GALLERY: Josh Allen Receives Hero’s Welcome in Wyoming

LARAMIE -- His speech was brief, but Josh Allen's legacy will live on at the University of Wyoming forever.

In the midst of a roar from the more than 26,000 in attendance inside War Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon, a black curtain was slowly lifted from the façade of the west stands.

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Allen's name -- in gold, bold letters -- is now a permanent fixture inside the 75-year-old home of the Cowboys. The No. 17 he made famous during his playing days on the high plains, now officially retired, will never be worn again.

"First off, I just want to say thank you for everybody coming out tonight. This is such an amazing honor, a huge blessing," said Allen, the current quarterback of the Buffalo Bills and reigning NFL Most Valuable Player. "There's so many people that I can thank for this achievement. A lot of teammates here. I love you guys. Coach (Craig) Bohl, coach (Brent) Vigen, people that believed in me.

"The fans and the support here in Wyoming, I'm so honored and blessed to represent this university in this beautiful state."

Allen, who played for the Cowboys from 2015-17, threw for 5,066 yards and 44 touchdowns. He added 767 more yards on the ground to go along with 12 more trips to the end zone. The future No. 7 overall selection in the 2018 NFL Draft, the highest in school history, helped lead Wyoming to a berth in the Mountain West Championship game during his sophomore season.

Known for his rocket right arm, freakish athletic ability and, yes, even his gunslinger mentality, which sometimes landed him in trouble on the field, Allen's story began as an unknown from tiny Firebaugh in California's Central Valley. No one gave him a chance, despite sending hundreds of letters to college coaches around the nation and spending one successful season at the junior college level.

His hometown team, Fresno State, didn't offer. Wyoming eventually did.

Of all the accomplishments in Laramie, and there were many, one is obviously near and dear to his heart.

"I love you guys," Allen continued during Saturday's halftime ceremony. "Thank you, God bless, Go Pokes and it will always suck to be a CSU Ram."

Think that got the locals a tad riled up?

Check out these photos of Allen's big day, courtesy of our photographer, DJ Johnson: