UW Cowboys, currently second in the Mountain Division of the Mountain West Conference, prepare to maintain possession of coveted Bronze Boot trophy taking on the CSU Rams Saturday at War Memorial Stadium beginning at 5 p.m.
“Whoever wins this one is getting put in a really good spot for the Mountain West Championship as well as winning that boot. It is a huge game,” junior safety and reigning defensive player of the week, Andrew Wingard said.
Wingard and the Cowboys forced seven turnovers last week with Wingard having two interceptions.
This game has many implications outside of just conference positioning. It is a big game every year because of what it means to the players and fans.
“We recognize that we are playing for more than what just our football team.” head coach Craig Bohl also said. “I also think it is a big game for the people in the state.”
Under Bohl more in-state recruits have played significant minutes for UW. There are players coming in already used to the hype surrounding this game.
True freshman and starting center, Logan Harris of Torrington, grew up experiencing the “Border War.”
“Ever since I was little you looked in the paper and CSU ‘Border War’ with Wyoming is always coming up,” Harris said.
Another Wyoming native is tight end Austin Fort who is seeing a lot of playing time on the field. Fort was able to attend two “Border War” games his junior and senior years of high school allowing him to see the fans side of the game and what it means to the people of Wyoming.
“This game is so much pride and it’s a year of bragging rights, and no matter the outcome of your season you want to be able to say ‘we won the boot and it’s ours and we are holding on to it for another year’ The fans are super passionate about it and it’s a historic rivalry,” Fort said.
True freshman running back is getting to experience his first ever “Border War” this week.
“This morning in the weight room with our weights staff made it clear that this is a big game for us and important for use to get this win,” Woods said.
The coaching staff and seasoned players also emphasize the importance of the game.
“Especially with the older guys they have made it apparent that they want it really bad, it is definitely a change,” Woods said.
The intensity of training also increases for the rival game preparation.
In reference to intensity, Wingard said “Definitely, knowing that it is our rival, a team that we have bad blood with it just makes practice a lot better. It is probably easier on the coaches because we can fire ourselves up this week.”
This will be Harris’s first “Border War” as a player.
“From a fan’s point it is fun to go out there and watch but once it comes to a player’s point you have to be really focused on what is going on, you can’t be getting involved with the hype,” Harris said.
UW has won their first two trophy games this season and a victory against CSU would mean continued possession of all three trophies .
