Michael Wilbon says Kalen DeBoer’s job is on the line vs. Oklahoma
By David Wasson
Published:
Although Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer has publicly declared that he is happy in Tuscaloosa and wishes to remain the Crimson Tide coach moving forward, little has stopped speculation that he could be lured away from Alabama by the open Michigan job.
At least one pundit, ESPN’s Michael Wilbon, believes DeBoer will beat a quick path to Ann Arbor to entertain the Michigan job left open when the Wolverines fired Sherrone Moore for cause on Dec. 12.
“Lemme tell you about 2 schools who are going to be on the coaching carousel after (Friday), because when Alabama loses to Oklahoma, the coach of Alabama – half the people in the state will want to run him out – and he will be on the carousel. He will be on the G5 being flown to Ann Arbor, Michigan, when he has said ‘Oh no, I have no interest,” Wilbon said to Tony Kornheiser on Thursday’s Pardon The Interruption. “Then Alabama will be on the carousel because they’ll be looking for a new coach.
“The coach at Alabama is going to have a job-on-the-line situation in 24 hours and then headed to Michigan once he loses. And then Alabama’s looking. Then what are you going to say?”
DeBoer is 19-7 in 2 seasons at Alabama and has the Crimson Tide back in the College Football Playoff for the 9th time – and the first CFP appearance for the 18-time national champions since 2023.
Michigan has been tied to Washington’s Jedd Fisch and Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham in recent days, but the speculation around DeBoer won’t seem to drown out. ESPN’s Heather Dinich also recently likened DeBoer’s situation to the Lincoln Riley departure years ago, when Riley denied interest in LSU only to take the USC job.
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. He also hosts Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson, weekdays from 3-5 pm across Southwest Florida and on FoxSportsFM.com. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
