Student Body Government realized it was not smart to have it be the tradition for the Sophomore Class Officers to run with Ralphie, and instead it would be better to have trained individuals with large animal experience take the tradition over. The Ralphie Live Mascot Program has since evolved, becoming a prestigious athletic endeavor for 15 student athletes and buffalo enthusiasts. It is currently under the direction of Program Manager and Coach Taylor Stratton and Assistant Program Manager and Coach Colton Behr, both were Handlers when they were students at Colorado. Ralphie I Born: November 1965, Sedgewick, Colorado Died: May 13, 1982 Served: October 1, 1966 - November 18, 1978 Folsom Field Games: 65 Mile High Stadium Games: 0 Away Stadium Games: 6 Conference Championship Games: 0 Bowl Games: 7 Football Team Record When Ralphie Ran at Folsom Field: 51-14 Football Team Record When Ralphie Ran at Any Game: 57-21 Total Games: 78 In March 1966, John Lowery, the father of a Colorado freshman from Lubbock, Texas, purchased a six- month old buffalo calf from Sedgewick, Colorado for $150 and donated her to the University. Lowery bought the calf from rancher Art Kashcke. Bill Lowery (John's son), John McGill, Don Marturano, and Vic Reinking were the original Ralphie Handlers who trained Ralphie I. Ralphie first attended a game on October 1, 1966 when Colorado played Kansas State. Ralphie did not run onto the field during the game, but stood on the sideline and slept in her trailer. Colorado won the game 10–0. She attended the remaining three home football games that year, standing on the sidelines. Around that same time, head football coach Eddie Crowder was approached with the idea of the buffalo charging out onto the field before the game, the team closely following. After much discussion, the debut of this great tradition took place on September 16, 1967, when Colorado played Baylor. Colorado beat Baylor 27–7. Ever since then Ralphie has been leading the way as the football team takes the field. Ralphie's first bowl game was the Bluebonnet Bowl on December 23, 1967, where Colorado beat Miami (FL) 31–21. The five sophomores that ‘handled’ her appointed themselves as the board of directors of a fundraising effort to bring Ralphie to Houston. By selling "Buffalo Stock", they raised the necessary funds to send Ralphie to Houston, and help cover other costs associated with the program. In 1976, the