'It's great to see the buzz back': Fans of CU Buffs bring excitement, energy to spring football game

Apr. 22—Jeff Anderson has been a CU Buffs football fan "forever."

Fan Jeff Anderson talks to a reporter before the University of Colorado spring football game on Saturday. (Cliff Grassmick ??

Anderson was a fan when the CU football team was highly successful in the '90s — a top 10 and championship team. Now, he's excited to see the team led by coach Deion Sanders at Saturday's spring football game for the first time.

"I'm excited to see them come back, and I think Deion is the one to do it," Anderson said.

A sold-out crowd filled the stands in Folsom Field on Saturday afternoon to see CU football's spring scrimmage, with 47,277 fans — compared to last year's estimated attendance of 1,950. The game was nationally televised on ESPN with a near-full stadium of energetic fans on their feet and cheering.

Saturday's attendance rivaled even some in-season games. Anderson said he's gone to a few games the past few years where the attendance has been 20,000 to 25,000.

"It's great to just see the buzz back, and the community wants to support them and do what it takes to win again," Anderson said.

Coach Prime talks with special guest Peggy Coppom, 98, on the field before the University of Colorado Spring football game on Saturday. Coppom and her twin sister, the late Betty Hoover, are recognized in Boulder as CU superfans, (Cliff Grassmick ??

CU football fan Ashley Novak said the excitement surrounding CU football is due to the arrival of Deion Sanders and a few new players.

"I think there's this excitement for what the possibilities could be," Novak said. "We know that it's hard to build a new program in one year; we're not looking for that to happen, necessarily. We're just looking for some new energy this year and building their team up and hopefully moving forward to become a better team."

The CU football team had an overall record of 1-11 during the 2022 season. The addition of Sanders and a few top-ranked transfer players — such as cornerback and wide receiver Travis Hunter, quarterback Shedeur Sanders and wide receiver Jimmy Horn — has fans hopeful about the future of the program.

"We're here for the spring game, the excitement of Coach Prime, building up the program and are superexcited about seeing the new players and the hype of just being part of the CU football community," Novak said.

Outside the stadium, local businesses also geared up for the heavily attended spring game.

Former Buff greats and NFL Green Bay Packers David Bakhtiari, right, and Mason Crosby, center, sign autographs and footballs before the University of Colorado Spring football game on Saturday. (Cliff Grassmick ??

Alex Kuehn is the general manager of Half Fast Subs, a popular game day hangout on University Hill. Kuehn said this is the first time a spring scrimmage was being broadcast, and said the sandwich shop prepared for Saturday like it's an in-season game.

"The addition of Deion Sanders for the head coach obviously brings a lot of popularity to the team, and I just think there's a lot of things to be excited for in the next football season," Kuehn said. "So just a little glimpse of that is what people are hoping for."

Kuehn said customers asked if Half Fast would be opening early Saturday and how busy it would be. He said he heard a lot of excitement around the game and plans for tailgating.

Chandler Parker, store manager of Where the Buffalo Roam, said the "buzz" around CU football and Sanders has increased sales dramatically.

Where the Buffalo Roam is a shop on the Pearl Street Mall that sells CU Boulder apparel, among other items. Since Sanders' arrival, Parker said their Coach Prime merchandise has become the top selling item.

Fan Don Woodword drove from Deer Trail for the University of Colorado Spring football game onSaturday.n(Cliff Grassmick ??

"We have more people coming in looking for that merchandise, so it's definitely one of those things we're very excited about as a company," Parker said. "And in terms of just overall bringing more business to Boulder, it's very exciting."

Parker said the shop has projection numbers they're excited about, based on how much they're planning to sell. Sales are up 25 to 30% from the previous year, and Parker said she's expecting another significant increase with the fall season approaching.

"Almost everyone that I talk to is very excited about the spring game, and just Coach Prime in general," Parker said. "I think there's been a lot of buzz that he's gonna completely turn around the football program at CU, so everybody's very excited about that."

Don Woodward has been a fan of CU football for the past 15 years and said he's hoping for a national championship within the next five years. Woodward said Sanders is bringing hope that goal can be achieved.

"I think he's bringing hope," Woodward said. "He's saying, 'I'm a winner, you can be a winner too, and this is how winners play.' And I believe that is what he's bringing to the team. Inspiration."