Week 3 picks: How Cheyenne South fits into the pattern of program startups

The consensus around Class 4A is clear this year: Cheyenne South is better this year than it was last year.

Unfortunately for the Bison, being better has yet to translate into a victory.

South, in its second varsity season and its first year with seniors, is 0-3 so far this year. The Bison were 0-9 last year.

In terms of victories, the transition to a fully fledged Class 4A football program has been tough. But by no means are the Bison walking an untrodden path. Struggles during program starts are common — and some of the best programs we know today started the same way Cheyenne South is doing now.

Several programs went winless in their first seasons (in seasons of four-plus games only): Big Horn (0-4 in 1939); Gillette (0-4 in 1921); Goshen Hole (0-5 in 1966); Kelly Walsh (0-8 in 1965); Pinedale (0-5 in 1938); Rozet (0-4 in 1953); Baggs/Snake River (0-4 in 1951); Wyoming Indian (0-6 in 1972); and, of course, South (0-9 in 2011).

However, every one of those programs won at least one game in their second season, except Rozet, which closed up shop after its one and only season.

The 12-game losing streak the Bison are on right now is far from a record to start a program. Well, depending on how you count….

* Guernsey didn’t win a game its first three seasons and lost its first eight of its fourth season; the Longhorns lost their first 21 games, eventually beating Manville 40-0 for their first victory on their 22nd attempt. However, Guernsey also started twice, playing for two years (1922-23) before sitting out for a few and then returning in 1929. Seven of the losses came in the first startup, 14 in the second startup.

* Cody had similar struggles in establishing its program. The Broncs went a combined 0-10-1 their first two seasons, and picked up a victory in their third season only after a forfeit. The Broncs didn’t win a game on the field until the 22nd time they took the field; however, Cody beat newcomer Byron in that game 109-0. (Technically, Cody’s streak ends at 13 games — 12 losses and a tie.)

* Moorcroft, on its third and final startup after two one-year experiments, lost 11 consecutive games to start. The Wolves had winless seasons in its first two years, 1952 and 1953.

* Chugwater had it even tougher. The Buffaloes went 0-12 as a program over four seasons, and, according to my research, never won a game. They have the state “record” for most games played without a victory.

* Another Cheyenne school, St. Mary’s, had an interesting first few seasons — the Gaels went 2-0 their first year, but went a combined 0-16-2 in their next three.

Establishing a program takes time. The Bison know this. The good news? If the past is any indicator, South will be winning games soon, and the rough start to the program will be a footnote, not a focus.

Here are this week’s picks. Projected winners in bold, projected teams that would love to prove me wrong in regular type:

Thursday

Interclass
Lingle at Cheyenne East sophs
Friday
Class 4A
Cheyenne East at Cheyenne Central
Cheyenne South at Laramie
Evanston at Sheridan
Kelly Walsh at Gillette
Rock Springs at Natrona
Class 3A
Douglas at Star Valley
Green River at Buffalo
Lander at Jackson
Rawlins at Worland
Riverton at Cody
Torrington at Powell
Class 2A
Big Horn at Wright
Kemmerer at Pinedale
Lovell at Lyman
Mountain View at Big Piney
Newcastle at Burns
Thermopolis at Greybull
Tongue River at Moorcroft
Wheatland at Glenrock
Class 1A 11-man
Normative Services at Upton-Sundance (at Upton)
Riverside at Rocky Mountain
Saratoga at Cokeville
Shoshoni at Burlington
Southeast at Lusk
Wyoming Indian at Wind River
Class 1A six-man
Farson at Ten Sleep
Hanna at Midwest
Meeteetse at Dubois
Interstate
Hill City, S.D., at Pine Bluffs
Saturday
Class 1A six-man
Kaycee at Hulett
Snake River at Guernsey

Last week: 25-7 (78 percent). This season: 63-16 (80 percent).

What games on the Week 3 schedule stick out most to you? Any picks you feel like making? Anywhere I went wrong? Tired of my questioning? Post a comment below and share.

–patrick