Alabama football changed on Jan. 3, 2007, when Nick Saban arrived as head coach, but it changed again on Jan. 12 of this year.
Two days after Saban announced his retirement from coaching the Crimson Tide, Greg Byrne went to work.
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He requested 72 hours to find the next head coach, but all he needed was 40. Byrne fought off sleep and stress as an athletics director to make sure the University of Alabama got the right man to carry on in Saban’s place. The hire of Kalen DeBoer happened on a Friday as he arrived on a plane from Washington to the Tuscaloosa (Ala.) Regional Airport. Crimson Tide fans greeted him with open arms, but a program of players awaited him to see if his vision was worth buying into.
DeBoer, 49, knew what he had coming from the Huskies and turning every institution he was at into a winner. Several players took a 30-day window opportunity to enter the NCAA transfer portal, so DeBoer had to go in with confidence to keep the core of the team.
His first message to everyone was important, but he knew what had to be said. DeBoer explained on the “Bussin’ With the Boys” podcast the importance of making sure the team knew he was excited to join the Alabama football program.
. @KalenDeBoer knew how important the first team meeting was at Alabama but he was confident on what had to be said pic.twitter.com/ReKwF6BZxa
— Bussin’ With The Boys (@BussinWTB) April 30, 2024
Players for the Crimson Tide heard all the noise about how the 2024 team will not be good without Saban. They heard the dominance and gold standard have been removed from the Tide because Saban retired. The athletes that left felt like no one would be able to develop them like Saban did; however, DeBoer got the nucleus of the team to believe in his message.
Names such as Jalen Milroe, Tyler Booker, Malachi Moore, DeVonta Smith, Deontae Lawson, Justice Haynes, Jaeden Roberts, Kendrick Law, Kobe Prentice, and others remained loyal to Alabama.
Tide fans will forever appreciate them, but they also valued the way DeBoer wanted to come in as Saban’s successor and carry on the legacy.
This season is going to be exciting for the Tide.
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Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
