Kalen DeBoer considers comparison between his model, Nick Saban's

We’re two games into the 2024 season but Kalen DeBoer can’t escape the questions. He probably won’t be able to even years down the road.

Wherever he turns there’s a question about Nick Saban looming.

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On Wednesday, it was Colin Cowherd doing the asking on The Herd with Colin Cowherd. The popular talk show host kept it pretty simple: how similar is your coaching model to Saban’s?

“I think that’s probably for the people who know us both or played for us both, coached with us both,” Kalen DeBoer said simply. “But I think that the success of a team or a program, I think there are the common non-negotiables, the values that you have.”

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Saban insisted on having players that were high character. If you couldn’t show you were a team guy, bought into everything the coaching staff was selling, you probably weren’t going to play.

That wasn’t the only reason for Saban’s success, assuredly, but it was a notable part of it. Culture was everything.

DeBoer is working on building a similar culture of respect and personal accountability, and so far all indications are that his regiment is having the desired effect. Alabama is 2-0 and though there will be tougher games coming, the Kalen DeBoer era has gotten off to a positive start.

At the very least, the record is similar to many of Saban’s over the years.

“And the styles may be different or just how you go about it might be different, but I think those non-negotiables are all the same,” Kalen DeBoer said. “The Don James reference, that was really part of our first conversation. Something that tied us immediately and something I know he really has always held onto. It’s something that I did as well.”