Alabama rolled in its first game of the post-Nick Saban era. We have an inside look at everything from Kalen DeBoer's first game week.
Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer reveals former coach Nick Saban's message to the team ahead of the season opener, and he comments on the field being named after Saban. Smiling as raindrops ricocheted off his face, DeBoer strode confidently and nodded as he passed the bronze statue of his predecessor, the legendary Nick Saban, while leading theIt was a day that was both surreal and historic, culminating with win No.
"It's our way of lifting up a kid that maybe needs to be lifted up, doing our part to help them as they're going through cancer or anything else they may be fighting," DeBoer said."I think we get more out of it than the kids. It's a reminder that it's a privilege to play this game." "It's like that in everything we do, practice, meetings or anything outside of football," Milroe said."You see how real Coach DeBoer is. He's always who he is, and he trusts us to be who we are. That's what every player wants."The team meeting Friday night at Hotel Capstone just across the street from the football complex was short and to the point. All of DeBoer's meetings are.
"Yeah, a little different. I always kid Coach about what's on his music playlist for the day," Milroe said."He mixes it up, same way as his offense." Saban was a stickler for eating lunch in his office every day, a salad with cherry tomatoes and a few turkey slices. Another connection to the Sioux Falls days for DeBoer is his executive assistant, Ali Smith, who came with DeBoer from Washington. Her father, Rob Smith, was the head coach at Western Washington when DeBoer was a senior at Sioux Falls in 1996, when Sioux Falls beat Western Washington for the NAIA Division II national championship.
But that passion, DeBoer said, is exactly why he's at Alabama. The tricky part is staying on the right side of that passion. When DeBoer was whisked out of the restaurant by his security team at the end of the show, they went through a roped-off area, but that didn't keep him from stopping and taking selfies with several fans.
"He knows how much I want to see him have success and the team have success, and the thing I've been most impressed with is that he's done it the way he's always done it and the way he's had success doing it," Saban told ESPN."I'm like all Alabama fans out there. I can't wait to see where he takes us."
Saban was inside the Alabama football complex only twice during the preseason, both times using a rear entrance to have head athletic trainer Jeff Allen provide treatment on his back. "He's not trying to be anybody but himself," Gillespie said of DeBoer."Some guys come into a place like this with a big ego. But he was secure enough and smart enough to know that this place is different. These kids are used to winning, and was confident, but he listened to the kids. Some new coaches come in and don't take the time to listen."
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Alabama rolls over Western Kentucky in first game of Kalen DeBoer eraAlabama will be back on the field next Saturday, Sept. 7 against South Florida.
Read more »
What Kalen DeBoer Said After His First Alabama VictoryThe Alabama Crimson Tide opened the Kalen DeBoer era with an emphatic victory over the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers on Saturday night. DeBoer spent time with th
Read more »
3 takeaways from Alabama football’s first victory of the Kalen DeBoer eraAlabama football sprinted out of the gates in the Kalen DeBoer era with big play after big play paired with stout defense. Here are our takeaways from the game against Western Kentucky.
Read more »
No. 5 Alabama Football Defeats Western Kentucky in First Game of Kalen DeBoer EraKalen DeBoer’s Alabama tenure got off to a solid start in a season-opening win.
Read more »
Kalen DeBoer proud of Alabama’s first-half performance, points to two issuesAlabama coach has Tide up 42-0 at half over Western Kentucky.
Read more »
Jalen Milroe scores Alabama football’s first touchdown of the Kalen DeBoer eraThe first score of the Kalen DeBoer era went to none other than the starting quarterback for Alabama football.
Read more »