Bright stadium lights pierce through the night sky as Sophomore Daniel Portman’s cleats touch the turf at Folsom Field. Screams from 50,000 fans echo over him as he reaches down and tightly grips a strand of long black rope, attached to the halter of a small bison. As the pen gates open, the University of Colorado’s newest live mascot, Ralphie VII, now known as Brandy, flies onto the field and jolts Portman and his team forward, sprinting to keep up.
“The first time I ran Ralphie in a game was surreal,” Portman said. “Most of the run I don’t really remember, probably because of the adrenaline, but I remember the relief of closing the trailer door after she ran in.”
That night, during CU’s matchup against Wyoming, Portman debuted the new bison on his first rookie run as a handler. However, the milestone was more than a personal one; it was historic. Ralphie VII’s debut marks a new chapter in CU’s long-standing line of live mascots, a tradition that began in 1967. Since then, every Ralphie has been loved by a small team of student handlers who dedicate countless hours to her care and well-being.
Students go through a tough selection process of highly competitive interviews and tryouts to become handlers, with only about 5% of applicants making the rookie class. Tryouts mainly consist of a variety of mobility and strength tests, including a max set of pull-ups and timed sprints. After that, potential handlers are interviewed, and then the final few are chosen for the season.
“I remember there being about 140 people trying out for the team,” Portman said. “In the end, they took eight of us; the largest rookie class they’ve had.”
Growing up in Oklahoma, Portman was surrounded by agriculture and was no stranger to livestock. His time helping on his family’s ranch in South Dakota gave him valuable experience with horses and cattle, skills that helped him stand out in his interviews.
Ralphie’s handlers are considered Division I student-athletes at the university, and on average, the handlers will meet 20-30 hours per week during the football season to practice and train. There, the team bonds with one another, and for the handlers, teamwork is everything.
“The trust and respect our team has for each other is only built through consistency and understanding that every person is completely dedicated to the goal,” Portman said. “There’s a great deal of accountability among teammates simply because of the dangerous nature of the job.”
When a training run goes wrong, handlers need to rely on each other to stay on track to ensure the safety and well-being of their team and Brandy. Even though the bison is only a year old, she is still 700 pounds and can run incredibly fast.
“On one of my first runs, multiple handlers were thrown off their leads, and she spooked,” Portman said. “This left me and my teammate alone in our positions. We spend a lot of time together, so we know each other very well and, as a result, are able to understand how each other will perform under stress.”
Their level of commitment isn’t just about the run itself, but about the legacy. Ralphie VII’s debut continues the tradition of not only sprinting across the field, but also nicknaming the bison.
On October 6, her handlers announced that the new bison will be named “Brandy,” inspired by the 1972 song by Looking Glass. According to cubuffs.com, handlers noticed her adoration for the song and decided to name the fine girl Brandy. According to the statement, the bison “strongly identifies with the lyrics.”
“One thing that surprised me most about Ralphie after becoming a handler is just how much heart and personality she has,” Sophomore handler Marley Winston said. “She is very friendly, and she can also be sassy.”
The tradition of naming Ralphie dates back to the first bison in 1967, originally known as “Rraalph.” The double “r” in her name was purposeful, in reference to the noises she made while running and snorting. Some say her name was also a reference to the junior class president at the time, Ralph Jay Wallace. Upon the discovery of the bison being female, the team ultimately revised the name to Ralphie. Ralphies before VII were nicknamed “Ember,” “Blackout,” “Rowdy,” and “Tequila.”
“It’s so cool that the handlers get to pick her name,” Sophomore Musical Theater student Noelle Treece said. “I feel like it’s only right that the people who are with her almost every day get to choose it; they know her better than anyone.”
Portman agrees.
“I definitely feel a bond with Brandy. We see each other multiple times a week, so she knows who I am and is a little more comfortable when I interact with her,” he said. “She likes to come over and smell my hand; she often gets curious with her tongue too.”
Ralphie is more than a mascot to the students who run with her; it’s a tradition built on hard work, teamwork, and pride. For Portman, it’s an experience he’ll never forget.
“Debuting Ralphie VII for my first run was the most incredible feeling,” he said. “ To be a part of such an important moment in the school’s history is humbling. I’ll definitely be forever grateful for this opportunity.”