Peggy Coppom Turns 101: A Catholic CU Boulder Superfan Whose Joy Still Inspires Colorado

(Photo: @LauraLevyCO on X)

For most Colorado sports fans, loyalty lasts a season or two. For Peggy Coppom, it has lasted nearly nine decades.

The beloved University of Colorado Buffaloes superfan — and longtime daily Mass-goer at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Boulder — turned 101 years old this week. And as anyone who has followed her remarkable story knows, Peggy isn’t just a Buffs fan. She has become a symbol of joyful perseverance, deep faith and contagious hope.

Peggy and her twin sister, Betty Hoover, first attended CU games as teenagers. Their matching outfits, matching cheers and matching enthusiasm soon made them local legends, known simply as “the twins.” They stayed that way for decades. After Betty’s passing in 2020, Peggy continued showing up in honor of both of them — and she still does today.

Her devotion to the Buffs is not casual. Peggy has held season tickets since 1958 and has missed only a handful of games in nearly 60 years. Even after breaking her femur last summer, she still managed to attend the 2024 season opener. That kind of dedication has endeared her not only to fans, but to players and coaches alike — including head coach Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders, who affectionately calls her “Mrs. Peggy.” The superfan and coach met for the first time in 2023.

During a recent press conference, Sanders reminded those in attendance that Mrs. Peggy's birthday was Wednesday and noted that the team would mark the occasion together. Later that evening, the CU women’s basketball team surprised her with a bouquet of birthday flowers.

Coach Prime himself has shared how much he treasures her presence:

“She just brightens up your day,” he told KDVR, describing her as “always pleasant, always with a smile, always has something profound and peaceful to say.”

Her enthusiasm doesn’t just stay in the stadium. For years, Peggy has begun her days not with football, but with prayer — attending Mass six days a week and keeping her Rosary close, often offering it for her team. As Denver Catholic wrote in 2023, “She never fumbles her rosary beads, especially when praying for her team!”

Last year, 50,000 fans serenaded her with “Happy Birthday” during a CU game. This year, though the celebration was quieter, the affection was just as deep. Peggy, now 101, remains a living witness to the joy of community, the power of gratitude and the simple beauty of showing up — to Mass, to games and to life.

Coach Prime last year summed up what many Coloradans feel: “Miss Peggy, in her own tremendous, loving way, she gives all of us hope.”

As she begins her 102nd year, Peggy continues to shine with the same faith and warmth that have made her a legend — not just in Boulder, but across the state.

Happy birthday, Peggy! May God bless you abundantly in the year ahead.