BOULDER — Deion Sanders gave Peggy Coppom one heck of a 100th birthday present.
The second-year CU Buffs football coach announced at the start of his weekly news conference on Tuesday a “special line of apparel” in honor of the popular and iconic CU Buffs superfan, who joined him for a few minutes in front of the cameras.
“She is the epitome of Buffs Nation, she is the rock that holds us all together,” Sanders said. “And I’m thankful to know her.”
Coppom joined Coach Prime’s news conference wearing a gold CU sweatshirt with a black sash in honor of her 100th birthday. Coppom, who was born Nov. 19, 1924 in Walsenburg, has been a football season ticket-holder since 1966. Her late twin sister, Betty, first bought season tickets in 1958.
The pair have been stalwarts in Boulder, through good times and bad, ever since. Betty passed away in August 2020.
“I just thank God for my life, and all the friends and for everything that’s happened to me,” Coppom said. “I just wish my twin sister was here.”
Coppom and Sanders became fast friends since his arrival in December 2022.
Buffs fans at Folsom Field serenaded her during CU’s 49-24 win over Utah as a sellout crowd launched into “Happy Birthday” this past Saturday afternoon.
The gesture moved Coppom to tears. Coach Prime said Tuesday that the singing even tugged at his heart strings during the game.
“Well, I haven’t comprehended it yet,” Coppom said of the well-wishes during the Utah victory. “But I just … I cried.”
Sanders added that a portion of the proceeds from the clothing line will go toward Coppom and her family but didn’t talk about specifics.
“This is all unbelievable,” Coppom said of Sanders. “So that’s what he is — kind of unbelievable.”
The CU coach has made a public point since the spring of getting Coppom to a bowl game this fall. At 8-2 (6-1 in conference) and riding a four-game winning streak, the Buffs have long since crossed that threshold and can lock down a Big 12 championship game by sweeping Kansas in Kansas City this weekend and Oklahoma State at home on Nov. 29.
“Which bowl do you want to go to?” Sanders asked Coppom quietly.
“I’ll take anything they give us,” she replied.