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January 1, 2023 By: Mark Knudson

The Year in Preview, Part 2: Deion, Rockies near miss, and Broncos back in playoffs

Will the second half of the new year be as unpredictable as the first?

July 28^th, Denver. The Colorado Rockies announce they’ve traded slugger C.J. Cron to the New York Yankees in exchange for two minor league pitchers to be named later. Cron leads the team with 26 home runs and 82 RBI at the time of the trade. The move saves the Rockies close to $3.5 million, but the organization says that money was not the reason for the trade. Instead Cron is moved to make room for second year standout Michael Toglia, who had 13 homers and 54 RBI.

Even so, the Rockies continue to refuse to commit to the term “rebuilding.”

August 7^th, Dove Valley. New Denver Broncos Head Coach Dan Quinn raises eyebrows at his daily press briefing when he acknowledges that the players at the top of Denver’s current depth chart, including quarterback Russell Wilson, will indeed participate in preseason games this year. “This is football. We block and we tackle. In practice, in games, period.” Asked about Quinn’s statement, University of Colorado football coach and NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders reportedly quips, “tackling is overrated.”

September 16^th, Boulder. A collective sigh of relief in Boulder. The Colorado State Rams roll into Folsom Field and nearly shock the college football world, falling to Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes 33-27. It’s the first win for new CU head coach at the Division-I level. Rams All-Mountain West safety Jack Howell, a junior from Ft. Collins who was a freshman All-America selection in 2021, intercepts new CU quarterback Shedeur Sanders twice, and the Rams turn those into 14 points, including a score with less than two minutes to play. The ensuing onside kick is recovered by the Buffaloes, ending the upset bid. Watching from the press box, CU Men’s Basketball coach Tad Boyle is overheard saying, “I can’t believe they nearly lost to CSU.”

After the game, representatives for Barstool Sports reportedly offer Howell a NIL deal if he’ll transfer to CU after the season.

October 1^st, Denver. A season ending 4-3 loss to the visiting Minnesota Twins leaves the Colorado Rockies with a 79-83 record, five games out of the final wild card play-off spot – but also leaves them once again in last place in the rugged National League West. Nevertheless, it’s considered a successful season for the rebuilding Rockies. Owner Dick Monfort still refuses to use the term “rebuilding,” instead telling the media after the game that he had fully expected this team – which regularly featured five first and second year players in the everyday line-up – to be playing in the World Series. He then goes on to predict Colorado will win the National League next season and announces that season tickets will go on sale on December 15^th.

November 25^th, Salt Lake City. Following a season-ending 38-17 loss to the Utah Utes, Colorado football coach Deion Sanders announces via his YouTube channel that he has accepted the head coaching job at Mississippi State. Under Sanders, the Buffs (4-8) made a three-game improvement from the previous season.

The Bulldogs new Athletic Director Rick George, who was hired away from Colorado in March, tells the media he is re-assigning first year head coach and former defensive coordinator Zach Arnett back into the role of DC. Arnett, who has been with MSU for five seasons, had taken on the head coaching duties following the tragic death of Bulldogs head coach Mike Leach a year earlier.

Immediately following the announcement, 16 members of CU’s 2023 recruiting class and 22 members of the 2024 class announce – on Sanders YouTube Channel – that they are all transferring and signing – as a group – with Mississippi State. Sanders gains 75,00 new followers.

Colorado Athletic Director Dave Logan announces an immediate search for a Sanders replacement and says it’s already underway. The leading candidate is reportedly Eric Bieniemy, the Offensive Coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs who is a former CU standout.

December 23^rd, Denver. The Denver Broncos, under first year head coach Dan Quinn, qualify for the AFC playoffs for the first time in seven seasons with a nail biting 23-20 home win over the Las Vegas Raiders. The win moves Denver to 9-6 with two games left to play. The Kansas City Chiefs have already secured the AFC West title for the eighth year in a row, but Denver’s win assures them of a wild card spot and eliminates the Raiders from playoff contention.

After the game, delirious Broncos fans storm the field at Empower Field and tear down the goalposts and try to parade them down Colfax Avenue. They’re ultimately stopped in the parking lot by Denver police.

It will finally be a Happy New Year in Denver.