It’s rivalry week, and with that comes one of the most storied traditions at Colorado State University: the annual Bronze Boot Run with the University of Wyoming.

In the lead-up to Saturday’s big game in Laramie, CSU Army and Air Force ROTC cadets will complete the running of the Border War football game ball on Nov. 2. The run between Fort Collins and Laramie will begin at 5:30 a.m. from Canvas Stadium.

Cadets from both CSU ROTC programs will run in groups of four in relay over the 38 miles up U.S. 287 to the Colorado-Wyoming state line.

As part of the tradition, there will be an intricate passing of the ball in which it moves from senior CSU Army ROTC cadets, to the CSU professor of military science, to the CSU athletic director, to the CSU head football coach. CSU coach Jay Norvell then will give the ball to Wyoming football coach Craig Bohl, who will reverse the cycle before Wyoming ROTC cadets finish the run to War Memorial Stadium.

CSU’s 1918 75 mm French cannon – nicknamed Comatose – will fire at the state line when the CSU cadets arrive at the border and again when the game ball leaves CSU hands as it is passed to UW.

Established by CSU ROTC cadets in 1991, the Bronze Boot Run has become one of most CSU’s celebrated traditions.

Lt. Col. Matthew Tillman — a 2004 CSU graduate who now serves as a professor of military science and the department head of Army ROTC at CSU — took part in the Bronze Boot Run his junior year. He explained that the run holds a special place for many of those who have participated in the tradition.

“I didn’t really realize how unique the Bronze Boot Run was until I graduated and talked with my peers across the nation,” Tillman said. “Most ROTC students don’t get to participate in cool activities the way we do at CSU.”