BIRMINGHAM , Ala. — Nick Saban can sympathize with the degree of difficulty Kalen DeBoer endured the first season following in his footsteps as head coach at Alabama.
DeBoer’s Crimson Tide were up and down, narrowly missing the College Football Playoff before losing to Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl to finish 9-4.
Speaking at the Regions Golf Tournament on Wednesday, Bama247 asked Saban to size up DeBoer’s first season and provide his expectation for Year 2.
In typical Saban fashion, he countered with, “I don’t really have expectations.”
That’s too close to the realm of hypotheticals.
“I know those guys are working hard to do the best they can,” Saban continued. “And, you know, it was a difficult transition with a number of players that moved, new system, new people.
“You know, players in the organization had to make adjustments. So I would say that everybody’s probably a lot more settled in this year. And, you know, I hope they do extremely well.”
DeBoer himself has remarked on the differences between Year 1 and Year 2, and how players and coaches have a better understanding of one another and the way the program functions.
That seemed to play itself out during the spring transfer window as no scholarship players entered the portal.
Athletic director Greg Byrne said in March that the football program is in a “much better position” now.
“A year ago at this time,” Byrne said, “we didn’t have our staff completely put together, the transfer portal had just closed after a 30-day window where people could come and try to take some of our kids and it was a one way street, we were installing very little on the offensive and defensive side of the ball just because everything was so brand new that we weren’t able to be where we want wanted to be.
“And so here we are,” he said. “A year later, and there’s a lot of stability. Kids have been doing a great job with the time in the weight room, the time in the film room, and doing whatever they can to be prepared. And so they have a year under their belt and there’s a lot more familiarity. I think that’s going to be a really good thing from a stability and offseason productivity standpoint.”
