Apparently, the buffaloes roam with the bulldogs.

At least that’s what happened Saturday when Georgia and Colorado arranged for Colorado’s mascot, Ralphie the Buffalo, to make an appearance at Sanford Stadium, the home of Uga the bulldog, for the contest between the two schools.

The winless Buffaloes surprised unbeaten Georgia, jumping to an early lead before the ‘Dawgs rallied to a 14-13 win in the game’s final minute. However, the game was hardly the only story taking place between the hedges as the live mascots provided an air of novelty to the intense football game.

This was because it was no ordinary mascot match-up. Ralphie and Uga often are considered the most iconic ‘live’ mascots in sports. When officials at Georgia saw Colorado on their upcoming schedule, they knew inviting Ralphie to tag along would provide for an enjoyable experience.

‘I think it’s just fun for the fans, fun for the teams and obviously this is creating some hype for the game to see the top two live mascots on the same field at the same time.’ said UGA’s marketing director John Bateman before Saturday’s game.

Ralphie IV, a 900-pound buffalo, is the latest member of the Ralphie dynasty that has been leading the Colorado football team onto the field at the start of the game and after halftime since 1966.

Uga VI is a 60-pound English bulldog and the latest heir in the Uga family line that has existed since 1956. During games Uga rests in a home fit for the king of mascots. He observes the competition from the sidelines in his air-conditioned doghouse.

Uga takes advantage of his premium seating, too. He constantly demonstrates throughout the game he’s as loyal to the Bulldogs as the average Georgia fanatic.

‘He barks almost during the whole game,’ said Sonny Seiler, Uga’s owner. ‘He’s aware of what’s going on out there. He likes the people. He likes the crowd, he does particularly like crowd.’

The images of these two mascots are as much a part of the universities’ football legacies as Herschel Walker is to Georgia or Byron ‘Whizzer’ White is to Colorado. So it was no surprise Ralphie’s appearance seemed to be receiving as much hype as the game itself.

Media outlets across the country touted the animals’ forthcoming meeting and Bateman said he received many calls from Bulldog fans asking if it was possible to snap pictures with Ralphie.

‘I think it’s to be expected when a buffalo travels across the country to a football game and we’re excited to have her,’ Seiler said.

Ralphie IV traveled the 1,500-mile trip in atypical fashion for a buffalo-she rode in her black-and-gold Colorado trailer. She arrived Friday, and Ralphie Handlers performed some test runs with her before the big moment Saturday.

Ralphie’s run went off without a hitch. She was not even fazed by the presence of more than 92,000 Georgia fans.

‘They loved her,’ said Kevin Priola, co-director of the Ralphie Handlers program. ‘(Georgia fans) thanked us for bringing her. The whole stadium roared when she came out. It was the biggest crowd her or any (previous Colorado) buffalo has ever run in front of.’

Priola, who runs the Ralphie Handlers program with his cousin Ben Frei, said after the game Georgia fans kept expressing gratitude to Priola for bringing Ralphie. Some fans told him they had never seen a live buffalo before and others complimented Ralphie for being a great mascot although ‘not as good as Uga.’

Of course, many fans hoped Ralphie and Uga would have a chance to meet face-to-face. Seiler said the UGA vets discouraged bringing Uga near Ralphie. However, Priola said at one point during the game the two legendary mascots locked eyes and had a brief staredown. The showdown ended anti-climatically as the animals quickly went back to minding their own business.

Nevertheless, Priola hopes the fascination with the mascots will continue and Georgia will accept Colorado’s offer to bring Uga to Boulder when Colorado and Georgia face-off again in 2010. Priola said the experience at Athens went so well that he’d love to do it all over again, with one exception-Ralphie ends up representing the winning team.

‘We had a really warm reception,’ Priola said. ‘Other than the game we had a great time.’

LEVIN’S LOCKS

No. 1 Ohio State (-7) at No. 13 Iowa

Saturday, 8 p.m., ABC

The Buckeyes have not impressed since trouncing Texas on September 11, so Hawkeye fans should feel OSU is primed for an upset when Ohio State visits this weekend. The key matchup will be whether Iowa quarterback Drew Tate can prove he’s a better Heisman candidate than OSU’s Troy Smith. He can’t.

Ohio State 21, Iowa 16

Colorado (+13) at No. 25 Missouri

Saturday, 12:30 p.m., FSN

Last year, record-setting quarterback Brad Smith ran or threw on 628 of Missouri’s 981 snaps. He’s graduated and the Tigers are 4-0. What’s more bizarre than that? How about the fact that Dan Hawkins, who coached Boise State into a mid-major powerhouse, is now 0-4 as the Buffs’ new head coach?

Missouri 23, Colorado 15

Purdue (+16) at No. 12 Notre Dame

Saturday, 2:30 p.m., NBC

Congratulations to the Irish for being featured on Levin’s Locks for an unprecedented fifth-straight week! But it’s no coincidence. ND has faced an undefeated opponent in every game this season. However, after last week’s miraculous comeback, Notre Dame derails the Boilermakers in anti-climatic fashion.

Notre Dame 24, Purdue 14

No. 24 Georgia Tech (+9) at No. 11 Virginia Tech

Saturday, 3:30 p.m., ABC

The ACC has replaced the Big East as the BCS conference college football fans should be most ashamed of. The winner of this game should take the ACC Coastal Division crown and earn an eventual underserved Orange Bowl bid.

VA Tech 23, GA Tech 21

Wyoming (+6.5) at Syracuse

Saturday, 1:30 p.m., ESPN360

Syracuse’s two losses (Wake Forest, Iowa) have come against two teams currently a combined 8-0. The Orange’s two wins (Illinois, Miami (Ohio)) have come against teams with a combined record of 1-7. SU continues to beat the teams it should beat by wrangling the Cowboys (1-3).

Syracuse 38, Wyoming 20

Published on September 24, 2006 at 12:00 pm