The Alabama Crimson Tide is preparing to hit the road this week for a date in Nashville with the lowly Vanderbilt Commodores, and it’s a game that not many expect to be close despite what happened two years ago.

While the program has undeniably won some massive games under Kalen DeBoer, a common trend has been struggling to follow that up the next week, especially against a lesser opponent. Clearly, DeBoer is learning that lesson and trying to drill the message into his team that you are only as good as your next team.

When asked about the Commodores during this week’s edition of “Hey Coach,” DeBoer got a little bit testy and provided an answer that would have made his predecessor proud.

Kalen DeBoer on Hey Coach: "I can tell by the questions as I go through interviews throughout the course of the week that everyone outside of the building hasn't watched Vanderbilt. They haven't watched them."

"Our guys understand what it looks like. They're preparing for it,…

— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) November 12, 2026

“I can tell by the questions as I go through interviews throughout the course of the week that everyone outside of the building hasn’t watched Vanderbilt. They haven’t watched them,” DeBoer said in response to folks dismissing this as an easy victory for Alabama.

“Our guys understand what it looks like. They’re preparing for it, and having a good week of practice right now.”

There was even a legitimate argument from Alabama fans to rest Keelon Russell as he recovers from an ankle injury he suffered against LSU, which if he can play, would obviously run counter to treating this game and this opponent very seriously.

Much like Saban used to do, DeBoer is sending a very clear message to his team using the media as a tool, saying that if you are not on top of everything you need to be doing, you can be beat and flush your season down the tubes. The first quarter of this game will show whether or not his team got the message, but it’s safe to say Alabama is not taking this opponent lightly, even if some fans are.

Usually a master of coach speak and not saying much, this is certainly a different side of DeBoer, and fans are absolutely here for it.