Tour rolls through Durango to nearly a thousand cheering fans
Mike Jaramillo, football coach at Miller Middle School, helps his daughter, 9-year-old Sierra Jaramillo, get an autograph from Denver Broncos linebacker Todd Davis in Buckley Park. Hundreds of fans from Southwest Colorado gathered Friday at the park to help the Super Bowl champions kick off their Salute to Fans tour.
Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Century Munoz, 6, daughter of Clint and Marlynna Munoz of Farmington, receives an autograph from Denver Broncos linebacker Todd Davis on Friday during the Salute to Fans event at Buckley Park.
Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Denver Broncos wide receiver Jordan Norwood works his way through the crowd at the Broncos Salute to Fans event at Buckley Park on Friday afternoon.
Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald<br>
Hundreds of fans crowded Buckley Park on Friday night to get autographs from Denver Broncos players Jordan Norwood and Todd Davis. The Broncos’ stop is part of their Salute the Fans tour.
Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald<br>
Hundreds of fans crowded Buckley Park on Friday night to get autographs from Denver Broncos players Jordan Norwood and Todd Davis. The Broncos’ stop is part of their Salute the Fans tour.
Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald<br>
Nearly a thousand people lined up at Buckley Park on Friday in the hopes of getting an autograph at the Broncos Salute to Fans event.
Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald<br>
Denver Broncos wide receiver Jordan Norwood jokes with fans as he signs autographs at the Broncos Salute to Fans event at Buckley Park on Friday afternoon.
Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald<br>
Nearly a thousand people lined up at Buckley Park on Friday in the hopes of getting an autograph at the Broncos Salute to Fans event.
Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald<br>
Denver Broncos cheerleaders Emily G, right, and Faymie sign autographs at the Broncos Salute to Fans event at Buckley Park on Friday afternoon.
Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald<br>
Denver Broncos linebacker Todd Davis and cheerleader Emily G are welcomed by the crowd at the Broncos Salute to Fans event at Buckley Park on Friday afternoon.
Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald<br>
Thousands line up around Buckley Park on Friday in the hopes of getting an autograph at the Broncos Salute to Fans event.
Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald<br>
Six-year old Century Munoz, daughter of Clint and Marlynna of Farmington, New Mexico, looks at the autograph she got by Denver Broncos Linebacker Todd Davis at the Broncos Salute to Fans event at Buckley Park on Friday afternoon.
Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald<br>
The Bronco’s Salute to Fans Tour stopped by Florida Mesa Elementary on Friday to let a couple hundred students participate in training drills, everything from diving football catches to the Von Miller shuffle drill. Players number 11, Jordan Norwood, wide receiver and 7th pro season, and number 51, Todd Davis, linebacker, were on scene working directly with the kids. Two Broncos cheerleaders and the mascot, Miles, also joined in on the fun. Florida Mesa was selected because of their 100 percent opt-in for state tests this year, and for all the hard work the students have done throughout the school year to show off their academic prowess.
Courtesy of Durango School District<br>
Hundreds of fans crowded Buckley Park on Friday night to get autographs from Denver Broncos players Jordan Norwood and Todd Davis. The Broncos’ stop is part of their Salute the Fans tour.
Claudia Laws/Durango Herald<br>
Hundreds of fans crowded Buckley Park on Friday night to get autographs from Denver Broncos players Jordan Norwood and Todd Davis. The Broncos’ stop is part of their Salute the Fans tour.
Claudia Laws/Durango Herald<br>
Hundreds of fans crowded Buckley Park on Friday night to get autographs from Denver Broncos players Jordan Norwood and Todd Davis. The Broncos’ stop is part of their Salute the Fans tour.
Claudia Laws/Durango Herald<br>
The Bronco’s Salute to Fans Tour stopped by Florida Mesa Elementary on Friday to let a couple hundred students participate in training drills, everything from diving football catches to the Von Miller shuffle drill. Players number 11, Jordan Norwood, wide receiver and 7th pro season, and number 51, Todd Davis, linebacker, were on scene working directly with the kids. Two Broncos cheerleaders and the mascot, Miles, also joined in on the fun. Florida Mesa was selected because of their 100 percent opt-in for state tests this year, and for all the hard work the students have done throughout the school year to show off their academic prowess.
Courtesy of Durango School District<br>
The Bronco’s Salute to Fans Tour stopped by Florida Mesa Elementary on Friday to let a couple hundred students participate in training drills, everything from diving football catches to the Von Miller shuffle drill. Players number 11, Jordan Norwood, wide receiver and 7th pro season, and number 51, Todd Davis, linebacker, were on scene working directly with the kids. Two Broncos cheerleaders and the mascot, Miles, also joined in on the fun. Florida Mesa was selected because of their 100 percent opt-in for state tests this year, and for all the hard work the students have done throughout the school year to show off their academic prowess.
Courtesy of Durango School District<br>
The Bronco’s Salute to Fans Tour stopped by Florida Mesa Elementary on Friday to let a couple hundred students participate in training drills, everything from diving football catches to the Von Miller shuffle drill. Players number 11, Jordan Norwood, wide receiver and 7th pro season, and number 51, Todd Davis, linebacker, were on scene working directly with the kids. Two Broncos cheerleaders and the mascot, Miles, also joined in on the fun. Florida Mesa was selected because of their 100 percent opt-in for state tests this year, and for all the hard work the students have done throughout the school year to show off their academic prowess.
Courtesy of Durango School District<br>
The Bronco’s Salute to Fans Tour stopped by Florida Mesa Elementary on Friday to let a couple hundred students participate in training drills, everything from diving football catches to the Von Miller shuffle drill. Players number 11, Jordan Norwood, wide receiver and 7th pro season, and number 51, Todd Davis, linebacker, were on scene working directly with the kids. Two Broncos cheerleaders and the mascot, Miles, also joined in on the fun. Florida Mesa was selected because of their 100 percent opt-in for state tests this year, and for all the hard work the students have done throughout the school year to show off their academic prowess.
Courtesy of Durango School District<br>
As soon as two Super Bowl champions stepped out of the tour bus door, hundreds of Broncos enthusiasts let out a roar heard across downtown Durango.
Fans lined up as early as 9 a.m. to catch a glimpse of the Super Bowl 50 champion Denver Broncos. On the first stop of the Salute To Fans tour, the Broncos brought wide receiver Jordan Norwood and linebacker Todd Davis to Durango's Buckley Park, along with Miles the mascot and several cheerleaders to give the team's faithful a chance to celebrate the championship season.
The trip to the Four Corners drew fans from all around, including 57-year-old Bonnie Hohensee of Cortez. She's never been to a Broncos game, so the face-to-face time was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
“I've been a Broncos fan since I was knee-high to a grasshopper,” said Hohensee, who arrived at 9:30 a.m. “It means a lot to me. Everybody knows I'm a Bronco person, so a coworker covered for me and my boss let me off to be here. I'm so thrilled the Broncos take their time to come do this.”
Earlier in the day, the Broncos tour stopped by Florida Mesa Elementary School to host a private camp for children in the Boys & Girls Club of La Plata County.
“I think it's important just because when I was younger I was one of those kids who benefited from somebody coming out to reach me,” Davis said. “So I feel like it's only right. It's my duty, my job to go out there and help bring somebody else up.”
Norwood played a big part in Denver's 24-10 Super Bowl 50 victory against the Carolina Panthers at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. He set a Super Bowl record for longest punt return when he bolted 61 yards through the Panthers special teams. The return set up a Broncos field goal to give the team a 13-7 lead.
Now, he's enjoying the fruits of being a champion.
“It was awesome, just a lot of excitement,” Norwood said of the win. “Even now, just to see the fans we have six, seven, eight hours away from Denver, it's just awesome.
“This is our first stop. You guys are setting the bar really high. Awesome turnout,” he said.
Bayfield's Buddy and Liz Taylor said they will never forget the Broncos' run to a championship with quarterback Peyton Manning finishing his Hall of Fame career by hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy. They were especially thrilled their two young children were able to witness the game.
“Hopefully our oldest (Malikai) will remember this Super Bowl like we did when we were young the last time the Broncos won those two Super Bowls,” Liz Taylor said, referencing the Broncos' previous two championships at Super Bowls XXXII and XXXII in 1998 and 1999.
The tour will continue to Montrose on Saturday, Salida on Sunday and La Junta on May 6 before making a stop at a location determined by a fan vote May 13.
After getting a chance to meet and take pictures with two Super Bowl champions, the 2015-16 Denver Broncos won't be forgotten any time soon. And the Broncos players aren't ready to forget quite yet, either.
“Of course, we're excited for the season upcoming, but right now, we're excited to still enjoy our Super Bowl run a little bit and enjoy that with the fans,” Norwood said.
