When Alabama employed Kalen DeBoer to succeed Nick Saban, this system discovered itself a brand new serial winner.
That’s as a result of DeBoer has gained at each degree — from main his alma mater, the College of Sioux Falls, to a few NAIA nationwide championships, to taking Fresno State to a bowl sport, to, most not too long ago, successful the Pac-12 and going to the nationwide championship sport with Washington.
Now, he faces the primary true pressure-packed second of his tenure in Tuscaloosa when No. 4 Alabama opens SEC play towards No. 2 Georgia on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET).
In case you have not heard, it is the primary time since 2007 that the Crimson Tide are an underdog at residence.
“Welcome to the SEC, proper?” DeBoer mentioned this week.
Jokes apart, this sport will function an early measuring stick for Alabama. What’s the state of this system with DeBoer in cost? The Tide loved 17 seasons with Saban on the helm, by which they gained 9 SEC championships and 6 nationwide titles. When Saban retired, one of many extra astounding stats was the truth that he had 44 first-round NFL Draft picks to only 29 video games misplaced.Â
It’s unlucky that DeBoer’s SEC debut has to come back towards this specific opponent. Georgia has been the very best program within the nation, successful two of the final three nationwide titles. Previously, this showdown at all times pitted Saban vs. his protégé, Kirby Sensible. Two top-tier applications with probably the most gifted recruiting lessons and most suffocating defenses evaluating themselves to 1 one other. Saban ended his profession with a 5-1 file towards his former defensive coordinator and gained the ultimate matchup in final yr’s SEC championship sport.
Whereas the pregame storylines aren’t fairly as heated, Saturday nonetheless marks an enormous second within the DeBoer period. The coach understands that, however doesn’t undertaking stress like his predecessor used to do earlier than these sorts of video games.
“It is a new group, this can be a new season,” DeBoer mentioned. “That’s why I at all times make certain we’re emphasizing that that is the 2024 Alabama Crimson Tide soccer group. However there’s actually studying moments that you’ve got whenever you’ve been by way of the experiences.”
DeBoer mentioned his group will rely closely on veterans like quarterback Jalen Milroe and defensive again Malachi Moore this week. When Saban retired, these had been two gamers that determined to remain as an alternative of switch, like a lot of their former teammates did. They’ve performed towards Georgia and know what to anticipate.
“You attempt to give them an opportunity to unfold what they’ve discovered to the remainder of the group and perceive it’s going to be a four-quarter sport,” DeBoer mentioned. “Perceive that there’s going to be ebbs and flows within the sport, that the physicality isn’t simply going to be right here and there, it’s each single play. So that you’ve acquired to be in your A-game your complete sport, begin to end.”
DeBoer has talked about embracing the chance and carrying on the legacy Saban constructed. He hears individuals say that it is not simple to comply with a legend, however makes use of phrases like “evolve” and “develop” and feels empowered to place his stamp on this system. He understands the magnitude of the sport and is conscious that former president Donald Trump might be in attendance. It’s why he uprooted his life within the Pacific Northwest to come back to Tuscaloosa.
“We got here right here – all of us totally different journeys, gamers, workers – to be part of one thing like this,” DeBoer mentioned.
Georgia vs. Alabama: Who has extra stress on Saturday?
Each groups enter the weekend dominant and undefeated. Alabama, led by Milroe, has the nation’s No. 5-ranked scoring offense and is placing up 49 factors per sport. Georgia has the No. 2-ranked scoring protection and hasn’t allowed a landing in three video games. Each groups had been idle final week and have beforehand injured gamers again at full power simply in time for Saturday.
Whatever the final result, the Tide and Dawgs might nonetheless discover their solution to the SEC championship and the School Soccer Playoff. Their respective schedules will look favorable to the choice committee when the time comes. So, whereas the stakes are excessive, a loss wouldn’t be catastrophic.
Nevertheless, getting this system’s first main win since Saban retired, particularly towards Georgia, could be enormous for DeBoer, and everyone is aware of it.
“We really feel like we now have a soccer group that could be a top-tier group that every single day goes to compete to get higher,” DeBoer mentioned. “That’s not simply this week, that’s not simply subsequent week, that’s all season lengthy. We actually really feel just like the sky is the restrict.”
We’ll learn the way true that’s on Saturday.Â
Laken Litman covers school soccer, school basketball and soccer for FOX Sports activities. She beforehand wrote for Sports activities Illustrated, USA At present and The Indianapolis Star. She is the writer of “Robust Like a Girl,” printed in spring 2022 to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Title IX. Observe her at@LakenLitman.
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