Mighty Mascots

Thunder takes the field at a West Texas A&M game.

Ralphie and her team of handlers at a University of Colorado game.

If your college mascot is a buffalo, why not have the real thing run on the football field before games and during halftime? The University of Colorado is well known for its buffalo Ralphie, but West Texas A&M started the tradition of running its buffalo, Thunder, long before Colorado. Both schools have gone through many Ralphies and Thunders since the traditions started in the 1920s and 30s, and all buffaloes have been females. Males are just too big and aggressive to handle. Animal rights folks aren't real thrilled about the buffalo being subjected to the ritual, but these buffs are certainly spoiled, being regularly groomed and well fed. The current Ralphie was rescued from the grasp of a coyote when she was tiny but was then rejected by the herd, so she was donated to the school.

Ralphie came into the national spotlight last week as Violet Stromberg, a 96-year-old lifelong CU football fan, left her life savings of $40,730 to create a fund to care for the buffalo. The Ralphie Fund will help pay for Ralphie's hoof trimmings, transportation, harnesses, ropes, vet bills and $1,500 a year in oats, alfalfa and grass.