Colorado Buffalo Mascot, Ralphie V, Retired

Recently I was on the official website for Colorado football, and I noticed a piece on the retirement of Ralphie V., the University of Colorado’s live buffalo mascot for approximately 12 years.  Ralphie turned 13 this past October and is in great health, but she (yes – Ralphie is a female buffalo) has this year created safety concerns for her and handlers.  In fact, she was held back from leading the team out for CU’s last three home games – most recently against Washington on November 23rd.  With prior Ralphies, as they aged, their speed would typically decrease, but with Ralphie V, she would get so excited to run that she was actually running too fast, and she wouldn’t consistently respond to the cues of her handlers.  John Graves, the Ralphie Program Manager since 2015, said “Her love for running and power was showcased every home game during her career.  It’s almost like she knew she was the queen of campus and she loved to show that fact off when she ran onto the field and at her public appearances.”

Ralphie V, who retires as the second longest serving Ralphie, will continue to live on her ranch and make public appearances on behalf of the university while her eventual replacement is groomed for the 2020 season.