Rider tries to buck trend

Fourteen years ago, a cowboy you might have heard of, a fellow by the name of Ty Murray, completed the 1998 season by winning the PRCA's all-around world championship.

It was the last of Murray's seven all-around titles, as he ended an extended period of dominance and moved onto other things. Like getting together with and ultimately marrying Jewel. And who could blame him for that?

It was also the last time a rough-stock cowboy - one who rides broncs and bulls, rather than roping or steer wrestling for a living - won the all-around crown. Since then, it has been all timed-event cowboys bringing home rodeo's biggest prize. And nine of those gold buckles have gone to the same guy, Trevor Brazile, who is in prime position this year to keep that streak going.

Steven Dent understands what he's up against.

"It's always been like that," said Dent, a bronc rider who entered the 2012 National Finals Rodeo second in barebacks and second in the all-around. "When Ty was winning all his all-around titles, and Jim Shoulders and Dan Mortensen, those guys faced the same deal we do. They were just some extremely talented rough-stock guys."

Dent is pretty talented, too. The 26-year-old cowboy from Mullen, Neb., has earned $140,781 in barebacks this year, and just shy of another $4,000 in saddle broncs. That allowed him to qualify for the all-around chase - a competitor has to earn at least $3,000 in his second event to do so.

Yet with $144,465 in total 2012 winnings, Dent trails Brazile by more than $100,000 for that prestigious all-around title. But he's not giving up on his dream.

"That's been a goal of mine my whole life, since I was a little kid, watching Ty and Dan and those guys on TV," Dent said. "Every world title is difficult to win; and when you're competing against a guy like Trevor Brazile, he's maybe the greatest cowboy ever."

One thing Dent has working in his favor is that Brazile is only competing in one event, team roping, during this year's 10-day run at the Thomas & Mack Center.

"So I have as good a chance as any year, as good a chance as ever before," he said. "But of course, I have to take care of my bareback riding first."

And he has to do that in a field loaded with studs. Reigning bareback world champ Kaycee Field has a narrow lead over Dent in the standings, and former bareback champions Will Lowe and Bobby Mote are also in the top five.

"In barebacks, it doesn't take a genius to see it's gonna be difficult to win the world title. I've got world title winners surrounding me in the standings," Dent said.

But at the NFR, with its total purse of $6.125 million, the money can quickly pile up if you can get on a little hot streak.

"I think I'm gonna have to win $140,000 to $180,000 to win the barebacks," Dent said. "If I do that, Trevor is gonna have to win $60,000. It gives me a chance.

"Basically, it comes down to winning the world title in barebacks, and that gives me a real good shot in the all-around."

Being physically and mentally prepared also will be key for Dent. The 10-day rodeo is physically demanding for all contestants, often even more so for the rough-stock riders. But Dent, now in his fifth NFR, said the mental aspect is perhaps even more difficult.

"It's a mentally tough week out there. For 10 days, you've got ups and downs," he said. "That's the toughest part of it, not letting what happened to you the night before affect the way you ride, or even what the rider before you does each night.

"If that guy gets 90 points, all you can do is get every possible point out of the horse you're on. If you press, then you make mistakes. It's just one horse at a time, and get every point out of every horse you get on. If you do that all year, you've got a chance to win a world title."