DeBoer borrows famous line: ‘We’re not rebuilding, we’re reloading’

In an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show last Wednesday, Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer borrowed a famous saying that has been thrown around Tuscaloosa since Nick Saban started winning championships.

McAfee asked DeBoer about the pressure of coming to the south and replacing Nick Saban:

"Football is football and we're hitting the ground running..

We're not rebuilding we're reloading"@KalenDeBoer #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/3vkiF2RRbc

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 24, 2024

“I’ve had success in a lot of places and feel it can carry over. A lot of the times it’s about building around people and relationships. The X’s and O’s and things like that, football is football,” DeBoer said.

“I’m excited about it, building all these relationships and making it this season, not waiting around. We’re not rebuilding we’re reloading.”

When it comes to that reloading, DeBoer is beginning to steady the ship after what appeared to be a rocky start. He landed two transfers from Washington in the past week at positions of need, and then last Wednesday got perhaps his biggest recruiting news yet.

After the Tide received a crystal ball that afternoon to land perhaps the most talented wide receiver in high school football in Saraland star Ryan “Hollywood” Williams, Williams later announced his commitment to the Crimson Tide on Wednesday night.

Many have considered Williams the best player at his position to come out of the state of Alabama since Julio Jones, who ironically was the first huge commitment for Nick Saban after his arrival.

Even bigger than the sheer talent of Williams is the fact that in not even two weeks on the job, DeBoer came into the state and re-secured the commitment of one of the most prized prospects in the state over the likes of Hugh Freeze and Steve Sarkisian.

Consider the “reload” activated.

Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP