The Denver Broncos

The 2010/2011 year marks the 51st season for the Denver Broncos. Since 1960, this Rocky Mountain regional favorite has grown into a team that is followed by a legion of fans throughout the United States. An original franchise of the American Football League, the Broncos were the first major league team to call Denver home.

Broncos Home Turf

As a third generation Bronco fan, if you were to ask me where the Denver Broncos played, my answer would always be “Mile High Stadium.” Don’t be surprised if this is the response you get from many long time Bronco fans. With a 41-year history of playing in one place, such an answer is not surprising. Since their inception, Mile High Stadium has been the home to the team and its fans. Even in a city that has as strong an affinity for all its teams, Denver fans attachment to their football team and stadium stands out as unusual to many. Whether judged by 31 consecutive seasons of sellouts (with the last non-sellout being in 1969), by the highest local television ratings of any NFL city during that time frame, or just by the impact of Bronco wins and losses on Denver’s collective Monday morning psyche, it is undeniable that Bronco fans are among the most dedicated fans. Mile High Stadium was the birthplace of “Broncomania”. The stadium nurtured both the fans and the team, and watched Broncomania become a national phenomenon.

On Tuesday, Nov. 3, 1998, voters in the six-county area that comprises Metro Denver approved a plan to construct a new football stadium in Denver. Construction began on the 76,125 seat stadium in mid-1999 and the official groundbreaking was held on August 17, 1999. The Broncos’ new home is located in the vicinity of Mile High Stadium, just west of Interstate-25. The new facility highlights an emphasis on state-of-the-art technology, while maintaining the traditional aspects of Mile High Stadium that have given the Broncos a decided home field advantage over the years. Those features include the close proximity of the seats to the field, as well as steel treads and risers that can be used to create the same deafening roar that helped define the Mile High Stadium sound known as “Mile High Thunder.”

At the official groundbreaking, Colorado Governor Bill Owens described the historic relevance of the day’s event, saying, “The Broncos represent a proud Colorado tradition. Today marks the beginning of a new era for the Broncos and for Colorado.” The stadium includes 1.7 million square feet of space (approximately twice that of Mile High) with amenities such as wider concourses, wider seats, more restrooms, elevators, escalators and full-service accommodations for people with disabilities. Fans enjoy the space and comfort of the new stadium while always remembering where it all began.

Bucky Bronco

In 1975, Roy Rogers granted permission for Bucky Bronco to be cast from the same model used to make a statue of his own horse, Trigger, so long as the new statue was not also named Trigger. The naming of the horse was then put out to the fans and “Bucky Bronco” was chosen. Made of fiberglass and steel, Bucky stands 27 feet tall and weighs in at 1,600 pounds. On May 15, 2001, Bucky was removed from his 25-year home atop the scoreboard of Mile High Stadium to begin his journey to INVESCO Field at Mile High. During the Eagles concert on August 11, 2001, Bucky was unveiled, reclaiming his position as a Denver icon on the South scoreboard at INVESCO Field at Mile High.

Denver Broncos Mascots

“Miles”

Miles is the official mascot of the Denver Broncos. He was founded on January 31, 1999, the same day that the Broncos became Super Bowl champions for the second time at the Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida. However, he did not appear in person as a mascot until 2 years later. Now Miles resides at INVESCO Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado. He is a regular at the Broncos’ games but, unlike some football mascots, he also makes time for community promotions. One of his biggest roles is promoting the Broncos’ reading program, “Read like a Pro.” Miles loves his new home, and the turf management folks appreciate the help he provides keeping the turf nicely trimmed. What Miles loves most of all are the days when the Broncos are playing at the stadium, because then he gets to cheer on his favorite team and meet all his fellow fans!

“Thunder II”

There’s Thunder in the Rockies! Thunder II is an Arabian gelding. The current Thunder took over for Thunder, Sr., who was retired after the 2003 football season.  The original Thunder was also an Arabian, and he served for ten seasons until he turned 21 years of age, then died in April 2009 at the age of 27. Thunder is owned by Sharon Magness Black and is trained and ridden by Ann Judge-Wegener. His trainer, Ann Judge-Wegener, rode Thunder Sr. for five years at the Broncos games and has been preparing the current Thunder for the job since 2001.

You may wonder how Thunder prepares to preform at the games with all the noise and activity.  There is no way to really duplicate at the training center the sound of 76,000 fans or the size of INVESCO Field.  So, Thunder’s training schedule is quite varied.  It’s very important that he learns to really trust and listen to his rider.  On some days, he goes out for a trail ride where he might see wildlife, traffic and barking dogs.  Other days he goes to a cattle ranch where he moves among what he thinks are very unusual animals.  Still other days will find him jogging over poles and through obstacles to help him better maneuver through crowds.

Denver Broncos “Ring of Fame”

Displayed on the Level 5 facade of Invesco Field at Mile High, the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame was created in 1984 by team owner Pat Bowlen to honor former players and administrators who played significant roles in the franchise’s history. It was established with an inaugural class of four members.

• Floyd Little – Running Back – 1967-75
• Rich Jackson – Defensive End – 1967-72
• Lionel Taylor – Wide Reciever – 1960-66
• Austin “Goose” Gonsoulin – Safety – 1960-66

In 1985, former owner Gerald H. Phipps became the first non-player to have his name placed on the ring. After that the roster grew to 21 in 2007 with the additions of:

• Paul Smith – Defensive End – 1968-78
• Frank Tripucka – Quarterback – 1960-63
• Charley Johnson – Quarterback – 1972-75
• Billy Thompson – Defensive Back – 1969-81
• Jim Turner – Kicker – 1971-79
• Haven Moses – Wide Reciever – 1972-81
• Craig Morton – Quarterback – 1977-82
• Randy Gradishar – Linebacker – 1974-83
• Tom Jackson – Linebacker – 1973-86
• Louis Wright – Cornerback – 1975-86
• Karl Mecklenburg – Linebacker – 1983-94
• Dennis Smith – Safety – 1981-94
• Gary Zimmerman – Tackle – 1993-97
• Steve Atwater – Safety – 1989-98
• Terell Davis – Running Back – 1995-2002

Denver Broncos Legend – John Elway

Finally, and most notably is Quarterback John Elway (1983-98) who was inducted into the Ring of Fame in 1999 in a ceremony held at halftime of the Broncos’ season-opening Monday Night Football game vs. Miami on Sept. 13, 1999. As testament to the legend he established during his 16-year career, Elway is the only inductee for whom the customary five-year waiting period was waived.  John Albert Elway was the first overall pick of 1983 draft by Colts, then traded to Broncos. In short order he led Denver to a record 47 – 4th quarter comebacks, making Bronco games frantically exciting to the last seconds on the field. Denver fans soon learned to never leave the stadium early, because the “heart attack pack” would always rally in the 4th quarter. He became the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 1987. The same year he was named All-Pro. In his career, he was  All-NFL three times, All-AFC four times, and elected to nine Pro Bowls.

Famous for the “shotgun” throw, his career stats include: 51,475 yards, 300 touchdowns, being the only player in National Football League history to pass for more than 3,000 yards and rush for more than 200 yards in the same season seven consecutive times.  He was one of only two quarterbacks in NFL history to record more than 40,000 yards passing and 3,000 yards rushing during his career. Elway was also the starting quarterback in five Super Bowls with the added privilege of being MVP in Super Bowl XXXIII.  The Broncos enjoyed five victories in six AFC championship games and two Super Bowl wins.   In the 1986 AFC title game against the Cleveland Browns, Elway amazed the fans with a spectacular 98-yard come-from-behind touchdown drive to tie the game and go into overtime. The Broncos went on to win 23-20. As a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and one of the most recognizable faces in pro football, Elway continues to have a strong presence in the NFL and is up close and personal with the newest member of the team, quarterback Tim Tebow. He has high hopes for the young man who will try to fill the great Elway’s shoes.

The Mile High Salute

When Broncos fans think about touchdown celebrations, one stands out above the crowd – the Mile High Salute® . Popularized by Ring-of-Famer Terrell Davis during his Broncos playing days from 1995-2002, it has since been continued on by players ranging from Mike Anderson to Mike Bell to Peyton Hillis, and countless others along the way. The military-style salute is given to fans and teammates in celebration, typically standing in the end zone. Fans got used to the sight on the team’s run to back-to-back Super Bowls, when Davis frequently saluted the crowd after scoring plays. Now it has become just as much a part of Broncos lore as Mile High Magic and “The Drive,” and the celebration can still be spotted today, both on the field and in the crowd.

The Denver Broncos Photo Gallery

Invesco Field at Mile High – Home of the Denver Broncos

Rate the Denver Broncos

Are you a Denver Broncos Fan? Please take a moment to rate the Denver Bronco Pro Football Team using our 5-Star rating system. If you love the Broncos or have some feedback we encourage you to post a comment about your thoughts!
[starrater tpl=10]