DeBoer: ‘There’s only one Nick Saban’

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January 31, 2024

New Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer addressed the media in between practices at the Senior Bowl in Mobile on Wednesday afternoon.

DeBoer was asked about the Alabama standard and how he will continue to uphold it in the wake of Nick Saban’s departure:

“Everybody understands there’s only one Nick Saban, there’s different ways of doing it to be successful. We want to uphold the traditions and those things that make this place special.”

Alabama HC Kalen DeBoer on upholding the standards and expectations in Tide program pic.twitter.com/tKugbaB0KV

— Simone Eli (@SimoneEli_TV) January 31, 2024

“The expectations are certainly aligned with what I want to do and what’s happened here in this program for a long time now under coach Saban. But I think everybody understands there’s only one Nick Saban and there’s different ways of doing it to be successful,” DeBoer said.

“We want to uphold the traditions and those things that make this place special, but everyone will have their own fingerprints on it when it comes to what we do offensively and defensively, and myself as a head coach.”

Upon his introductory press conference, DeBoer stated that Saban would have ‘100% access‘ to the program and that he will try to learn something from his legendary predecessor every day.

In terms of putting his own spin on the program, DeBoer said he’s planning to begin installing his offensive system next week.

“Those that have come with us from Washington, there’s certainly an understanding of even the system, what certain concepts are called and how we teach them. So hopefully back on campus they’re picking up on those things. Jalen with Austin [Mack] as well as having center like Parker [Brailsford] there who knows all the calls. We can hit the ground running here when it comes to installing the offense and defensive systems,” DeBoer said.

Michael Penix, who transferred to Washington to play under DeBoer, threw for nearly 5,000 yards along 36 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 2023, which landed him a second place finish in Heisman voting.

If Penix’s career at Washington is any indication, the entire Alabama quarterback room should be looking forward to getting started.

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