Kalen DeBoer on Alabama expectations: 'You know what you signed up for'

Alabama is not a job that you take lightly considering all that comes with it from the spotlight to the weight of it. It’s what Kalen DeBoer knows that he agreed to, though, when he signed on the dotted line to become their next head coach.

DeBoer spoke about the expectations of his new gig with the Crimson Tide during an appearance on ‘Bussin’ With The Boys’ this week. While they may be overwhelming at times, he knows that he subscribed to those goals once he took the job.

“Yeah, I mean, you know, you know what you signed up for,” said DeBoer.

Much of those beliefs naturally comes from the fanbase of the 15-time national champion. Titles, both in the conference and in the country, are the assumption, especially as of late after winning six national titles and nine SEC Championships in the past 14 years under Nick Saban.

However, some of that also comes from the players. That starts with the former ones who are rooting them on with the love of alumni for their alma mater.

“It has been fun being around the alumni that do have that pride. I feel that,” said DeBoer. “It’s not an ego thing. It’s pride.”

That also includes the players who remained and are currently on the roster in Tuscaloosa. They too know what’s the presumption for them and they want to do it in order to add to the all-time history of the program that they’re a part of at Alabama.

“I guess it just always goes back to everyone is human. I think that, being around these guys, you understand the reasons why they came here into this program. It’s Alabama Football. It has a lot to do with Coach Saban, the guys and their commitments to being here. But they are just so proud of this program,” said DeBoer. “They want to be the ones that carry on the legacy of this place.”

“These guys that are in this program that chose to stay here over the last couple of months? They believe in this place and they know what we can accomplish. I have an appreciation that they understand that it’s really about them and them sticking together,” DeBoer said. “The ones that stayed? Man, they are resilient. They’re hard-headed in some ways because it’s, ‘Man, like, we’ve got to win a championship. We’ve got a chip on our shoulder. People think we’re going to fall off because of the transition’ and all that.”

It won’t necessarily be fair to DeBoer or the Tide if they accomplish a lot in the debut of his new era but winning a conference or national title aren’t among them. Still, that’s just the case with where many expect the Crimson Tide to be at the end of the season.

That’s why, as they head into the summer, DeBoer and ‘Bama are focused on working together to earn those achievements, both individually and as a team, this fall.

“It has been fun locking arms with them and helping them realize their goals and the reasons that they came here to help us through and make this progress,” DeBoer said.