{"id":257492,"date":"2025-09-27T01:24:12","date_gmt":"2025-09-27T01:24:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/257492\/"},"modified":"2025-09-27T01:24:12","modified_gmt":"2025-09-27T01:24:12","slug":"from-bevo-to-ralphie-live-animal-mascots-inspire-fans-and-create-deep-connections-in-cfb","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/257492\/","title":{"rendered":"From Bevo to Ralphie, live animal mascots inspire fans and create deep connections in CFB"},"content":{"rendered":"

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) \u2014 The newest star for the Colorado Buffaloes loves molasses-based treats, drinking straight from the water hose at her ranch and galloping in front of a stadium full of fans.<\/p>\n

Ralphie VII<\/a> made her much-anticipated debut last weekend, the year-old, 700-pound ball of bison energy bursting out of her end-zone stall as \u201cHeeeeere comes Ralphie\u201d blared from the Folsom Field speakers.<\/p>\n

With her romp just past midfield<\/a>, one of the GOATs of live animal mascots<\/a> in college football was back. More than symbols; these beloved animals inspire fans, foster a deep connection with their teams and are cherished game-day traditions<\/a>. Ralphie, whose presence was missing<\/a> from the opening two home games as the newest version got up to speed, is just one of the most recognizable.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s Uga, the English bulldog from Georgia; Bevo, the longhorn steer at Texas; Mike the Tiger from LSU; Peruna, the Shetland Pony at SMU<\/a>; the war eagle of Auburn, and the list goes on and on. Navy\u2019s Bill the Goat; Renegade, the Appaloosa horse<\/a> from Florida State; Rameses, the ram at North Carolina, and Traveler, the white horse at USC. There\u2019s Nova and her fellow falcon friends at Air Force; Smokey, the bluetick coonhound at Tennessee; and Tusk, a Russian boar at Arkansas.<\/p>\n

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Horses and tigers and boars, indeed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are very few things that people are as passionate about as their love of their favorite college football team. These mascots are just the living symbols of that,\u201d said Ricky Brennes, executive director of the Silver Spurs Alumni Association<\/a> that oversees the care of Bevo. \u201cThey mean a whole lot.\u201d<\/p>\n

The live mascot<\/p>\n

The live animal mascot has been a part of college life since the late 1800s.<\/p>\n

According to legend, what would be become known as Yale\u2019s Handsome Dan I<\/a> arrived around 1889 when a student bought him for $5 from a New Haven, Connecticut, blacksmith. The bulldog \u2014 believed to be one of the first live college mascots \u2014 was led across the field before the start of football and baseball games. The school now has Handsome Dan XIX<\/a> on the sideline.<\/p>\n

Live mascots remain a familiar sight on the field, from dogs (Reveille, Texas A&M\u2019s rough collie; Dubs, Washington\u2019s<\/a> Alaskan malamute) to birds ( Sir Big Spur<\/a>, the rooster at South Carolina) to mules (Army) to Rambouillet sheep (Colorado State\u2019s \u201c CAM the Ram<\/a> \u201d).<\/p>\n

Not all live mascots take the field.<\/p>\n

Mike the Tiger has a view of Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, from his expansive habitat, a roughly 15,000-square foot home complete with two pools, a stream, a comfort rock that\u2019s cold in the summer, warm in the winter, and a night house. A version of Mike stopped showing up inside the stadium on game days in 2015.<\/p>\n

This is the seventh rendition of Mike<\/a> since 1936. He\u2019s a Bengal-Siberian mix and checks in at approximately 400 pounds. He has 158,000 followers on Instagram.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would say the most common question we get is, \u2018Is Mike outside?\u2019 said Ginger Guttner, the communications manager for LSU\u2019s school of veterinary medicine who also creates social media posts on Mike\u2019s behalf. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever been there when there\u2019s been no one there.\u201d<\/p>\n

The veterinarian students who care for Mike VII make \u201c meat art<\/a> \u201d in the shape of the opponent\u2019s logo for game days. The one of him devouring the Gators logo before the Tigers\u2019 win over Florida received nearly 13,000 likes.<\/p>\n

Here comes Ralphie VII<\/p>\n

Colorado retired Ralphie VI just before the season after she showed an indifference toward running. A version of Ralphie leading the team out has been part of the school\u2019s tradition for the past 58 years<\/a>, but Ralphie VII needed time to ramp up.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hung the football schedule up in her barn and she just didn\u2019t seem to care (the opener) was on the 29th (of August),\u201d joked Taylor Stratton, program director of Colorado\u2019s Ralphie Live Mascot Program.<\/p>\n

Stratton and the Ralphie Handlers started her out slow, letting her get comfortable with them and earning her trust. Three days before her first run, they took Ralphie VII to Folsom Field for an under-the-lights dress rehearsal. With music blaring, she \u201cdid her job perfectly,\u201d Stratton said.<\/p>\n

It carried over to game night. Stratton was like a doting parent after Ralphie VII\u2019s inaugural two fast and furious runs last Saturday \u2014 one before the game vs. Wyoming and again at halftime.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a great opportunity to inspire fans,\u201d Stratton said. \u201cIt\u2019s something cool that people can get behind.\u201d<\/p>\n

The young bison earned rave reviews from coach Deion Sanders.<\/p>\n

\u201cRalphie did a wonderful job,\u201d Sanders said, \u201dof doing the doggone thing that she does.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bevo XV<\/p>\n

The University of Texas retired Bevo XIV in 2015 after he got sick with bovine leukemia. The Longhorns went half a season without their beloved live mascot.<\/p>\n

Bevo XV was a national grand champion show steer who won out after a tryout of sorts. The steers were taken to a band practice to test their mettle. Bevo XV made his debut as \u201cBaby Bevo\u201d against Notre Dame in 2016. Now he\u2019s 10 years old and weighs 2,100 pounds.<\/p>\n

He had a famous run-in with Uga at the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1, 2019, during a pregame meet-and-greet. \u201cBevo\u201d went through his barricade toward \u201cUga\u201d<\/a> before order was restored.<\/p>\n

Over the decades, a version of Bevo has been invited to presidential inaugurations, weddings, funerals, birthday celebrations, corporate events and meetings with celebrities (see: Adam Sandler). Bevo\u2019s appearance helps raise funds for education programs.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverybody\u2019s always super-excited to see him,\u201d Brennes said. \u201cIt really gives you a sense of how much the animal means to people.\u201d<\/p>\n

Find more college sports coverage from <\/b>The Dallas Morning News<\/b> here<\/b><\/a>.<\/p>\n