A week ago Monday, former Penney High School running back Kellen Overstreet announced his retirement from the game of football, citing four surgeries over three years at the University of Wyoming. The announcement ended a brilliant career that included All-State honors for the Hornets, and a blossoming career that had the junior in the running to be the lead running back with the Cowboys coming into the 2018 season.
Ironically, the announcement came less than two weeks before Overstreet’s team traveled to his home state, as UW will be in Columbia on Saturday night, playing the Missouri Tigers in a 6 o’clock kickoff from Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field. Overstreet, admitting to feeling undervalued by the Missouri coaching staff in the recruiting process, was very much looking forward to playing “at home”:
The decision, announced via Instagram, came down to the wear and tear of the sport at the Division 1 level:
The University of Wyoming plays their games in Laramie, as part of the Mountain West Conference. War Memorial Stadium is one of the college football stadiums situated at well over one mile above sea level, an adjustment for Overstreet during his time with the Cowboys:
Despite not playing this weekend, Overstreet will be on the sideline with his teammates, as the 1-1 Cowboys, coming off a home defeat to Washington State last week, look to bring an upset on the SEC’s Tigers. Even after Overstreet’s announcement, the Cowboys could be very thin in the backfield for the matchup at Mizzou, as Wyoming Coach Craig Bohl, on Wednesday, said that running back Nico Evans, with a rib injury, has been downgraded from day-to-day to doubtful for the game. Kickoff is set for 6 o’clock on Saturday night, with coverage on ESPNU and KTTN FM 92.3, with pregame on the Tiger Radio Network hitting the air at 4 o’clock.
Photo credit – Darrel Johnson / KFBC Radio / Laramie, WY
