 Around that same time , head coach Eddie Crowder was approached with the idea of charging the buffalo out onto the field before the game , the team following closely behind . Crowder thought it was a great idea , and the debut of this great tradition took place on October 28 , 1967 , Colorado ’ s Homecoming game against Oklahoma State . Though Oklahoma State won the game 10 @-@ 7 , the tradition was here to stay . 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 , raising the necessary money through marketing Ralphie ’ s potentially appearance . 
