Paul Finebaum explains why his optimism for Alabama is rising as season approaches

Opinions have shifted on Alabama all offseason depending on how you view the move from Nick Saban to Kalen DeBoer. That includes that of Paul Finebaum considering where he’s now at when it comes to the Crimson Tide.

Finebaum named ‘Bama as a team that he’s higher on now than he was a few months ago during ‘McElroy and Cubelic In The Morning’ on Monday. He wasn’t yet sure about the coaching change in the spring but has more than come around on them now with how they project at this point of the summer.

“I would say, three months ago, I was wondering about Alabama. I may be guilty of the fact that I think Kalen DeBoer has had a flawless offseason,” said Finebaum.

Finebaum noted January 17th, which was just five days after DeBoer officially became the next head coach at Alabama, as the turning point for him. Reports came out that day that both Caleb Downs and Kadyn Proctor would be transferring from the program. Some other key names shared those intentions over that weekend too, including Julian Sayin. That was the peak of what was the exodus from Tuscaloosa as 35 players left.

However, from then on, Finebaum thinks DeBoer has pitched a great one from the mound.

“What I mean by that is, from really about the moment, about a week or two in? I mean he had that just absolutely brutal Friday a couple of days after he got hired when Downs left, Sayin left, and somebody else left,” Finebaum recalled. “I think he has just thrown almost a perfect game since then.”

The portal windows eventually slowed for Alabama at that point and in the spring. From there, the Tide retained more than they lost while also adding some portal pieces of their own.

That now leaves them where they could be in contention in the conference again as well as in position for another potential playoff berth.

There’s a lot for DeBoer and the Crimson Tide to still live up to in 2024. This first year after 17 under Saban will set a tone about where they could project over his tenure. Still, with where that trajectory has already turned over the last few months, Finebaum has changed his mind and thinks that ‘Bama will be back again.

“I am more upbeat,” said Finebaum. “Initially, I didn’t have Alabama in my playoffs – I’m talking about in the winter time. Now that we’re knocking on the door of the first day of summer, I do.”

“I feel very high on Alabama,” Finebaum said.