Deion Sanders. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Deion Sanders meets Colorado’s 1,200-pound buffalo mascot

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 4/11/23

It’s been nearly four and a half months since Deion Sanders was hired as the new head football coach at the University of Colorado, but the NFL Hall of Famer has never met the school’s mascot in-person.

That changed Monday morning.

The university released a video on the football team’s official Twitter account showing “coach Prime” coming face-to-face with Ralphie, the 1,200-pound buffalo that runs around Folsom Field before each half of every CU home game.

Ralphie’s handlers led Sanders into a trailer where the 55-year-old coach then fed the massive animal before he got firsthand look at her pre-game routine including a a front-row seat to Ralphie galloping back into the trailer.

“Oh no, I’m not standing in here while this thing is coming at me full speed,” Sanders exclaimed.

The full video is below.

The meeting we've all been waiting for #CoachPrime | #GoBuffs pic.twitter.com/CCGi2rykTa
— Colorado Buffaloes Football (@CUBuffsFootball) April 11, 2023

Sanders was hired in December following three seasons as the head coach at Jackson State. He compiled a 27-6 record, including a 19-2 mark against Southwestern Athletic Conference opponents.

Colorado finished with the No. 21-ranked recruiting class in the country, according to the 247Sports composite rankings, after Sanders took over. He brought with him several top players from Jackson State, including his son Shedeur Sanders, a four-star quarterback, and Travis Hunter, a five-star cornerback and the No. 1-ranked player in the class of 2022.

Colorado hosts its spring game on Apr. 22 — the first time the event has ever sold out — before opening the season Sept. 2 at TCU.

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