Emma Morgan Leads Ralphie onto Folsom Field

The University of Colorado Boulder senior became the first woman to lead the mascot from the front position during a game against Utah.

Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Rodeo

Emma Morgan Leads Ralphie onto Folsom Field

Emma Morgan, a senior at the University of Colorado Boulder, led Ralphie the Buffalo from the front position onto Folsom Field on October 15, 2026, when the Buffs played the Utah Utes. The milestone marks the first time a woman has held that role in the Ralphie Live Mascot Program.

Why it matters

The achievement comes as CU Boulder celebrates its 150th anniversary and highlights the growing presence of women in the Ralphie program, which dates its run tradition to 1967. Five women are currently part of the 17-member student team.

The Ralphie Live Mascot Program has 17 student team members, five of whom are women, with the first woman joining in 1992. The team trains three days a week alongside Ralphie and practices five days a week.

The players

Emma Morgan

A senior at the University of Colorado Boulder from New Castle, Colorado, who became the first woman to lead Ralphie from the front position onto Folsom Field.

Taylor Stratton

The program director and head coach of the Ralphie Live Mascot Program, who has spent three years in college running and oversees the student handler team.

The details

Applicants to the Ralphie handler team undergo athletic evaluations including timed running and strict form pull-ups, followed by interviews, with applications opening in August and closing around the end of October. The program is led by program director and head coach Taylor Stratton and relies entirely on donor support, currently funded through one scholarship fund.

1967: Ralphie's run tradition begins.
1992: The first woman joins the Ralphie team.
2020: Taylor Stratton takes over the Ralphie program.
October 15, 2026: Morgan leads Ralphie from the front in the game against Utah.
Late October each year: Ralphie handler applications close.

Season Trajectory

Morgan's appearance follows the 1992 entry of the first woman onto the Ralphie team, extending a gradual expansion of women's roles in the mascot program over more than 30 years. The milestone arrives during CU Boulder's 150th anniversary year, placing the program's evolution alongside the university's broader history.

The Ralphie handler application window opens in August and closes around the end of October, with athletic evaluations and interviews required for selection. Prospective applicants should plan to meet timed running and strict form pull-up standards.

The takeaway

The Ralphie program shows how a long-standing tradition can open new roles over time, as more women now lead the team's front position. Students interested in similar leadership roles can prepare for the athletic evaluations and interviews that define the selection process.