After three long weeks with no live mascot for the Colorado Buffaloes, the wait is finally over. Ralphie VII will make her debut on Saturday evening ahead of CU’s matchup against the Wyoming Cowboys at Folsom Field.
After Ralphie VI’s retirement this offseason due to her “indifference” to running, VII has been training with CU’s live mascot handling team for this exact moment. After multiple months of work, the university announced that VII is ready for the bright lights of Folsom Field, only a quarter
into Colorado’s football season.
We still don’t know much about Ralphie VII, but the school did release some information about Boulder’s newest celebrity.
VII is only one year old, weighs approximately 700 pounds and is technically an American Bison. She hails from Eagle’s Wing Ranch near Steamboat, Colorado. Ralphie VI was from enemy territory in Nebraska, so it’s a welcome change to have a native Coloradan Buffalo representing our Buffs for the foreseeable future. The school also added in their press release that VII is “definitely not indifferent to running.”
While VII doesn’t have a nickname yet, in accordance with CU tradition, her handlers will give her one after her first run on Saturday. Prior nicknames for Ralphie include Moonshine, Tequila, Rowdy, Blackout and Ember. It remains to be seen if VII will return to the tradition of an alcohol-related nickname.
Make sure to tune into VII’s debut run, either at Folsom Field or on television ahead of Saturday’s game. The game starts at 8:15 p.m. MT and will be broadcast nationally on Fox.
