Day 922 of Kalen DeBoer’s run at Alabama, and the big question looming over the program is still hanging there like a fumbled snap. Despite Alabama just handing him a fat new contract extension for winning one College Football Playoff game, the guy just cannot seem to give a straight answer to the one thing Alabama fans actually care about.
A Philosophy Professor, Not a Football Coach?
Let’s get real. After eight losses in two seasons and that absolutely brutal “all-encompassing embarrassment” against Indiana six and a half months ago, you’d think the head coach would have a clearer vision, right? Instead, DeBoer rolls into his third SEC media days sounding more like a philosophy professor than the leader of one of college football’s biggest brands. The man just got a new 7-year deal worth $87.5 million, approved back in April, making it seriously expensive for either side to walk away. Yet, the existential question for Alabama football remains: Is he really the guy? We’re not talking about chasing Nick Saban’s ghost, that’s impossible. We’re talking about embodying the confidence and ethos of Alabama football, something that feels miles away right now.
When asked point blank if his time in Tuscaloosa would be defined by winning a national championship, DeBoer’s answer was unsettling. “I certainly know that that’s an important part of what’s happening in the program, so I wouldn’t doubt that that’s the case,” he said. Then he pivoted. “I’m not focused on that. I’m focused on just helping our program be the best and trying to bring out the best and raise the level of effort around me from the coaching staff to our players, trying to maximize what we’re capable of every single day.” Come on, Kalen. This isn’t Washington anymore. This is Alabama. “Try hard and let the chips fall where they may” doesn’t cut it here.
Where’s the Moment That Changes Everything?
Every great coaching tenure has “The Moment.” Saban had it in Year 2, losing the SEC Championship to Florida but showing enough to signal greatness was coming. Kirby Smart battled Baker Mayfield in that Rose Bowl duel and delivered a high Georgia fans hadn’t felt in decades. Dabo Swinney took longer, but when Clemson went toe-to-toe with Alabama in their first national title game, everything shifted. DeBoer? We’ve got some good wins, some inexplicable losses, and just one playoff limp in his first two years. That’s it. It is absolutely fair, no, it’s an obligation to keep asking if he can actually deliver. DeBoer himself said, “We’ve got to go out and prove it. We understand there’s an expectation that it’s different at Alabama. We signed up for that.” It’s a huge contradiction to be coaching in “prove it” mode while already having a deal that feels like a coronation.
The stakes are enormous here for Alabama. Despite the massive contract and the commitment from the school, DeBoer still hasn’t given the foundational answer about what defines success for him at Alabama. And until he does, that crimson red flag is going to keep waving over Bryant-Denny Stadium.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply