Burman: “4-8 doesn’t work.” Wyoming AD Sets Clear Expectations, Supports Sawvel

Jeff Bugher
1 day ago
3 min read

Updated: 2 hours ago

Tom Burman. Photo by Troy Babbitt, UW Athletics

LARAMIE, Wyo.- University of Wyoming Athletics Director Tom Burman was very honest during his December press conference, offering a blunt assessment of the Cowboys’ 4-8 season and what must change as the program heads into a new era in the Mountain West.

“The 2025 football season was not what any of us expected. Disappointment, discouragement, frustration, all the emotions that fans feel. I’ve felt, staff has felt. Four and eight doesn’t work.”

Burman pointed directly at offensive inefficiency as the driving force behind Wyoming’s struggles.

“Offensively, the reality of it was we were terribly inefficient, inconsistent, didn’t improve as the year went along. And that’s why… we’re in the position we’re in.”

But the issues, he said, weren’t isolated to one position or one hire.

“It’s not just a quarterback problem. It’s not just an OC problem. It is all of those: offensive coordinator, quarterback, offensive line, skill players, execution, discipline. Complex issues do not have simple answers.”

Support for Sawvel, but improvement is required

Burman reinforced his belief that head coach Jay Sawvel is the right person to lead the Cowboys into 2026.

“Jay, when hired, he was a first-time head coach. And when you have first-time head coaches, there are going to be some bumps in the road.”

“I’ll give Jay credit… he takes responsibility. He acknowledges the problem and he has developed a plan to fix it.”

That plan, Burman said, covers personnel, coaching, scheme, and discipline.

“Jay has a plan and it involves personnel, it involves coaching, it involves scheme, it involves discipline. It’s up to him to execute it.”

Burman's expectation of Sawvel in 2026? Just. Win.

“We’ve got to win games and we’ve got to be productive. We’ve got to look better.”

“I want to see a football team that is more disciplined… more physical… and score.”

NIL: Progress

Burman pushed back on the idea that Wyoming’s record was tied primarily to NIL issues. Sawvel recently said it would take $2.5 in NIL funds to win a championship.

“We are behind in NIL, but we’re not so far behind that… we can say that is the issue. It is part of it… but it is not the issue.”

He did confirm that Wyoming is closing the gap financially.

“We’re getting close. Yeah, we’re going to get very close. We have found a way this year to make significant growth.”

Burman verified that the third-party 1WYO collective is no longer active. He thanked Mitch Edwards and the board for all of their hard work. Rapidly changing NIL rules transitioned over the last year as part of the house settlement. Burman said Wyoming is paying players via Cowboy Joe donations and revenue sharing. There are also business NIL advertising opportunities through Learfield Sports Properties.

“Somebody can write a check to the Cowboy Joe Club and know that a portion… goes to supporting student athletes… including NIL.”