawvel addressed the holes in the roster and the depth issues that haunted last year's team by adding impact players from the portal and signing an outstanding recruiting class.
 
Some of the fresh faces expected to be major contributors on defense include transfer defensive linemen Esaia Bogar, Chisom Ifeanyi, Brayden Wilson and Aneesh Vyas, linebackers Brayden Johnson, Enock Sibomana and Ethan Stuhlsatz and defensive backs Justin Taylor, Desman Hearns and Dainsus Miller.
 
Some of the impressive true freshmen expected to burn redshirts are punt returner/wide receiver Deion DeBlanc, running back Samuel "Tote" Harris and cornerback Tyson Deen.
 
Nine of the 10 players Sawvel targeted for retention are leading this team.
 
Tight end John Michael Gyllenborg, center Jack Walsh, right guard Caden Barnett, wide receivers Jaylen Sargent and Chris Durr Jr., defensive tackle Jayden Williams and defensive end Tyce Westland were obviously on the list.
 
And quarterback Kaden Anderson was a must-keep for the program after flashing his potential last November.
 
"He has continued to evolve," Sawvel said of Anderson. "He is a far better player than he was this time last year, he's a far better player than he was when he started against New Mexico last year. He has had an offseason to continue to grow, develop and learn. He's had a very good spring, he's had a very good fall, he's got confidence, he's got a grasp.
 
"He's the same person but he's a far better player on Aug. 22, 2025, than he was on August 22, 2024."
 
The Pokes believe they are a far better football team than the one that took the field at Arizona State to begin a painful 2024 season.
 
It's finally time to start proving it.
 
"The season that happened last year wasn't us, it wasn't Wyoming football, so we want to turn the page, flip the script and get rolling this year," Anderson said.
 
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.
 
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