Throughout his tenure in Tuscaloosa, University of Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer has continued to stand in the shadow of Nick Saban. After posting a 9-4 record in his debut season, pressure intensified, especially following an opening-weekend loss to Florida State at the start of his second year.
In the weeks that followed, the Tide rallied to win 11 of their next 13 games. As they look ahead to a probable second-round appearance, it would seem logical for the pressure on DeBoer to ease.
Cam Newton Asserts That Alabama HC Kalen DeBoer Will Always Be Scrutinized by Fans
Earlier this season, the Tide marched back from a 17-point deficit to eliminate Oklahoma from the College Football Playoff, 34-24. Since Alabama failed to reach the playoffs the previous year, criticism grew louder each week. Normally, a postseason win and extending the season might ease fan scrutiny of DeBoer.
His offense, led by quarterback Ty Simpson, ranks 24th in PFSN’s Offense Impact metric. Under most circumstances, these results might foster a truce with the fanbase. However, Cam Newton disagreed.
“Kalen DeBoer, the boobirds and the tweets will come back again. Certain jobs in college football just require you to always be good. Not sometimes being good, always being good,” Newton said.
“Thank your predecessor or thank the forefathers, the Bear Bryants, and the Nick Sabans for putting a pedestal up so high that you will forever be trying to climb to reach it. In the SEC, there are certain teams: LSU, Alabama, and Georgia. If you don’t win there, control-alt-delete yourself out of here.”
Newton’s point, shared as the 2010 Heisman Trophy winner, holds several grains of truth when examining Alabama’s coaching history. After Coach Bryant retired following the 1982 season, Ray Perkins — a former Tide wideout and NFL coach — took over.
Perkins compiled a 32-15-1 record and won all three bowl appearances, yet the team never contended for a national championship. Later, Gene Stallings, who led Alabama to a national title in 1992, also struggled to emerge from Bryant’s shadow and resigned in 1986.
Following Stallings’ resignation and before Saban’s arrival, four coaches held the head coach position. Mike DuBose was among them, winning a conference championship but ultimately resigning after a 24-23 record and two bowl losses.
Saban built a legacy in Tuscaloosa to match Bryant: six national titles, an 87.3% win rate, and 10 SEC championships.
DeBoer arrived at Alabama after leading the University of Washington to a CFP title game appearance against the eventual champion, Michigan. With his reputation soaring, DeBoer made the move from Seattle to Alabama. From the moment he was hired, criticism from fans and media began to swirl.
Now, Alabama faces a matchup against top-ranked Indiana. If the Crimson Tide defeat the Hoosiers, they could embark on a championship run. As Newton mentioned, winning championships remains the ultimate test for all Alabama coaches.
