From Bossier basketballs to Colorado buffaloes; A matter of choices

Lt. Col. (Ret) Charlie Morgan, a former process manager for the 917th Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., gets a lick from Ralphie, the University of Colorado mascot outside Folsom Field in Boulder Colo., Nov 20, 2010. Colonel Morgan was at CU to watch his daughter Danielle Morgan, who is a Ralphie Handler, perform during the game between the Colorado Buffaloes and Kansas State Wildcats. The handler team consists of 14 students, who must be physically fit enough to control a 1200 pound buffalo that can reach speeds up to 25 miles per hour. Ralphie, a live buffalo, is one of the more unique mascots in all of intercollegiate athletics. She leads the football team out on the field both at the start of the game and second half. It was in the final game of the 1934 season, when a live buffalo made its first appearance when a group of students paid $25 to rent a buffalo calf along with a real cowboy as his keeper. It took the cowboy and four students to keep the calf under control on the sidelines during the 7-0 win at the University of Denver on Thanksgiving Day. (Courtesy photo/Jeff Walston)