Happy Birthday, Miss Peggy! CU's Most Iconic Fan Turns 100
Every team has a number one fan, a constant supporter who will go above and beyond to ensure they always show up for their team, rain or shine. The Lakers have Jack Nicholson; the NY Liberty has Jason Sudeikis; the Chiefs have Taylor Swift. But these devoted sports fans have nothing on the ultimate sideline cheerleader: Colorado Buffaloes Miss Peggy.
Prime & Peggy
Very few people can argue they've been fans of a team for as long as Miss Peggy has. Today, November 19th, the iconic Buffalo Belle turns 100 years old! Since her allegiance to the team began in her teens, Miss Peggy has supported CU for over 80 years. Through every win and every heartache, she's been loyal to them.
It all began quite casually when she and her sister occasionally went to the games. Eventually, as their love for the team progressed, they started attending games alongside their husbands, so both couples became season ticket holders.
What started as a shared interest became a lifelong commitment, a dedication that cemented the twins as beloved staples in the team's fandom. Since buying their first season passes in 1966, Miss Peggy has attended every local game–with only three exceptions plus the crowdless COVID-19 games–making her visits (around 380) and Betty's (around 400) give them the record for most CU games attended by a fan. "Once we could afford season tickets, we jumped in." - Miss Peggy
Miss Betty & Miss Peggy cheering in the stands
And so they did, purchasing their tickets every following season without looking back. Since then, Miss Peggy and Betty became a beloved presence in the last row of section 104, a permanent fixture representing a beacon of hope for the boys. Dylan Edwards, a Colorado running back, praised their love for the team: "Peggy's definitely a sweet lady, and she loves Colorado football, so we love her." Their loyalty was true and unwavering, with Peggy sharing that she and Betty never left a game early, no matter the outcome. "We always said we would never leave those kids down the field alone."
While Betty passed away in 2020, Miss Peggy is still present at every game. The sisters were even recognized with two trees and a plaque in the Buff Walk near the stadium, a sweet way to honor their names and immortalize them as a staple in CU football.
But supporting the team for over 80 years means Miss Peggy has lived through every emotion imaginable, with only one title to celebrate when the Buffaloes won the National Championship in 1990. However, after the recent signing of Coach Sanders, it appears Miss Peggy might get to experience the joy of her team's victory once again. Coach Prime promised to get her a championship this season, and he's on track to do it as the team currently stands in the second spot of the Big 12 rankings. Of course, no one is more eager to see him fulfill his promise than Miss Peggy: "I feel really grateful to have Deion Sanders here. I'm tired of being a good loser, we've been a good loser for many years, and it is really fun to be a good winner."
The latest step in reaching the end goal happened this past Saturday when the Buffaloes received the Utah Utes, defeating them 49-24. The sweet victory was the perfect early gift to Miss Peggy, who was, of course, sitting in the stands to cheer on her team ahead of her 100th birthday. Her only wish for the day was an early kickoff time to ensure she could be there, and the team graciously conceded to her request by starting the game at 10 AM, not before getting the whole stadium to sing 'Happy Birthday' to the fandom legend in an incredibly wholesome moment.
The pure love and devotion Miss Peggy has shown for this team throughout the decades is unmatched, an incredible testament to what sports fandom should ideally represent: reveling in the game, immersing yourself in the team culture, and standing by them no matter what. Ultimately, it's not about the results but the shared experience of embodying the team spirit. As Miss Peggy perfectly put it when the sisters were the inaugural inductees into the Legacy Wing of CU's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2022: "I can't think of one person or anybody that's ever been given an award like this for simply having a good time."
As she celebrates her 100th birthday today, we would just like to say: Happy Birthday, Miss Peggy! Every team deserves a fan like you, one who inspires generations of players and fellow fans alike through their unwavering support and outpouring of love. On a scale from 1 to 10, she's 100!