WHO: University of Wyoming Cowboy Battalion
WHAT: Bronze Boot Run
WHEN: 30NOV16
WHERE: Wyoming-Colorado Border, Highway 287
SUMMARY: On the 6th of November 2015, the Cowboy Battalion
participated in the annual Bronze Boot Run with the Ram Battalion of
Colorado State University. This meeting was the 107th anniversary of the
Border War between the two football teams, and the 48th run across the
border.
The tradition of the Bronze Boot began in 1968 when MAJ Vic Fernandez
had the idea of having a trophy for the annual Border War game. A prior
CSU instructor, CPT Dan Romero Sr., donated his boot that was used during
Vietnam, which was bronzed over and is still the trophy we use today. Every
year, the away team’s school runs the game ball and guidon to the border,
has a ceremony with both schools, then the home team takes the ball and
their own guidon to their stadium. The boot is protected throughout the game
by the ROTC Cadets and is taken to the winning school.
This year, the Cowboy Battalion began the Bronze Boot Run as the they
were in charge of delivering the ball to the border as this year’s away team.
The first mile was run by the entire Cowboy Battalion, and from there Cadets
rotated in pairs of two running the ball to the WY/CO border. LTC Haas led
the formation to run the final mile delivering the game ball to the border
where a ceremonial handoff between UW and CSU off was held. The
ceremonial handoff includes both team’s football coaches, athletic directors,
PMS, and cheer teams. At the ceremonial handoff local news channels
interviewed LTC Haas and several Cadets.
The Cowboy football team Won the Bronze Boot game in Fort Collins, CO.
Wyoming now leads the all time Bronze Boot series 25-24. The Cowboy
Battalion looks to continue to support the football team in their efforts to keep
the Bronze Boot in Laramie next year as UW is the home team.