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new chain hotels and a two-block-long downtown that looks roughly like it did around the turn of the 20th century when the only traffic jams were cattle. The cattle have been mostly replaced by natural gas wells and cowboys don't wear their spurs inside the bar at the Occidental Hotel but there is no shortage of wild things thereabouts. At Two Creeks, aside from the occasional visiting horse, Joe and Arnette regularly see eagles, deer, antelope, turkey, waterfowl, owls, bobcats and there is even an osprey nest somewhere up Rock Creek. "I always wanted a property with water on it. I'm not crazy about the interstate (I-90 touches the southern edge of Two Creeks) but the water draws animals. I can sit in my kitchen in the morning with a cup of coffee and just watch the animals go by," Joe said. "The coolest thing we've seen," he goes on to explain with a faraway smile, "was when we were sitting on the deck and an osprey hit a six-inch rainbow trout out of the creek and flew by us at eye level. We always try to keep a camera handy because you never know what is going to go by." He also intends to spend more time pestering the trout but admits, "Occasionally I get my fly rod out. Not that I don't fish at all, but since I know it's always there, I don't fish enough." So much for the fishing angle to my proposed story. After buying the land 19 years ago, the couple first stayed in a 1970s vintage travel trailer on the former ranch property during Joe's yearly two-week vacations while head coach. Over the years, they remodeled an old cabin, built a new cabin and then five years ago when Joe left the sidelines for good, built their current home. The large native stone and rough sawn pine residence overlooks the creek with a million-dollar view of the Bighorns through large windows. Decorated in impeccable yet comfortable western-themed décor designed by Arnette, the home would certainly qualify for a segment on Home and Garden Television. The whole is wrapped by 40 acres of rolling prairie. Puttering around this slice of heaven on Earth is Coach Tiller, endlessly dragging irrigation hose like a horticultural Sisyphus in the arid western air. As we drove around on his green four-wheeled utility vehicle, Tiller explained, "I've planted 26 new trees on the property this year. I have a system where I water, then move 64 • Gold and Black IllustrateD • volume 23, issue 6 Brent Wheat Tiller sends a neighbor's wayward mare back home. Brent Wheat The Tiller "Man Cave" features his football awards and a jersey from every bowl game he coached as a head coach. Brent Wheat Tiller loves to talk trees and wildlife on his 40-acre spread, "Two Creeks." hoses. Eventually you get them all watered. Then, it's time to start over." The problem might become even GBIprint.com GoldandBlack.com