The Cowboy Walk led by Head Coach Craig Bohl. - Photo by Jeff Bugher 2017
Gameday is filled with many traditions, but one tradition I want to highlight today is a beloved gameday tradition that brings together the University of Wyoming football team and its passionate fans: the legendary Cowboy Walk. This tradition began in 2009 and allows fans to demonstrate their unwavering support for the Wyoming Cowboys as they embark on their journey to War Memorial Stadium.
Approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes before each home game kickoff, a surge of excitement and anticipation fills the air near the Rochelle Athletics Center, as thousands of fans gather along the path leading to the stadium. Dressed in the proud brown and gold colors of Wyoming's beloved team, they eagerly await the arrival of the Wyoming Cowboys players and coaching staff.
The team emerges led by the Western Thunder Marching Band, Spirit Squad, Pistol Pete, War Paint the horse, and Cowboy Joe adorned with his Brindle Saddle Shop cover made in Wheatland, Wyoming. The coaches and team showcase a mix of focused determination and gratitude for the sea of fans who have come to offer their support. The crowd erupts into cheers, applause, their energy reverberating through the air. Fans young and old, students and alumni, unite to form a formidable wall of enthusiasm that accompanies the team on their walk. With a police escort, the Cowboy Walk starts at the Rochelle Center and winds to North 22nd Street (which closes just prior to the start), and continues north and then the team takes a left at Tailgate Alley and continues towards War Memorial Stadium and the Mick and Susie McMurry High Altitude Performance Center.
Photo courtesy of Google Maps
Western Thunder Marching Band - Photo by Jeff Bugher 2017
The Cowboy Walk is not merely a symbolic procession; it is an opportunity for fans to connect with the players on a personal level. Children hold out footballs, hats, and posters, hoping to secure an autograph or share a quick moment with their heroes. The players, in turn, reciprocate the fans' adoration with genuine smiles, high fives, and words of encouragement, creating memories that will last a lifetime.
The Cowboy Walk is also a time for players to see their families one last time before the game. Players often stop to snap a quick photo with family, and exchange hugs as well as best wishes and good lucks. Families usually have the exact time that the walk will start memorized, and know exactly when to be ready to line the streets.
Nose Tackle Cole Godbout poses for a photo with family during a Cowboy Walk. - Photo by Jeff Bugher 2022
For the players, the Cowboy Walk serves as a powerful reminder of the unwavering support they have from their community and the entire state. It serves as a source of motivation, instilling a sense of pride and responsibility within each player as they prepare for battle on the gridiron. The walk symbolizes the unity between the team and its loyal fan base, showcasing the indomitable spirit that defines Wyoming football. Yet, for former WR Ayden Eberhardt (and current CFL WR), the walk symbolized a special bond for his teammates at the next home game following a season ending injury in November of 2021. As the walk proceeded, each player stopped to give Eberhardt a hug, and give words of support.
QB Levi Williams along with the whole team embraces Ayden Eberhardt at the next home game following his season ending injury. - Photo by Jeff Bugher 2021
"That Cowboy Walk was a special one for me personally due to it being the last Border War that I was part of and me being a "Colorado" kid. On top of that, the previous week I had torn my acl and meniscus which ended my career as a football player in college. I would've given anything to be on the field for that game. It was a tough time for me and being able to be part of the walk and be around the team was extremely positive for me mentally. My teammates and coaches did a great job supporting me in that tough time and I can't thank them enough. On top of that it was awesome to be able to bring the boot back to its home in Laramie once again. It was and always will suck to be a CSU ram. Go Pokes" Ayden Eberhardt, Former Poke and current CFL Wide Receiver. Eberhardt also expressed what the Cowboy Walk meant to him through his career as a Cowboy: "The Cowboy Walk was a tradition that I had the pleasure to be part of on Saturdays at Wyoming. It meant a lot to be able to walk through and see the excitement from the fans, friends, and family. Being able to see the energy and embrace with family and fans was awesome. The community shows an unbelievable amount of support for the University as a whole, and they love their football. I also met a family (The Enevoldsen's) and made it a tradition to pickup their son at the very end of every Cowboy Walk. They were awesome, I got to know their family and even got the opportunity to help coach their youngest sons' T-Ball team one summer. The things like that made the Cowboy Walk very special to me." So, as the next Wyoming Cowboys home game approaches, the anticipation grows. Fans eagerly await the opportunity to line the path once again, to welcome their heroes with open arms, and to be part of a game day tradition bigger than the sport itself. The Cowboy Walk will continue to be a cherished tradition, a reminder of the indomitable spirit that makes Wyoming football truly special.
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