21. Ralphie’s Run, Folsom Field
Drive 85 miles north on Interstate 25, through Denver and on to Boulder, and you’ll reach the campus of the University of Colorado in Boulder. Though the Colorado Buffaloes fell on hard times in the 2000s, the program is on the rise following a 10-4 season in 2016, which was the first winning record in more than a decade, included the first bowl game appearance for the program since 2007, and concluded with the first Top 20 ranking for the team since 2002.
But, even if the Buffs fail to repeat their strong performance in 2017 or beyond, fans should make the trip to Folsom Field for one of the best on-field pre-game traditions in college football: Ralphie’s Run.
Ralphie V, a female live bison mascot for the school, runs onto the field prior to Colorado home football games with the assistance of “Ralphie Handlers,” which is a varsity team at the school. Five Handlers orchestrate each run. Ralphie rarely makes the trip to away games, but travelled for a game against Georgia in 2006, and has made visits to bowl games as well.
Also, if one were to make the trip to the Air Force Academy and see the Buffs in back-to-back weekends, there are plenty of things to do in the interim. Golden, the home of the Coors Brewery and the Colorado School of Mines (whose former head football coach Bob Stitt turned into an innovative Division II power) is located roughly 20 miles south of Boulder, and due west from Denver. It’s also close to Rocky Mountain National Park.
