Greg Byrne reacts to Kalen DeBoer's statement on staying at Alabama: 'We are committed to him'

Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne added on to the statement of head coach Kalen DeBoer about their commitment to the program. Bryne added he and the administration are just as committed to the head coach amid DeBoer being linked to the Michigan opening.

“We are proud to have Coach DeBoer leading our football program at The University of Alabama,” Byrne said in a statement. “He is an incredible coach and does an excellent job with the development of our student-athletes, both on and off the field. Just as he is committed to this team, we are committed to him, and we look forward to taking the field Friday in the first round of the College Football Playoff.”

Michigan fired head coach Sherrone Moore after reports of an inappropriate relationship with a staffer and subsequent arrest after the removal of him as head coach. DeBoer was also rumored to have interest, or vice versa, in the Penn State opening prior to their hiring of Matt Campbell.

But ahead of the College Football Playoff first round at Oklahoma, DeBoer doubled down on his commitment to the Tide. In Year 2, DeBoer already improved the win total from nine to 10 and could get on a run as Alabama tries to compete for a national title.

“My family and I are very happy in Tuscaloosa and remain extremely grateful for the support of President (Peter) Mohler, (athletic director) Greg Byrne, the Board (of Regents) and so many others,” DeBoer’s statement read. “We have an incredilbe opportunity in front of us, so my sole focus is on Alabama football and our preparations to play Oklahoma in the College Football Playoff.

“I have not spoken and have no interest in speaking with anyone else about any other job. I am fully committed to this program and look forward to continuing as the head football coach at the University of Alabama.”

As far as Michigan is concerned, they’ve been linked to DeBoer, Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham and Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz, among others. But it appears the Alabama coach is out of reach for the Wolverines as they look to quickly recover from the Moore scandal and fallout.