Local media predicts how long the coach will stay with the Crimson Tide.
Kalen DeBoer had been on the job as Alabama’s football coach for exactly 11 days when he found out how long it would last.
He has four years.
At least that is the amount of time Clay Travis gives him. Travis is a self-made Southern mouthpiece who could be described as a shock jock.
He has previously written for Deadspin and Fanhouse, hosted a sports radio talk show, and founded and runs his own website, Outkickthecoverage.com.
To summarize, he’s a guy with a lot of outlandish opinions, and his 1 million YouTube subscribers seem to believe them.
On Tuesday, Travis was asked if the new Crimson Tide football coach will instill fear in his opponents, as Nick Saban did during his 17 seasons in Tuscaloosa.
“Zero. “That is the answer because Kalen DeBoer will be fired in about four years,” Travis stated unequivocally on a talk show. “Alabama fans will have completely unrealistic expectations. What I believe Alabama fans will recognize, and many of them already knew but are seeing it more clearly now, is that Alabama did not have a dynasty; Nick Saban did.
While DeBoer couldn’t have found a bigger fan in Seattle than the popular sports radio host who isn’t afraid to admit he’s a self-proclaimed Husky fan, the corresponding Southern voice with a long reach is already writing DeBoer’s epitaph before he coaches his first game.
Travis is not the only one who has taken a few shots at the new Crimson Tide head coach. Many skeptics have emerged among the fan base to criticize DeBoer, though not with the same vehemence as Travis.
One social media user identified as Jackson did not predict the coach’s death, but rather when things would begin to go wrong for him.
“A few de-commitments have hurt, but Alabama will still have a top five or ten talented roster, and DeBoer led Washington to the championship game last year with one-tenth the talent.” Yes, Alabama fans will struggle to adjust to being just a good team rather than a dynasty. They’re going to lose two or three games this year, and DeBoer will immediately
A growing complaint about the new Crimson Tide coach is that he lacks a Southern background and no experience in the Southeastern Conference, which will hurt him and his ability to recruit at a high level.
“He doesn’t seem to enjoy recruiting,” a critic complained.
DeBoer was also asked about bringing multiple Husky players or recruits to Alabama and gaining commitments, as if he should look elsewhere.
The coach had to explain himself; insider knowledge goes a long way.
“I want nothing but the places I’ve spent a lot of time in to be successful in the future — Washington and Fresno State — and those are special places,” he said. “You want to be a part of the legacy you leave behind and continue to build on. The people who come after you may be better than you were. There were a few guys in the portal who, if they go anywhere other than Washington, I would definitely want to have them here because I trust and believe in them.”
So it’s been a fun two weeks for Kalen DeBoer, who is now trying to establish a Southern legacy. Remember, he wanted this coaching job, where they will put you through the ringer on anything football-related at any time.
Twenty-one years ago, not everyone wanted Washington State’s Mike Price to coach at Alabama, and look what happened — he was fired without ever coaching a game. It came after a donor outing that included a reported trip to a strip joint and other alleged nefarious behavior by a high-profile coach. We’re still waiting for the film to be made that explains how everything came down to putting him in a compromising position.
Following a football legend like Nick Saban is one thing, but dealing with all of the crazies who dissect Alabama football for no apparent reason will continue to be eye-opening for him.
At least DeBoer knows how long his plumbing job will last.
