Nick Saban addresses if Alabama has maintained its standard so far under Kalen DeBoer

This season is the first time Alabama has lost twice before the end of October since 2007 — former head coach Nick Saban’s first year at the helm of the program. During an appearance at the Monday Morning Quarterback Club, Saban addressed if new head coach Kalen DeBoer is upholding the standard of Alabama football.

“I don’t think that’s for me to judge,” Saban said. “I know everybody’s giving their best effort to do the best they can. I would just encourage everybody to stay focused on playing to the standard — not my standard — but the standard that their team has established. And I’m sure the players want to do that and I’m sure the coaches want to do that.”

It’s difficult for any coach in the country to maintain Saban’s level of excellence. After taking over the reins in 2007, Saban led the Crimson Tide to six national championships, including three titles in the College Football Playoff era.

He nearly added another trophy to his collection last season, falling to Michigan in overtime in the CFP semifinal. The 72-year-old former head coach also won a national title at LSU prior to his time in Tuscaloosa.

In total, Nick Saban won 201 games at Alabama — tied with Vince Dooley (Georgia) for the second-most wins at a single school in SEC history. Saban only trails Bear Bryant, who won 232 games in his 25 seasons with the Crimson Tide.

DeBoer knew the expectations were high when he took the job and, early on, he met those expectations. Alabama began the season 4-0, highlighted by an exhilarating 41-34 win over Georgia.

However, DeBoer’s dreamy start quickly devolved into a nightmare as the Crimson Tide suffered a historic upset to Vanderbilt, narrowly defeated South Carolina and fell at Tennessee in Week 8.

In a matter of three weeks, college football fans around the country changed their tunes on DeBoer, many now claiming he isn’t cut out to be Alabama’s head coach. DeBoer isn’t focused on the outside noise. The 49-year-old head coach knows his team’s season is far from over.

“I told the guys, and the message to them is to get back after it and get to work. And first of all, do some soul-searching and look inward,” DeBoer said. “I know there’s enough guys that still believe, that still wanna go do what we wanna do.

“There’s a lot of season left for not just us but everyone, and it’s gonna go fast if we don’t take advantage of it. That urgency’s gotta be there, there’s no question.”