After being named Sports Illustrated’s 2023 Sportsperson of the Year last week, Deion Sanders, a significant first-year coach, was honored by the Colorado football community on Wednesday night.

At the CU Events Center, about 4,500 Colorado supporters, students, and other community members gathered to celebrate Sanders’s award and his first season with the Buffaloes. His three sons, Deion Jr., safety Shilo, and quarterback Shedeur of Colorado, were also present at the function. NFL star and former Buffaloes quarterback Kordell Stewart was also in attendance.

The coach also gave a specific shout-out to one particular fan—99-year-old Peggy Coppom, who has won the hearts of many for her strong support of the Buffaloes over the years. Sanders had one promise for her, too.

“It’s my challenge to that whole entire team. It’s my challenge to the coaching staff. It’s my challenge to the support staff of Amazon Prime Video. It’s my challenge to Sports Illustrated that we’re gonna get Peggy to a bowl game next season.”

In addition, attendees saw a behind-the-scenes look at Sanders’s upcoming Coach Prime season, which launches on Amazon Prime Video this Friday.

In Sanders’s first season with the team, the Buffaloes finished 4–8, but he had an impact off the field that few in college football had seen before. For the first time in school history, all home football games were sold out. At Colorado, the number of recruits increased. The team also attracted good television ratings; one of the most watched regular season games this year was the team’s defeat to Oregon on September 23.