Nobody should doubt my Crimson Tide credentials. I’ve been here through the highs and lows, and I’m fully committed to Kalen DeBoer. But something is bothering me in these early stages of his tenure.
Let’s get one thing straight: Nick Saban is the GOAT. The finest college football coach I’ve ever seen. And the truth is, DeBoer isn’t that same fiery, grumpy, relentless presence Saban was — and that’s hard to adjust to.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t care what DeBoer wears on the sidelines or how calm he seems during games. But the question that keeps nagging me is: Are we ever going to see “joyless murderball” again? I doubt it. That old-school, suffocating dominance might not be coming back. But if this team can address the issues they’re facing, they still have the potential to be something special.
I’ll admit these struggles are growing pains, and that’s normal with a coaching transition. But damn, these games are not good for my health. We’ve got to travel to LSU and Tennessee, two tough environments that can make or break a season. And now, with the new 12-team playoff format, the stakes feel different. We could lose one — or even both — of those games and still have a shot at winning the whole thing. But to get there, this team has to get better. Every week. No excuses.
Some of y’all need a reminder of how good we’ve had it under Saban. He’s sitting on the College GameDay panel now, and it feels like people have already forgotten what we experienced with him at the helm. I lived through the Mike Shula, Dennis Franchione, and Mike DuBose eras. If you didn’t, let me tell you — it was rough. Watching Alabama struggle week after week was soul-crushing. Saban changed all that, bringing us titles, dominance, and an expectation of greatness.
Now, DeBoer has inherited those expectations, and his style is… different. Barely squeaking by opponents seems to be part of his DNA — just look at his 2023 Washington team. They didn’t dominate everyone, but they found ways to win. That’s all I ask right now: Just keep winning. Keep growing. Show improvement every time you take the field.
But here’s the thing — Kane Wommack needs to get it together and fast! Too many missed assignments, too many blown coverages. This is Alabama. Defense isn’t supposed to be optional — it’s supposed to be feared.
At the end of the day, I’m riding with DeBoer. Following a legend like Saban is no easy task, and the transition won’t happen overnight. But if this team can find its footing and build some momentum, the sky’s the limit. It might not look exactly like the Saban era, but if we keep stacking wins, I’m all in.
Just get better. Every. Damn. Week.
And give my heart a break, please.
Roll Tide.
