Alabama football is viewed as an underdog for the upcoming season by some national media pundits.
Nick Saban’s retirement has some wondering if the Crimson Tide can continue winning national championships at a high level, especially with the program in a three-year drought. Kalen DeBoer, 49, takes on the challenge of returning the Tide to capturing national titles after spending two seasons at the University of Washington.
He nearly led the Huskies to a College Football Playoff National Championship in 2023.
Washington was an awful, 4-8 team in 2021, but DeBoer coached it to a Pac-12 Championship last season. Alabama’s overtime loss to Michigan in the Rose Bowl Game has ignited hunger back into the program. The Tide carried a 20-13 lead over the Wolverines into the fourth quarter, but its defense could not keep Michigan out of the end zone.
RELATED: Watch: Does Kalen DeBoer win his first national championship quicker than Saban as new Alabama head coach?
Michigan sent Alabama home in overtime with a touchdown, derailing the Tide’s dreams of appearing in the CFP National Championship contest with Washington. Kobe Prentice, a junior wide receiver, has a bad taste in his mouth from the game.
A native of Calera, Ala., Prentice arrived on campus as a four-star in the 2022 signing class.
He grew up watching Alabama dominate college football and wants to get back to it.
In an interview with The Bama Standard, the veteran playmaker revealed why the Crimson Tide has its hunger back to be great.
Alabama WR Kobe Prentice: Losing to Michigan Still Stings | Crimson Tide’s Hunger is Back!#CollegeFootball #RollTide #BamaFactor pic.twitter.com/A9dXhUckW7
— The Bama Standard Network©️🐘 (@TheBamaStandard) June 15, 2024
“I feel like the hunger is back,” Prentice said. “I mean, especially from the returning players, us losing to Michigan. Like, growing up as an Alabama fan, if we lost to Michigan in the playoffs, I am not okay with that. All the players that are returning, they are not okay with that either, just losing to Michigan in the playoffs. Getting put out by a team like that, you gotta have hunger coming back. It ain’t no way you are going out like that.”
Prentice finished his sophomore year with 18 catches for 314 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
He has his sights on being the leading receiver and a national champion in the fall.
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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.
