Alabama Hires Nick Saban’s Successor But Who Is Kalen DeBoer?

By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com College Football Blogger

The first things Alabama foootball fans have to do regarding thier new coach is learn his name and how to pronounce it.

Reporters need to learn how to spell it.

Kalen DeBoer. Certainly doesn’t roll off the lips quite like Nick Saban.

The first things that Kalen DeBoer needs to do are convince top receiver Isiah Bond to get out of the portal, to keep other players from going into the portal, convince a 5-star receiver recruit who just opened up his recruitiment to stay with the Tide and then shine when he meets many high school coaches at a big event Tuesday in Montgomery.

And then assemble a staff.

If things go well in the above areas, then he will be warmly received in Tuscaloosa. If they don’t, then he might want to read the fine print in the contract. And make sure he has a brick-proof office window. It certanly won’t take long for Alabama fans be able to to judge him.

It’s a strange situation for Alabama fans as well as DeBoer (I am copying and pasting his name because it’s not easy to type). Instead of coming in as a savior, a welcome addition to a struggling program as is the case with most schools, he is coming in after the retirement of the most successful college football coach of all time. True Alabama fans know it’s ridiculous to expect a Saban II, but right now they are looking at him as a curious outsider, like a stranger who just bought the house next door that was occupied by a long-time and loved neighbor.

You expect them to go over and ring the doorbell holding a bunt cake or something while peering in the windows hoping to get a glimpe of what they might can expect from this new stranger.

They should appreciate the fact that DeBoer comes from a small town, Milback, South Dakoka (population 3,500). He should share many of thier same values. His record is certainly impressive: 104-12. But that was in the backwaters of college football; he’s in the bigtime now.

He’s not coached in a high-pressure place, not faced consistent premium competition on the field and the recruiting trail, not been in an enviroment like Bryant-Denny Stadium has not been under the national media spotlight on a weekly basis like he will be at Alabama.

Bama fans always took satisfication during games knowing that if they were trailing at the half, Saban would make changes and all would be fine. He was king of the halftime and in-game adjustments. Can DeBoer adjust on the fly? If he doesn’t have his act together, Kirby Smart will steal his shorts.

One way to judge whether or not this guy is a good coach is to see the reaction of the Washington fans. They are livid. I don’t have to go to social media to know this, either, because it’s coming to me from a Huskie friend. “F (deleted) Alabama and college football!!!,” he texted me, more than once, I might add.

That sounds promising for Alabama fans. He certainly got a Saban-ish welcome when his plane landed in Tuscaloosa. Fans were lined up 15 deep against a fence and DeBoer high-fived, hand-slapped and fist-bumed with many of them through the fence. More fans were waiting for him when he arrived at the athletic complex on his way to meet with the team. It was a positive start.

For me, I’m withholding judgement for the moment. Heck, I keep asking “why not Dabo?” My opinion will be formed quickly, negatively or positvely, within the first week or so, judged by the watching his press conference (confident or hesitant), activity in the portal and the receiption he receives from the high school coaches in Montgomery.

Every early move will be scrutined but remember this: Saban also came from a small town. And so did Bear Bryant.