Kalen DeBoer on Alabama’s recent run: ‘I’m not gonna let our guys think that we’re back’
By Rolando Rosa
Published:
No. 4 Alabama is now on a 7-game winning streak after falling in its season opener at Florida State. The Crimson Tide have bounced back to become a viable contender for the SEC crown and advance to the College Football Playoff.
This has the potential to be a special season for head coach Kalen DeBoer as he aims to make his mark on the program. However, he’s keeping Alabama levelheaded down the stretch run of the regular season.
During an appearance on The Triple Option podcast this week, DeBoer addressed the growing belief in the college football world that Alabama is back and how he’s handling it internally.
“I don’t think until it’s all said and done, I’m not gonna let our guys think that we’re back. I want us to have that edge that we had starting with that [Florida State] game, or after that game. You’ve got to find those different motivating factors,” DeBoer said. “It’s got to be internal, it’s got to be doing it for other people — not letting down your teammates in particular that are counting on you.”
DeBoer explains that being targeted is a major source of motivation for Alabama.
“What are those motivating factors? One of them that you just add to your list is everyone doubting you, the world being against you. I know a lot of programs probably say it, but we certainly know that everyone wants to take down ’Bama,” DeBoer said. “We use that as our edge.”
DeBoer added that he’s confident in the mental fortitude of the Crimson Tide to rise to the occasion whenever necessary.
“When people then start doubting whether you can do it, I feel like we’ve got a group that’s got enough confidence and I can be real enough with them to where when I just tell them, this is what we’re up against, this is the team that we’re playing or this is what people are saying,” DeBoer said.
Overall, DeBoer is more focused on Alabama’s self-improvement rather than external factors.
“We don’t want to be thinking about the noise unless it can help benefit us and use it as motivating factors to take us to the next level,” DeBoer said. “I think our guys have done an awesome job of that.”
Next up for Alabama after a bye week is a home matchup vs. LSU on Nov. 8 (7:30 p.m. ET/ABC).
