Where's Peggy? CU Buffs 99-year-old superfan absent from Saturday's game
KDVR Fox 31
DENVER (KDVR) -- Peggy Coppom, 99, a well-known University of Colorado Buffaloes fan, wasn't at Folsom Field when the team became bowl-eligible with a 34-23 win over Cincinnati on Saturday night - and it didn't go noticed by the team.
Coppom cheered on the Buffs with her twin sister since they were 15 years old. The pair, known by fans as "the twins" were season ticket holders since 1958. While Coppom's sister, Betty Hoover, passed in 2020, Coppom continued to attend the games as one of the Buffs' biggest fans.
This year, the sports fan secured what is believed to be the first name, image and likeness, NIL, brand deal for a fan. The mega fan is now the face of Blender’s Eyewear’s newest product. The sunglasses sleeve features Coppom and her signature gold pom poms.
While Coppom has been seen at countless Buffs games over the years, and even came to the season opener after recently breaking her femur, she wasn't at the game that helped rank Colorado on AP’s Top 25 ranking for the first time this season.
But her absence was out of her control.
At the post-game press conference, Sanders said that Coppom was fighting COVID on Saturday, but the team checked in with her.
"She answered on the first ring like Aunt Peggy fashion with plenty energy and that oomph that she has," said Sanders.
While there have been no further updates on Coppom's condition, Sanders is planning on her coming to future games. Sanders said that they're not only giving her Saturday's game ball, but they're also making sure that she's heading to the bowl in style.
"She means so much to this program, so we're glad we could honor her in that realm, now we just got to get a private plane to make sure she's comfortable on the way there," said Sanders.
Sanders promised in the press conference that the team's not putting Coppom on a "regular plane."
The Buffs face the Texas Tech Red Raiders on Saturday in one of their final games of the regular season.