Malachi Moore stresses importance of keeping team together during coaching change

When Nick Saban announced his retirement as Alabama head coach, it surprised many around the college football world. His players also had a decision to make.

Once Saban officially stepped down, Alabama players had a 30-day window to enter the transfer portal – even after the first 30-day window closed. They had decisions to make, and while some left the program, multiple key contributors stayed behind as Kalen DeBoer took the job.

According to Malachi Moore, keeping the team together was important as Alabama underwent the changing of the guard. The goal was to make sure everyone thought through their next steps and avoid rushing a decision.

“It was very important,” Moore said at SEC Media Days. “It was our main focus when Coach Saban made his decision, and the leaders on the team tried to get everybody together and get a level head and don’t make any rash decisions.”

Malachi Moore, Tyler Booker and Jalen Milroe are among the leadership from last year’s SEC champion team to come back after Saban’s departure. They were all in Dallas this week with their former coach, who stole the show as he settles in to his new role as an analyst on ESPN and, very soon, on College GameDay.

As for what it was like after Saban announced his decision to step down, Booker told On3’s Andy Staples it was an important time for the program. In the process, he added, it brought the team closer together.

“That was a crucial period for us as a team because it really created a sense of togetherness for everyone,” Booker said on Andy Staples On3 from Radio Row in Dallas. “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.”

Milroe took that exact approach when weighing his options. He easily could’ve entered the portal after finding his stride in 2023, but ultimately decided to stay in Tuscaloosa for multiple reasons. Ultimately, though, two factors won out – winning a championship and graduating.

“Coach Saban retired, and of course, there’s a lot of external factors that took place,” Milroe said on SiriusXM College. “But it’s all about goals that you want to set. Long-term goals, of course, winning that championship. That’s why you come to Alabama. You want to win, you want to build value for yourself.

“So of course, the long term goal, winning, as far as coming back this next year. Then, getting my degree. … It was all about making the right decision.”