Kalen DeBoer describes how he is similar to former Alabama coach Nick Saban
DALLAS – What’s been the biggest difference?
It might have been, justifiably so, the most popular question to the Alabama players who attended SEC Football Media Days this week. Tyler Booker, Jalen Milroe and Malachi Moore are entering month No. 7 with new head coach Kalen DeBoer after beginning their careers with Nick Saban as their head coach. But he retired after 17 seasons in January.
So what’s been the biggest change in an offseason under DeBoer compared to Saban?
“There weren’t many differences,” Booker said.
“Schedule-wise, we had a few practices before spring break, and I feel like that helped because we were able to go over the break with practices under our belt. Obviously, the practice schedule was different, but same intensity. We had a lot of walk-throughs. We did a lot of things to prepare for this upcoming season. The intensity, that Bama standard hasn’t changed.”
DeBoer took on the enormous task of replacing a legendary coach at one of the top programs in all of college football. But he has embraced the challenge since being hired by Alabama director of athletics Greg Byrne on Jan. 12. While there are differences, from what they wear to practice to their thoughts on media access, the mentality of the coaches is similar.
Asked about the comparison on Wednesday, DeBoer shared what he’s heard from his players.
“I know Coach Saban just poured into these guys,” DeBoer said. “He loved them. He believed in them. He pushed them to be their best.”
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Moore, a veteran defensive back, said DeBoer and Saban both work hard and are effective, but they have different ways of going about things. DeBoer has been more of a player-led coach since he arrived from Washington. He, himself, realizes there are differences between him and his predecessor, as expected, but there are plenty of similarities, as well.
“Every coach is different,” DeBoer said. “We all have different personalities. We all have our styles, especially when you’ve been doing it for a while in this profession you kind of have the things that you really like to do and favor.
“But in the end, the most important things, I think a lot of those are probably pretty similar more than they’re different. Pouring into the guys and helping them and pushing them to be at their best, holding them accountable and expecting a high level of discipline while also trying to build a brotherhood and a family that exists through great team chemistry to be great on the football field when it matters most.”
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