re: Is Deion/Colorado similar to John Thompson/Georgetown from the 80s?

Short version: No, not remotely.

Long version: Thompson was unabashedly who he was; he never backed down from a fight, from being confrontational, and being opinionated about race.

That said, John Thompson was a coach first, and an inveterate competitor. He had little time for media distractions, unless they were helping him recruit, then he'd tolerate a tiny bit of circus.