Nick Saban's path a potential bellwether for Coach Prime's Colorado football future

OutKick's David Hookstead warns Colorado football fans who believe Coach Prime's statement on staying in Boulder for the long-term -- this after his three sons bought him a mansion in the mountains in the area -- that Nick Saban once made his own definitive claim that he'd not be coaching at the University of Alabama.

"Sanders has remained solid in his commitment to Colorado," Hookstead wrote. "He’s repeatedly said he doesn’t have any interest in going elsewhere, Of course, there’s a long line of football coaches who have all said the same, and we know how that often ends.

"Nick Saban famously said he’d never take the Alabama job when he was coaching the Dolphins. He ended up winning six national titles with the Crimson Tide. Things can change quickly in the sports world."

Coach Prime went on FS1's "Undisputed" and claimed he had no plans of going anywhere on January 30.

“A couple times," Coach Prime answered when asked if he was contacted by other teams' coaching vacancies. "Couple times. Couple times, but I’m happy where I am, as you see. If I’m out there home shopping with my kid, that mean I don’t plan on going anywhere. I got a kickstand down. I’m straight. I’m straight. I love this fanbase. I love them. I’m looking out the window right now at these snow-covered mountains. I love…I’ve been snowmobiling the last two weekends and skiing. That’s something a Florida boy ain’t never done."

Colorado football not prepared to lose Coach Prime yet

Not enough progress has been made for CU for it to be an attractive option to coaches who'd be in a position to replace Coach Prime if/when the Buffs ever got to that point. Following up Deion Sanders would've been a nightmarish proposal regardless, but in the event Coach Prime hadn't built the program enough to be sustainable on its own, it'd be a death knell for that coach from the jump.

Colorado isn't prepared to lose Coach Prime yet. The hope is that his kids aren't the only reason Sanders isn't prepared to Colorado either.