Emma Morgan Becomes First Woman to Run Front Position with Ralphie

Emma Morgan broke new ground at Folsom Field in Boulder on Oct. 15. The University of Colorado Boulder senior became the first woman to lead Ralphie the Buffalo from the front position onto the field during a game against the Utah Utes. This milestone marks a new era for a tradition that has defined game day at the stadium for decades.

Morgan, who grew up in New Castle, has a long personal history with the mascot. She attended CU games as a child and watched her brother and sister run with Ralphie. Those early experiences inspired her to pursue a spot on the team herself. She made the roster as a freshman and has since worked through various roles to reach the front position.

The path to the front position required mastering the back right and back left roles first. Morgan studied film with her coaches to understand how her athletic strengths could apply to leading the buffalo. Taylor Stratton, the program director and head coach, noted that Morgan was the first woman handler to consistently perform well in all positions before moving to the front earlier this year. Stratton took over the program in 2020 after running for three years in college.

The Ralphie Live Mascot Program is a selective group that currently includes 17 students. Applications open in August and close near the end of October. Candidates must pass athletic evaluations, including timed running and strict form pull-ups. Stratton explained that there is no single minimum speed required. Instead, the committee looks at how times compare year to year and considers other data points before selecting candidates for interviews.

The team practices five days a week. Three of those days involve training directly alongside Ralphie. Morgan credited her track background from high school for her preparation. She focused on sprint training, weightlifting, and upper body work to build the strength needed for the role. She described the team as a close-knit group where everyone cheered each other on.

Women have been part of the Ralphie team since 1992. Today, five women are members of the program, including Morgan. The tradition of Ralphie’s run dates back to 1967. This year also marks the 150th anniversary of CU Boulder. The program relies entirely on donor support to care for the buffalo and cover travel and other expenses. Stratton said the program currently has one scholarship fund and hopes to create more to support the students who dedicate their time to the tradition.

Morgan expressed gratitude to the female handlers who came before her. She said her teammates were her biggest cheerleaders during the Oct. 15 game. The moment was a culmination of years of training and commitment to the unique demands of working with a live animal. The front position is the most visible role on the field, representing the university’s spirit during football games.

The Ralphie program serves as an ambassador for the university. Handlers are selected not just for their speed but for their ability to represent CU Boulder. Morgan’s achievement adds to the history of a program that has evolved since the mid-1960s. The team continues to train and prepare for upcoming games, maintaining the strict standards that have defined the group since its inception.