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Kalen DeBoer addresses emotional response to referee during first half of Georgia win

Barkley-Truaxby: Barkley Truax10/03/24BarkleyTruax
DeBoer referee
© John David Mercer-Imagn Images

The typically mild-mannered Kalen DeBoer went viral after letting his emotions get the better of him during Alabama‘s win over Georgia this weekend.

Leading 30-7 late in the first half, Georgia defensive back Daniel Harris made contact early on a pass by Jalen Milroe to Germie Bernard on a third-down. Getting the call would have given Alabama a first down and an opportunity to score another touchdown or at worst, get a field goal before the end of the first half.

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The no-call led DeBoer to become immediately animated — and for good reason. While the call didn’t matter at the end of the day given their ultimate victory, DeBoer had a few days to stew his emotions on the call before discussing the matter on his weekly appearance on ‘Hey Coach.’

“I think it’s understandably so,” DeBoer said of his reaction. “Calls don’t go the way you thought. I mean, you know, everyone’s doing their best, right? And so in that moment of just, whatever it might be on that that play, any other play, you know, understand the angle I had was right there.

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“I felt a certain way about it, but you understand everyone’s trying to do everything they can. That’s just where it was at that point. … That’s why there’s even another level of passion, just because I know that at that time of the game, it’s a chance, especially with them getting the ball in the third quarter. We could just add to that lead and make it that much tougher for them.”

While the call did not matter in the end, it appeared that it may come back and haunt the Crimson Tide as Georgia began its comeback in the second half. A finishing sequence straight out of EA Sports College Football 25 would see Alabama emerge victorious in the battle of blue bloods.

Alabama now moves forward as the nation’s new No. 1. They’ll defend that title this weekend against South Carolina at Noon ET inside Brynat-Denny Stadium.