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The “Bronze Boot Run” is officially underway as Colorado State and Wyoming gear up for a matchup on the gridiron. The annual college football tradition involves ROTC members from each school running the game ball across state lines from stadium to stadium.
The Mountain West Conference rivals will face off for the 115th time this Friday as each look to move up the league standings. The Rams currently sit at 1-3 in MWC play while the Cowboys are 2-2.
Before each meeting, a special pregame festivity takes place.
Fans and followers gather ’round as the visiting team takes the game ball to the Colorado-Wyoming state line. Once there, both head coaches and athletic directors meet to speak and shake hands before the home team finishes the 65-mile trek, escorting the ball to the venue where the game will be played.
The Bronze Boot Run.
Armed Forces Merit Award Features “Elite 11” Finalists >> https://t.co/y1LOJwQRV8 pic.twitter.com/qEdehzhmpf
— Wyoming Cowboy Football (@wyo_football) October 19, 2023
The tradition was named one of the “Elite 11” finalists for the 2023 Armed Forces Merit Award as voted on by the Football Writers Association of America.
Bronze Boot Run, Wyoming & Colorado State – The 56th run will be held on the Thursday prior to this year’s Colorado State at Wyoming game that will be nationally televised on Friday, November 3. The main component of the Border War rivalry is the Bronze Boot that has been awarded to the winner of the game since 1968 when the ROTC detachments of the respective schools initiated the traveling trophy.
With the matchup being played on a Friday, the run got underway Thursday morning with Colorado State kicking things off.
» 40 miles
» 2,000 ft. elevation gainThe 33rd 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐭 𝐑𝐮𝐧 is underway!#Stalwart x #WeRunFarther pic.twitter.com/7StQfL0FPG
— Colorado State Football (@CSUFootball) November 2, 2023
The game ball run isn’t the only tradition in the series. The winner will also take home the Bronze Boot trophy.
The Rams hold the current lead in the “Border War” series by a slight 59-50-5 advantage, though Wyoming’s posted a 30-25 record since the introduction of the trophy.
The Cowboys are on a two-game winning streak in the rivalry, beating CSU 14-13 last November.
Here are a few scenes from last season to get you geared up for 2023.