Kalen DeBoer addresses pressure to sustain Alabama dynasty, maintain tradition

When Kalen DeBoer took the Alabama job he officially stepped into one of the toughest positions in sports. Replacing a legend is never easy.

Replacing a legend whose shadow looms as large as Nick Saban‘s, with his seven national titles and 11 SEC championships, well that is darned near impossible. Yet DeBoer will attempt it anyway.

There’s little doubt he’s got the foundation in place to maintain a high-level program.

Alabama’s facilities are top notch. The boosters have deep pockets, which is becoming ever more important in the NIL era. The tradition is deeply rich.

Bottom line: You’re expected to win big at Alabama.

“That’s the cool thing about coming here, though,” DeBoer said on the Andy Staples On3 show. “If you think of it that way it probably can be overwhelming, overbearing. I just think it’s about one thing, it’s coming in and being the best you can be, whether it’s bringing your attitude, your energy, your effort. That’s all I ask for our guys. And that’s all I’m going to ask of our staff.”

That approach, unique and singular in its focus, will be the key to Kalen DeBoer implementing his vision.

He’s trusting the staffers he has brought with him to Alabama, as well as others he’s now working with for the first time. He plans to empower them all by simply asking for their best on a daily basis.

And he encourages them to demand that from him.

“In return I really hope that’s all they can ask from me,” DeBoer said. “When we bring our best attitude, energy and effort every day and we surround ourselves with really smart people, experts that have low ego, I think we’ll continue to, the results will take care of itself. That’s been kind of the formula for success wherever I’ve been. And I think that’s, again, common in all successful and winning programs, so that’s what we’ll attempt to do. That’s what we’ll work to do.”

The Xs and Os will fall into place in due time. The attitude, though, is something that Kalen DeBoer knows cannot be compromised on.

So he’s setting out with that focus this spring as he continues to establish the foundation for his program. Alabama’s got everything he needs to be successful.

Now it’s just about putting his own stamp on things. That process is well underway at this point.