Coach Prime, Buffs Celebrate Miss Peggy's 100th, Start Prep For Kansas
November 19, 2024 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Colorado's Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders set aside some special time at his Tuesday press conference to celebrate superfan Peggy Coppom's 100th birthday — but the business at hand was still the No. 16 Buffaloes' Saturday matchup with Kansas at Arrowhead Stadium.
Sanders' Buffs (8-2 overall, 6-1 Big 12) can clinch a spot in the conference championship game with a win in Saturday's 1:30 p.m. game (FOX), along with a BYU win over Arizona State and a Utah win over Iowa State.
They can also earn a title game berth by winning Saturday and again the following Friday at home against Oklahoma State — no matter what happens elsewhere in the league.
But a win Saturday against the Jayhawks (4-6, 3-4) isn't expected to come easily. While the Jayhawks have experienced a disappointing season, including a five-game losing streak early in the year, they have recently started to show signs of the team many thought they would be when the season began. KU owns back-to-back wins over ranked teams — 45-36 over then-No. 17 Iowa State and 17-13 over then-No. 7 BYU — and would like nothing better than to make it three in a row against Colorado.
"They're tough, they're physical, they play a consistent game," Coach Prime said. "That quarterback (Jalon Daniels) gives you problems because he's very versatile. The defense can take the ball away interception wise and they have not given up, regardless of what the record may state, the last two weeks. They've knocked some people off their feet. It's going to be a tremendous task for us."
The Jayhawks started the season ranked No. 22 in the nation, but after an opening win, dropped their next five. Daniels, a dual-threat quarterback, threw seven interceptions and just three touchdowns in that stretch.
But over the last four weeks, the Jayhawks have started to look like the team many expected to compete for a Big 12 title. They have won three of the last four, with Daniels throwing for six touchdowns and just two interceptions in that stretch, along with rushing for three scores.
Kansas also has a solid running back in senior Devin Neal. He recently became the school's all-time leading rusher and has run for 926 yards and 12 touchdowns this season.
Defensively, the Jayhawks have been susceptible to the pass, allowing 229 yards per game in the air and 18 touchdowns. But they also have a solid pass rush, with 24 sacks to their credit, including three in the win over Iowa State and two against BYU.
The Buffs will seek to continue doing what has served them well in their current four-game win streak: move the ball through the air on offense while playing an attacking, opportunistic style on the defensive side.
The Buffs are currently third in the league in scoring (34.1 points per game), with quarterback Shedeur Sanders leading the league in touchdown passes (27) and second in passing yards per game (322.2). The Buffs have three players in the league's top 25 in receiving yards per game — Travis Hunter, LaJohntay Wester and Will Sheppard — with Hunter tied for the league lead in receiving touchdowns (9).
But it is on defense where first-year coordinator Robert Livingston's group has made huge strides. CU currently leads the Big 12 in sacks (33) and is second in the league in takeaways (10 fumble recoveries and 10 interceptions). The Buffs also lead the league in red zone defense, allowing opponents to score on just 73 percent of their trips inside the 20.
The one area in which the Buffs continue to struggle is their running attack. CU is last in the league in rushing yards per game, averaging just 77 per game on the ground.
"We plan to do what we do," Coach Prime said. "We're a pretty physical, pretty aggressive team. Defensively, we've really been stout. Offensively, we can move the ball down the field. We got to improve our running game, of course, but we're going to go out there and do what we've been consistently doing, and that's getting after the running backs, pretty much shutting down the run, forcing them to be one dimensional, then taking advantage of situational football. Offensively, we got to do a better job of running the football, we all know that … (But) we have so many weapons, we just have to use what we have and get the ball to the proper people at the proper time. And I think we'll be okay."
CELEBRATING MISS PEGGY: Miss Peggy joined Coach Prime to start his press conference Tuesday as CU had a special announcement.
"We are launching a special line of apparel for Miss Peggy," he announced. "Part of the proceeds will go to benefit her and her family. I wish all the proceeds would benefit her and her family. Should be, but you know, business is business .. But this is a wonderful day. It's amazing that God would find two people from two different walks of life, two different generations, and bring them together, as he has. She's always greeted me with love, compassion, support, stability and hope, and I'm thankful to know her."
Coppom and her late twin sister, Betty Hoover, attained iconic status as CU superfans for their unwavering support of all things Buffs. Betty passed away several years ago but Peggy has continued to be a strong supporter, and when Coach Prime arrived, he quickly embraced her support.
This year, he dedicated the season to her and vowed to get her to a bowl game.
"I'm thankful to be celebrating her 100th with her," he said. "She is the epitome of CU Buffs. She's the epitome of Buff Nation. She is the rock that holds us all together and I'm thankful to know her. I really am. Thank you, Miss Peggy."
Coppom attended last Saturday's CU win over Utah at Folsom Field, where she was serenaded with a "Happy Birthday" rendition from the sold-out crowd.
"I cried," she said. "I did thank God for my life and for all the friends and for everything that's happened to me. I just wish my twin sister were here. It all started because we were twins. I can't deny that we've been loyal fans, but to get all this attention for just having a good time is unbelievable."
Miss Peggy and Coach Prime have no doubt built a special bond over the last two years.
"It's been unbelievable to me," she said. "He's given us — our whole community, the university — all this attention. He's a very, very honorable man. I am just grateful for it."
HEISMAN LEADER: CU's two-way star Hunter appears to be increasing his lead in the race for the Heisman Trophy. A weekly straw poll conducted by The Athletic had Hunter enjoying a sizable advantage in the race.
Hunter garnered 26 of a possible 27 first place votes in the most-recent poll, with Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty receiving the other first-place vote.
SILMON-CRAIG DEFENSIVE MAINSTAY: Colorado safety Cam'Ron Silmon-Craig, who followed Coach Prime from Jackson State to CU, continues to be a defensive leader. The CU senior leads Colorado in tackles with 77, including 6.5 tackles for loss with two sacks, along with three pass breakups, five quarterback hurries, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble.
"One of the (NFL) scouts just asked me about Cam and I went on and on and on because he checks every box," Coach Prime said. "You put a clock on him, he may not run a 4.4 (40-yard dash). You put him on the bench press he may not bench 225 pounds 15 and 20 times. But you put the tape on, you're gonna see him. He's gonna not only show up, he's gonna show out. He's the leader of our defense. He is the backbone of that defense."
