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Colorado

Colorado to debut new live buffalo mascot against Wyoming

by admin September 19, 2025

Sep 19, 2025, 02:36 PM ET

The latest recruit on Deion Sanders’ roster weighs in at 700 pounds and runs the 40-yard dash as fast as she wants.

Colorado’s new live buffalo mascot will make her debut at Folsom Field on Saturday night against Wyoming. She’s officially named Ralphie VII, although a unique nickname is soon to come after her first run.

Ralphie VII is the latest in a string of field-storming live mascot buffaloes, a storied tradition and one of college football’s most iconic. The running of the buffalo has been a must-glimpse event at the school for the past 58 years.

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The 1-year-old bison steps in for Ralphie VI, who went into retirement before the start of season after showing little enthusiasm toward making the gallop around the field.

“We’re excited to be adding a new Ralphie to the lineage of incredible buffalo that have represented the University of Colorado and have elevated the fans’ passion for our student-athletes,” said Taylor Stratton, the director of the Ralphie Live Mascot Program.

A version of Ralphie has been missing from action the past two home games. Ralphie VI — nicknamed Ember — showed a reluctance to make the trip around Folsom Field to the roar of the fans. The plan for Ember will be to join Ralphie V — known as Blackout — on the ranch and do one of her favorite things – take it easy.

The newest member of Sanders’ squad is “definitely not indifferent to running,” the release from the school said.

Ralphie VII was a gift from the Beauprez family, supporters of the university and owners of Eagle’s Wing Ranch located near Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

“Ralphie’s run is iconic and our fans, students, faculty, staff and alumni take an incredible amount of pride in this tradition which transcends sports,” Stratton said.

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September 19, 2025 0 comments

Esports

Third-string QB Ryan Staub seizes chance, lifts Colorado to win

by admin September 7, 2025

Max OlsonSep 6, 2025, 09:08 PM ET
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- Covers the Big 12
- Joined ESPN in 2012
- Graduate of the University of Nebraska

Colorado’s quarterback situation went in an unexpected direction Saturday with coach Deion Sanders turning to third-string QB Ryan Staub to power the Buffaloes’ 31-7 win over Delaware.

Staub, a redshirt sophomore, stepped in after Kaidon Salter and Julian Lewis played against the Blue Hens, and he made the most of his opportunity. He completed seven of 10 passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns, making his case to be the Buffaloes’ starter moving forward.

Sanders said he prayed about his quarterback room after a 27-20 loss to Georgia Tech in the season opener and decided the best move was giving two series each to Salter, Lewis and Staub and letting their performances “tell its own story” and dictate who deserved to play.

But after Staub threw touchdown passes on each of his two drives, he stayed in for two more and helped turn a 10-7 game into a 31-7 rout. Afterward, Sanders presented Staub with a game ball.

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“He’s just been waiting for his opportunity,” Sanders said. “Never jumped in the portal, he had every right to think that way. But he’s just been a great human being and a great young man, like a leader amongst that room. All he needed was the opportunity, and I thought it was time.”

Sanders wasn’t ready to say who will start in Colorado’s Big 12 opener next week at Houston, but he got the clarity he was seeking on Saturday.

“I know exactly how I’m going to handle the quarterback situation,” he said. “I’m not going to say it, but yeah, I’m not lost for direction.”

Staub earned one start for Colorado in 2023 during Sanders’ debut season, replacing an injured Shedeur Sanders and throwing for 195 yards and one score in a 23-17 loss to Utah in the regular-season finale. He played a total of 20 snaps over four appearances last season but does possess more experience running offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur’s system than Colorado’s two newcomer QBs.

Against Delaware, Staub got his chance with 45 seconds left in the first half and engineered a 75-yard touchdown drive with a 31-yard pass to receiver Joseph Williams followed by a 21-yard touchdown pass to running back Dekalon Taylor.

He opened the second half with a 71-yard touchdown throw to receiver Sincere Brown and stayed in as the Buffaloes’ QB for the rest of the third quarter.

Redshirt sophomore Ryan Staub went 7-of-10 for 157 yards and two touchdowns in Colorado’s 31-7 win over Delaware. Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

“To be honest, this whole week, I wasn’t really expecting to play,” Staub said. “Friday, I kinda got the call and, OK, I might be playing. I was just waiting on an opportunity. Didn’t know it would be a two-minute drill, and kind of the rest is history.”

Salter, a transfer from Liberty, earned his second start with the Buffaloes and led the team to a 10-0 lead before Sanders gave Lewis, the No. 12 overall recruit in the 2025 ESPN 300, a chance to play his two drives in the second quarter. After both drives ended in punts and Delaware cut the deficit to 10-7, Staub took over.

Salter later reentered the game in the fourth quarter for two drives, both of which ended in punts, and finished with 127 total yards of offense. Lewis went in for victory formation on Colorado’s final drive.

Sanders planned to give Lewis, their five-star freshman, more snaps against Delaware after he didn’t play in the opener. Lewis threw for 8 yards on 2-of-4 passing and took one sack against the Blue Hens. Sanders said Lewis’ youth showed in his performance and is trying to be careful about the situations Lewis is being put in early in his college career.

“Some guys want you to just throw them in there, and I’m too protective,” Sanders said. “I love the kid and I want the kid to be successful, so we’re very protective on what we do with him and what we can do with him, how we call things with him. We want him to be in a situation to excel.”

Staub said he never considered transferring out of Colorado during his two years backing up Shedeur Sanders or when the Buffaloes brought in Lewis and Salter this offseason. He said he fell in love with the process and the program and preferred to put his head down and keep working until he got a chance.

“It’s kind of crazy,” Staub said. “I mean, yeah, there’s been a lot of days of a lot of work and some self-doubt and, you know, kind of my own battles. It’s crazy to be rewarded this way. It doesn’t really feel real. But I’m also looking forward to next week. We need to get back to work.”

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September 7, 2025 0 comments

Esports

Colorado county gives away free corn after truck crash spills load on highway

by admin August 31, 2025

Custer County residents got an unexpected harvest after a semi-truck hauling sweet corn rolled over on Highway 69.

According to the Custer County Sheriff’s Office, the crash happened around 2 a.m. near mile marker 69 just north of Reed Road on August 28. Thankfully, the driver wasn’t injured. Crews worked through the morning alternating traffic in one lane until the truck could be recovered.

The semi’s cargo? An entire load of ears of sweet corn. Instead of letting it go to waste, local officials arranged for the corn to be distributed to the community.

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Corn given away after truck crash

Photos of the crash shared on Facebook show the truck on its side with tons of corn spilled onto the road, still perfectly good to eat, especially considering the start of football season and backyard barbeques still in full swing.

Firefighter volunteers and the county posse handed it out at the Wet Mountain Fire Protection District station in Westcliffe, with residents lining up to grab some free produce.

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Custer County Sheriff’s OfficeThat’s a lot of corn.

Authorities reminded drivers picking up corn not to block fire truck bays so emergency crews could still respond if needed.

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This isn’t the first time we’ve seen a wild crash result in food spill all over a road, but in this case, citizens get to actually enjoy some of it.

In July, a highway in Pennsylvania turned into a dairy disaster after a multi-truck crash spilled hundreds of boxes of shredded mozzarella cheese. Unfortunately, the cheese was destined for a landfill as the load was deemed unsalvageable due to being unrefrigerated for hours.

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A month later, also in Pennsylvania, over a thousand pounds of frozen hot dogs were ruined after a large truck was involved in a massive road accident.

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August 31, 2025 0 comments

Esports

Deion Sanders healthy in return, says Colorado ‘fine’ after loss

by admin August 30, 2025

Adam RittenbergAug 30, 2025, 01:25 AM ET
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BOULDER, Colo. — Deion Sanders ran onto the field with his Colorado team Friday night, just months removed from having surgery to replace and reconstruct his bladder after a tumor was found this spring.

Sanders, 58, jogged past a portable toilet placed next to Colorado’s bench area for him to use during the game, which was sponsored by Depend, the adult incontinence undergarment company. He slowed near the South end zone and gently tapped his players who were kneeling in prayer.

After the most serious health issue in a series of them the past five years, Sanders said he “felt good,” adding, “I don’t feel good right now, but I felt darn good during the game.”

Sanders was miffed that his team didn’t capitalize on early takeaways, convert several big-play opportunities on offense or make nearly enough run stops against Georgia Tech, falling 27-20 in the season opener at Folsom Field.

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Sanders coached his first game for Colorado since undergoing surgery in May. He was away from the team for much of late spring and early summer before rejoining the squad for preseason camp. Dr. Janet Kukreja, director of urological oncology at the University of Colorado Cancer Center, said in a news conference in July that Sanders is cured of cancer.

Upon returning, Sanders focused on getting his third Colorado team, and the first without his sons Shedeur and Shilo and 2024 Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, to employ a different play style, based on being more physical at the line of scrimmage. Colorado made some strides Friday, as a rushing offense that had been last in the FBS during Sanders’ tenure generated 146 yards on 31 attempts.

But Colorado allowed 320 rushing yards and three touchdowns to Georgia Tech, including the tiebreaking, game-winning 45-yard dash by quarterback Haynes King with 1:07 left.

“Defensively, no, there’s no way you can say you’re physical when you got your butt kicked like that,” Sanders said. “But offensively, you probably were sitting out there saying, ‘Dang, they should keep running the ball’ because you saw the physicality we’ve been talking about.”

Although Georgia Tech committed turnovers on its first three possessions — becoming the first team to do so in a season opener since Florida International in 2010 — and didn’t reach the end zone until late in the first half, Sanders said, “It’s hard to applaud the defense right now.”

After the three early turnovers, Georgia Tech had three drives of 75 yards or more and a 61-yarder in the closing minutes. Colorado linebacker Reginald Hughes said Georgia Tech’s gap scheme “messed with our eyes a little bit” and caused the Buffaloes not to properly fill several holes in the run game.

“We’re at a good pace, inclining to be the defense that we want,” Hughes said. “We’re not quite there yet. It’s really more so execution with us. We play fast, we get after it. It’s just executing situations. Stuff like that, it shows up later in the game.”

Quarterback Kaidon Salter, a transfer from Liberty making his first start for Colorado and replacing the record-setting Shedeur Sanders, threw an early scoring pass and finished with 159 passing yards and 43 rushing on 13 attempts. Deion Sanders noted that Salter could have run even more and been more of a true dual threat.

“Most definitely, I feel like I had those opportunities,” Salter said, “but me being a dual-threat quarterback, keeping my eyes down the field, I felt like I had chances to throw the ball downfield and make some plays.”

Despite Colorado’s significant personnel losses at quarterback and wide receiver, Sanders said the offense doesn’t need time to come together, adding, “We’ve got to go get it and do it right now.”

He said he saw enough good things overall to still expect a strong season.

“We’re definitely going to be fine, I’m not concerned about that,” Sanders said. “We could have won that game. It’s not like we got our butts kicked. They ran the heck out of the ball, they did that, but we had opportunities.”

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August 30, 2025 0 comments