Meet the new Ralphie: Latest Colorado mascot to make debut against Wyoming on Saturday

There’s a new Ralphie in Boulder, Colo.

The University of Colorado mascot, Ralphie VII, will make her debut on Saturday night with an initial run before Deion Sanders and Colorado face Wyoming. The 1-year-old American Bison weighs 700 pounds and hails from a ranch owned by a family of Colorado alumni outside of Steamboat Springs, Colo.

Ralphie VI, known as Ember, retired last month after four seasons due to “an indifference to running,” which had spawned some complaints from Colorado fans. She moved back to a ranch to live with Ralphie V.

Ralphie VII, who is “definitely not indifferent to running,” per Colorado, will now take the reins as the Buffaloes’ live mascot. Before games, Ralphie sprints to midfield and loops back into her trailer, followed by five trainers who guide her around the field, reaching speeds of up to 25 miles per hour. The program to be Ralphie’s trainer is highly competitive.

“Ralphie’s run is iconic and our fans, students, faculty, staff, and alumni take an incredible amount of pride in this tradition which transcends sports,” said Taylor Stratton, Director of the Ralphie Live Mascot Program, in a statement Friday. “We’re excited to be adding a new Ralphie to the lineage of incredible buffalo that have represented the University of Colorado and have elevated the fans’ passion for our student-athletes.”

The tradition began in 1967 and has grown into one of the most iconic entrances in college football. All the previous Ralphie mascots have been female because the bison are significantly smaller than their male counterparts and are not as strong.

(Photo: Timothy Hurst / Fort Collins Coloradoan via Imagn)