A 67-mile drive is all that separates Colorado State from one of its fiercest rivals, the University of Wyoming.
Dating back to 1899, the Border War is one of the most storied rivalries in college sports. It’s a true spectacle when the Cowboys and Rams clash in any sport, but the most prominent iteration of this rivalry is when the two teams meet on the football field.
CSU holds the all-time series lead against UW on the turf, with a 59-52-5 record. In spite of the all-time record, however, the Rams have dropped eight of their last 10 matchups against the Cowboys, including a 28-0 loss in Laramie last season.
The short distance between the two universities isn’t the only thing that makes this rivalry so fierce. There’s also the boot, and the run that comes with it.
Back in 1967, it was decided the football games between CSU and UW needed something more to play for than simply pride and bragging rights. A traveling trophy was commissioned to be awarded to the winner of the annual matchup. CSU assistant professor of military science and Vietnam veteran Capt. Dan Romero pitched the idea of modeling the trophy after one of his battle boots. From this emerged one of the most recognizable trophies in college football: the Bronze Boot.
The Boot was first awarded to the winner of the 1968 game in Fort Collins, where UW resoundingly defeated the Rams 46-14. The first boot run wouldn’t take place until year later, but it has since become one of the most prominent parts of the rivalry today.
Each year, ROTC cadets from the visiting school carry the game ball in a relay run from their campus to the Colorado-Wyoming border. During this run, cadets will run either 38 miles from CSU or 26 miles from UW. The relay teams each run two-mile stretches. Ahead of this year’s game, Wyoming cadets will take their turn running the game ball to the border.
On Sept. 5, the Rams will kick off their season by writing a new chapter in this storied rivalry at Canvas Stadium. Though the desire to beat a longtime rival is not the only reason this particular game holds high stakes for the Rams. It will be the first time the team takes the field since they joined the Pac-12 conference in July, and a victory in this game could set the tone for CSU’s future in the conference.
Additionally, the game serves as the much-anticipated debut of newly hired head coach Jim Mora. During his introductory press conference in January, Mora set lofty goals for the program, making it clear he not only wants to win a conference championship, but he wants to bring the Rams back to national relevance and compete for a national championship. Beating Wyoming and getting revenge for a shutout loss in last season’s matchup, while also being able to reclaim the boot in front of a likely sold-out crowd, would be an excellent first step for Mora on his quest for a title.
Trash talk has already flared up between both sides, with Wyoming quarterback Tyler Hughes stoking the flames of the rivalry by saying, “One of the first things you learn when you’re a Wyoming Cowboy is (you) have to go handle business down south” in an interview at the Mountain West Conference’s media day.
Former UW quarterback and current Buffalo Bills signal-caller Josh Allen showed just how deep the rivalry runs by taking a shot at CSU during his jersey retirement ceremony last November, telling a packed War Memorial Stadium crowd, “It will always suck to be a CSU Ram.”
Year after year, both sides create new drama and attempt to settle old scores, both on and off the field. One thing is for certain: History tells us this rivalry is one of the greatest college football has ever seen, and the traditions surrounding the game are part of what makes it so great.
This much anticipated matchup will kickoff at 4 p.m. Sept. 5 at Canvas Stadium, and Ram fans will certainly be on the edge of their seats.
Reach Jack Randels at sports@collegian.com or on social media @RMCollegian.
