Kalen DeBoer jokes about expectations from Alabama fans: 'I knew that coming in'

After leading Washington to a national championship game a season ago, Kalen DeBoer took on perhaps the tallest task in college football. He left Seattle to succeed Nick Saban at Alabama – some big shoes to fill.

Saban took the Crimson Tide back to the heights of Paul “Bear” Bryant, winning six national titles in Tuscaloosa. That, obviously, means expectations remain high at Alabama as DeBoer gets ready for his first season at the program.

He doesn’t shy away from it, either. DeBoer fully understands what Tide fans want to see on the field this season and the task at hand.

“I hear it,” DeBoer said on GoJo and Golic. “I feel it. You know it. I knew that coming in. That was an expectation. That’s a big reason why I came here is to want to be a part of something like that.”

Although there were some departures after Saban’s retirement, DeBoer still has some key pieces from last year’s SEC title-winning team which made the College Football Playoff. The headliners are Jalen Milroe at quarterback and defensive back Malachi Moore anchoring the defense, but other notables such as offensive linemen Parker Brailsford and Tyler Booker are returning, as well.

There’s a reason why Alabama fans continue to have high expectations this year. The Crimson Tide were picked No. 3 in the SEC preseason poll this year and also came in at No. 5 in the preseason AP Top 25 poll earlier this week.

DeBoer knows that sets a high bar. But that’s part of the reason the Alabama job was so appealing. After all, as he said, it’s better than not having expectations at all.

“I always kind of term it – it’s maybe a little bit too simple, but not having expectations, that isn’t fun to be a part of,” DeBoer said. “It’s fun to see the turnarounds. I’ve been a part of that, too.

“Growing culture and what it looks like from maybe not a good culture to one that’s a championship-caliber culture. I certainly have felt that, and it’s been great. I’d much rather be a part of something that has a lot of expectations.”

Kalen DeBoer will get to show off his new-look Alabama team later this month when the Crimson Tide open the season against Western Kentucky. That Aug. 31 game will be at Bryant-Denny Stadium, just one week before it becomes Nick Saban Field at BDS.