Kalen DeBoer admits to superstition around iconic black hoodie at Alabama

Alabama improved to 14-2 under Kalen DeBoer in a black hoodie after the Crimson Tide defeated South Carolina 29-22 on Saturday. It’s a game day tradition has taken over the nation this season.

For reference, DeBoer is 1-3 in all other outfits. In turn, the Crimson Tide head coach admitted to being superstitious about wearing the hoodie when asked about him wearing it only a weekly basis.

“It used to be what I wore for years, and it goes all the way back to the Sioux Falls days where you didn’t have multiple colors because there wasn’t a budget for that. You have the cold environment, and you put on the black hoodie. It worked on the road and home, because you wanted something that contrasts what the guys were wearing on the football field,” DeBoer told Urban Meyer and crew on the Triple Option Podcast.

“I don’t know, it’s just become this thing. But hey, we’re going to ride the momentum and we’re going to roll with it.”

DeBoer is currently 7-0 this season while wearing the black hoodie during game days. The one instance where he didn’t wear the hoodie was during the season opener at Florida State. The Seminoles bested the Crimson Tide for its only loss of the season to date. DeBoer sported a striped crimson polo during the matchup — a shirt that likely won’t see the light of day anytime soon. Or, at least on Saturdays during the fall.

During that seven-game stretch, Alabama defeated four consecutive ranked opponents including Georgia, Vanderbilt, Missouri and Tennessee to begin SEC play. They most recently defeated South Carolina 29-22 on the road in comeback fashion, scoring 15 points in short succession to keep DeBoer’s run with the hoodie alive.

The hoodie brought similar success last year. In 2024, Alabama secured victories over the likes of No. 2 Georgia, No. 21 Missouri and No. 15 LSU while wearing the black hoodie.

The three losses without the hoodie were to Florida State this season, and then twice in 2024. Once against Tennessee, and of course, against Vanderbilt. How about the two losses with the hoodie? Both came late in the 2024 season, once against Oklahoma and again in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Michigan.

DeBoer won’t be wearing a black hoodie this weekend, or at least on the sideline as the Crimson Tide are on their bye during Week 10. When Alabama returns, it’ll be against LSU on Nov. 8.