There are times when you read a Tuscaloosa-based reporter talk about Kalen DeBoer's Alabama Crimson Tide, and you wince, knowing what Bammers are deluding themselves into having to believe before every season. With two years worth of results, it's clear that DeBoer isn't about to catch on like Nick Saban did. The culture of accountability and toughness simply isn't there, and as long as DeBoer is around, it isn't coming back. For heaven's sake, DeBoer doesn't even believe winning the physicality battle is the most important thing. Alabama's current form is alien to the dynasty Saban built.
AL.com's Nick Kelly confirmed all of those beliefs with the saddest set of goals for the Tide to achieve during the 2026 College Football season: avoiding blowouts and winning the games they are supposed to.
"Losses are inevitable in this era of college football with a soon-to-be nine-game conference schedule in the SEC and parity like never before in the sport. But there’s a difference between losing a good game to a good team and getting routed," Kelly wrote. "If DeBoer can lead the Crimson Tide to the playoff, win the games he’s supposed to win and avoid blowout losses, that will have to be considered progress in year three."
Kalen DeBoer may end up like late-era Gus Malzahn. Just without Gus's early-career triumphs at Auburn.
For as much hell as DeBoer gets around these parts, he's still leading a much more successful outfit than Hugh Freeze did during the last two years with the Auburn Tigers. Still, the standard was so high in West Central Alabama that DeBoer's sub-SEC Championship-level play won't be appreciated properly.
DeBoer may inspire the level of satisfaction with the fanbase that Auburn's had with Gus Malzahn leading the charge from 2018 to 2020. There were no CFP berths during that time, or even New Year's Six bowls, no solid NFL prospects, and a restless fanbase that was eager to cut the cord.
Maybe Alabama will learn the lesson from Malzahn's hiring and realize the grass isn't greener on the other side. Or maybe it'll be DeBoer who finally ups and takes an opportunity in the Midwest or West Coast to take the hint from an unsatiated Tide fanbase.
Either way, the tension between the head coach and the gumps could be cut with a knife. Who knows when that bubble will burst.
The "Bama Standard" is lower. And Crimson Tide fans can't be happy with the new normal, and won't be for long, DeBoer's recent multi-year extension be damned.
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