The University of Alabama's AD, Greg Byrne, just laid out a sombering reality on Kalen DeBoer that Crimson Tide fans will have to accept: the days of winning every game they're supposed to, as they did in the Nick Saban era, are over.
Byrne admitted that he expects his team to lose one or two that they shouldn't have with DeBoer every season for the rest of his tenure.
"...It's a good culture. It's one -- will we win every single game we want to win? Nope, we'll lose one or two that maybe shouldn't at some point. I'm not saying every year, but it's gonna happen. But we'll also win some games, and we'll win those games based on the hard work and resiliency that we're showing, and that's what you got to look at long term," Byrne said to The Athletic.
The "Bama Standard" has been lowered. Byrne admitted it. As long as DeBoer is in charge, for the most part, undefeated seasons are a thing of the past.
Alabama will still be a contender, but the 'Bama Standard' is lowered
The Crimson Tide isn't in a bad way as a program. In truth, they're still in a lot better place than most of the SEC. The Auburn Tigers included. While they'll never be the biggest contender when going up against Phil Knight and the Oregon Ducks or Larry Ellison and the Michigan Wolverines, Alabama will always be in a position to nab top recruits from in-state, Mississippi, Georgia, and Florida because they grew up watching the Crimson Tide win.
But this is not the same product under DeBoer. Saban instilled a winning attitude in his players. DeBoer believes he can out-scheme every other head coach, and the players will fall into place like pieces on a chessboard.
College kids, especially ones who were paid to visit multiple schools, aren't pawns, knights, bishops, rooks, queens, or kings. They're maturing young men becoming adults in front of the world, now being given cash for their talents.
DeBoer wants to lead them on the field from an Xs and Os standpoint. It's unclear if he wants to have the tougher conversations Saban and Co. would have throughout his 17 years in Tuscaloosa.
Byrne just set the expectations so everyone understands that.