Ralphie the Buffalo is the name of the live mascot of the University of Colorado Buffaloes. Ralphie has been named one of the best live mascots in sports. The team of "Ralphie Handlers", who are varsity student-athletes, run Ralphie around Folsom Field, the University of Colorado's football field, in a horse shoe pattern before each half of each home game. It takes five Ralphie Handlers to run her around the field: two up front on each side to steer her around the field, two in the back on each side to help guide her, and one in far back to control her speed, called the "loop" position. Ralphie can reach speeds of 25 miles per hour (40 km/h). Female bison are used because they are smaller and less aggressive, as well as for insurance reasons, although Ralphie has knocked over her handlers on more than one occasion. Because of this, whether or not Ralphie runs is at the sole discretion of her handlers, and her run may be canceled if she is unusually nervous or upset. The Team The Ralphie Handlers are varsity student-athletes who run with Ralphie, take her to appearances, and care for her year round. On an average week during football season, Ralphie Handlers will volunteer 20-30 hours to the program in training, practicing, appearances, and caring for the beloved mascot. In the off season they still put forth 20 hours a week toward the program, always caring for Ralphie and staying in top shape to be able to run with Ralphie. The handlers have designated sprint workouts and lifts twice a week before classes to be able to handle Ralphie and stay in shape for all Ralphie-related tasks, carrying panels and hay bales, to name a few. The Ralphie Live Mascot Program is under the direction of Program Manager and Coach Taylor Stratton and Assistant Program Manager and Coach Colton Behr. Both Stratton and Behr were Ralphie Handlers when they were students at Colorado. They provide the sprint training for Ralphie and her Handlers and coordinate the care for Ralphie. The team consists of approximately 15 student-athletes made up of both males and females. The Handlers earn a varsity letter each year they are on the team. Handlers first started earning varsity letters in 1987. Even though the Handlers do not fall under NCAA jurisdiction, the Athletic Department still holds them to the same standards as