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4 hours ago
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Alabama Crimson Tide football coach Kalen DeBoer has experienced massive highs, like the Georgia win, and lows, Vanderbilt, Oklahoma, and Michigan say hello, already, just a year into one of the all-time follow-up jobs in sports history.
Of course, 9-4 finishes are not sustainable in Tuscaloosa after Nick Saban’s program won six championships in 17 tries.
Especially since Saban left DeBoer enough blue-chips for Alabama to have at least been in Tennessee’s College Football Playoff spot.
Still, USA Today’s Blake Toppmeyer doesn’t believe that should be a thought in anyone’s head heading into DeBoer’s second season in charge. As Toppmeyer writes, Ryan Grubb’s re-hiring and DeBoer’s debut season woes set the Crimson Tide up for a major comeback in 2025.
“A lot of theories could predict improvement in DeBoer’s second season. Alabama endured a once-in-a-generation type of transition following Saban’s retirement. Now, it enjoys more roster and coaching staff continuity. DeBoer’s tasted the SEC. He’s more familiar with his roster, and players are more accustomed to his style. He’s reunited with Ryan Grubb, his longtime right-hand man. Grubb will coordinate Alabama’s offense, just as he did at Washington for DeBoer’s team that finished as the national runner-up two seasons ago,” Toppmeyer wrote.
There’s enough urgency for the Midwest native to need a 10-win season and CFP appearance to avoid hot seat talk. All it takes is enough losses for the “wrong hire” labels to pop up.
Hell, they already have.
2025 is make-or-break for DeBoer’s Alabama future in a way few second years have ever been. Bryan Harsin’s at Auburn comes to mind.
Especially since Tiger fans are chomping at the bit to cheer “Husky Harsin” if DeBoer doesn’t make it to a third offseason in the SEC.
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