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The Colorado Buffaloes closed the spring practice session over the weekend with the annual Black and Gold Game. The spring game was set in front of a sold-out crowd of 45,000.
One longtime supporter of the program got a chance to be part of the action on Saturday. Ninety-eight-year-old Peggy Coppom got a surprise from head coach Deion Sanders as he led her onto Folsom Field to kick the opening kickoff.
The Buffs have seen a huge turnaround in Boulder this offseason as Coach Prime has reenergized a program that’s been stuck in the mud. Colorado has seen just four winning seasons over the last two decades, including a one-win campaign in 2022.
Sanders has been able to provide hope to the fanbase as he changes the culture and upgrades the roster. He’s done much of that through the portal, bringing in the nation’s top ranked transfer class this offseason.
That excitement surrounding the team led to not only a huge boost in merchandise and season ticket sales, but it also resulted in a packed house for the spring game.
The difference between this year and last year is quite noticeable.
The difference in attendance for the Colorado spring game from 2022 to 2023 is insane😳
— PFF College (@PFF_College) April 22, 2023
One fan in attendance was 98-year-old Peggy Coppom, who’s stayed with the Buffs through thick and thin over the last 80 years. He dedication and unwavering support landed her an awesome honor on Saturday.
Coach Prime surprised Coppom by bringing her onto the field for the opening kickoff. She had no idea what was in the works.
“Where are we going?” she asked as Deion Sanders led her onto the field.
After learning that she’d been tasked with kicking the opening kickoff, the shock sank in.
“I said, ‘What!?’ I prayed to Jesus, ‘Help me get through this.’ My balance isn’t very good anymore. My eyes aren’t good anymore.”
You wouldn’t have been able to tell by her kickoff. Coppom, while still walking hand in hand with Coach Prime, drilled that kick to get the action started.
Deion Sanders commented on the kick after the game, saying, “Peggy was the MVP of the game. She was quick. Her first step was unbelievable. She was very physical when she grabbed me to make sure I held her arm… She made a big play. Her kickoff was phenomenal.”
Coppom has been watching the Buffaloes for decades, and now, she got to be a part of the action. She’s one of the most well-known superfans in college sports, attending more than 3,000 Colorado events with her late twin sister, Betty Hoover.
This will be a moment that Coppom, who was recently inducted into the CU Athletics Hall of Fame, will never forget.