It was one of the few things Wyoming head coach Joe Glenn could still smile about this week.
And while it won’t add any digits to the Cowboys’ win column, Julius Stinson’s recent individual recognition is a bit of a bright spot for a team in the middle of a two-game slump.
“Dr. J is playing,” Glenn said of Stinson after yesterday’s practice. “He’s doing a great job.”
Through seven games this season, Stinson leads the team in interceptions, pass breakups and passes defended, is second on the team in tackles for a loss and is third in total tackles. His three picks ranks third best in the Mountain West Conference, and the Cowboys have the best pass defense (172.3 ypg) in the league.
Despite a host of offensive struggles, the rest of the country has taken notice of Wyoming’s defensive prowess, and no player has garnered more attention than Stinson.
He was one of five additions this week to the 2007 Jim Thorpe Award Watch List (the award is given out at the end of each year to the nation’s top defensive back), and less than two weeks earlier, he was named a midseason All-American by several media outlets.
After the Pokes’ bowl hopes were jeopardized by back-to-back conference losses to New Mexico and Air Force, however, Stinson’s individual honors are taking a back seat to getting back on track as a team.
“That’s all fun and games and that’s good,” he said, “but we need to win.
“It’s my senior year, and I want to go to a bowl game. I’m not worried about these after-season awards. I’ll deal with that after we win our bowl game.”
Whether or not the Pokes manage to climb out of their current slump, Stinson’s recognition offers at least a small amount of exoneration to a defense that has consistently done its part this year—even in the Pokes’ three losses.
“It is a bright spot,” Glenn said. “He’s been just a stalwart on our defense. He’s a sensational guy, and he deserves to be on there.
“He’s a damn good football player.”
“Julius is doing an awesome job this year, and Mike Medina (UW’s other cornerback) is doing awesome too,” Wyoming linebacker Ward Dobbs said. “They take care of that stuff that’s behind your back, and when they take care of that, you can put a little more focus on the run.
“It’s nice having guys out there that can do that kind of thing.”
The Thorpe Award list will be narrowed to three finalists on November 19, and the winner will be announced on the nationally televised ESPN College Football Awards Show December 6. Winners are selected for performance on the field, athletic ability and character. Last year’s winner was Texas University standout Aaron Ross, now playing for the New York Giants.
Joining Stinson as new additions to the list are: Trey Brown from UCLA, Troy Nolan from Arizona State, Jamie Silva from Boston College and Craig Steltz from Louisiana State.
In the meantime, the Cowboys will look to add another home win this weekend against UNLV.
“We have to win,” Stinson said of the game. “It’s a must right now.
“It’s a team thing….I’m not worried about anything right now besides a win.”
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