LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Louisville man thought a precious piece of his past, was gone forever.
In November, Bob Bronger's home was robbed and his Marshall University football ring was stolen, sold, and melted down.
Knowing the significance of that ring, the Jefferson County Attorney's office worked with Marshall University to make him an exact replica.
Bronger played for Marshall University's football team in 1971, the year after a tragic plane crash killed 75 players, coaches, and fans.
It was an emotional time for the school, and his team. Bronger says, "We became very, very close because it seemed like we were seniors for four years, there really wasn't a lot of older guys to learn from and I think it brought us very close together."
The ring symbolizes the unbreakable bond of the Young Thundering Herd, which was brought to light on the big screen, in the movie "We Are Marshall".
Bronger went to the premiere in 2006 in Huntington, West Virginia. He says, "The movie brought all of us even closer together later in life. The ring is basically a connection with a lot of great people."
Bronger's looking forward to showing off his new ring, just in time for football season. He goes to every home Marshall football game, and he says that's one of the few times he wears it.
But as he slides the ring back on his finger, he says hesitant to take it off. "I'm gonna have to wear it a little more now, it's beautiful."
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