Kalen DeBoer discusses what makes coaching in Rose Bowl special
By Jacob Moss
Published:
The Alabama Crimson Tide is getting set for its pivotal Rose Bowl showdown against the Indiana Hoosiers on New Year’s Day, a game that is arguably the biggest of second-year head coach Kalen DeBoer‘s tenure in Tuscaloosa.
DeBoer led the Tide to their first CFP win since the 2021 Cotton Bowl a couple of weeks back against the Oklahoma Sooners, and now he will be looking to put his squad 1 win away from a berth in the National Championship Game in one of the sport’s most iconic venues.
Outside of having a shot to lead his team one step closer to their ultimate goal in Pasadena, DeBoer also told reporters on Tuesday that he is pumped to be able to cross coaching in the Rose Bowl off of his bucket list as well.
“Not growing up around Division 1 football there in the middle of South Dakota, it just never really seemed like something that was real,” DeBoer said. “Then as you get older and get in high school and college, you start to really understand what it’s all about… As you go through the years of coaching, you just truly realize how special a place this is… I know a lot of people have this as a bucket list item when it comes to coaching, so it’s pretty special.”
DeBoer has coached in the Rose Bowl stadium before, during his time at Fresno State and Washington, but this will be the first time he’s actually been a part of the oldest and most prestigious bowl game in college football history.
Win or lose, DeBoer is sure to savor every second he has roaming the sidelines as he leads his Crimson Tide against the Hoosiers in The Grand Daddy of them all.
