Since Alabama's loss to Florida State to open the 2025 season, we've seen a new football team. That's been buoyed by a new Kalen DeBoer. The second-year Crimson Tide head coach has displayed a fire and a passion that wasn't always evident a year ago. It wasn't evident in Tallahassee, either.
It has been ever since. It's clear that something changed with DeBoer. It's also clear that the team has responded to it in a positive way.
DeBoer leading the team through the tunnel and onto the field before the Tennessee game has gone viral through the Alabama fanbase. It was the latest example of the new version of DeBoer, something that even the team is still getting used to, according to team captain Deontae Lawson.
"If you haven't seen that emotion from the outside, now you have," Lawson said when asked about DeBoer's pre-game fire. "That's the Coach DeBoer that we're getting used to. He's definitely evolving."
Whatever changed, it's clearly working. DeBoer's fire translated onto the field against Tennessee. Alabama started fast, forcing an immediate three-and-out to open the game on defense, followed by an opening drive touchdown by the Crimson Tide's offense. Alabama took a 23-7 lead at halftime and parlayed that into a comfortable 37-20 win over the Volunteers.
Alabama fans love the new version of Kalen DeBoer
Alabama fans cannot get enough of the new version of Kalen DeBoer. All last season, DeBoer faced criticism for being too stoic on the sidelines. After watching Nick Saban's epic meltdowns and rants for 17 years, DeBoer's mannerisms were a stark contrast. Well, at least they were.
He's looking more and more Saban-like with every passing week. It's not a coincidence that Alabama's season quickly turned around as soon as the fire inside DeBoer turned outward.
It would be a mistake to believe DeBoer's calm demeanor means he didn't care or didn't have the fire and passion burning inside of him. It's always been there. But he's learning that this Alabama team - with so many holdovers still from the Saban era - responds better to an outward show of emotion.
Maybe future teams with fewer Saban players won't. Maybe he'll go back to the guy we saw at Washington and the guy we saw mostly last season. Or maybe something awakened in him, and he's evolved into a new form.
If this is the new DeBoer, Alabama fans will happily get used to it.