Alabama Crimson Tide football coach Kalen DeBoer sits on a throne of white flames every time his team loses. For the second time this season, that occurred as the Tide lost their first home game with DeBoer in charge on Saturday to the Oklahoma Sooners.
The loss, as a touchdown favorite within the friendly confines of Bryant-Denny Stadium, was a confidence-shaker for many. CBS Sports' Will Backus reached the conclusion that DeBoer "isn't (the) answer for Alabama."
Backus also shared a hard truth with reality fans: that classic 'Bama toughness Nick Saban's teams showed in the trenches is no more with DeBoer. The proof is in the pudding with transfer Justice Haynes doing better with the Michigan Wolverines than anyone in the Crimson Tide's running back room this season.
"Maybe Alabama fans need to reset their expectations in the wake of Nick Saban's retirement. Saban is one of one. It's absurd to expect anyone to match the standard set by the greatest coach to ever grace college football," Backus wrote.
"But there are some recurring issues that will severely limit Alabama's upside beyond occasional College Football Playoff appearances. Saturday's 23-21 loss to No. 11 Oklahoma was a microcosm of the problems that have plagued DeBoer.
"Alabama's offensive line continues to under-perform relative to talent level. The Crimson Tide don't have a run game to speak of, which is an especially tough pill to swallow when, injuries aside, former top rushing option Justice Haynes is having a great year at Michigan."
At this point, most Gumps have figured out this team isn't going to win on toughness. It was revealed earlier this season that DeBoer doesn't try to win on toughness, but rather, relies on his coaching staff to out-scheme opponents.
"It was a potentially awkward fit from the start, the South Dakota native who had never seriously recruited the SEC now thrust into one of the most pressurized jobs in the sport. You have to be wired a certain kind of way to really succeed in the SEC the way Saban, Kirby Smart and others have, and DeBoer doesn't look up to the task. Program insiders told CBS Sports this offseason that DeBoer truly believes in his abilities to out-scheme and out-think opponents and prioritizes it over the mental toughness Saban used to drill into his teams," CBS Sports' John Talty wrote.
He wasn't named "Husky Harsin" for no reason. This isn't an old school grinder of a head coach like Saban. DeBoer wants to do things the modern way, with a level of acceptance of losing that's borderline offensive given the talent he inherited.
DJ Durkin knows toughness will win against Kalen DeBoer's Crimson Tide
The keys to victory in the Iron Bowl are clear now for DJ Durkin and the Auburn Tigers. Just be tougher, and DeBoer's team will wilt under the pressure.
The Iron Bowl is, quite frankly, anyone's game. There was previously an air of inevitability with DeBoer's team this season after their disastrous Week 1 loss to the Florida State Seminoles, which has now been destroyed by a second loss, this time at home.
Why not Auburn? It wouldn't be the first time they played spoiler. 2019 was idyllic, with Bo Nix beating Mac Jones with a back-and-forth 48-45 final score. This time, though, it'd be sweeter because of the offseason chaos DeBoer would go through.
Any given Saturday, right? Maybe Saturday, November 29.