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Kalen DeBoer reflects on challenges of following in Nick Saban’s footsteps
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Kalen DeBoer took some time to reflect on his first year as Alabama’s head coach during an interview ahead of the NFL Draft on Thursday morning.
DeBoer appeared on the NFL Network and spoke about the challenges of following in the footsteps of legendary coach Nick Saban.
“I think you understand what you’re coming into,” Kalen DeBoer said. “It’s a program that has just decades and decades of success and there’s instrumental people that have taken it to greater heights. And coach Saban, obviously, took it to an unbelievable place. His mark is all over this building, all over this program, forever will be.
“You understand there’s going to be people before you, then understand there’s always going to be people after you. And I’m just privileged to come in and try to continue to build on what the foundation is of this program and obviously coach Saban was amazing during his 17 years here.”
Here’s a clip of DeBoer’s comments
DeBoer battled through an up-and-down Year 1 in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide won a huge game over Georgia early in the year, but then suffered tough losses to Vanderbilt and Oklahoma that ultimately cost them a College Football Playoff berth.
DeBoer will be facing high expectations in 2025 as Alabama hopes to get back to the CFP.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
