Tyler Booker reveals how Alabama sticking together amid coaching turnover helped team cohesiveness

Alabama‘s players were faced with an interesting and unexpected crossroads this offseason in January when legendary head coach Nick Saban announced his retirement.

It’s no secret that Saban has been a major factor in why players chose the Crimson Tide as their program of choice as recruits, a larger-than-life figure who many regard as the greatest of all time. Boasting a championship and track record of putting players in the NFL that nobody in college football can quite rival.

Once he retired, Alabama players had to decide if they wanted to stay in Tuscaloosa or depart for a new program through the transfer portal. A moment that Alabama offensive lineman Tyler Booker said only brought the team closer for the players who did decide to stay with the Crimson Tide.

“That was a crucial period for us as a team because it really created a sense of togetherness for everyone,” Booker told On3’s Andy Staples at SEC Media Days. “Like we could all look at each other in that locker and be like okay, I know this guy cares about me, because he stayed for me. He stayed because he loves me, he stayed because of his brotherhood.”

During a head coaching change, athletes are allowed to enter the transfer portal for an additional 30-day that several players took advantage of. With 34 Alabama players departing from the program and taking their talents elsewhere following Saban’s exit.

But for those who did decide to stay and the 13 new players who joined the Crimson Tide through the transfer portal, there’s no question their decision was special. Representing the first group of players who decided to play for a non Nick Saban-led Alabama team since 2006.

“It makes us so much more cohesive and we just have another level of respect for one another, another level of trust,” Booker said.

The closeness of the Crimson Tide paired with the pedigree of their new head coach could lead to Alabama maintaining their high standards during the 2024 season without Saban. As Kalen DeBoer takes over the program fresh off of leading Washington to a Pac-12 Championship and an appearance in the national championship last season. Boasting an impressive 104–12 record as a head coaching throughout his career at the college level.

Including Booker, Alabama brings back 11 total starters from last year’s team. Particularly at some key positions. And the closeness of those returning players will surely continue to make the Crimson Tide a force to be reckoned with this upcoming season.