Kalen DeBoer sheepishly admits he hasn’t learned timing for ‘Dixieland Delight’ at Bryant-Denny Stadium
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Kalen DeBoer is only 4 games into his Alabama coaching career, and he’s only coached 3 games at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium, so Crimson Tide fans will have to excuse him for not having the “Dixieland Delight” timing in his repertoire.
Give the new guy time, though, Alabama fans. He’ll get there.
Or so he says.
During his weekly Monday press conference discussing the Xs and Os, the emotional win over Georgia on Saturday night and facing a scrappy Vanderbilt squad in Nashville this Saturday, DeBoer got a little off-topic and discussed one of the many traditions at Alabama home games.
DeBoer wasn’t too ashamed to admit that he thought “Dixieland Delight” was played after the 3rd quarter, and maybe that’s the problem right now with his timing. The 1st-year Crimson Tide head coach said he’ll catch the song at some point.
The 1983 song by the country music band Alabama has become a staple at Alabama games over the years, so DeBoer best catch it at some point so he can, you know, find time to coach his team while enjoying the tradition at the same time.
Kalen DeBoer said he still hasn't experienced a Dixieland Delight after coaching three games there. He thought it was after the third quarter (that's Basket Case time!) but he'll catch it at some point.
— Michael Casagrande (@ByCasagrande) September 30, 2024
DeBoer, a South Dakota native with no real Southern connections before replacing Nick Saban in Tuscaloosa, is still playing a little catch up when it comes to all the nuances of Alabama home games.
He admitted he was a little embarrassed that he hasn’t figured out the timing of the song yet, but we’re guessing DeBoer can be excused in the aftermath of that big win over Georgia, a 4-0 start and a No. 1 ranking in Sunday’s new AP Poll.
DeBoer said he's embarrassed to say it, but he still hasn't figured out the exact timing of Dixieland Delight yet at BDS
— Nick Kelly (@_NickKelly) September 30, 2024
DeBoer will have his next shot at the whole “Dixieland Delight” thing when Alabama returns home in Week 7 to face South Carolina.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
