BOULDER — The black-and-gold trailer backed down a stadium ramp and into the north end zone at Folsom Field. Nearing a sunset sky one night before the University of Colorado football team’s home opener, a collection of 16 students laced up cleats, jogged and stretched, slipped their hands into worn leather gloves, and surrounded the trailer’s rear gate for this moment.

The 5-foot, 1,200-pound Queen of the Flatirons had arrived.

A buffalo first ran across the turf at a CU football game on Sept. 16, 1967, and now a half-century later, the tradition continues. Honorary decals for Ralphie’s 50th year adorn the grass and the Buffs’ helmets this fall. Ralphie V, a 10-year-old female, enters her 10th season in 2017.

Her predecessor, Ralphie IV, retired after her 10th year. John Graves was a student handler in 2008 when she took her last run, and he said, “She started to slow down and did her own thing.”

Graves, now the live mascot program manager, has known Ralphie V since she was just 6 months old. Ralphie V will turn 11 in October. How much longer will she run?

“We’ll never make her do something she doesn’t want to do,” Graves said. “When she retires is up to her.”

On the eve of her 2017 home debut, Ralphie V made preparations with three practice runs in the silence of an empty Folsom Field. Her determination to once again sprint with the roar of game day in reaching a historic 50th milestone would be determined over the next 24 hours.

Denver Post file December 1972. The Colorado University buffalo mascot is en route to Jacksonville, Fla., this week to be on hand for the Sat­urday Gator Bowl game between CU and Auburn Uni­versity. The trip for Ralphie and handlers will cost about $1,000.

Denver Post file Colorado University Athletics Football Ralphie III the buffalo with handlers in background, on October 17, 1987.

John Leyba, The Denver Post Colorado University Athletics Football mascot Ralphie, on December 8, 1989.



Denver Post file Ralphie the Buffalo walks on the field during a game between the Texas Longhorns and the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado, on September 4, 1993.

John Leyba, The Denver Post Colorado Buffaloes stampede couldn't get Ralphie to run the field during the introduction of the team versus the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Folsom Field on November 28, 2003.

Doug Pensinger, Getty Images Ralphie IV is escorted onto the field as the Kansas Jayhawks square off against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field on Oct. 20, 2007 in Boulder. Kansas defeated Colorado 19-14.



RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post The University of Colorado introduced the latest mascot, Ralphie V, Saturday at the new indoor practice arena on the Boulder campus. The newest addition was donated to CU from the a Ted Turner ranch. She was born in Oct. of 2006 and now weighs in at 450 lbs and will most likely make her debut during 2008 season.

Doug Pensinger, Getty Images Ralphie IV, mascot for the University of Colorado Buffaloes is brought onto the field before they face the Colorado State University Rams at Invesco Field at Mile High on Aug. 31, 2008 in Denver.

Doug Pensinger, Getty Images Ralphie V, the Buffalo mascot of the Colorado Buffaloes, made her debut as the team came onto the field to face the West Virginia Mountaineers at Folsom Field on Sept. 18, 2008 in Boulder.



Kathryn Scott Osler, The Denver Post A student grooms Ralphie V, the University of Colorado mascot.

Kathryn Scott Osler, The Denver Post Crew members Cole Schindler, (leg up) and John Delva, use Ralphie V's cage as a support as they stretch before the big run.

John Leyba, The Denver Post University of Colorado handlers release Ralphie the school mascot before the Colorado State University Folsom Field Sunday Sept. 6, 2009.



Doug Pensinger, Getty Images Ralphie V, the mascot of the Colorado Buffaloes leads the team onto the field as they host the Missouri Tigers at Folsom Field on Oct. 31, 2009 in Boulder. Missouri defeated Colorado 36-17.

Doug Pensinger, Getty Images Ralphies Runners flank Ralphie V, escorting the Colorado Buffaloes onto the field to face the Colorado State Rams during the the Rocky Mountain Showdown at INVESCO Field at Mile High on Sept. 4, 2010 in Denver.

Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post CU mascot Ralphie runs the field before the game against Arizona at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011. CU won 48-29.



Doug Pensinger, Getty Images Mascot Ralphie V escorts the Colorado Buffaloes onto the field to face the Colorado State Rams in the Rocky Mountain Showdown at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on Sept. 1, 2012 in Denver.

Dustin Bradford, Getty Images Handlers run with Colorado Buffaloes mascot Ralphie before a game between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Idaho State Bengals at Folsom Field on Sept. 10, 2016 in Boulder.

Steve Nehf , The Denver Post Ralphie the buffalo, CU mascot, takes the field before the University of Colorado vs. Washington State game at Folsom Field Saturday.



Andy Cross, The Denver Post Colorado Buffaloes fans get a close look at Ralphie the Buffalo at a rally near the Alamodome for the Valero Alamo Bowl against the Oklahoma State Cowboys December 29, 2016.

Cliff Grassmick, Daily Camera Ralphie the buffalo gets out of her trailer outside the stadium before the CU CSU football game, on September 1, 2017

John Leyba, The Denver Post Colorado Buffaloes mascot Ralphie heads to the trailer after running the field with the team against the Colorado State Rams on Sept. 1, 2017 in Denver, Colorado during the Rocky Mountain Showdown at Sports Authority Field.



6:30 a.m.

Graves and the student handlers met for a team breakfast before traveling to Ralphie’s pasture, its location kept top-secret for decades. Back in 1970, Ralphie I was abducted by several Air Force Academy cadets, and ever since, privacy has been a top priority. “We just want that safety for her,” said Ross Brewer, a 21-year-old Denver native and senior Ralphie handler.

Generally described as spacious with plenty of access to shelter, food and water, the pasture is where Ralphie handlers — a select group of varsity athletes who beat out more than 50 applicants annually for five or six open spots each fall — develop a unique relationship with Ralphie V. However, she can be slow warming up to rookie handlers by grazing far from their work cleaning up manure and old hay.

“You can’t be scared of her, she’ll see that,” said handler Adam Deutsch, a 20-year-old sophomore from New York. “You have to be more comfortable with her. It’s a two-way street.” Related Articles September 8, 2020 CU Buffs announce 5-year partnership with online sportsbook PointsBet

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Veteran handlers describe her personality as “gentle” and “playful.”

“When we’re carrying the pen,” Brewer said, “sometimes she’ll lick at our shirts.”

Few have a deeper connection to Ralphie V than Graves, who was a student when he first met the Buffalo when she was just 6 months old.

“I can kind of go in her pasture, look at her, and I can tell what kind of mood she’s in,” Graves said. “Whether she’s sleepy, excited to run or whatever it is. It’s all about body language with the Buffalo. There are little small signs; how their tail is, where their ears are pointed, how they’re walking, what they’re doing. It’s hard to explain. It’s just something you pick up.”

9:30 a.m.

The trailer pulled into campus and unloaded at Ralphie’s Corral, a tailgate south of the stadium. Despite hundreds of photos taken with fans posing just in front of her pen, Ralphie V stood in place with her tail wagging back and forth. “She’s really relaxed right now,” Graves said.

Handlers stood in place protecting every side of her enclosure.

“We’re part of her herd,” Graves said.

11:50 a.m.

Ralphie V made it on to the field, and as the play clock neared five minutes until kickoff, many handlers took in a private moment with her amid the loudspeaker blast of pregame music. A few pat her head. Others scratch her face. Some whisper a message into her ear. “Everybody has some sort of relationship with her,” Deutsch said.

Graves gathered his handlers into a huddle. Sensing tension among the group, he said, “Smile. … Go have some fun out there.” Each handler put their closed fist into the air together, counted to three, and shouted in unison: “Protect the herd!”

As for Ralphie V? She was in position before the handlers could instruct her by facing the east while preparing for a turn and sprint north — how handlers know for certain that she’s ready. In the fleeting seconds before go-time, Graves swung the pen gate open as Ralphie V and five handlers bolted onto the turf.

Like so many times before, she made the clockwise turn amid the roar of Folsom Field, and glided back into her trailer in the northwest corner of the stadium.

Age be damned.

“She’s showing no signs of slowing down,” Brewer said. “She’s still so good at what she does.”

Ralphie will run another day.