ESPN broadcaster sends message that every Alabama Crimson Tide fan needs to hear immediately
There have been plenty of Alabama Crimson Tide fans this season that have expressed frustration with new head coach Kalen DeBoer. DeBoer, who is in his first season as the Crimson Tide's head coach after replacing Nick Saban this past offseason, is 6-2 through his first eight games in Tuscaloosa. That 6-2 record is a […]
There have been plenty of Alabama Crimson Tide fans this season that have expressed frustration with new head coach Kalen DeBoer.
DeBoer, who is in his first season as the Crimson Tide's head coach after replacing Nick Saban this past offseason, is 6-2 through his first eight games in Tuscaloosa.
That 6-2 record is a pretty good for a first time SEC head coach. Alabama fans, however, aren't accustomed to having two losses before November. As a result, DeBoer has drawn the ire of plenty Bama fans.
ESPN's Holly Rowe had a message for those fans this week while speaking with Crimson Tide Sports Network's Roger Hoover.
"I think it's fascinating, because you really could not find two different people as far as personalities go, but they are two really good ball coaches," said Rowe while discussing DeBoer and Saban. "So I think it's interesting. I've been curious, and you'll have to tell me this, I'm hoping that — listen, I know how the Alabama fan base can be. This is a fan base that, let's be honest, and I'm saying this in a positive way, they're spoiled. They have had the greatest coach of all time coaching them for the last 17 years. And you know, they are spoiled by what they've been able to have under Nick Saban and they've got to be patient (with DeBoer).
"There were so many changes with this roster. There's so many changes with the scheme [and] personnel. I really hope that the fan base is being patient, because these are two very different coaches. But the turnover internally with the roster, I think people need to really understand that's a lot. I mean, that is really a lot. Kalen DeBoer is maybe one of my favorite people I've ever met in college football. We got to do six Washington games last year, so I got to know him so well and see him in action, see how he treated his players. And I'm just telling you, I love this guy. So Alabama faithful, I'm just telling you, if you give him the patience and the time and space he deserves, you're going to be happy with the results. I'm going to get off my soapbox now but that's my take on that."
Rowe is absolutely spot on.
For starters, DeBoer shouldn't be held to the same standard as Saban. No one should be. Saban was one of the greatest football coaches of all time. He's a rarity. Alabama fans should simply be thankful for what Saban accomplished during his time in Tuscaloosa. That was an incredible period for the program that very few fan bases will EVER get to experience. It's something that will probably never be replicated thanks to new world of NIL deals and the NCAA transfer portal.
Secondly, Alabama fans have to let DeBoer build the program his way. He's not Saban, And he doesn't do things like Saban. That's a good thing. Coaches that try to be Saban usually fail spectacularly. What worked for Saban isn't going to work for DeBoer.
Let DeBoer find his way in the SEC, let him build the roster his way, and let him create his own culture. That's the only way that any coach is going to be successful in the post-Saban era. DeBoer's a great coach. I have no idea how his time will turn out in Tuscaloosa, but he deserves a couple of seasons to do things his way before fans start trying to run him out of town.
