Boulder, Colorado is repeatedly featured as one of America’s finest college towns. The Rocky Mountains that frame the west side of Boulder and rise above Folsom Field set a picturesque scene that few campuses can rival. Gamedays at The University of Colorado ignite an electricity that bounces from the iconic red tiled roofs to the Flatirons and centers back on Folsom Field as kickoff looms. This stadium has been home to the Buffaloes for over 100 years, and it helps to define the passion and pageantry on football Saturdays in Boulder.
Friday nights are the true kickoff. All along Boulder’s famed Pearl Street, fans gather for the Pearl Street Stampede – a wild pep rally that streaks up and down this famed thoroughfare. Cheerleaders, athletes, band members, and Chip the Buffalo all help to light up the night as the sun sets behind Colorado’s peaks. It’s a more recent tradition that shows no signs of dwindling. This spills into the following day as hoards of fans gather to tailgate and watch their beloved Buffs make their pregame walk through the crowds to the stadium.
Folsom Field is as iconically collegiate as hot dogs are to the Fourth of July. It’s horseshoe shape embedded into campus gives it a nostalgic feel that only the most traditional locations can possess. Greeting you at its entrance is the iconic buffalo statue known as the “Monarch of the Plains.” Be sure to rub the horns for good luck. Once inside, hearts flutter upon viewing the majestic mountains that rise up from behind the stadium. Open in 1924, this beauty has seen everything from heartbreak to Heismans.
Likely the most recognized tradition in Boulder is Ralphie the Buffalo’s entrance onto the field. In 1966, Colorado acquired a live buffalo to serve as their mascot, and the following year, Ralphie began leading the football team out onto the field. Guided by trained student handlers, the intimidating charge of this behemoth creature is met with much anticipation and ensuing frenzy by the crowd of Buff enthusiasts.
Set in a classic venue, Boulder and Folsom Field is a bucket list spot on the planet of college football. The fans, tradition, pageantry, and scenery are challenging to match. The passion on gameday is unbreakable. As their fight song notes, “Shoulder to shoulder we will fight, fight, fight!” That spirit leaves a lasting impact on visitors and helps add to the unique tradition of college football.
