Bohl's career at UW ends in poetic fashion

Dec. 30—TUCSON, Ariz. — Craig Bohl wasn't leaving the University of Wyoming without one last celebratory Manhattan.

Bohl coached in his last game during the Cowboys' 16-15 win over Toledo in Saturday's Arizona Bowl, a game that was won on a 24-yard field goal from John Hoyland as time expired.

The win pushed Bohl's career record at UW to 61-60, and he'll now ride into retirement with a winning record with the Cowboys and a 165-92 overall record through 21 seasons as a head coach.

"It's going to be more than one Manhattan," Bohl said with a laugh. "I don't know if I'm going to get up tomorrow morning. I walked off and I held my breath in the locker room. I almost offered everyone drinks at the Buckhorn. I thought I'd probably get in trouble, but then I said, 'What the hell are they going to do to me?'

"So, I'm going to love my wife, sit by the fire and I'm going to have a couple (Manhattans)."

Bohl's final win at UW pushed the Cowboys to nine wins on the season, a mark that's the most for the program since a 10-win season in 1996. The win over the Rockets was Bohl's fourth bowl win at UW out of six appearances. He was 2-1 in Arizona Bowls.

"It's special, because it's the last one for me," Bohl said. "I've done it 42 years, and I've not gone to work a day in my life yet. It's been a real tremendous profession.

"It's great to go out with these guys. I have a real sense of peace about moving on. It was time for this Cowboy to ride off. Coach (Jay) Sawvel is going to do a great job."

The Cowboys named Sawvel, UW's current defensive coordinator, as Bohl's replacement earlier this month. Bohl feels more than comfortable with the state of the program he'll turn over to Sawvel on Monday.

"I think (the future) looks really bright," Bohl said. "Coach Sawvel and I have talked about that, along with (athletics director) Tom Burman, and we feel like the foundation has been set.

"I know the guys out here were calling about why we weren't able to win a conference championship, and that's a fair question. It's a challenge. But I think if you look at the programs I've been fortunate to be involved with, whether it's Nebraska with the Tom Osborne era or my time at North Dakota State, those were a long building process. So, I believe that we're in really good shape to move forward.

"I'm going to be rooting the Pokes on. Coach Sawvel is going to do a great job leading. It's certainly a competitive conference, but the future looks really bright and the culture is set. Are there going to be challenges? Yes. But I think our older guys have done a great job of laying a foundation, and we have good players coming back."

Peasley's grit

Bohl isn't the only one walking off the field with Cowboys gear for the last time. Quarterback Andrew Peasley, who transferred to UW from Utah State two years ago, developed a reputation for his physical toughness as the Cowboys' signal-caller, and that mantra lived on during the Arizona Bowl.

Peasley took several hits against the Rockets, and was eventually knocked out of the game for good in the fourth quarter. On UW's last drive, Peasley absorbed a big hit to find wide receiver Ayir Asante for a 27-yard gain.

While he didn't know it at the time, the pass would be Peasley's last in a UW uniform.

"Obviously, six years in college football is a pretty long time," Peasley said. "It has been a great ride. These last two years at Wyoming have been super special to me.

"I talked to the team yesterday. I'm very blessed with how they welcomed me. We've had some ups and downs and didn't reach our goals this year, but we won a bowl game, and it's back up top. I'm very thankful to be a part of this team and be around the guys that I've met."

Easton Gibbs, who also played in his last game as a Cowboy on Saturday, wants UW fans to remember Peasley for his willingness to leave everything out on the field on any given night.

"Since he came in, he was an immediate leader on our team, which is hard when you come into the locker room with guys you don't know," Gibbs said. "To immediately step into a leadership role like he has and to stand in the pocket and take those hits and run and fight, it really motivates the whole team, not just the offense.

"When you're a defensive guy and you see a quarterback lay it all on the line, why would you not go out and compete the same way? It's awesome having him, and we're really lucky he's on our side."

Hoyland's heroics

Hoyland's kicking struggles were well documented going into the Arizona Bowl. The junior went into the game having missed seven of his past eight attempts, including missing his previous four tries.

Hoyland's confidence didn't waver in Tucson.

"You've got to keep your confidence as a kicker," Hoyland said. "Shoot, the whole team is counting on you to deliver. At times, when I wasn't, that was really frustrating.

"It was just down to me coming back to a good spot mentally. I think a big part of that was just the other specialists in the specialist room."

Hoyland finished the game 3-of-3 on field goals and 1-of-1 on extra points. He gave UW a 6-0 lead in the first half with a 52-yard field goal that hit the crossbar and bounced through.

Hoyland walked away the hero in this year's Arizona Bowl following his game-winner as time expired, but he isn't one to take all the credit.

"I never really liked lifting up the kicker (after a game-winner) for some reason, because we kind of just finish it off," Hoyland said. "There's a whole lot of work, a whole lot of big guys hitting people to get me into that spot.

"Honestly, it's all up to them."

Alex Taylor is the assistant editor for WyoSports and covers University of Wyoming athletics. He can be reached at ataylor@wyosports.net. Follow him on X at @alex_m_taylor22.