Even on the most dreary rainy day in Tuscaloosa, there was nothing that would bring down Kalen DeBoer’s spirit.
Saturday’s game against Western Kentucky marked the first game DeBoer served as the head coach for Alabama, taking over for Nick Saban who held that title for 17 years while bringing home six national titles.
There is still a ton of work for the former Washington head coach to cross the ever-escapable finish line of the college football season, but for his first day on the job, things went as well as they could have in the 63-0 blowout win over the Hilltoppers.
For DeBoer, picking the most memorable aspect of the day may have been near impossible but he put his feelings into words during his postgame press conference summarizing his and the other newcomers’ memorable experience.
“It was a lot of fun,” DeBoer said. “The Walk of Champions, I think, was special for a lot of our players. It’s always gonna be that way, and I can’t thank our fans enough. You can just feel the energy even before. You’re not even here around the stadium or knowing what’s going on, but you can just feel the buzz. That was a lot of fun.
“The new guys, I think especially enjoyed it. The older guys, just knowing what it’s all about and being in that stadium. We did a great job of giving them something to cheer for, and our fans were amazing. Cheering and being loud. I can’t wait to do it again a week from now.”
DeBoer and his not only walked the walk but backed things up between the lines putting up 600 total yards of offense and holding opposing offense to just 145 yards.
Within those plays included an 84-yard touchdown reception for freshman wide receiver Ryan Williams, and 85-yard touchdown carry from Justice Haynes and a 39-yard score from Jam Miller to name a few of the big plays.
The lopsided win could’ve easily been summarized as a relief for DeBoer to come out of the gates with such an impressive win and being able to play so many younger players along the way.
But with a more difficult path to come, he is aware of how integral it will be to dig out the teachable moments littered throughout Saturday’s film.
“I think there’s a little bit of fun there at the very end and just seeing a lot of the young guys, too, get out there on the football field and have some fun of their own and experience it for the first time,” DeBoer said.
“But I told the guys in the locker room, none of these points carry over to next week. There’s film out there and of course, there’s strengths we have, but people are gonna look at the areas that they can attack and we’ve gotta continue to just understand that there’s a lot of potential with this football, but we’ve still got a lot of work to do.
“It’s gonna be that way all season long.”
Alabama will return to practice this week as it prepares to welcome USF to Bryant-Denny Stadium next Saturday.
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Patrick Dowd is a Reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via Pat_Dowd77
