Good morning, and Happy Father’s Day, Broncos Country!
One of the best things about sports is the history and tradition.
That’s amplified when it’s about a franchise. Teams should play into that history and tradition in every sense. There is the balance of going overboard and getting trapped in the past, but when it’s done right, it’s magical. And the Denver Broncos do just that.
Since Pat Bowlen bought the franchise in 1984 and, that same year, started the Broncos Ring of Fame, it’s become ingrained in this franchise. You see that even with new ownership.
Greg Penner and Carrie Walton Penner have continued to pay homage to the history and tradition of this remarkable franchise.
Obviously, it’s about the players and coaches who came before and acknowledging their impact, but it’s also about the fans and current players knowing what this team is about.
As the franchise closes in on a new headquarters and training facility, Broncos head coach Sean Payton was asked about having alumni back to toast the old facility and being around the franchise and his team:
“First off, it’s the lifeblood of the program. When we talk about the history, that’s the living history. I said to our players, ‘In 15, 20 years, some of you are going to be back here. They’re going to be building a new facility here, and you’re going to be complaining about how you had to deal with that.’ (Laughs) It’s the circle of life in sports. I do think it starts with those before you, and those banners, and those championships, and those rivalries.
“All of that is the essence of what is the Broncos that we know it (to be) now, back to the question earlier about the expectation. That’s all part of the fabric and the DNA of the book. Each year, a team has a chance to write a chapter. The turnout was fantastic to see. A handful of these guys I remember coaching against. They run together years-wise, but I think it was good for them to come back and maybe grab something off a wall in here. (Laughs) We’re kind of at that stage where if it’s still hanging, you can have it. But it’s exciting to see what’s coming.”
One of the best things about being a Broncos fan is the history and tradition that come with it.
All of the remarkable players, coaches, front-office people, and owners who made this all possible. Few teams do a better job of paying tribute to that history and tradition.
