Nick Saban calls Kalen DeBoer ‘a really good coach,’ says Alabama has to be committed
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It’s a long shadow that Nick Saban casts in Tuscaloosa. And it’s one that Kalen DeBoer is having a hard time seeing beyond right now. But Saban said Friday that Alabama’s embattled second-year coach is reaching out to as many resources as he can in the aftermath of last Saturday’s 31-17 loss to Florida State.
The Alabama icon had his weekly appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on Friday and discussed DeBoer’s struggles of late. Alabama is 5-5 in its last 10 games. The loss to Florida State was the fourth outright defeat Alabama has endured under DeBoer in a game where it closed as a double-digit favorite.
Some have wondered if DeBoer is in over his head. Others have suggested that Alabama’s team just isn’t responding to DeBoer or his staff.
Saban said Friday that he still believes DeBoer is a good coach.
“Kalen is a really good guy, he’s a really good coach, he’s always had success everywhere he’s been,” Saban said. “Maybe he hasn’t had to deal with this kind of scrutiny in the past, but if you’re going to be successful, you’ve got to be able to self-assess,” Saban said. “I know that he’s reaching out to a lot of people trying to do that.”
Saban went on to talk about the importance of team in an era of college football that is increasingly influenced by individual pursuits. He said Alabama’s entire locker room has to remain committed to the process because there’s still plenty of time — 11 of the 12 guaranteed games — to get things back on track.
“That’s the way the players should think. That’s the way the coaches should think. They’ve gotta stay focused on what they need to do to teach and get better, create roles for the players on their team and how they can support the team,” Saban said.
“… Once you decide and make a commitment to a team, you’ve got to do a good job for yourself. But you also owe it to the guys standing on the sidelines or in the huddle with you. I think that’s an important thing for all these guys to understand.”
The 21st-ranked Crimson Tide (0-1) host UL Monroe (1-0) Saturday night at 7:45 p.m. ET on SEC Network. Alabama is a 35.5-point favorite at ESPN Bet. Alabama hasn’t lost consecutive games in the same season since 2013, when it closed with defeats in the Iron Bowl and the Sugar Bowl.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
