'This was a special day': Kalen DeBoer reflects on first Alabama spring game

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – For the first time in nearly two decades, a coach not named Nick Saban led the Alabama Crimson Tide football team onto the field at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

On Saturday for the 2024 A-Day Game, it was Kalen DeBoer.

Three months ago, DeBoer was hired to replace Saban, who retired after 17 seasons. Coming to Alabama after two years at Washington, DeBoer is in his fourth stint as a college head coach after spending time at Washington, Fresno State and his alma mater, Sioux Falls.

Coaching in front of 72,358 Crimson Tide fans, DeBoer is a long way from his NAIA days.

“We were just shy of that there,” DeBoer joked after Saturday’s scrimmage. “But the cool thing is, football is football, and what you see at all the places you’re at are guys that love to get out there and they’re excited about their opportunity to go out and make plays and play the game they love. But this was a special day, special day.”

The 72,000-plus spectators was the most for Alabama since the 2018 spring but the 11th-most in Crimson Tide history. Saban’s first season “set the tone” for the program moving forward, he said on Saturday, as 92,318 fans flocked to Tuscaloosa for the 2007 A-Day Game.

But DeBoer’s inaugural spring game drew an impressive crowd. The 72,358 in attendance is more than Husky Stadium, his last home, is able to allow in, according to UW’s website.

“I caught that a little bit, I think, early on, just enjoying that moment,” DeBoer said. “I think as much as anything, trying to make sure the guys did, too. You take it in. You emphasize to the guys, ‘Hey, enjoy this moment. You guys worked hard for this.’ 

“For a lot of these guys, this is their first spring game, as well, their first A-Day. A lot of freshmen and some transfers. I made sure that they relished this day. When you say those things, you do it yourself, as well.”

Saturday’s A-Day Game was the 15th and final spring practice for Alabama, which will now turn its attention to the 15-day transfer portal window that opens on Tuesday, April 16. But taking part in the traditions that surround the annual spring game allowed DeBoer to really feel what it will be like to be the Crimson Tide football coach when the season kicks off.

“Seeing the guys come on the Walk of Champions, just seeing that and feeling the energy and excitement of what it would be on a Saturday, that was a lot of fun,” DeBoer said. “And being in the locker room, just the excitement. Even today out there, I thought the guys, as hard as they were playing, there were times when they were just looking out for each other, too. 

“I don’t care if it was offense-offense, defense-defense, but most importantly offense and defense playing the game the way it was supposed to be played and the energy, wanting to go out there and make the plays but also not putting the team at risk just to go up and make that potential play that could put someone at risk. 

“The energy, the excitement leading up to the spring game was something I think kind of hit me today.”

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