Nick Saban won six national championships and nine SEC titles during 17 seasons as head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide. In his first year at the helm, Kalen DeBoer has quite the challenge ahead of him. However, he made a bold proclamation regarding Saban during an appearance on The Joel Klatt Show this week. “Coach Saban’s built it up to be something again just like many others before him to where it’s greater than one person. It’s bigger than one person,” DeBoer said. “His face and the legacy he leaves being the best of the best will certainly live on forever.
“Coming in, I’m very careful with that task and responsibility, I understand it. You’re paying attention to all the cues and why things were the way they were. Why this decision, routine and schedule is in place. You’re paying attention to all of that because there’s a reason.
In two seasons at Washington, DeBoer led the Huskies to a 25-3 record, including 14-1 in 2023. Saban was 201-29 overall throughout 17 years in Tuscaloosa.
Alabama takes on Western Kentucky on August 31 to start the campaign. On September 28, the Crimson Tide takes on Georgia to begin conference play.