On Bowl Day Minus 1, It Was All Pure Fan-tasy : Bronco Faithful Gather for the Team’s Last Practice

Nineteen-month-old Lauren Ashley Holt cooed when her parents encouraged her to do the Bronco chant.

“You hear that,” Kevin Holt proudly exclaimed. “She was born a Bronco!”

The Holts were among about 65 Denver fans who showed up at UC Irvine Saturday to watch the team practice. Arriving early, many lined the field, armed with footballs, cameras, and paper and pens for autographs.

Former Denver residents Holt and his wife, Nancy, moved to San Diego in October with their pool business. But they have remained faithful to their team, and headed north Saturday after reading that the Broncos were practicing in Irvine.

“We just dressed up Lauren in her little shirt and got on the freeway,” Holt said, looking at his daughter in her “All the Way Elway” T-shirt. “Boy, isn’t this great?”

Maryland stockbroker Nelson Polun, his wife, Irene, and their sons, Justin, 14, and Jason, 12, posed for family pictures on the field before the team practice. They had survived snow, a eight-hour flight delay, and the California freeway system to see their friend, Bronco wide receiver Steve Watson, who had supplied them with Super Bowl tickets.

“We were telling friends that if the Broncos make it to the Super Bowl, we’re going,” Polun said. “This is a dream come true.”

Erik Kenyon, 20, usually works out at the field as a member of UCI’s varsity track team, but on Saturday he worked as a security guard, keeping autograph seekers from the practice area.

“To tell you the truth, I’m a Pittsburgh Steelers fan,” Kenyon whispered, checking to see who was near. “But hey, it’s pretty cool to get to watch them practice where nobody else can.”

Born a Giants Fan

Standing slightly away from the Bronco fans, university employee Ralph (Dino) Latino said he and his sons were born and raised Giant fans. Son Chad, 13, admitted he was slightly disappointed that he couldn’t watch the Giants practice in Pasadena on Saturday.

“But since I can’t get a Giants autograph, I might as well get a Broncos autograph,” Chad said.

When the Broncos arrived, the fans swarmed to their favorite players. Holt grabbed his football and pen and snuck past other fans toward John Elway. Emerging with his autographed prize, Holt caressed his football and beamed.

“Ah, now this is great,” Holt said.