CU students have performed as varying versions of Chip, CU Boulder’s character buffalo mascot, since the 1980s. 

Aside from crowd-enchanting duties at CU athletic events, Chip has snowboarded the slopes of Winter Park, danced in a NASA spacesuit and conducted an orchestra in Macky Auditorium. Once, Chip breathed fire while wearing a dragon costume. 

Up to six students split character duties to cover Chip’s athletic, campus and community appearances — which can total as many as 400 events a year. The commitment is worth it. 

“It was one of the highlights of my life,” said Robb Moody (Jour’95), who performed in this mid-90s era Chip costume from 1993 to 1995. 

Chip Facts: 

• Each semester, several students share mascot duties. Their real identities remain a secret. 
• Students who wore this costume cleaned it themselves, said former Chip Robb Moody (Jour’95). Sometimes the bathtub would do. 
• In 2009 and 2010, Chip won first place back to back at the Universal Cheerleaders Association’s Mascot National Championship. In January 2020, he won again. 
• This Chip was retired around 1997. 
• Cameron Forth (CivEngr’97) donated this 90s-era costume to the CU Heritage Center this fall. 

Photo by Mona Lambrecht, CU Heritage Center

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Monday, Aug. 26 marked the first day of school for CU students, and the opening of the university's new Aerospace Engineering Sciences Building. CU Boudler donor Ann Smead cut the ribbon, with help from department chair Ben Argrow, Chip and two remote-controlled drones. The new state-of-the-art facility has drawn praise from the aerospace community, and was recently visted by NASA Adminstrator Jim Bridenstine.

Photo by Glenn Asakawa

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Oskar Blues Brewery in Longmont was the final stop of the Chancellor's State Tour on June 19. Chancellor DiStefano brought along Chip and the spirit squad to perform at the festivities. New head football coach Mel Tucker, basketball coaches Tad Boyle and JR Payne and athletic director Rick George also were in attendance.

Photo by Patrick Cambell 

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