Colorado State University Athletics
Bronze Boot in Running for Armed Forces Merit Award
10/24/2022 12:26:00 PM | Football
The annual tradition of the run is one of five finalists for honor
FORT COLLINS, Colo.  – The Armed Forces Bowl announced five finalists for the Merit Award, with the traditional Bronze Boot run among the seven finalists for the honor.
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Presented by the Football Writers Association of America, the run – to be held on Veteran's Day this year – is joined in the finalists' pool by Troy Chancellor Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr.; players Dominic DiNunzio (TCU), Tyler Huff (Texas State), Ray Ruschel (North Dakota State College of Science) and Will Schoonover (West Virginia); and The Paris Johnson Jr. Foundation.
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The announcement of the winner will be made during an ESPN telecast on Nov. 11 between 10-10:30 a.m. MT – the day of the Bronze Boot Run. The award, established in 2012, honors an individual or group with a military background and has an involvement which has an impact on college football.
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The Bronze Boot was created in 1968 from the actual leather boot worn by Cpt. Dan Romero during the Vietnam War. Colorado State had the Boot refurbished prior to the 2021 season, with the bronze coating strengthened by The Bronzery in Escondido, Calif., and the base refinished by Alpine Cabinets, owned by Colorado State alums in nearby Timnath.
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The two rival schools are separated by 66 miles, with ROTC members of each school taking part. The visiting school's detachment will run a game ball to the border in rotating shifts, where it is met by the host school's cadets, who then finish the run into the stadium. The rivalry dates back to the first contest in 1899, with this year's game the 113th meeting.
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Presented by the Football Writers Association of America, the run – to be held on Veteran's Day this year – is joined in the finalists' pool by Troy Chancellor Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr.; players Dominic DiNunzio (TCU), Tyler Huff (Texas State), Ray Ruschel (North Dakota State College of Science) and Will Schoonover (West Virginia); and The Paris Johnson Jr. Foundation.
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The announcement of the winner will be made during an ESPN telecast on Nov. 11 between 10-10:30 a.m. MT – the day of the Bronze Boot Run. The award, established in 2012, honors an individual or group with a military background and has an involvement which has an impact on college football.
Â
The Bronze Boot was created in 1968 from the actual leather boot worn by Cpt. Dan Romero during the Vietnam War. Colorado State had the Boot refurbished prior to the 2021 season, with the bronze coating strengthened by The Bronzery in Escondido, Calif., and the base refinished by Alpine Cabinets, owned by Colorado State alums in nearby Timnath.
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The two rival schools are separated by 66 miles, with ROTC members of each school taking part. The visiting school's detachment will run a game ball to the border in rotating shifts, where it is met by the host school's cadets, who then finish the run into the stadium. The rivalry dates back to the first contest in 1899, with this year's game the 113th meeting.
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