After a legendary run as one of the best head coaches in college football history, Nick Saban retired after the 2023 season came to a close. The Alabama Crimson Tide had the near impossible task of replacing him and chose former Washington Huskies head coach Kalen DeBoer has his successor.
DeBoer has a proven track record of winning and is a coach that doesn’t seem to shy away from pressure and high expectations. In 2024, he will be met with both, as he not only takes over for Saban, but also inherits a team that is fully capable of reaching the College Football Playoffs.
With the 2024 college football season rapidly approaching, it’s time to set some expectations for DeBoer in his first season with the program. If he can meet most, or all, of these expectations, then it should be considered a success.
Win at least nine games
Syndication: Tuscaloosa News
Alabama fans, do not fret. While not winning double-digit games may feel like a complete failure of a season, times have changed in college football. An expanded College Football Playoff will allow for multi-loss teams to make the cut and the field has gotten much more difficult thanks to conference realignment. The goal will still be to win every game on the schedule, but the 2024 regular season for the Crimson Tide features some tough matchups against quality opponents. Winning a minimum of nine games should keep Alabama in the CFP race and will still result in some impressive wins throughout the season.
Continue to impress on the recruiting trail
Syndication: Tuscaloosa News
One of the biggest concerns fans had with DeBoer upon his hiring at Alabama was his ability, or lack thereof, to effectively recruit. His sample size was small in just two seasons at Washington, but he failed to land a recruiting class that ranked among the elites. So far, his efforts on the recruiting trail have impressed fans. Now, it’s about consistency in landing the highly-coveted prospects and keeping them committed until they put pen to paper and sign with the program. Being able to recruit during the season will also be a big test for him. Signing a strong 2025 class will certainly ease the worries of Alabama fans.
Compete with Georgia
Syndication: Tuscaloosa News
Following Alabama’s Week 3 game on the road against the Wisconsin Badgers, the team will have a week off to regroup and prepare for the biggest game on the schedule: a home matchup against the Georgia Bulldogs. Kirby Smart has established himself as the top head coach in the conference and the program is not just the team to beat in the SEC, but is arguably the strongest team in the nation by a wide margin. The goal will be for the Crimson Tide to beat the Bulldogs at home, but Smart and his team will look to make a statement in their first matchup against DeBoer. This game serves a bigger purpose than just being another game on the schedule. It can set the tone for this rivalry, which is why Alabama and DeBoer must either win or keep it close. Remaining competitive against Georgia is crucial for the long-term success of the program in the conference and on the national stage.
Be in the College Football Playoff race late in the season
Syndication: Tuscaloosa News
As stated earlier, the expanded College Football Playoffs will allow for teams to compete for a national title even if they lack a near-perfect resumé. While this is advantageous, it can also be damaging. If Alabama isn’t in contention to reach the playoffs late in the season, that means there has been a catastrophic failure of some sorts. Whether it be a poor win-loss record or inconsistent performances that make the Tide look incapable of keeping up with the elites of college football, failing to be in the race would likely be because something has gone wrong in 2024.
Having clear control of the team
Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News
Under Saban, the Alabama football program was disciplined and consistently in check. Even after a devastating loss, the team seemed poised to learn from those mistakes and move on as a stronger unit because of it. There was never a time where it felt like Saban did not have complete control over his roster, as they all were united in their mission to win and better each other in its journey to constantly improve. DeBoer has already shown that he is not Saban and does things differently during practice. There’s nothing wrong with that, so long as he maintains control and proves to be a leader for his players and staff.
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Publish date : 2024-07-05 14:06:00
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