Taylor Stratton (EBio, EnvSt, Geog鈥�13) is program manager for the Ralphie Live Mascot Program. In her role, she tends to Ralphie V and Ralphie VI and coaches the Ralphie Handlers, student athletes who help care for the buffaloes and run with Ralphie VI during events. She also manages Ralphie鈥檚 transportation and social media 鈥� basically, she said, 鈥渁ny and all things Ralphie related!鈥�
How soon after waking up do you look at your phone?
Pretty immediately to see if anything came in when I was sleeping.
Last person you called?
Ryan Newman, CU鈥檚 director of athletic grounds. He and his team keep all of the grass beautiful, and I work with him to schedule practice times with Ralphie.
Duration of longest call last week?
One minute 鈥� I left a message for the man we buy hay for Ralphie from.
The main thing you use your phone for?
I use my work phone for content creation, social media management, monitoring the weather, answering emails and talking to anybody for Ralphie-related things. My personal phone鈥檚 primary use is playing music. Ralphie VI is very familiar with the Turnpike Troubadours.
Location/situation of last selfie?
With Ralphie VI! She was being extra sweet and I caught her right as she was licking my face.
Lock screen or background image?
Baby Ralphie VI is the lock screen of my work phone.
How many hours were you on your phone last week?
More than I should have been!
Oldest photo on your phone?
The oldest photo on my personal phone is a picture of me, my horse and my grandparents when I was riding at the National Western Stock Show in 2008.
Phone model
iPhone XR with a black otterbox and screen protector
Most-Used Apps
Perry Weather, Twitter, Outlook
Most-Used Emoji
Photos courtesy Taylor Stratton
Taylor Stratton is program manager for the Ralphie Live Mascot Program.
On April 23, CU football鈥檚 spring showcase took place in Folsom Field, giving fans a first look at the upcoming fall season.
"I'm encouraged with where our defense is," Buffs head coach . "We have good depth and good experience, some young talent that's really going to help us play at a high level and sustain a high level throughout games."
Ralphie VI also was present at the event, and delighted spectators with her first run of 2022.
Photo by Jacob Mckinney
On April 23, CU football鈥檚 spring showcase took place in Folsom Field, giving fans a first look at the upcoming fall season.New Alliance
The Pac-12, ACC and Big Ten 鈥� three of the nation鈥檚 Power Five athletic conferences 鈥� announced a handshake partnership Aug. 24.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot going on in our industry,鈥� CU Athletic Director Rick George said. 鈥淭his alliance allows us to collaborate on these issues and bring stability to college athletics and the collegiate model.鈥�
Such issues include evolving NCAA legislation on name, image and likeness (NIL); the expected expansion of the College Football Playoff; and conference instability, notably Texas and Oklahoma leaving the Big 12 for the SEC (effective 2025). To start, the alliance will encourage more interconference scheduling, multi-team, single-site events featuring teams from all three conferences and increased national television exposure.
With its 41 institutions united, the alliance could determine the future of the College Football Playoff, while also combining the resources of its research universities to improve student-athlete health and wellness.
Buffs Bits
Ralphie VI debuted Sept. 3, leading the Buffs football team onto Folsom Field to face Northern Colorado. The Ralphie Live Mascot Program is funded entirely by private support from donors. 鈥� Anthony Pham, tennis associate head coach, was promoted to head coach on July 26. Pham is the seventh head coach in program history. 鈥� Men鈥檚 basketball went undefeated on its four-game exhibition tour of Costa Rica in August. The on-court highlight came against Selecci贸n de Baloncesto when Jabari Walker (ExSt鈥�24) shattered the backboard on a dunk attempt in the third quarter. Without a replacement backboard, the game was called with CU ahead 68-54. 鈥� On Sept. 18 Buffs volleyball extended its school-record undefeated start to the season to nine matches, taking down rival Colorado State twice in a row. 鈥� Women鈥檚 golf鈥檚 Ellie Gower (A&S鈥�23) finished runner-up at the English Women鈥檚 Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship Aug. 17-19 in Wallasey, United Kingdom.
Coach Talk
鈥淭he crowd was absolutely fantastic. This has been the best environment since I鈥檝e been here in my 10 years. This needs to be the standard for CU soccer, not the exception.鈥�
鈥� Soccer head coach Danny Sanchez after 2,536 fans attended the Buffs鈥� home game against No. 1 Florida State Aug. 29.
Stats
$1
Bonus Spencer Dinwiddie (Comm ex'15) will receive, per his three-year, $62-million contract with the Washington Wizards, if the team wins the NBA championship
5th
Melissa Stockwell's (Comm鈥�02) place in the triathlon (PTS2) at the Tokyo Paralympics
6
Total CU women鈥檚 cross-country runners who placed in the top 10 at the season-opening Wyoming Invitational in Cheyenne
30
CU club sports teams will resume competition in 2021-2022
281
Buffs rushing yards in football鈥檚 season-opening 35-7 victory over Northern Colorado on Sept. 3.
15th
Stage of the Tour de France won by Sepp Kuss (Advert鈥�17) in July, the first American to win a stage of the race since 2011
Photos by Glenn Asakawa (Ralphie); Courtesy CU Athletics (Ellie Gower)
New Pac-12 Alliance, Ralphie VI and more.In Sept. 3, 2021, the Buffs鈥� football home opener, 11,537 students filed into Folsom Field, the biggest turnout since CU played Utah in 2016.
Fans hummed with enthusiasm for their first in-person football game since late 2019, but there was another reason, too 鈥� Ralphie VI鈥檚 debut.
Flanked by four student Ralphie Runners, the almost-500-pound buffalo officially ran for the first time before the CU Buffs took on the Northern Colorado Bears.
At not even 18 months old, the new Ralphie ran the signature horseshoe loop across the field under a magnificent Colorado sunset. CU fans expressed their immediate love for 鈥渂aby Ralphie鈥� on social media.
鈥淚t just feels right,鈥� tweeted Brent DePaepe, creative director for CU Athletics.
The Buffs won 35-7.
Will Isham (Fin鈥�80), his daughter Drew Isham (Comm鈥�13) and their family donated the young buffalo, born May 27, 2020, to the university in November 2020. The family owns a ranch with buffalo in Chadron, Nebraska, and has been in the buffalo business for two decades. The calf was abandoned by her mother, said Drew, and the family knew she belonged at CU.
鈥淏eing in a family that has buffalo, it鈥檚 always been something we wanted to do,鈥� said Drew.
CU Athletics officially retired 13-year-old Ralphie V in November 2019, and news of her replacement was scant over the two-year period. Isham鈥檚 former sorority sister, Sara Abdulla (EnvSt, Psych鈥�13) 鈥� student program manager at the Alumni Association 鈥� connected the family with Taylor Stratton (EBio, EnvSt, Geog鈥�13), manager of the Ralphie Live Mascot Program, who was searching for buffalo to join the program. A live buffalo has run in Folsom Field at football games since 1966, and she wanted the tradition to continue.
鈥淲ithout the generous support of the Isham family, there would be no Ralphie VI,鈥� said Stratton.
Ralphie VI could reach an adult weight of 1,300 pounds or more. She lives on the undisclosed ranch of former Ralphies, where she鈥檚 given the best treatment. Her favorite part of the day? Mealtime.
鈥淲henever she hears us open the container, she puts her tail up and starts running over and grunting,鈥� said Stratton. 鈥淪he鈥檚 a more vocal buffalo, so people will have a better idea what sounds buffaloes make.鈥�
Details surrounding Ralphie VI鈥檚 stage name 鈥� Ralphie V was 鈥淏lackout鈥� 鈥� were being finalized as of press time. But Buffs nation has already welcomed her to the family.
鈥淲ithout a doubt, the buffalo is the world鈥檚 best mascot,鈥� said Will.
Photo by Glenn Asakawa
The buffalo was donated by 91传媒 alumni.Sean Tufts is a former CU football player and Ralphie Handler. Now he鈥檚 back at CU, this time with a cause.
At the age of 6, Sean Tufts (Soc鈥�04, MBA鈥�11) received direction that altered the course of his life.
鈥淢y soccer coach walked me over to the football field and said, 鈥榊ou should do this instead,鈥欌€� said Tufts.
His early decision to play football eventually brought him fame at CU and in the NFL. But today, the former star CU linebacker 鈥� and Ralphie Handler 鈥� has a larger intention: Helping former CU athletes in need, especially those struggling with their mental health.
Tufts is head of the Buffs4Life organization, which provides a crisis hotline, resources and funds to former CU players and their families.
鈥淲e want to get to people before their worst day,鈥� said Tufts, who lost his friend Drew Wahlroos (A&S鈥�02) to suicide in 2017.
Sean as a Ralphie Handler.
鈥淚 was a middle linebacker and he was outside,鈥� said Tufts. 鈥淎lmost every picture I have in a Buffs uniform, Drew was somewhere in the background.鈥�
The decision to lead Buffs4Life was an easy one: Like football, CU was part of his life at an early age.
鈥淚n elementary school, if you had a good day in gym, the coach would put you on his shoulders and you鈥檇 get to slap a picture of Eric Bieniemy (Soc鈥�01),鈥� Tufts said.
After playing linebacker at Denver鈥檚 Cherry Creek High School, the country鈥檚 No. 17 recruit chose CU over Michigan. (Bieniemy became one of his coaches.) From 2001 to 2003, he played starting middle linebacker, finishing his senior season with 95 tackles.
鈥淪ean took football very seriously,鈥� said Brian Cabral (Rec鈥�79), who was on the Buffs鈥� coaching staff for 24 seasons. 鈥淚t was like having another coach on the field.鈥�
鈥�Everybody needs help sometimes, whether you鈥檙e the Heisman winner or an 18-year-old engineering student.鈥�
In 2004, Tufts was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the NFL鈥檚 sixth round. A knee injury ended his professional football career after three years.
鈥淭he funny part is, for everybody except Peyton Manning and John Elway, it all ends more abruptly than you thought it would,鈥� said Tufts, 37.
Tufts reinvented himself. He applied to business school at Stanford, but still felt a strong pull to Colorado. He returned to CU for his MBA.
鈥淚 wanted to challenge myself, to come back to Boulder and prove that I was invested in the community,鈥� he said.
Back on campus, Tufts again found himself at Folsom Field on Saturdays 鈥� this time as a Ralphie Handler. He and Chad Hammond (Engl鈥�01) are the only two former football players to run with Ralphie.
鈥淪he鈥檚 got a sandpaper tongue, like 80 grit industrial sandpaper, and she loves licking leather,鈥� he said of the recently retired Ralphie V. 鈥淪he鈥檇 wear out your boots or try to take the gloves from your pocket.鈥�
After graduating, Tufts started a business leasing land for the development of wind farms. Forbes named him to its 鈥�30 under 30鈥� in 2011 for his work.
In 2017, he joined Optiv Inc., a Denver information security company, working with cyber security solutions for critical infrastructure, which includes everything from power plants to dishwashers.
In the midst of his thriving career, he again answered the CU call. In 2017, Cabral asked him to serve as the president of Buffs4Life.
鈥淓very time we talked, he just took Buffs4Life to another level,鈥� said Cabral, who is on the board for the nonprofit. 鈥淚t was a natural fit.鈥�
Since 2005, more than 40 other Buffs or their families have received Buffs4Life support. In 2019, proceeds from the Kyle MacIntosh 5K, one of the nonprofit鈥檚 signature events, went to the family of TJ Cunningham (Comm鈥�99), who was killed in February 2019.
Tufts hopes Buffs4Life can become a model for the rest of campus.
鈥淓verybody needs help sometimes, whether you鈥檙e the Heisman winner or an 18-year-old engineering student,鈥� he said.
Photos courtesy CU Athletics
Sean Tufts is a former CU football player and Ralphie Handler. Now he鈥檚 back at CU, this time with a cause.1st
Football win over Washington since joining the Pac-12
Second
Place finish by Joe Klecker (BioChem鈥�20) at Cross Country Nationals
78
Handlers who worked with Ralphie V over the years
14,178
Round-trip miles men's basketball flew for Shanghai season-opener
79-75
Women's basketball victory in Fort Collins over rival CSU
101,000
Combined attendance for first two 2019 home football games, the highest in 10 years
CU soccer advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before falling 1-0 to top-seeded North Carolina Nov. 22 at Chapel Hill. Benefiting from a difficult non-conference schedule and regular season wins against No. 24 Texas and No. 21 Washington, the 12-8-2 Buffs avenged the previous season鈥檚 tournament snub. CU opened the postseason by routing Northern Colorado 6-0 at Prentup Field Nov. 16. Two senior captains led the squad: Midfielder Taylor Kornieck (IntPhys鈥�19) and goalkeeper JJ Tompkins (Psych鈥�19). Kornieck set CU鈥檚 all-time points (102) record on her way to being named to the All-Pac-12 First Team. Tompkins became CU鈥檚 all-time leader in both wins (49) and saves (369) and was named to the Second Team. Additionally, forward Tessa Barton (Psych鈥�22) earned a spot on the conference Freshman Team. With six seniors graduating, head coach Danny Sanchez signed 10 new recruits to CU鈥檚 2020 class, which is ranked 10th best in the nation by Top Drawer Soccer.
With a team-leading 37th overall finish at Cross Country Nationals, Sage Hurta (ChemBioEngr鈥�20) joined Shalaya Kipp (IntPhys, Psych鈥�14) as the second four-time All-American recipient in school history. Overall, the CU cross-country women finished 10th, and the men finished third. 鈥� The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame named CU athletic director Rick George to the prestigious 鈥淭eam of Excellence鈥� in October. 鈥� In December, junior wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (Ethnic, Film鈥�21) declared for the 2020 NFL Draft. 鈥� Senior Daniel O鈥橪oughlin (Geog鈥�20) closed CU鈥檚 fall golf season by tying for second at the inaugural Les Fowler-CU Invitational in October. 鈥� Emma Coburn (Mktg鈥�13) earned a silver medal in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships. 鈥� Antonio Alfano, five-star prospect and 2018鈥檚 top-ranked high school football recruit in the nation, signed with CU this fall after transferring from Alabama.
Coach Talk
Looking back now, am I surprised that I didn't get fired along the way somewhere, or that I kept my mouth shut? A little bit, yes."
鈥� Eight-time national champion cross-country and track head coach Mark Wetmore on 25 years at CU.
For many, retirement comes when their backs ache and motivation wanes. For Ralphie V, it was the opposite.
Toward the end of the 2019 Buffs football season, the healthy 1,200-pound buffalo began to run too fast for her student handlers to keep up.
91传媒 athletic director Rick George announced the 13-year-old鈥檚 retirement Nov. 12. Fans came in droves to snap one last picture with her at Ralphie鈥檚 Corral, the official CU football tailgate, prior to the Nov. 23 game versus Washington.
As with past Ralphies, she will continue to live on her ranch with a companion buffalo and receive care from the CU Ralphie program, which is fully donor-funded.
As mascot for 12 seasons, Ralphie V is the second-longest serving Ralphie in school history.
鈥淩alphie V had an outstanding career as the face and symbol of our great university and athletic department,鈥� said John Graves (Mgmt鈥�09), manager of the Ralphie program who also ran alongside her as a student handler. 鈥淎s one of the biggest and fastest Ralphies, her love for running and power was showcased every home game during her career. It鈥檚 almost like she knew she was the queen of campus.鈥�
Born in 2006 on Ted Turner鈥檚 Vermejo Park Ranch in New Mexico, Ralphie V 鈥� whose real name is Blackout 鈥� made her game-day debut against Eastern Washington Sept. 6, 2008.
The Ralphie-running tradition, which started in 1965, has captivated most who鈥檝e seen her barrel across Folsom Field 鈥� regardless of their CU affiliation. Her retirement was covered nationally, including by NPR, ESPN, The Washington Post and The New York Times.
A search for Ralphie VI is underway.
Photos by Glenn Asakawa
The buffalo served as CU鈥檚 live mascot for 12 seasons.[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UIE3qqEsnI&feature=youtu.be]
Watch chalk artist Chris Carlson (Bus'08) draw a special cover for the Coloradan alumni magazine. Read the entire Fall 2019 issue here.
Watch chalk artist Chris Carlson draw a special cover for the Coloradan alumni magazine.Trading card Ralphies, also from the fall issue. Test your knowledge!
The opening illustration of our fall 2017 issue, by Drew Litton.
The story on Ralphie was fun to read. Since you invited readers to supply more details, you may be interested in how Ralphie got her name. She was named after Ralph Wallace (Hist鈥�68), who I think was the CU junior class president at the time. Whether he campaigned for the distinction, let alone this form of immortality, is debatable. My acquaintance with Ralph arose as we competed for the attentions of the same Southern belle when we all attended St. Aidan鈥檚 Episcopal Church just off campus. Again, thanks for the great story and the wonderful memories it provoked for some of us.
Kirk Rider&苍产蝉辫;(贰苍驳濒鈥�67)
Grand Junction, Colo.
There are several tales in circulation about the origin of Ralphie's name. If you'd like to share yours write us at editor@colorado.edu.
The Ralphie Issue [fall 2017] is fantastic! Thank you for doing such a great job!
Nancy Kane&苍产蝉辫;(础谤迟鈥�86)
Brooktondale, N.Y.
As a CU alumnus I recall with nostalgia Ralphie鈥檚 running at CU football games in the 1980s during my wonderful undergraduate years. But it鈥檚 nearly 2020: This 1960s-era practice befits neither CU nor buffalo, which are not pets. Today鈥檚 Ralphie would be better served by being visited in her natural habitat by CU students and the public at a natural environment educational venue. It could feature the bison鈥檚 important role in both Native American history and in CU鈥檚 football history. Free Ralphie!
Ellen W. Gorsevski&苍产蝉辫;(贬耻尘鈥�88)
Bowling Green, Ohio
I was not aware that the current issue of the Coloradan was going to be 鈥淭he Ralphie Issue.鈥� I would have submitted the Ralphie story that beats all others. Thanks for rekindling the memory of all our beautiful mascots.
In 1969, as a member of the Golden Buffalo Men鈥檚 Marching Band, I happened to find myself in the north end zone of Folsom Field, alone with Ralphie prior to our pre-game performance. It was a surreal moment, but I was immediately drawn to her trailer. There we were, alone in front of 50,000 people with what felt like a spotlight on us. I went over and pressed my eye to the grate, and she did likewise while wagging her tail. There we were, our eyes mere inches from each other. I will never forget that big, beautiful eye and that tiny tail! I felt compelled to say something. I said, 鈥淵ou are a beautiful and magnificent creature, Ralphie. Thank you for sharing your planet with us.鈥� She replied, 鈥淵ou are a kind and gentle soul, Joe. You come with good intentions.鈥� I so longed to enter her trailer and give her a big hug.
Up to that moment, I did not know anything about spirituality or animal communication, but I have since learned a lot about both. That incident started me on a spiritual journey with the universe that continues to this day. I remember her words, and have striven to be the kind and gentle person she recognized and to be true to my soul. It started with my becoming an ardent protector of animals, something that continues to this day. I have struggled to overcome my ego, which is, indeed, a lifetime battle. I have always considered that moment in my life to have been a gift from God.
Joe Felice&苍产蝉辫;(厂辫补苍鈥�72)
Aurora, Colo.
I always enjoy Paul Danish鈥檚 (Hist鈥�65) column, but this time he goofed. He said that without its open space, Boulder would look like Aurora! Has he been to Aurora, the third-largest city in Colorado?
Aurora has 14 open space areas with a total of 5,414 acres 鈥� he could Google it.
Charlotte Faris
Aurora, Colo.
A sampling of readers鈥� online reactions to the fall issue:
Upon seeing Drew Litton鈥檚 Ralphie cartoon depicting the buffed-up mascot in a cape, Shelly McCune Greenwood (Bus鈥�81; MEdu鈥�00) responded on Facebook: 鈥淪he鈥檚 looking great for her age!鈥�
After reading Andrew Daigle鈥檚 (PhD Engl鈥�16) story on Buffs鈥� senior tailback Phillip Lindsay (Comm, Soc鈥�17), @rensch025 tweeted: 鈥淣ice little write-up on @I_CU_boy [Lindsay] in the Coloradan. Class on and off the field! #gobuffs. On Facebook, 91传媒 staff member Michelle Bell said, 鈥淗umble, positive, talented and kind...He makes all of us so proud!鈥�
Responding to the Q&A with Ralphie Runner Rachel Edson (Soc鈥�18), Facebook commenter Debra Price wrote, 鈥淲e were very honored to be invited to one of Ralphie's practices recently, where I met Rachel. She clearly loves Ralphie and what she's doing. Both Rachel and Ralphie are great ambassadors for CU.鈥�
Readers' responses to the Ralphie-themed issue of the fall Coloradan.As of August 2017, five individual buffaloes have served as Ralphie, including the incumbent, 11-year-old Blackout. What do you know about each?
As of August 2017, five individual buffaloes have served as Ralphie, including the incumbent, 11-year-old Blackout. What do you know about each?