The Broncos are on the Colorado School of Mines bandwagon.
Or, at the very least, they’re helping to pay for it.
The Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group and the Broncos Foundation kicked in $100,000 to help the Division II school get its students to Saturday’s national championship game in McKinney, Texas. Mines thanked the Broncos for the help and a source confirmed the amount to The Post on Thursday.
“Thank you to the Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group — led by Greg Penner, Carrie Penner & Rob Walton — for a generous donation,” the school wrote in part on social media, saying the money is, “helping to offset costs for our students to cheer us on at the D-II Championship Game in Texas!”
Thank you to the Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group—led by Greg Penner, Carrie Penner & Rob Walton—for a generous donation from Foundation to the Mines Foundation, helping to offset costs for our students to cheer us on at the D-II Championship Game in Texas!
— Mines Football (@MinesFootball)
Mines takes on top-ranked Ferris State at 11 a.m. Saturday for a shot at the school’s first national title.
Denver head coach Nathaniel Hackett played quarterback at UC-Davis and said he has a fondness for small-school college football.
“I think it’s awesome,” Hackett said. “It’s absolutely fantastic what our organization has done for the students. I played Division II football and I absolutely love the playoffs and just the whole system. They’re going to their first national championship, scoring all those points. Coach (Brandon) Moore is doing a great job. I’m very excited to see them go there and for the students to be able to go there and support.”
Wilson limited. Quarterback Russell Wilson (concussion) was a limited participant in Thursday’s practice.
Wilson did individual work Wednesday but was listed as a non-participant in practice. The upgrade to limited work on Thursday means he took another step in the NFL’s concussion protocol.
If Wilson is a full participant Friday, he’ll be at the doorstep of clearing the protocol and having the green light from doctors to play Sunday. Then, as Hackett termed it earlier this week, the Broncos will make an “organizational decision” on whether he plays.
OL Turner tracking toward return. Offensive tackle Billy Turner (knee) has a good chance of playing Sunday after being designated to return to practice from injured reserve earlier this week.
“Every guy is a little bit different, but Billy looks good out there and he’s feeling like he can go out and play,” Hackett said.
Dre’Mont out again. For the second straight day, defensive lineman Dre’Mont Jones did not practice due to a hip injury. Hackett said Thursday that Jones is seeing specialists regarding the injury, which he suffered during the game against Kansas City, and is considered “day-to-day.”
