Broncos fans celebrate in Pueblo

Even though the Denver Broncos are on a bye this week, fans are still finding a reason to tailgate.

Hundreds crowded into Minnequa Park to celebrate after a group of fans from Denver, known as the Horsemen, decided to throw a fan appreciation party in Pueblo.

“We’ve just seen there was a lot of diehard fans and we had to come and see what it was all about,” said Rich Lopez, who helped organize the tailgate.

Lopez made sure a loyal Broncos fan knew about the party.

“She’s got that Bronco blood in her,” he said of Regina Dekoevend, 61.

Dekoevend said her cerebral palsy has left her bound to a bed most of her life, but it didn’t keep her from celebrating with hundreds of other fans on Sunday afternoon. KRDO NewsChannel 13 was with Dekoevend two weeks ago as she attended her first Broncos game at Mile High Stadium.

“It was wonderful. Randy Gradishar and everybody was so wonderful. And it was wonderful being on the field because that’s the first real game I went to,” she said.

On Sunday, Dekoevend was among two more former Broncos players: Steve Watson and Mark Jackson. They attended the tailgate and took time to talk with some of their biggest fans.

Natalie Morrow, of Pueblo, had Jackson autograph her daughter’s shirt. “Pueblo always has had such a strong fan base for the Broncos and now that we have [Peyton] Manning, it’s just even more amazing,” she said.

“I love them. It’s to die for. It’s like getting married,” said Danny Espinoza of his love for the Broncos.

“My dad likes the Broncos and I like them because I like their colors and I like their logo,” said 9-year-old Matthew Hamman.

Dekoevend’s dad was also a Broncos fan, and said that’s where her love for the orange began.

“I couldn’t go outside or anything so we watched Broncos every Sunday,” Dekoevend said. “They were on every Sunday and we didn’t miss a game.”