2017: Our Celebratory Season
2017: Our Celebratory Season This season marks the 50th anniversary of the great Colorado Buffaloes tradition of Ralphie leading the football team onto the field.
What’s Inside: → Welcome from the Program Manager → Homecoming 2017 Schedule of Events → Q & A with the First Female Ralphie Handler Coach → Meet Our 2017 Rookie Handlers → In the “Off-Season”
Do you know of another former Ralphie Handler? We’d love to be in touch with all former handlers. Send us contact info to [email protected].
A little history… Back in 1966 Bill Lowery’s father, John, purchased a baby buffalo and donated her to the University. During the 1966 football season, Lowery and four other Sophomore Class officers brought the baby buffalo to the football games to bring excitement to the fans at the game. The idea of having Ralphie lead the football team onto the field quickly started circulating and in 1967 the tradition we know today officially began.
Celebrations To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Ralphie a special anniversary logo was designed and can be see all over the place. Not only is the football team wearing it on their helmets all season long, the grounds crew is also going to paint the logo onto the field for every home game. The Ralphie Handlers have it on their uniforms this season and t-shirts are for sale at both the CU Book Store and the Buffs Team Store with the logo as well.
With the 50th anniversary, the Ralphie Program kicked off a huge crowdfunding campaign. The Ralphie Program has always been fan funded with all the costs of the program being paid for by donations to Ralphie. Our goal this year is to raise at least $50,000 to add to the Ralphie Endowment Fund to ensure the Ralphie tradition last for many years to come. To help us celebrate this big milestone we are having this year’s Ralphie Handler Reunion be the biggest one yet. A big dinner with all the former Handlers will kick off the Reunion on Thursday night the week of Homecoming, followed by a very special practice Friday night for all the past Handlers able to get up closer to see how Ralphie runs now compared to years past. Ralphie will also be making trip to the Homecoming Stampede, Parade and Pep Rally down on Pearl Street for the first time in 10 years. At Saturday’s Homecoming Football game, there will be a very special recognition of all the past Handlers who have run with Ralphie.
In the 50 years of the Ralphie tradition, about 250 people have had the privilege to be able to run with the greatest mascot of all time.
Ralphie Handler Alumni Reunion Schedule THURSDAY, OCT. 26 → Ralphie Handler Reunion Dinner in Dal Ward’s Touchdown Club
FRIDAY, OCT. 27 → Practice at Folsom Field → Stampede, Parade & Pep Rally on Pearl Street
SATURDAY, OCT. 28 → Colorado Buffaloes take on California Bears at 12 noon at Folsom Field
Ralphie also got an updated, graphic wrap on her trailer this year, as well as a brand new F-250 to easily transport her to home football games, events around Boulder, and any future travel she may take outside of the great state of Colorado (bowl games, championships, etc.)! Ralphie’s ready, now #GoBuffs!
Welcome from Ralphie Program Manager John Graves Howdy Ralphie Family & Fans! It has been several years since the Ralphie Live Mascot Program did a newsletter, but we are bringing it back. So here is the first edition of The Ralphie Review, the newsletter all about Ralphie and the program. We will do two newsletters a year. One edition will be published early in the football season, which will dive into we have in store for the upcoming season, highlight our new rookie Ralphie Handlers, and look back on the events that took place in our offseason. Our second volume will be distributed at the end of the football season and focus on big events that took place over the season, recognize our senior Ralphie Handlers, and look at what we have planned for our offseason. This is the 50th anniversary of the tradition of Ralphie leading the football team out onto the field. For the past 50 years, fans from across the country have made generous donations to the Ralphie Program. Our program is funded exclusively from donations, put into the Ralphie Endowment Fund. We have had a great start in a newly set goal of getting $50,000 donated to keep our great tradition alive, but we have not yet reached that goal. No matter how large or small the donation, all the money given to Ralphie will go directly to support her and the program and will help keep this great tradition going strong for years to come. To make a donation, you can visit cubuffs.com/ralphie50. With the ever-expanding use of social media, more people are discovering how awesome Ralphie really is. Ralphie is on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. With these accounts we are not only able to engage fans and educate them about Ralphie, but we can also highlight the often overlooked element, the Ralphie Handlers. Every football season our Handlers volunteer about 30 hours a week to train, practice, support, and care for Ralphie. In the offseason, they still give about 15 hours a week to ensure they are always ready to run with Ralphie and that Ralphie is constantly receiving the best care possible. Ralphie and her Handlers do about 18 public runs a year, including running at football games, as well as attend about two public appearances a month outside of football events. Their dedication and passion for Ralphie can never be praised enough and it is what makes the program so successful. Each spring we have about 75 people tryout to be a Ralphie Handler for the following year, with only about five people selected to join the team. Since the Ralphie tradition started, only about 250 people are able to say that they were a Handler and they ran with Ralphie. The program could also not function without a great support staff always doing what it takes to keep things going. Once again, I say thank you to all of those who have run with Ralphie, supported Ralphie, and even cheered for Ralphie from the sidelines; you have all contributed to making the Ralphie tradition what it is today, the greatest live mascot in the nation.
John Graves
Meet First Female Ralphie Handler Coach Taylor Stratton A select few have had a privilege of being a Ralphie Handler and running with Ralphie, only a handful have had the honor to coach those who run with Ralphie. Since the inception of the Ralphie Tradition, there have been just 10 people who have coached and trained both the Ralphie Handlers and the Ralphies. The most recent addition to the short list of coaches is Taylor Stratton, who is also the first female coach. Taylor was a Ralphie Handler from 2011-2013 and became the assistant coach in the spring of 2015.
Q. A. Q. A.
Q. A.
Q. A.
Q. A.
Q. A.
Why did you want to be the Assistant Coach for the Ralphie Program? I wanted to be the assistant coach because it presented a unique opportunity for me to continue my involvement with the greatest live mascot program in the nation. I love having the opportunity to help teach the next generation of Ralphie Handlers how to be safe and confident around Ralphie.
What do you think the most challenging part of being a coach is? For me, the most challenging part of being a coach is finding a variety of different ways to explain the same thing. We have 16 people on our team and all of them are unique individuals that learn information in different ways. In my opinion, the best coaches are the coaches that are able to teach their athletes the way they need to learn, not the way they are comfortable coaching. It can be challenging sometimes, but I try to go into every interaction ready to adjust to best fit the athlete's needs. What are the differences between being a coach versus a Handler? I think the biggest difference between being a coach and a handler is the amount of responsibility you feel. If any thing doesn't go according to plan I take it very personally because I consider it the coach's responsibility to create an environment for the handlers to be successful in. I now feel very responsible for making sure that 16 of the best athletes and the best people that CU has to offer have the opportunity to learn and grow within the best tradition in all of college sports. How does your experience with horses growing up help you work with Ralphie? Anybody who has spent time around buffalo know that they are incredibly different than horses and than domestic cattle. I do think that working with horses growing up really helped me transition into working with Ralphie, but there was still a learning curve associated with the experience. I think the most important thing that my horse experience gave me was the comfort of being around large animals, and the ability to pick up on the non-verbal signals that animals are giving. I have spent my entire life watching large animals so it was easier for me to pick up on the cues that Ralphie was sending than it was for a lot of the team without an agricultural background. Do you think being a female will have any impact on a team that is mostly males? I think that being a female coach is more impactful for the women on the team than it is for the men. Having been on the team I know the challenges associated with being one of only 2 or 3 women in a group of 15 people. I hope to be a role model for the women on the team so they have the confidence to know that this program really values them as athletes and as people. What are you most excited for being a coach for the Ralphie Program? I am most excited to have the chance to continue the greatest tradition in college sports. The Ralphie Program shaped my college experience and I hope to help John Graves continue to create that experience for future generations of student athletes.
Meet the 2017 Rookies
Duncan Birkwood
Maxwell Dike
Rachel Demby
EEBio ex’20
Geol ex’19
Issaquah, WA
Sugar Land, TX
IPhy ex’19 Cortez, CO
“Representing our school in such a unique way on game days” is the best part of being a handler according to Birkwood.
“I found the idea of working with a buffalo to be exciting and I was fascinated by the handler program's tradition and history.”
“Being part of this team is like being part of a family, and it is also really cool to build a bond with such a unique animal.”
Ryan Bennett
Trevor DeBaere
BioChem ex’20 Colorado Springs, CO
Fort Collins, CO
“The best part of being a Ralphie Handler is seeing the pure joy and excitement of all the fans as we bring Ralphie to a game or appearance.”
Mgmt ex’19 “I am lucky to be able to make myself a better athlete and ambassador for the University of Colorado alongside my best friends.”
Ralphie’s Off Season Events Ralphie has some regularly scheduled events outside of the football season. Each year she runs at a women’s soccer game (pictured at bottom), Ralphie’s Independence Day Blast, the spring football game and at the National Western Stock Show. As other opportunities arise for fundraising, education or supporting the Buffs, Ralphie and her Handlers make other appearances throughout the year.
Ralphie V’s Appearance at the San Antonio, Texas Alamo Bowl Although the outcome of the Alamo bowl last December was not what Buff fans wanted, it was a very successful trip for the Ralphie Program. The 14-hour drive from Boulder to San Antonio was an easy trip for Ralphie; she does very well traveling in her custom trailer. The Handlers were on duty the whole time to ensure Ralphie’s safety and comfort for the entire trip. This bowl game was the first away game for Ralphie V. While she was only allowed to run to start the game, history was made as she stormed the field with the football team behind her. Ralphie typically makes a right hand turn at Folsom Field, which Buff fans are used to seeing. She and the handlers did make a not-too-often-seen left hand turn on the field then rounded back to her trailer. After the run, Ralphie headed back to Tillie’s Game Ranch in Doss, Texas, her home away from home (pictured above).
National Western Stock Show Each January Ralphie heads down to the National Western Stock Show for CU night. Fans can get pictures taken with Ralphie prior to the start of the rodeo. During the rodeo, Ralphie makes a grand entrance storming out of the tunnel, making a very fast run around the dirt arena before making a left hand turn and heading back to her trailer.
A NEW Run for Ralphie Ralphie has attended a few weddings over the years, but this summer she ran at her first wedding. We would like to thank Captain and Mrs. Bernie Hund for their support of the Ralphie Program and for allowing us to have Ralphie attend the wedding and take a quick run around Folsom Field for all guests to see. While it does sound like Ralphie had a busy offseason, she actually spent most of her time hanging out at her ranch just grazing away in her pastures. The Ralphie Handlers stay busy attending to her care and in the weight room, always working hard to stay in top shape to be able to smoothly run with the greatest mascot in the nation.
What’s Inside: → Welcome from the Program Manager → Homecoming 2017 Schedule of Events → Q & A with the First Female Ralphie Handler Coach → Meet Our 2017 Rookie Handlers → In the “Off-Season”
Do you know of another former Ralphie Handler? We’d love to be in touch with all former handlers. Send us contact info to [email protected].
A little history… Back in 1966 Bill Lowery’s father, John, purchased a baby buffalo and donated her to the University. During the 1966 football season, Lowery and four other Sophomore Class officers brought the baby buffalo to the football games to bring excitement to the fans at the game. The idea of having Ralphie lead the football team onto the field quickly started circulating and in 1967 the tradition we know today officially began.
Celebrations To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Ralphie a special anniversary logo was designed and can be see all over the place. Not only is the football team wearing it on their helmets all season long, the grounds crew is also going to paint the logo onto the field for every home game. The Ralphie Handlers have it on their uniforms this season and t-shirts are for sale at both the CU Book Store and the Buffs Team Store with the logo as well.
With the 50th anniversary, the Ralphie Program kicked off a huge crowdfunding campaign. The Ralphie Program has always been fan funded with all the costs of the program being paid for by donations to Ralphie. Our goal this year is to raise at least $50,000 to add to the Ralphie Endowment Fund to ensure the Ralphie tradition last for many years to come. To help us celebrate this big milestone we are having this year’s Ralphie Handler Reunion be the biggest one yet. A big dinner with all the former Handlers will kick off the Reunion on Thursday night the week of Homecoming, followed by a very special practice Friday night for all the past Handlers able to get up closer to see how Ralphie runs now compared to years past. Ralphie will also be making trip to the Homecoming Stampede, Parade and Pep Rally down on Pearl Street for the first time in 10 years. At Saturday’s Homecoming Football game, there will be a very special recognition of all the past Handlers who have run with Ralphie.
In the 50 years of the Ralphie tradition, about 250 people have had the privilege to be able to run with the greatest mascot of all time.
Ralphie Handler Alumni Reunion Schedule THURSDAY, OCT. 26 → Ralphie Handler Reunion Dinner in Dal Ward’s Touchdown Club
FRIDAY, OCT. 27 → Practice at Folsom Field → Stampede, Parade & Pep Rally on Pearl Street
SATURDAY, OCT. 28 → Colorado Buffaloes take on California Bears at 12 noon at Folsom Field
Ralphie also got an updated, graphic wrap on her trailer this year, as well as a brand new F-250 to easily transport her to home football games, events around Boulder, and any future travel she may take outside of the great state of Colorado (bowl games, championships, etc.)! Ralphie’s ready, now #GoBuffs!
Welcome from Ralphie Program Manager John Graves Howdy Ralphie Family & Fans! It has been several years since the Ralphie Live Mascot Program did a newsletter, but we are bringing it back. So here is the first edition of The Ralphie Review, the newsletter all about Ralphie and the program. We will do two newsletters a year. One edition will be published early in the football season, which will dive into we have in store for the upcoming season, highlight our new rookie Ralphie Handlers, and look back on the events that took place in our offseason. Our second volume will be distributed at the end of the football season and focus on big events that took place over the season, recognize our senior Ralphie Handlers, and look at what we have planned for our offseason. This is the 50th anniversary of the tradition of Ralphie leading the football team out onto the field. For the past 50 years, fans from across the country have made generous donations to the Ralphie Program. Our program is funded exclusively from donations, put into the Ralphie Endowment Fund. We have had a great start in a newly set goal of getting $50,000 donated to keep our great tradition alive, but we have not yet reached that goal. No matter how large or small the donation, all the money given to Ralphie will go directly to support her and the program and will help keep this great tradition going strong for years to come. To make a donation, you can visit cubuffs.com/ralphie50. With the ever-expanding use of social media, more people are discovering how awesome Ralphie really is. Ralphie is on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. With these accounts we are not only able to engage fans and educate them about Ralphie, but we can also highlight the often overlooked element, the Ralphie Handlers. Every football season our Handlers volunteer about 30 hours a week to train, practice, support, and care for Ralphie. In the offseason, they still give about 15 hours a week to ensure they are always ready to run with Ralphie and that Ralphie is constantly receiving the best care possible. Ralphie and her Handlers do about 18 public runs a year, including running at football games, as well as attend about two public appearances a month outside of football events. Their dedication and passion for Ralphie can never be praised enough and it is what makes the program so successful. Each spring we have about 75 people tryout to be a Ralphie Handler for the following year, with only about five people selected to join the team. Since the Ralphie tradition started, only about 250 people are able to say that they were a Handler and they ran with Ralphie. The program could also not function without a great support staff always doing what it takes to keep things going. Once again, I say thank you to all of those who have run with Ralphie, supported Ralphie, and even cheered for Ralphie from the sidelines; you have all contributed to making the Ralphie tradition what it is today, the greatest live mascot in the nation.
John Graves
Meet First Female Ralphie Handler Coach Taylor Stratton A select few have had a privilege of being a Ralphie Handler and running with Ralphie, only a handful have had the honor to coach those who run with Ralphie. Since the inception of the Ralphie Tradition, there have been just 10 people who have coached and trained both the Ralphie Handlers and the Ralphies. The most recent addition to the short list of coaches is Taylor Stratton, who is also the first female coach. Taylor was a Ralphie Handler from 2011-2013 and became the assistant coach in the spring of 2015.
Q. A. Q. A.
Q. A.
Q. A.
Q. A.
Q. A.
Why did you want to be the Assistant Coach for the Ralphie Program? I wanted to be the assistant coach because it presented a unique opportunity for me to continue my involvement with the greatest live mascot program in the nation. I love having the opportunity to help teach the next generation of Ralphie Handlers how to be safe and confident around Ralphie.
What do you think the most challenging part of being a coach is? For me, the most challenging part of being a coach is finding a variety of different ways to explain the same thing. We have 16 people on our team and all of them are unique individuals that learn information in different ways. In my opinion, the best coaches are the coaches that are able to teach their athletes the way they need to learn, not the way they are comfortable coaching. It can be challenging sometimes, but I try to go into every interaction ready to adjust to best fit the athlete's needs. What are the differences between being a coach versus a Handler? I think the biggest difference between being a coach and a handler is the amount of responsibility you feel. If any thing doesn't go according to plan I take it very personally because I consider it the coach's responsibility to create an environment for the handlers to be successful in. I now feel very responsible for making sure that 16 of the best athletes and the best people that CU has to offer have the opportunity to learn and grow within the best tradition in all of college sports. How does your experience with horses growing up help you work with Ralphie? Anybody who has spent time around buffalo know that they are incredibly different than horses and than domestic cattle. I do think that working with horses growing up really helped me transition into working with Ralphie, but there was still a learning curve associated with the experience. I think the most important thing that my horse experience gave me was the comfort of being around large animals, and the ability to pick up on the non-verbal signals that animals are giving. I have spent my entire life watching large animals so it was easier for me to pick up on the cues that Ralphie was sending than it was for a lot of the team without an agricultural background. Do you think being a female will have any impact on a team that is mostly males? I think that being a female coach is more impactful for the women on the team than it is for the men. Having been on the team I know the challenges associated with being one of only 2 or 3 women in a group of 15 people. I hope to be a role model for the women on the team so they have the confidence to know that this program really values them as athletes and as people. What are you most excited for being a coach for the Ralphie Program? I am most excited to have the chance to continue the greatest tradition in college sports. The Ralphie Program shaped my college experience and I hope to help John Graves continue to create that experience for future generations of student athletes.
Meet the 2017 Rookies
Duncan Birkwood
Maxwell Dike
Rachel Demby
EEBio ex’20
Geol ex’19
Issaquah, WA
Sugar Land, TX
IPhy ex’19 Cortez, CO
“Representing our school in such a unique way on game days” is the best part of being a handler according to Birkwood.
“I found the idea of working with a buffalo to be exciting and I was fascinated by the handler program's tradition and history.”
“Being part of this team is like being part of a family, and it is also really cool to build a bond with such a unique animal.”
Ryan Bennett
Trevor DeBaere
BioChem ex’20 Colorado Springs, CO
Fort Collins, CO
“The best part of being a Ralphie Handler is seeing the pure joy and excitement of all the fans as we bring Ralphie to a game or appearance.”
Mgmt ex’19 “I am lucky to be able to make myself a better athlete and ambassador for the University of Colorado alongside my best friends.”
Ralphie’s Off Season Events Ralphie has some regularly scheduled events outside of the football season. Each year she runs at a women’s soccer game (pictured at bottom), Ralphie’s Independence Day Blast, the spring football game and at the National Western Stock Show. As other opportunities arise for fundraising, education or supporting the Buffs, Ralphie and her Handlers make other appearances throughout the year.
Ralphie V’s Appearance at the San Antonio, Texas Alamo Bowl Although the outcome of the Alamo bowl last December was not what Buff fans wanted, it was a very successful trip for the Ralphie Program. The 14-hour drive from Boulder to San Antonio was an easy trip for Ralphie; she does very well traveling in her custom trailer. The Handlers were on duty the whole time to ensure Ralphie’s safety and comfort for the entire trip. This bowl game was the first away game for Ralphie V. While she was only allowed to run to start the game, history was made as she stormed the field with the football team behind her. Ralphie typically makes a right hand turn at Folsom Field, which Buff fans are used to seeing. She and the handlers did make a not-too-often-seen left hand turn on the field then rounded back to her trailer. After the run, Ralphie headed back to Tillie’s Game Ranch in Doss, Texas, her home away from home (pictured above).
National Western Stock Show Each January Ralphie heads down to the National Western Stock Show for CU night. Fans can get pictures taken with Ralphie prior to the start of the rodeo. During the rodeo, Ralphie makes a grand entrance storming out of the tunnel, making a very fast run around the dirt arena before making a left hand turn and heading back to her trailer.
A NEW Run for Ralphie Ralphie has attended a few weddings over the years, but this summer she ran at her first wedding. We would like to thank Captain and Mrs. Bernie Hund for their support of the Ralphie Program and for allowing us to have Ralphie attend the wedding and take a quick run around Folsom Field for all guests to see. While it does sound like Ralphie had a busy offseason, she actually spent most of her time hanging out at her ranch just grazing away in her pastures. The Ralphie Handlers stay busy attending to her care and in the weight room, always working hard to stay in top shape to be able to smoothly run with the greatest mascot in the nation.
