CU Loses a Legend

Anonymous — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 21:22:40 +0000

CU Loses a Legend Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 08/05/2020 - 15:22

Christie Sounart

Betty Fitzgerald Hoover (A&S’46), one of the famous “CU Twins,” died Aug. 5, 2020. She was 95.

The Buffs superfan and Boulder resident (pictured above, right) was a CU football season ticket holder since 1958 and a basketball season ticket holder since 1979. She rarely missed a game.

Betty and her sister, Peggy Fitzgerald Coppom (A&S’46), could be spotted in the CU stands at nearly every athletic event, often dressed in matching yellow CU sweatshirts and Ralphie necklaces, waving gold pom-poms.

They stuck with the teams through rain and shine.

“We’ve been through some pretty low times [at games] with not much to cheer about,” Betty told the Coloradan in 2011. “But we’ve always thought, ‘If the team has to stay, then someone should stay with them.’”

The twins — also part of the Buffalo Belles booster group — often remained after games to chat with the athletes, who quickly became part of their family.

“Wow…Two of the most loving and supportive people I’ve ever met…man this one hurts,” tweeted CU men’s basketball star point guard McKinley Wright IV (Ethn’21) Aug. 5, after hearing the news of Betty’s death.

Students couldn’t get enough of the twins, either.

On Valentine’s Day 2013, Betty and Peggy led the C-Unit student section to perform a lively rendition of the viral “Harlem Shake” dance in the first half of the sold-out Buffs versus Arizona Wildcats rivalry game.

“It is a sad day for Buff Nation with the passing of Betty Hoover, one of our beloved twins,” said CU athletic director Rick George. “While we have many great fans, none have been more visible and loved than Betty and Peggy. If you know CU Athletics you know Betty and Peggy.”

Photo by Glenn Asakawa

Betty Fitzgerald Hoover, one of the famous “CU Twins,” died at 95 years old Aug. 5, 2020.

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Shoulder to Shoulder

Anonymous — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 07:00:00 +0000

Shoulder to Shoulder Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 12/01/2011 - 00:00

Christie Sounart

Cheering on players amid sun, rain, snow and bitter cold, 87-year-old twins Betty Fitzgerald Hoover (A&S’46) and Peggy Fitzgerald Coppom (A&S’46) may hold the record for attending the most CU sports games ever.

They’ve only missed one home football game since 1957 because one of them was ill.

“That’s what it takes for us to miss,” says Betty defiantly, to which Peggy adds, “All weddings have been planned around CU football.”

Wearing matching gold Buff sweatshirts and waving pom-poms, the sisters have been season football ticket holders since 1957 and men’s and women’s basketball season ticket holders since 1979. As a result, they cannot tell you what their seat numbers are. They just know their seats when they see them.

After attending Boulder High School — where they were cheerleaders — they came to CU and fell in love with the university. Their passion for the campus has never left. To them, the CU community is family. They also are members of the Buffalo Belles booster group.

For home football and basketball games, an entourage of no less than a dozen family members follows them to after parties at Peggy’s house to savor the excitement of each game. Peggy says that they also try to become personally acquainted with everyone involved with the teams. They traveled to Miami for the Orange Bowl national championship in 1991 where they say they bonded with the grandmother of Eric Bieniemy (Soc’01), the current offensive coordinator and running back coach for the Buffs.

Despite being miniature in size — both stand just under five feet tall — Betty and Peggy are giants in the CU sports realm, says athletic director Mike Bohn.

“The twins represent the pinnacle of our class, pride and enthusiasm that is so vital to any university,” he says. “They inspire us all and provide a wonderful guide to the ideal fan.”

Their most memorable games? The football team win over Nebraska in 2007 and when the men’s basketball team beat Kansas in 2003.

Regardless of any disheartening losing streaks, they always have faith in their Buffs.

“We’ve been through some pretty low times [at games] with not much to cheer about,” Betty says. “But we’ve always thought, ‘If the team has to stay, then someone should stay with them.’”

Photo by Glenn Asakawa

Cheering on players amid sun, rain, snow and bitter cold, twins Betty Fitzgerald Hoover and Peggy Fitzgerald Coppom may hold the record for attending the most CU sports games ever.

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