It has not been the prettiest 5-1 start for the University of Alabama, but Kalen DeBoer has the football program at No. 7 nationally through six games.
Alabama has not played its best football through 10 quarters from the second half versus Georgia to the South Carolina game; however, the Crimson Tide can turn it around Saturday against Tennessee.
Coach DeBoer wanted the challenge of being Nick Saban’s successor in his decision to leave Washington for Tuscaloosa, Ala.
He now has the responsibility of having to prepare players each week for a fight in the Southeastern Conference. DeBoer has started to recognize he is no longer in the Pac-12, yet he made the watchlist for the Paul W. “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year award. Two former Tide coaches — Gene Stallings and Saban — have won the honor since 1986. Stallings coached Alabama to a national championship in 1992, while Saban captured the honor in 2020 — the year he coached the Tide to its sixth national title under him.
DeBoer now has an opportunity to win.
Coach DeBoer has been named to the @bryantawards watchlist for Coach of the Year. ✊#RollTide pic.twitter.com/nWkmJWb8fb
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) October 16, 2024
He is on the watchlist, but what does DeBoer need to do to position himself to win?
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For starters, he needs to improve the overall toughness, discipline, and awareness of this team moving forward.
Alabama has not been disciplined in its last 10 quarters of football, allowing explosive plays, not being efficient in third down defense, lacking eye discipline, and not having gap integrity against the run. If he can improve the communication issues and have the Tide playing complete football, DeBoer will position himself to win Coach of the Year. The second thing that needs to happen is Alabama has to win-out the remainder of its regular season schedule. DeBoer has some tough matchups ahead with Tennessee, LSU, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Auburn. If he guides Alabama through it unscathed, a 1-loss Tide team could be in Atlanta (Ga.) for an SEC Championship and possibly have a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff.
This would elevate DeBoer in the minds of voters to win Coach of the Year. Lastly, DeBoer would need to have this team in the CFP National Championship Game. If he has Alabama in the national title game and it wins, Tide fans would want him to have Coach of Year with the way he was able to turn things around after a loss to Vanderbilt. Everything mentioned is doable, but DeBoer has to get it done. He can win the Bear Bryant Coach of the Year honor, yet it starts with Saturday against the Vols.
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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.
