He has been a fixture of the Southeastern Conference for decades, but it he right about his statement on Kalen DeBoer as Alabama’s new football head coach?
No matter if you love him or hate him, Paul Finebaum calls it how he sees it. The ESPN analyst made an appearance on the GoJo and Golic Show with the father/son duo of Mike Golic and Mike Golic Jr., breaking down Coach DeBoer and the Crimson Tide for this season. Finebaum believes Tide fans are ‘overvaluing’ DeBoer, regardless of how successful he has been as a head coach.
He said DeBoer is not prepared for how Alabama fans will handle him after an unexpected loss.
“How does the Alabama fanbase view Kalen DeBoer heading into his first season?” @mikegolicjr
“I think they’re overvaluing him a little bit. Nothing against him… I don’t think Alabama fans expect a championship this year, but they certainly expect a playoff appearance.”… pic.twitter.com/MnJeqgIZij
— GoJo and Golic (@GoJoandGolic) August 9, 2024
“I don’t care how many wins he has had, a Monday at Alabama after an unexpected loss, nobody shows mercy,” Finebaum said.
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Finebaum could see Tide fans not being overly upset if Alabama loss to Georgia, but a loss to Wisconsin before facing Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs could have DeBoer in a tail spin with the fans.
“Lets say he lost to Wisconsin and then loses to Georgia two weeks later, he is out of mulligans,” Finebaum said. “The margin of error of getting into the playoff and out of the playoff has evaporated. I don’t fans expect a championship this year, but they do expected a playoff appearance.”
He has never coached in the SEC before, so everyone has their opinions on DeBoer.
Fall practice has been smooth for Alabama thus far as pieces are rounding into form. The Tide will have its first scrimmage Saturday and its first regular season game on August 31 versus Western Kentucky.
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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.
