Kalen DeBoer has been on a roller coaster ride since accepting a head coaching position as Nick Saban’s successor at the University of Alabama on January 12.
He left the University of Washington after winning a Pac-12 Championship and advancing the Huskies to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. DeBoer, 50, wanted to add on to the rich legacy that is Crimson Tide football, and it has been a learning curve for him in the Southeastern Conference. He quickly became the toast of the town after defeating Kirby Smart in his first matchup against Georgia. Many saw him as the next great head coach following the moment; however, DeBoer also had endured adversity. He saw the Tide suffer two losses versus Vanderbilt and Tennessee on the road before November.
Some began to wonder if DeBoer was truly the right hire for Alabama. Two losses before starting the second half of a college football season would normally put one out of CFP contention. This season, however, is a new development of a 12-team playoff.
Alabama is in the field as of Tuesday being ranked at No. 11. He has had some ups and downs, but DeBoer has the Tide right where it needs to be. Alabama has its postseason aspirations for an SEC Championship and the playoff in front of it.
DeBoer and the Tide have to simply win out the rest of its schedule. It has to defeat LSU, Oklahoma, and Auburn to clinch an opportunity in the field. A matchup with the Tigers in Baton Rouge (La.) on Saturday starts the journey. If it handles LSU, then the Tide has Oklahoma and Auburn left to finish off. Win and you are in. … That is the message DeBoer should be preaching.
The intensity will be at a high level this weekend. Alabama has to match LSU’s energy and overpower it.
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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.
