November 1, 2023 |
Photo – The Bronze Boot – Courtesy gowyo.com
The iconic Bronze Boot has become the focal point of one of the oldest rivalries in college football. The coveted trophy is hoisted high in the air by the winning team of the Border War: The Wyoming – Colorado State football game.
The Bronze Boot made its first appearance at the height of the Viet Nam War. 1968 was the year. The trophy began life as standard military-issue footwear. It was worn in the jungles of southeast Asia by Capt. Dan Romero, a military science professor at CSU. It is now the game trophy. The Cowboys have claimed the Bronze Boot each of the last two years.
A newer tradition dating back to the 1980s is the running of the Boot between the schools to the state line where a ceremony is held.
Rain, snow, wind or sunshine, ROTC cadets from UW and CSU run the boot along Highway 287 to the Wyoming-Colorado border where it is then relayed by foot to the host stadium. No other tradition resembles the tradition of the Bronze Boot in college football. It symbolizes the rich and special nature of the rivalry between the two schools on either side of the state line.
This year, the running of the Boot will take place Thursday morning.
CSU Head Coach Jay Norvelle talked this week about the tradition.
When the Rams last had possession of the boot in 2020, they took steps to preserve the army issue boot. It was showing signs of wear. CSU Director of Athletics Joe Parker consulted with his counterpart at UW, Tom Burman, and the process of restoring the boot was undertaken.
The bronzed Viet Nam-era standard issue infantry footwear was sent to San Diego and a group of artisans at The Bronzery. Hoss Kholessi delicately disassembled the sole boot, rebronzed it, and put it back together.
Like the coveted bronze trophy up for grabs Friday night, the Wyoming Cowboys need to put themselves back together after being taken apart in the last two losses to BYU and Boise State.
The oddsmakers have the Cowboys pegged at less than a touchdown favorite in the Border War.
The Cowboys are 5-and-0 in Laramie this season. All three of Wyoming’s losses came on the road.
The 3-and-5 Rams will be looking to win back the Boot in Laramie with their road win in the Border War series since 2015.
No matter the records, the Border War is always one of the liveliest contests in college football with the best traveling trophy at stake.
The 115th Border War kicks off at 6 p.m. here on Bigfoot 99. The pregame show starts at 4:30
