About The Handlers
The Team
The Ralphie Handlers are varsity student-athletes who run with Ralphie, take her to appearances, and care for her year round. On an average week during football season, Ralphie Handlers will volunteer 20-30 hours to the program in training, practicing, appearances, and caring for the beloved mascot. In the off season they still put forth 20 hours a week toward the program, always caring for Ralphie and staying in top shape to be able to run with Ralphie.The Ralphie Live Mascot Program is under the direction of Program Manager and Coach Taylor Stratton and Assistant Coach Colton Behr. Both Stratton and Behr were Ralphie Handlers when they were students at Colorado. They provide the training for Ralphie and her Handlers, and coordinate the care for Ralphie. The team consists of approximately 15 student-athletes made up of both males and females. The Handlers earn a varsity letter for each year they are on the team. Handlers first started earning varsity letters in 1987. Even though the Handlers do not fall under NCAA jurisdiction, the Athletic Department still holds them to the same standards as all other varsity athletes in the department, including minimum GPA requirements full course load, and other rules. The first female Handler joined the team in 1992. Females have had a strong presence in the program ever since.
Originally the students who ran with Ralphie were called "The Men Who Run with Ralphie." In the 1970's the term for the students changed to Ralphie Runners, as a direct representation of the feat that they did with Ralphie at each game. As the team and the program became more formalized and regulated, the term for the students became Ralphie Handlers in the late 1980's. The responsibilities and duties for the students that were on the team increased from just running with Ralphie, to also assisting in her overall care and maintenance, the reasoning behind changing their name from Ralphie Runners to Ralphie Handlers.
Workouts & Practice
As Varsity athletes, Ralphie Handlers work out as a team twice per week and are encouraged to supplement team workouts with additional efforts. Their workouts fluctuate throughout the year to ensure they are prepared to run with Ralphie during her traditional football game appearances.
Ralphie and her Handlers practice two times a week during the fall season. In Folsom Field, Ralphie runs in a traditional right hand turn “horseshoe” run. Handlers primarily practice this run, working on the depth and width of the run, as well as the turn. They also practice running with Ralphie in a straight line, as used for her trips to Mile High Stadium for the Rocky Mountain Showdown, and in an “L” shape for her annual soccer game run. Ralphie and her Handlers also practice a non-traditional left hand “horseshoe” run, which is used if they run at the National Western Stock Show.
Appearances with Ralphie
Ralphie Handlers also do appearances with Ralphie throughout the year to promote the University and the Athletic Department, as well as to educate the public about buffalo in general. Special appearances can be arranged with donations to the program that will help cover costs of Ralphie’s care and other expenses associated with keeping this great tradition alive.
Ralphie traditionally runs at all Colorado home football games, bowl games, conference championship games, and has previously made a special trip to a regular season away game. She historically runs at one soccer game per year and has made appearances to support other CU sports teams and initiatives.