Coach Prime and 99 year-old fan share key lessons for lifelong success

Coach Prime, Deion Sanders, and 99 year-old Colorado fan Peggy Coppom are bonding around winning.

Coach Prime and Peggy
Coach Prime and Peggy Coppom exult in faith that overcomes/Steve Blaising

Their discovery? Faith that doesn’t fail.

Winning faith is fueled by two characteristics.

1. Winning faith is anchored in a Higher Power

Coach Prime met Peggy earlier this year.

They bonded over shared beliefs in a Higher Power as well as a strong faith in the new success of the Colorado Buffalos football team.

Coach Prime and Peggy
Coach Prime and 99 year-old Peggy Coppom keeping the faith

Last season, the Buffs finished 1-11 with all losses exceeding 25 points except for three games.

Enter Coach Prime. Officially hired on December 3, 2022 he commented on the key to success.

“In coaching, you get elevated or you get terminated.” Deion Sanders/The Bleacher Report/12/03/2022

Long time Colorado Buff fan, Peggy Coppom, takes the same approach.

She elevates her life through prayer.

Six days a week, Peggy rides a few blocks from her Boulder home to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church to pray for her family, the world and the Colorado Buffs.

“There’s been a few times I think they need some prayer. I tell the blessed mother to get interested in this game.” Peggy Coppom

2. Enduring faith makes conscientious decisions

The older I get and the more I suffer or see suffering, I’m convinced that winning at life is not based on luck or ideal circumstances. It’s based on enduring faith. Faith that doesn’t quit.

Conditions change quickly. Emotions even faster. But, enduring faith rides above the chaos.

Spiritually healthy people are in the best frame of mind to make winning decisions.

Hearing Betty and Deion’s story inspired me.

After all, Peggy lost her twin sister, Betty Hoover, at age 95 in August, 2020.

When asked how she stays energetic and positive after losing her best friend, she said . . .

“We were brought up thinking positive, and not thinking negative thoughts, and to enjoy life. That’s mainly it. And our faith. Our (Catholic) faith gives us a lot of stability, peace, tranquility, so you can enjoy life and not look on the dark side of things.” Peggy Coppom

Unfailing faith is a conscientious decision to not look on the dark side of things.

For Peggy, it’s her Christian faith. For Coach Prime, it’s the same.

After an attempted suicide in 1997, Sanders placed his faith in Christ.

“I don’t believe you can be at your optimum without your faith. Sports is sports, it’s a game. My faith is everything. It’s the gas that propels the courage, the truth, keeps me going. It’s the wind, it’s the wings, it’s the air that pumps into my lungs that provokes me to live. Faith is everything.” Deion Sanders/Religion Unplugged/9/9/2023

After Peggy lost her twin sister, she kept praying every day and kept going to Buff football games.

Resilience requires connection to our faith and our community.

Coach Prime and Peggy Coppom: a new tandem for winning

Soon after Betty died, the university honored the twins with a plaque along the Buff Walk.

I’m sure Coach Prime will be added after his winning legacy is complete.

Meanwhile, Peggy and Prime are a new tandem aligned in celebrating how good decisions bring hope and winning, not only to themselves, but to all of us who are watching.

What inspires you to keep going?

Coach Prime and 99 year-old fan share key lessons for lifelong success

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