By Doug Strauss

In May 2016, the American bison became the national mammal of the United States.

The University of Colorado had long recognized the symbolism of this powerful and special animal. As a result, on November 29, 1934, CU students paid $25 to rent a buffalo calf to be on the sidelines during a 7-0 victory over the University of Denver.

In one of, if not the greatest, traditions in collegiate sports, Ralphie has led the team onto the field since 1966.  But for Friday’s season-opening game, there will be no buffalo as Ralphie VI has just been retired. 

CU hosts Georgia Tech in a prime-time, nationally televised game, which pits the two teams that split the 1990 National Championship.  On Tuesday, the news broke that Ralphie VI, aka Ember, prefers relaxing strolls as opposed to firing up the 50,000+ fans in Folsom Field.

On January 1, 1991, when CU defeated Notre Dame 10-9 to secure at least a share of the National Championship, Ralphie III led the charge in the Orange Bowl.  And over the years, nearly all of the home games, including those played in Denver, as well as bowl games, have featured the beloved buffalo.

There were just 11 home games from 1966 through 2018 in which Ralphie did not run in a game. In 2019, there were three home games without the pregame and halftime ritual, as was the case in the three home games in 2020 due to COVID. This will mark just the 18th game since 1966 in Boulder without a Ralphie storming the field, and the Buffs’ record in the previous games without her currently sits at 9-8.

There is no indication that Ralphie VI has entered the transfer portal in hopes of landing at another school with Buffaloes as the mascot (Arkansas Baptist, Milligan, Nebraska Indian Community College, West Texas A&M) or Bison (Bethany College, Bucknell, Gallaudet, Harding, Howard, Lipscomb, Nichols College, North Dakota State, Oklahoma Baptist).