The Bronze Boot

The Bronze Boot

Wyoming players celebrate with the Bronze Boot trophy after beating CSU 24-0 in Laramie, Oct. 21, 2006.

The annual Wyoming-Colorado State football game has evolved into one of the most bitterly contested rivalries in college football. The teams have waged the "Border War" ninety-seven times since the schools began playing in 1899, playing every year except 1901, 1902, 1906, 1907, 1918, 1924, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1943, 1944, and 1945. In fact, this is one of the oldest interstate rivalries west of the Mississippi River. The series is the oldest rivalry for both schools and the "Border War" has been played in three different centuries.

In 1968, the ROTC detachments of the respective schools initiated the Bronze Boot, a traveling trophy awarded to the winner of the contest each year. The Boot was originally worn in Vietnam by Colorado State graduate Jeff Romero Sr. in Vietnam.

Each year leading up to the Wyoming-Colorado State game, the game ball is carried on foot in a shuttle relay by the ROTC detachment of the visiting team to the Wyoming-Colorado state border, where the home team's ROTC detachment receives it and runs the game ball to the stadium hosting the game.

The boot has rested in the UW Athletics Dept. in 20 of the 39 years since its inception. The Bronze Boot has become one of the most famous traveling trophies in college football. Following is a list of the Boot Series scores:

Year  Outcome                        Site  

1968  Wyoming 46, Colorado State 14  Ft. Collins

1969  Wyoming 39, Colorado State 3   Laramie

1970  Wyoming 16, Colorado State 6   Ft. Collins

1971  Wyoming 17, Colorado State 6   Laramie

1972  Wyoming 28, Colorado State 9   Ft. Collins

1973  Wyoming 35, Colorado State 3   Laramie

1974  Colorado State 11, Wyoming 6   Ft. Collins

1975  Colorado State 3, Wyoming 0    Laramie

1976  Colorado State 19, Wyoming 16  Ft. Collins

1977  Wyoming 29, Colorado State 13  Laramie

1978  Wyoming 13, Colorado State 3   Ft. Collins

1979  Colorado State 20, Wyoming 16  Laramie

1980  Colorado State 28, Wyoming 25  Ft. Collins

1981  Wyoming 55, Colorado State 21  Laramie

1982  Colorado State 9, Wyoming 3    Ft. Collins

1983  Wyoming 42, Colorado State 17  Laramie

1984  Wyoming 43, Colorado State 34  Ft. Collins

1985  Colorado State 30, Wyoming 19  Laramie

1986  Colorado State20, Wyoming 15   Ft. Collins

1987  Wyoming 20, Colorado State 15  Laramie

1988  Wyoming 48, Colorado State 14  Ft. Collins

1989  Wyoming 56, Colorado State 35  Laramie

1990  Colorado State 17, Wyoming 8   Ft. Collins

1991  Wyoming 35, Colorado State 28  Laramie

1992  Wyoming 31, Colorado State 14  Ft. Collins

1993  Colorado State 41, Wyoming 21  Laramie

1994  Colorado State 35, Wyoming 24  Ft. Collins

1995  Colorado State 31, Wyoming 24  Laramie

1996  Wyoming 25, Colorado State 24  Ft. Collins

1997  Colorado State 14, Wyoming 7   Laramie

1998  Wyoming 27, Colorado State 19  Ft. Collins

1999  Colorado State 24, Wyoming 13  Laramie

2000  Colorado State 37, Wyoming 13  Ft. Collins

2001  Colorado State 42, Wyoming 14  Laramie

2002  Colorado State 44, Wyoming 36  Ft. Collins

2003  Wyoming 35, Colorado State 28  Laramie

2004  Colorado State 30, Wyoming 7   Ft. Collins

2005  Colorado State 39, Wyoming 31  Ft. Collins

2006  Wyoming 24, Colorado State 0   Laramie

Wyoming leads the series, 20-19