Colorado University Athletics
What They're Saying About Ralphie
Favorite Memories of Ralphie V:
After we announced Ralphie V's retirement I was completely inundated with social media messages, texts, emails, and voice mails all saying the same thing, Ralphie V was great and she will be missed. As a program we have always worked hard for fans to be able to see her and learn about her and about buffalo. She serves as the face of the University and embodies the spirit, pride, and passion we all have for our school and our sports teams. I never really knew how big of an impact she had on people until the past several days. Some people told stories of the first time they met her as freshman and how their love and excitement grew for her every single year. Some mentioned they went to school when a different Ralphie was running, but they brought their little kids to met Ralphie V so they too can experience the magnificent tradition we have. Some shared how much pride they have for Colorado when they see Ralphie and see her run out onto the field.
So many former Ralphie Handlers contacted me and we talked about all the wonderful times we had running with Ralphie V and how special she really was. I went back through all the pictures we have of her since she was a little calf until this year. In all the pictures you can see joy and excitement not just in Ralphie's eyes and the faces of the Handlers, but of those in the background, the fans. We have so many pictures of fans getting to see Ralphie for the first time and in total awe. Getting to wear a Handler's hat while standing near Ralphie with the biggest smile on their faces, thrilled to be able to experience a buffalo up close, ecstatic to watch her run as the football team takes the field behind her. Ralphie V provided this to the fans.
She has been a rock star since she arrived. She was the queen of the campus and she knew she was. She knew all eyes were on her every game, and she loved to show off for fans.
Her legacy will live on, not just as the fastest and biggest Ralphies we have had, but the one who educated fans, taught them about buffalo, inspired them to have pride for our University.
It is an honor that I get to care for Ralphie V each and every day, and continue to be able to do so.
Ralphie V is the most extraordinary buffalo ever. I know fans will miss her running onto the field, but they will also be able to look back on the days she did and smile. - John Graves, Ralphie Program Manager (2015-current); Ralphie Handler (2007-09)
It’s kind of hard to describe when we're in the shoot and we're waiting for that garage door to open [to enter the field for the game], and there's a countdown and the music is playing. They raise up the garage door and you walk out and you see the handlers right there and Ralphie is in there ready to go. My whole deal is I just want to make sure I can get a good stride and get a good burst and not get ran over, and then veer off to the left and let her do her thing. It's really the Ralphie show at that point. It's one of the great traditions in all of sports and I just feel very blessed and fortunate to have experienced that. Our players look forward to it and I think our fans look forward to it as well. This is something that is very unique in sports and I'm looking forward to doing it again with the next Ralphie. - Mel Tucker, Football Head Coach
My favorite memory of Ralphie V was the first time I got to see her after I had started coaching. It had been a few years since I had been around her consistently as a runner and I went out to her ranch to feed her. She remembered me and came right up to the fence. We spent about 30 minutes just standing there with me scratching her back and talking to her. She's a wonderful animal and I am so lucky to have had the opportunity to get to know her and care for her. I'm looking forward to helping make sure that she has the retirement she deserves! - Taylor Stratton, Ralphie Assistant Coach (2016-current); Ralphie Handler (2011-13)
The first half run in the 2008 game against West Virginia. It was only Ralphie V's second game. She was still a little small, fast as hell, and fairly new to the game atmosphere. It was a Thursday night game and we didn't realize they were going to blow out a cloud as we opened the pen for her to run with us and the football team running through. The pen opened, we all - including her - got fully immersed into this white cloud and then shot out of it into the Folsom Field crowd going absolutely nuts! It was a "blackout" game too - coincidentally fitting given her name as Blackout. - Chip Samson, Ralphie Handler (2007-08, 2010-11)
Spending time with Ralphie was a tradition unlike any other and I am beyond grateful for my time on the team. From the friendships I made, to the many runs I was a part of there was no better way to spend most of my college career. There are many memories that I could write about but there are two that stick out the most.
My favorite memory or memories of Ralphie were always the start of a new season and the CSU games. The beginning of the season was always awesome because the team was able to get back to spending time with Blackout on a regular basis. You could always tell that she enjoyed the time that we would spend with her whether it was at her pen, a showing, a game or even practice. It’s hard to explain the type of bond that she had with us and people may not believe us when we say that she could recognize each team member but she really could.
The first few practices were always a blast because you have new people on the team that you are training but you are also prepping for the fastest run of the year, the CSU game. During the first couple of runs at these practices you could see and feel how happy Blackout was that she was finally out on the field again. The combination of her excitement and the style of run allowed for quite the experience.
The CSU game was always special to me because it was the start of a new season and what better way to intimidate your in-state rival than running a 1,200lb buffalo directly at their student section. Ralphie could sense the amount of energy coming from the fans, the football team and even the handlers. Walking her out of that tunnel hearing chants of “RALPHIE, RALPHIE,RALPHIE” is something I will never forget.
Thank you, Blackout! For giving me 4 of the best years I could have ever asked for.
RUN RALPHIE RUN! - Blake Gouin, Ralphie Handler (2011-14)
My favorite Ralphie V memory is walking out of the tunnel with her at Mile High Stadium for my first game as a Ralphie Handler. Hearing the crowd chanting, "Ralphie," and seeing how excited everyone was to see her showed me the respect that everyone had for her and left me in awe. - Jacob Morgan, Ralphie Handler (2019)
At the Alamo Bowl in 2016, the crowd was electric and Ralphie FLEW across the field. After the game, a fan was asking another handler and I about the run. When he explained to her that the guy in the back is responsible for slowing Ralphie down, she said “He must be terrible at his job, because she was flying.” We both started laughing because she was taking about me. Blackout only had one speed, and it was fast. - Colton Behr, Ralphie Handler (2015-16, 2018)
When I think back to the time I spent with Ralphie V, the most resounding thing that comes to mind was just being in her presence...we function as a team with her at the center and getting moments alone with her like, taking her leads off during practices, brushing her back in her trailer, and kneeling next to her on the field, surrounded by chaos, gazing into her big brown eyes and stoking her cheek to help her feel calm and safe. The connection we had with her as Handlers was something that I’ll never be able to put into words any fan could understand but the love we had for each other felt so tangible. Maybe it was because she was a wild animal, or maybe it was the active building of mutual trust. Whatever it was, it changed my life forever knowing the love Ralphie V had for each of us and learning how much I could love her back. - Jeana Newsom, Ralphie Handler (2013-16)
It was the first time we ever tried to actually run Blackout in the U formation and we took her to the Adams County Fairgrounds. No one knew we had a new buffalo yet so the practice was a secret. We were planning to run her in the big Rodeo arena. Everyone’s adrenaline was high for the first run and we were all so excited to see her go. Go she went. She shook off all the handlers on ropes in the first 50 feet. With total shock we realized there was a gate open to the calf pen at the end of the arena and the calf pen gate was wide open. Blackout realized it at the same moment we did and before we could react she was out for a romp in Adams County. I still don’t really know how we got her back. I’m pretty sure she let us catch her and bring her back to the arena. We couldn’t have done it otherwise. I never failed to check any and all gates from then on. - Annie Lawson, Ralphie Handler (2007-11)
Right before a run I always made sure I made eye contact with her, gave her a scratch on the head, and said "let's go have some fun out there 'Goose'". Every time she gave a little nod back like we were on the same page. - Dylan Bernstein, Ralphie Handler (2016-18)
My favorite memory running with Ralphie V would have to be our run with her at the 2018 Rocky Mountain Showdown. The energy in the stadium as we were getting into position before our run was crazy. The entire student section was on their feet and chanting "Ralphie! Ralphie! Ralphie!". Seeing how amped up they were for our run in that moment was when it sunk in how much the Ralphie tradition means to CU. - Maxwell Dike, Ralphie Handler (2017-19)
The entire road trip down to her first bowl game in San Antonio is my favorite memory. But I will never forget taking the graveyard shift from 2 a.m. - 5 a.m. to keep watch on the trailer while we spent the night at a truck stop somewhere in Texas. It was just Blackout and I in the trailer getting to have some quality girl time and being in each other's presence. She stayed awake with me for a little while before getting some much needed rest for her big run at the Alamodome. - Deyja Enriquez, Ralphie Handler (2015-16)
There were so many unique runs and practices I was fortunate to be part of, but my favorite memories with Blackout were when we were down at her pen. You could tell she was always excited to see us because she would run up to the truck whenever we would pull up. These were the times where we were really able to recognize and understand her personality. While hanging out at the Ranch, she would want to run around and play with us, not knowing how big or strong she actually was. One time we were down at the pen doing some work and one of the handlers was playing with her, and out of nowhere, threw him five feet into the air. Thankfully he was okay, but this situation allowed us to remember what an incredible, amazing animal she really is. I will forever cherish my time with Blackout and am so thankful for the three years I was able to spend with her. Not only is she the face and symbol of the University of Colorado, she also represents a brotherhood of Ralphie Handlers that will last a lifetime.
RUN RALPHIE RUN! - Taylor James, Ralphie Handler (2010-13)
I'll never forget riding around campus with Ralphie V before the games, singing the fight song and seeing students and fans cheer at the top of their lungs. That is when you realize that she represents a fierce symbol of generations of CU Spirit, our school, our traditions, our athletic teams, and the pride of having the #1 mascot in college. - Danielle Nelson, Ralphie Handler (2010-11)