Colorado football fans survived the first offseason where Deion Sanders leaving was a legitimate possibility. Coach Prime was never a serious candidate for the Dallas Cowboys opening -- that was a BS rumor Jerry Jones peddled to see his team dominate the news cycle during another disappointing playoff-less finish in the Metroplex -- but there were legitimate fears an NFL team could poach him.
But this was only the beginning. Michael Irvin admitted as much while claiming he'd continue to vouch for Sanders in Dallas.
"I'm not giving up my fight," Irvin declared, per On SI. "You're gonna ride here again in another year or two if this thing don't work out again, and my song will still be singing like a young Diana Ross—Deion!
“I don't know what will happen with coach Schottenheimer and the Dallas Cowboys. But Jerry's a shrewd, shrewd businessman, and this (Deion) opportunity, I'm shocked he did not see."
Irvin complained about how not hiring Deion was a "lost opportunity." He also cursed newly-hired Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer's tenure, claiming the Cowboys would cease to be "America's Team."
“We lost an opportunity here,” Irvin said, per Pro Football Talk. “I was pushing for Deion Sanders to be the next coach. And I still stand ten toes down on that push.
“We have two NFC East teams in the NFC Championship game being played tomorrow. All eyes on them. The Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Commanders. Our enemies on all fronts. . . And [in] a position that we haven’t held in 30 fucking years.
“You bringing in someone that already was inside as the head coach. You lose things there that you can’t grab back, that I worry about.
“I know what we needed. They don’t have curfew. They don’t have discipline. We were fourth in penalties this year. So how you do fix that? . . . How do you do that when you’re coming from inside?
“I know what we needed. They don’t have curfew. They don’t have discipline. We were fourth in penalties this year. So how you do fix that? . . . How do you do that when you’re coming from inside?
“We’re about to get our moniker snatched off our backs."
Colorado has become "America's Team" since the Buffs have become more box office than most and have a national audience watching Coach Prime's every moment.
The minute Sanders leaves, that all changes. No need to worry about that now, though.
Just be prepared to worry about it every offseason until he does. Irvin just promised talking about it would be a thing indefinitely.