Kalen DeBoer did something right in blending his coaching staff at Alabama with a splash of Washington.

He has coaches and players hungry to win a College Football Playoff National Championship at Alabama. The Crimson Tide got bounced out of the CFP in the 2023 season in a Rose Bowl loss to Michigan. It became Nick Saban's final game as head coach.

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Washington lost to Michigan in the 2024 CFP National Championship Game to finish the '23 season. We now have coaches and players from the Huskies on Alabama's roster with a common goal. They know how it feels to be at the door of a national championship, but have it snatched away from them. The Tide worked hard in the Fourth Quarter Program to build up its toughness, commitment, relentless competitiveness, effort, and excellence to assure itself a chance to bounce back.

JaMarcus Shephard, an assistant head coach, was one of the main voices that motivated players in different video clips in the offseason program. He was featured in an interview with Ryan Fowler of The Game via Tide 100.9 FM. Shephard said there is 'no question' that this team is motivated to win a national championship. Alabama starts spring practice on Monday, March 4.

"There is no question about it," Shephard said about last season motivating this Alabama team for a national title.

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"There is a collection of people that all experience the agony of defeat late in the season. Now, that collection of people are together and we have a common bond among all of us that should push us to want to achieve at the highest level."

Some predict the Tide to go 8-4 in the coming fall while others see 10-2 or 11-1.

Alabama has its sights on making the 12-team playoff in the first year of this new look. The reigning champions of the Southeastern Conference look to show it can still capture national titles.

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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine.  You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.