Join me on Buffzone.com tonight at 7 p.m. for a live chat about Colorado football. First chat of the season.

Finishing up stories for our college football special section running this Sunday. Starting to get excited for the season.

Move over Ralphie. The Colorado football team has adopted a 5-foot inflatable monkey as it’s unofficial mascot.

A group of players including Tyler Hansen, Scotty McKnight, Ray Polk, Aric Goodman, Luke Walters, Kyle Cefalo and Jordan Marquez won a boatload of prize tickets during a recent team trip to Boondocks Fun Center. The tickets allowed them to select a prize and they chose the monkey, which is wearing a graduation cap.

Players inflated the monkey and brought it back to the Dal Ward Center where it has since found a home in the Buffs locker room. It has been given its own locker complete with a nameplate at the top reading “Monkey.”

Players have stocked the monkey’s locker with bananas and gave the monkey its own goal book. Pictures of more bananas have since appeared in the goal book.

The Buffs had position and team pictures taken between practices Saturday at Folsom Field. During the team photo a roar went up when it was suggested that the monkey be included in the photo. After senior quarterback Cody Hawkins retrieved the monkey from the locker room, coach Dan Hawkins allowed one picture to be taken with it and one without.

Alabama is No. 1, three Big 12 teams in AP top 25. Remember when CU was ranked? http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/ncaa/polls/ap/

Tyler Hansen is the starting quarterback for Colorado this season. Hansen beat out Cody Hawkins, the starter in the 2007, 08 and 09 openers.

Colorado athletic director Mike Bohn said CU did not participate in this meeting. http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/6270202/24014910

Defensive coordinator Ron Collins said coaches will establish the defensive two-deep after evaluating today’s film

Coach Dan Hawkins said senior Aric Goodman holds a slight edge to be the starting place-kicker

Buffs complete second scrimmage of fall camp with no serious injuries reported and no decision made on starting quarterback.

Good stuff on the MWC and WAC http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2010/08/18/mountain-west-moves-swiftly-to-replace-byus-reported-departure/