After a challenging 2024 season, the Alabama Crimson Tide is looking to turn the page as they prepare for the 2025 campaign. With the retirement of the legendary Nick Saban, the program turned to Kalen DeBoer to lead them into a new era. However, the transition has not been without its bumps. The team struggled with consistency, finishing the season with three regular-season losses, which raised eyebrows and sparked discussions about DeBoer’s future at the helm.
Fans call for patience with Kalen DeBoer
Among those advocating for patience is former Birmingham radio personality and comedian Roy Wood Jr.. As a passionate Alabama fan, Wood took to the airwaves during an appearance on First Take to defend DeBoer against critics. In a spirited debate with Stephen A. Smith, Wood emphasized the need for understanding as DeBoer settles into his role.
“That tone for a gentleman who is just now getting settled,” Wood argued. “He ain’t even got all his mail forwarded. He just got there. He lost three [games]. He lost three.”
Smith, however, was quick to point out that one of those losses came at the hands of Vanderbilt, a team that has historically struggled against the Crimson Tide. But Wood remained steadfast, insisting that three losses in a season shouldn’t be the end of the world for a new coach.
“Three, though,” Wood reiterated. “It’s just three games… Nick Saban didn’t do that when he first came through the door. Give the man a chance. He just got there.”
Alabama’s near miss for the College Football Playoff
Despite the setbacks, it’s important to note that Alabama was not far from making a significant postseason run. In DeBoer’s inaugural season, the Crimson Tide finished 11th in the final selection committee rankings, making them the highest-ranked team to miss out on the College Football Playoff. This close call indicates that the foundation is there; it just needs some fine-tuning.
“Alabama fans are impatient,” Wood commented. “They’re entitled. We are the Yankees fans of college football. 1,000 percent… But all of these fanbases are going to be a little more — the fact that they had to run the table at Ohio State for them to just go, ‘Alright. You aight.’ I don’t know what the new norm is gonna be.”
Kalen DeBoer reflects on the season’s lessons
In the wake of the season, Kalen DeBoer took the time to reflect on the positives that can be drawn from the challenges faced in 2024. He expressed pride in the resilience shown by his players, noting that their determination and grit were commendable.
“Every time you’re in the locker room and you have something like this, it’s disappointing. But I think there’s a lot of things that you take from it,” DeBoer stated. “I know that the guys that hung in there, that probably played their last game in the crimson and white, they wouldn’t have had it any other way as far as to show the grit, show the determination, show the competitiveness. They stayed the course.”
He emphasized that success isn’t solely measured by wins and losses. “There’s a whole lot more, I just think, that really goes into the last 12 months. People see what happens on a Saturday, but it’s guys choosing to stay here, guys choosing to go from one week to the next when you’re on a little bit of a roller coaster through the middle of the season. As long as we learn from it, then to me, then it can be a success moving forward.”
Looking ahead to the 2025 season
As the Crimson Tide gear up for the 2025 season, they will open their campaign against Florida State on August 30th. This matchup will be a significant test for DeBoer and his squad, as they look to establish themselves as contenders once again.
With a year of experience under their belts, both the coaching staff and players are eager to prove that they can rise to the occasion. The lessons learned from the previous season will undoubtedly shape their approach moving forward.
In college football, the road to success is rarely smooth. It’s filled with ups and downs, moments of triumph, and periods of struggle. But with patience, persistence, and a commitment to improvement, the Alabama Crimson Tide can reclaim their status as a powerhouse in the sport. As fans, we must remember that building a championship team takes time, and sometimes, all it takes is a little faith in the process.
