Emma Morgan, a senior at the University of Colorado Boulder, became the first woman to lead Ralphie down the field from a front position, a milestone in a tradition that is nearly 60 years old. She did it during the second half of the Buffs' football game against Utah on Oct. 17.
Morgan, a fourth-year handler, took the front right spot at Folsom Field. A CU employee counted her down, and at zero she shouted "Sko Buffs" to start the run. She said she tuned out the crowd and focused on her teammates and the buffalo. When Ralphie ran back into her trailer, the other handlers rushed over to hug and cheer for her. "I definitely couldn't have done it without them," Morgan said.
The front right position demands more speed, strength, knowledge and technical training than the others. The runner there signals the start of the run, confirms the team is ready and the field is clear, controls how far Ralphie goes and is responsible for turning her. Coaches name a yard line to aim for, Morgan said, but Ralphie can turn earlier if she chooses. Morgan added that the two front runners must communicate closely, because a mistake by either can change how the buffalo runs.
Ralphie VII weighs almost 800 pounds and reaches speeds of up to 25 mph on game days. Four handlers run alongside her, while the other 13 team members line up around the field and trailer to support the run.
Every handler begins in the back right position, which is the easiest because the runner stays on the inside track and has no steering duties. After Morgan excelled there, her coaches moved her to the back left, where it is easier to be swung off when Ralphie turns. Coach Taylor Stratton said Morgan met each challenge, so the next step was to move her forward.
Stratton called Morgan a "fantastic" athlete who is fast, technical and smart. She also holds the women's team record for hang cleans at 164 pounds. "It's so deserved; she's such a fantastic person and athlete, and we're so thrilled for her success," Stratton said.
Handlers typically learn about an hour before kickoff who will run with the buffalo. Morgan said she was "super excited" to hear she would be in front, and she focused on getting into the right headspace. "I felt confident," she said. She described running beside Ralphie as the best feeling, especially up front, where she is right next to the buffalo.
Morgan, who is from New Castle, was inspired to join by her older brother and sister, who were both handlers. She said she grew up attending their games and loved the handler environment, the team and the tradition. A track athlete at Coal Ridge High School, she trained the summer before her freshman year of college for tryouts, which include three 100-yard sprints, pull-ups and mobility testing. The team practices and works out five days a week and must also visit the ranch where Ralphie lives to care for her and do chores.
Morgan said she is grateful to her coaches and teammates for trusting her. "I hope being the first woman to run out front is just the beginning of what they can do," she said of future handlers.
