Kalen DeBoer experienced a hostile environment for the “Third Saturday in October” rivalry versus Tennessee, but the Alabama head football coach is about to experience an atmosphere like none other next week.
He will travel to Tiger Stadium, better known as “Death Valley,” in Baton Rouge, La.
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The Crimson Tide have another matchup where it is fighting for its College Football Playoff lives versus Louisiana State University. Tiger Stadium is loud, chaotic, boisterous, and Mike the Tiger is there to greet everyone. Fans shake the bus of opposition coming into the venue, and the place is even crazier at night. Alabama is scheduled to play LSU on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 6:30 p.m. CT via ABC. DeBoer spoke to the media on Monday at the Monday Morning Quarterback event in Birmingham (Ala.) on how he plans to use his experience at Neyland Stadium to help Alabama be better next week against the LSU Tigers.
“You would love to say it was not, but it honestly was,” DeBoer said about the crowd noise at Neyland Stadium being a factor in Alabama’s matchup against Tennessee. “There were issues with the snap count. We worked into it and will continue the things in the week of preparation to mimic that and give us as many snaps as possible where we are relying on silent cadences, prepare for hardest scenarios … I felt like we did a good of it, but we struggled when we got into the moment early on.”
ESPN analyst says Jalen Milroe could be back at Alabama next season
DeBoer said Alabama has to ‘be comfortable being uncomfortable.’
This team will encounter several uncomfortable moments at Tiger Stadium, but it has to work through it.
Alabama cannot afford pre-snap penalties and other mental mistakes to take it out of rhythm.
The Tide will begin bye week practice Wednesday after having Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday off.
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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.
