Oh, brother

Steve Guiremand

Thursday, Nov. 4, 2004 | 10:02 a.m.

UNLV linebacker Adam Seward was watching film of the Wyoming offense in preparation for Saturday afternoon's home finale against the Cowboys when he thought he saw something fishy.

"We kept looking at the film and we kept saying, 'Didn't that Bramlet guy graduate?' " Seward said.

Yes, Casey Bramlet, who starred for the past four seasons for the Cowboys and rewrote the school record book in the process while throwing for 9,684 yards and 56 touchdowns, has finally graduated. He was a seventh-round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals where he is now the third-string quarterback behind 2002 Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer and veteran John Kitna.

Taking his place, however, is younger brother Corey Bramlet, a 6-foot-4, 218-pound junior who may have an even stronger arm than his NFL brother. And after struggling at times at the start of the season trying to fill his brother's big shoes, he has come on strong the past couple of weeks and is starting to make a name of his own.

In fact, Corey Bramlet will take the field at Sam Boyd Stadium on Saturday on the heels of the best game of his career. He completed 19 of 27 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns and no interceptions and also rushed for 67 yards on 13 carries in leading the Cowboys (5-3, 2-2) to a 43-26 victory against Air Force.

"He played brilliantly. He really was fantastic," Wyoming coach Joe Glenn said. "This was by far his best game. He came in and was the field general. We all felt he could play like this, but I don't know if he really ever had a totally complete game. He showed all the things we've seen in stretches. We asked him to be consistent, and he got it done."

Bramlet said: "I think it was (my best game). I think it was my most complete game. I got comfortable right away and it seemed to carry over."

Bramlet had thrown just 14 passes in two seasons before this year, but many expected him to pick up where his older brother left off.

"Right off the bat I was being compared to him, from the first snap of spring ball to fall camp," Bramlet said. "But I've gotten used to it."

When told of Seward's comments, Bramlet just laughed.

"Yeah, I get that quite a bit," he said. "We are about the same size and have some of the same similarities and characteristics in our game. Everybody kind of asks me about being in his shadow from high school and now here. I've learned to live with it."

UNLV coach John Robinson even got into the act this week during the Mountain West coaches conference call.

"It's a Bramlet," Robinson said when asked about Corey taking over at quarterback for the Pokes. "I don't know that there's much difference. They both look alike. He's a good young quarterback and the offense is made for (him). I think they do a nice job of giving him a chance to be good."

One statistic Corey Bramlet has on his older brother is victories in a season. The Cowboys are 5-3 this year and need to win just one of their final three games to become bowl eligible. Wyoming won only nine games in four years with Casey at quarterback and never won more than four in a single season.

Corey Bramlet gives credit for the turnaround to the energetic Glenn, who replaced Vic Koenning after the 2002 campaign.

"Coach Glenn is a great guy," Bramlet said. "He's always motivating you. You enjoy playing for him and you enjoy going to the meetings. It's a great atmosphere to be around. From the years past, to grow to where we are now ... it's awesome."