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Kirk Herbstreit evaluates Kalen DeBoer's chance to step out of Nick Saban shadow vs. Georgia

Grant Grubbs Profile Pictureby:Grant Grubbs•09/27/24•

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Kalen DeBoer Alabama Crimson Tide
Will McLelland-USA TODAY Sports

Kalen DeBoer has been Alabama‘s head coach since January. However, on Saturday, he has a chance to make a statement to any fans still reminiscing about the Nick Saban era. On Friday, ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit explained how important Alabama’s showdown against Georgia is for DeBoer’s public perception.

“It’s big for Alabama. I don’t know if it’s huge for Kirby [Smart], but I think it’s obviously big for those players around these teams the last few years,” Herbstreit said during an appearance on SportsCenter.

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“They look up there and Nick Saban is not the guy — not that it’s bad. It’s just different. It’s different, and it’s an opportunity for Kalen DeBoer to go like this (Herbstreit slapped his hand on the table) — ‘I’m the head coach at Alabama.'”

DeBoer has looked the part through three games with the Crimson Tide. Alabama is 3-0 with an average win margin of 40.3 points per game. Most recently, the Crimson Tide rolled over Wisconsin in a dominant 42-10 effort.

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In the win, quarterback Jalen Milroe looked like a Heisman Trophy frontrunner, notching 196 yards and three touchdowns through the air while adding 75 yards and two scores on the ground as well.

The Crimson Tide’s defense was also stout in the triumph, holding Wisconsin to 290 total yards. Further, they forced the Badgers to commit two turnovers, both of which were fumbles.

Now, Georgia will present DeBoer with his greatest challenge yet at the helm of Alabama’s program. The 49-year-old head coach has massive shoes to fill. Alabama has won eight of its last nine meetings with Georgia, last defeating the Bulldogs in the 2023 SEC Championship.

On Monday, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart explained how it’ll feel to face off against the Crimson Tide without Saban strolling the opposite sideline.

“I don’t expect it to be strange,” Smart said. “That’s just the normal progression. I think it’s strange going back there sometimes because I lived there or our kids were born there. We lived there for nine years and had such great experiences there.”

On Saturday, Alabama and Georgia will square off at 7:30 p.m. ET. The game will air live on ABC.