Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
At Minnesota Gophers games, Elvera “Peps” Newman can be spotted just off the court hyping up fans with a maroon and gold blanket in hand. It has an old Goldy Gopher design, something you can’t buy in stores anymore.
Neuman is no stranger to fame. Long before the blanket, the WNBA or college basketball, Neuman was instrumental in establishing the foundation of girls and women's basketball by the way she fought to be out there herself.
While she was in high school during the late ‘50s and early ’60s, over a decade before Title IX legislation, she lobbied for her school to get a varsity girls' basketball team. She was successful, and while still a student, she created one of the first leagues of surrounding girls basketball high school teams that competed against each other. She then went on to play pro and created her own pro team named the Arkansas Gems.
Neuman grew the sport and now takes joy from watching high school, college and professional basketball. For over 15 years, Neuman and Nelson have not missed a single Gopher women’s basketball game, driving the 126-mile round trip in snow, freezing temperatures or sunshine.
Story by Anika Besst
Video by Anne Guttridge
Read more about Peps' story: mprnews.org/story/2026/03/26/blanket-lady-elvera-neuman-goes-viral-for-cheering-on-minnesota-gopher-womens-basketball
At Minnesota Gophers games, Elvera “Peps” Newman can be spotted just off the court hyping up fans with a maroon and gold blanket in hand. It has an old Goldy Gopher design, something you can’t buy in stores anymore.
Neuman is no stranger to fame. Long before the blanket, the WNBA or college basketball, Neuman was instrumental in establishing the foundation of girls and women's basketball by the way she fought to be out there herself.
While she was in high school during the late ‘50s and early ’60s, over a decade before Title IX legislation, she lobbied for her school to get a varsity girls' basketball team. She was successful, and while still a student, she created one of the first leagues of surrounding girls basketball high school teams that competed against each other. She then went on to play pro and created her own pro team named the Arkansas Gems.
Neuman grew the sport and now takes joy from watching high school, college and professional basketball. For over 15 years, Neuman and Nelson have not missed a single Gopher women’s basketball game, driving the 126-mile round trip in snow, freezing temperatures or sunshine.
Story by Anika Besst
Video by Anne Guttridge
Read more about Peps' story: mprnews.org/story/2026/03/26/blanket-lady-elvera-neuman-goes-viral-for-cheering-on-minnesota-gopher-womens-basketball
