Nick Saban puts another feather of support in Kalen DeBoer’s hat as Alabama’s head football coach.
The former head man for the Crimson Tide spoke about DeBoer’s transition Friday on the Pat McAfee Show.
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Alabama fans want DeBoer to like Saban. They want him to be tough, fiery, aggressive at times, and show the same mannerisms that Saban did for 17 years. Fans watched Saban’s actions produce six national championships, nine Southeastern Conference titles, four Heisman Memorial Trophy winners, and so much more. They want to hang on to the memories that Saban created to make the University of Alabama the gold standard of college football. However, Saban broke down the cold, hard truth to them.
Saban told McAfee that DeBoer cannot be like him.
“This is a tough transition for Kalen DeBoer & he has to do what he does his way..
He’s been successful & I think that his way will work..
He’s a good guy & he’s a good coach..
I’m just trying to be supportive & helpful in any way that I can” ~ Nick Saban #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/biyIrdnjkk
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) October 18, 2024
“This is a tough transition for Kalen DeBoer,” Saban said. “Any time that you take over a successful program, and I don’t want to be judgmental about what they do because he has to do what he does his way. He can’t try to be somebody that he is not. I think there is more than one way to skin a cat, and I think the guy has been successful. I think his way will work. I just think it is an adjustments for the fans and the people. I think he will win them over because he is a good guy and a good coach. He has a good system and a good organization. I am just trying to be supportive and helpful in any way I can.”
Alabama is 5-1 so far in DeBoer’s first year.
He has the Tide as a top 10 team in college football.
A victory over Tennessee in Knoxville (Tenn.) would be huge for Alabama at it would keep it in position to compete for an SEC Championship spot and a College Football Playoff spot. Saban continues to remain behind DeBoer and that is huge for Alabama football.
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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.
