Koenning enjoyed Wyoming win with family

Steve Guiremand

Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2002 | 9:56 a.m.

NEXT UP

What: Wyoming at UNLV

When: Saturday, 4 p.m.

Where: Sam Boyd Stadium

TV: KLAS, Channel 8

Radio: KBAD 920-AM

Line: UNLV by 8.

Somewhere in Laramie, Wyo., today sit the goal posts from the north end zone of War Memorial Stadium.

Moments after Wyoming stunned 17 1/2-point favorite Air Force, 34-26, to snap a 17-game Mountain West Conference losing streak on Saturday afternoon, students surged out of the stands, tore down the goal posts, then marched them 19 blocks up Grand Avenue to a local hangout called The Ranger Lounge where they were placed on the outdoor patio/volleyball court. They also were later spotted at an establishment called Elmer Lovejoy's.

It was the first MWC victory for third-year Cowboys head coach Vic Koenning. So how did he celebrate?

Probably not like you would have imagined.

No fancy dinner. No wild post-game parties. No champagne.

"I went home and spent the night with my wife (Tracey) and my three boys," Koenning said. "We played games like "Operation" and "Candyland" and watched the movie, "Scooby-Doo."'

In other words, just like any other Saturday night following a home game.

"That's the great thing about having kids," Koenning said. "Win or lose, you go home and they're always there for you. Usually I'm gone from about seven in the morning until 11 or 12 at night during football season. So to be able to come home and spend Saturday night with them is something special to me."

Even if it means watching Scooby-Doo.

"Hey, as long as the kids like it," Koenning said. "I thought the guy who played Shaggy did a good job."

Whether Saturday's win helped cool a very hot seat for Koenning is not known. He still has another two years remaining on his contract after this season and he's compiled just a 5-25 mark in his three seasons so far since taking over for Dana Dimel. And, after Saturday's upset of the Falcons, he's just 1-17 in MWC play.

Still, a strong November run by the Cowboys (2-6, 1-2), who face sputtering UNLV (3-5, 1-2) on Saturday afternoon at Sam Boyd Stadium, might buy Koenning another year.

Although he was happy to see his players and assistant coaches smiling after finally being rewarded with a victory on Saturday, Koenning said he wasn't overjoyed about the goal posts being torn down.

"It's not that I'm disappointed by it," he said, "but I think it's sad that it wasn't done because we won a conference championship. I want to bring this program back to where it should be, winning a conference championship and going to a bowl game.

"I'm not trying to cast a negative," Koenning continued. "It was great for the players and coaches who haven't had much satisfaction or success for all of their hard work. It was good for the fans. But we need to string together some victories and get this program back to where it was. If we go to a bowl game and win a conference championship, that's when I'll celebrate. And that's when I'd love to see them tear down the goal posts again."