Ralphie VII makes her debut at Folsom Field on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (Scott Tan/CU Independent)
If you watched the movie “Conclave“ or followed the selection of the pope earlier this year, you know it’s not easy to choose a new fixture of society. Just as the pope is revered in the Vatican, so too is Ralphie within the University of Colorado Boulder. There’s a certain thrill that goes through the crowd when Ralphie runs. From the anticipation of the video introducing her to the wild roar of spectators as she charges down the field, the Ralphie tradition is synonymous with Colorado football. So when Ralphie VI’s retirement was suddenly announced earlier this year, the subsequent home football games felt just a little off as the choosing of her replacement went underway.
While there was no white smoke to announce Ralphie VII, the conclave to choose and train CU’s next live mascot is still a long and largely secretive process. In fact, by the time Ralphie VI’s retirement was announced, Ralphie VII was already “90% there,” according to Colton Behr, the assistant program manager of CU’s Ralphie program and a former Ralphie handler himself.
So what exactly does it take to pick and train one of the most iconic school mascots? For one thing, she has to enjoy her job. Ralphie VI, or Ember, retired early due to an “indifference to running.”
“We’re constantly evaluating Ralphie to decide if it’s the right fit for her,” said Behr. “[To see] if she’s still happy and enjoys doing it.”
Behr said they decided last fall to have a backup plan in place, as Ember seemed to prefer a light jaunt as opposed to a run. After identifying the need for a backup plan, the search for a new bison began.
Ralphie VII was donated by Eagle’s Wing Ranch, just a little ways north of Steamboat Springs, and operated by CU alum Bob Beauprez.
Once Ralphie VII was brought to the CU ranch, her training began — largely in secret. The location of Ralphie’s ranch is kept top secret for her protection, said Matthew Winston, a senior Ralphie runner.
Senior Ralphie handler Jake Stanfield poses with Ralphie VII (Brandy) at the football game against BYU on Sept. 27, 2025 at Folsom Field. (Photo courtesy of Colton Behr, assistant program manager of CU’s Ralphie program)
The first step was to get Ralphie VII accustomed to people. “Step one is to get her used to us,” said Behr. “She has to learn to trust us… [and learn that] we’re on her side, that we’re her herd.”
Once she began to warm up, her trainers and coaches began to get her used to lead ropes, her trailer and people petting her, all parts of eventually running at Folsom Field. They also put scraps of the turf surface from Folsom in her pasture to get her used to it. Ember helped in the training process, acting as a model for Ralphie VII.
Once she got used to being led and riding in a trailer, they began training her at Folsom, getting her ready to run in front of the loud football crowds.
“We would wait until late in the evening,” said Behr. “To kind of keep the secret.”
Beginning with just her 16 handlers and coaches, Ralphie VII was slowly introduced to the Folsom environment.
“She’s just a buffalo calf that has to learn [to get] used to people pulling her, people behind her, having walls and people around her,” Behr said. He added that every part of the stadium was a factor in her training, from the lights to the paint on the turf. By late summer, the decision to officially retire Ember had been made, and Ralphie VII was already settling into her new role.
From there, they slowly built up the crowd she practiced in front of to simulate the feel and noise of a crowd.
“We have lots of individuals in the athletic department who we trust and who understand the importance of secrecy,” said Behr.
Former Ralphie runners, parents and close friends also made up the crowds. “Everyone who attended practice was told not to share any photos, videos or rumors for the sake of Ralphie,” Behr emphasized. He said the biggest practice before her first game was around 100 to 200 people, and that unlike her predecessor, Ralphie VII doesn’t seem to mind late kickoffs.
In her first game-day run at Folsom on Sept. 20, Ralphie VII was met with thunderous cheers from the crowd and repeated chants of “Ralphie” from the CU student section. She charged just over 50 yards on each of her two runs, successfully living up to her expectations.
Similar to the pope, each Ralphie also gets a new name, usually given by her handlers based on her personality. According to Ralphie runner tradition, it’s considered bad luck to name her before her first run. Winston said that it took around two weeks following Ralphie VII’s debut at the football game against Wyoming to pick a name. Ultimately, it came down to a vote between Brandy and Champagne. Brandy, a reference to the song “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)” by Looking Glass, won out.
“We all just felt like the name fit,” Winston explained. “She liked the song, and so it was really based off of that.” He added that Ralphie also represents the brand of CU as a whole, which added to her name.
Winston said the difference between running with Ember and Brandy was “a step up in the speed level,” but all the training they put in has made the transition easier. “It was a little bit of an adjustment, and I think we’ve handled it well, and we practiced a lot over the summer to prepare for it.” While Ember could run fast at times, Brandy is more consistent and knows her job.
“I like to describe Ember as… a really big puppy,” Winston explained, saying she’s very playful and likes to play. He attributes this to the fact that she was orphaned as a calf and raised around humans.
“Brandy is a little bit more of a wild animal,” Winston said. “And I guess that makes her faster and makes her want to run a little bit more.” However, he added that he has faith that Brandy knows where to run and will return to her trailer every time.
“I think [our coaches did] an amazing job, because Brandy really does know that when she’s out there in the stadium, it’s her job to run out… and go back in the trailer,” said Winston. Behr said that Brandy’s favorite snack, a protein grain mix, awaits her in her trailer following her run.
Brandy has run at three games so far this year. While Ralphie normally runs both pregame and at halftime, her runs are weather dependent. Folsom Field switched to artificial turf this summer, and Behr said that the new surface tends to get more slippery in the rain, which means she likely won’t run on rainy game days.
Ralphie’s training is also an ongoing process. Winston said they have around two to three practices with Ralphie at Folsom a week, on top of individual strength and conditioning for the Ralphie runners. Her handlers are also encouraged to visit her farm and volunteer whenever they can, which allows them to spend more time with the young bison.
Ralphie VII (Brandy) exits her trailer for practice at Folsom Field. (Photo courtesy of Colton Behr, assistant program manager of CU’s Ralphie program)
At the ranch, Brandy lives with Ember and Blackout, who served as Ralphie V. Blackout is perhaps the most well-known Ralphie, having served for 13 years and growing to more than 1,300 pounds, according to Behr. She ultimately retired because it became too difficult to manage her on the field.
The Ralphie tradition at CU runs deep — from her first run in 1967 to Brandy’s runs now. There’s a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes to keep the tradition alive. Behr said one of the program’s goals is to ensure every fan who watches a Colorado football game gets the same thrilling experience of watching Ralphie run.
One thing’s for certain, CU Boulder’s newest Ralphie loves to run.
Contact CU Independent Sports Editor Lila Nuttle at lila.nuttle@colorado.edu.
