Historic Elite: “He made an official vow” DeBoer up to task of replacing Saban” with a strong plans for Alabama next match….
DALLAS: Existing as Kalen DeBoer is not simple. The instant the composed South Dakota native decided to succeed famous coach Nick Saban as head coach of the Crimson Tide, he took on the weight of high and perhaps unreal expectations as well as the shadow of Saban, who continues to have an office at the University of Alabama. The majority of people believe that Nick Saban is the greatest college football coach of all time since he won six national titles at Alabama in 17 years and one more during his five years at LSU.
Last week, when DeBoer was questioned about the logic of following a legend, Saban observed from the SEC Network studio in the rear of a crowded ballroom at the Omni Dallas. “You got it, DeBoer replied.
“I get it completely. I am aware that Coach Saban is the sole individual. Coach Saban is and always will be the only one. This program is unique, and I suppose I should just consider it a great honor to be the one responsible for doing everything within our power to continue the wonderful heritage.”
DeBoer said his every decision will revolve around making Alabama alumni proud of their football program, which is the defending SEC champion and coming off its record eighth appearance in the College Football Playoff in its 10th year of existence. Only Alabama, Clemson (6 appearances) and Ohio State (5) managed to reach half of the four-team playoff fields.
“For me personally, it was just more about just understanding that coaching football is coaching football to some aspect, and you’ve got to try to simplify it down,” DeBoer said. “I’ve done this for enough years and seen what good culture looks like and maybe even what a culture that needs to improve on looks like, and it’s been just an awesome blessing to be a part of this program, to continue to have that expectation on us.
“The alternative is to be at places where there aren’t expectations. At some point there’s been places where maybe a little bit of that has happened throughout my career, and this is a great place to be. … We’re just going to focus on this team and being the best we can be and continue to build on the great tradition of Alabama football.”
Five stars still abound on all parts of the roster, through there was some attrition after Saban’s departure.
The Crimson Tide lost receiver Isaiah Bond, who caught the fourth-and-31 touchdown pass to beat Auburn last Thanksgiving weekend, plus Freshman All-America safety Caleb Downs, tight end Amari Niblack and a few others to the NCAA Transfer Portal.
University of Arkansas and Arkansas State defensive coordinator Dave Wommack, will call the defense. Wommack, also a former Arkansas player, posted a 22-17 record as head coach at South Alabama the last three years and he’s considered on track to become a major college head coach.
Three starters — linebackers Deontae Lawson and Jihaad Campbell and safety Malachi Moore — and a host of others with big-time experience are back on defense, where after years of a three-man front, the Tide will likely base out of a 4-2-5 set.
The Crimson Tide bring back 315-pounders Jaheim Oatis and Tim Keenan at defensive tackle while Jah-Marien Latham and Quandarrius Robinson appear positioned to take over at the “Bandit” and “Wolf” spots on the front.
The Crimson Tide’s schedule, which includes a trip to Wisconsin on Sept. 14, looks interesting and is a strong departure from the last 32 years in the SEC.
Some former SEC West teams might not be happy the standings in the expanded conference will be kept in a 1 through 16 fashion, but most of them lost the Crimson Tide off their schedule.
Alabama will play only heated rivals LSU and Auburn from the old West, while adding Oklahoma and facing five former SEC East teams — Georgia, Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Tennessee and Missouri — in succession in the middle part of the season.
The Tide were not projected to repeat as SEC champions by Saban or other league media, who slotted the Crimson Tide third at SEC media days. Saban predicted a Georgia versus Texas SEC Championship Game in the first-year of the 16-team SEC with no divisions, and the voting media did likewise.
DeBoer said he hoped to be like Saban in many ways, but particularly in one facet.
“Pouring into the guys and helping them and pushing them to be at their best,” DeBoer said of how he’d like to resemble Saban. “Holding them accountable and expecting a high level of discipline while also trying to build a brotherhood and a family that exists through great team chemistry to be great on the football field when it matters most.”
Moore, voted as a permanent team captain after last year’s 12-2 campaign, had an interesting take on how DeBoer has fit in following Saban’s retirement.
“Coach Saban, you know he always had a straw hat at practice,” Moore said. “He always wore the same thing, if it was hot, khaki shorts and a little vest and little shirt. So you always knew who Coach Saban was based off his attire.
“But Coach DeBoer he has a regular Alabama hat on, Alabama T-shirt and shorts so the first couple of practices he would be standing by me and I would be like, ‘Oh, that’s Coach DeBoer, that’s the head coach right there.’ I didn’t know he was standing right there. I think that’s the biggest thing, seeing him move around the field and Coach Saban being on the defensive side. That was a big change for me.”
