Orange Crush returns to store shelves

DENVER - The soda that was once synonymous with the Denver Broncos' defense is returning to Colorado stores.

The Pepsi Bottling Group has secured the rights from the Dr Pepper Snapple Group to bring back the Crush line of soft drinks, including Orange Crush. Pepsi is planning to distribute the sodas to stores across the country. This week they started to show up at local King Soopers stores.

Dutchess Aicino-Scheitler, the daughter of Joe Aicino who made the drinks popular back in the 70's loves to talk about the drink's history.

"We were going to play the Bills and OJ Simpson was the running back at that time, so they said we're going to crush the 'Juice," Scheitler explained. "On a handshake with the Phipps (the family that owned the Broncos at that time) my dad put the Orange Crush and the Broncos together."

1977 marked the first Super Bowl appearance for the Denver Broncos and ever since then, the drink has been tied to the team. At its the high point, Orange Crush sold more than 2 million cases a year.