Damien Harris was a beloved player at the University of Alabama. He played for four years, racking up nearly 2800 rushing yards, and was part of a run where the Crimson Tide made the National Championship Game four consecutive seasons, winning two.
He lived the standard. He's also got an unrealistic viewpoint of the standard from having played for the greatest coach in college football history during the absolute peak of his powers.
There will never be a run like that again in college football. The sooner former players like Harris - and the vocal minority of the fanbase - accept that, the better.
Harris currently faces a conundrum. There's no doubt he loves Alabama. But he's also in the midst of trying to climb the ladder to a successful media career. The former Tide running back retired from the NFL in March of 2024 and now works for CBS.
The quickest way to climb that ladder is to fire off ridiculous hot takes, particularly about Alabama. In spite of the fact that Alabama hasn't won a National Championship in five years, the Crimson Tide is still very much the main character of college football. Fans outside of the state love nothing more than to hear negativity about Alabama.
They especially eat it up when it comes from the mouth of one of the program's favorite sons.
And that's been a consistent theme from Harris the last two years. From questioning the culture under Kalen DeBoer after the Vanderbilt loss last year to shouting from the rooftops that Notre Dame should be in this year's College Football Playoff over Alabama.
Now, Harris has taken it to another level. In a video posted to X by CBS Sports on Friday night, Harris stated that he believes DeBoer is coaching for his job in the opening round of the College Football Playoff next Friday night in Norman against Oklahoma. "This isn't the standard of excellence that is used to being had in Tuscaloosa," Harris said.
"I think [Kalen DeBoer's] job is on the line with this game. This isn't the standard of excellence that is used to being had in Tuscaloosa."@DHx34 pic.twitter.com/xplVx08lvl
— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) December 13, 2025
Damien Harris believes Kalen DeBoer's job is on the line against Oklahoma
Harris may think he speaks for the Alabama fanbase, but he does not. DeBoer is not coaching for his job against Oklahoma next week. Rational fans - of which there are plenty, contrary to belief - understand the undertaking DeBoer had in replacing Saban.
Sure, the roster was talented. But everyone conveniently forgets how much the roster was pillaged via the Transfer Portal after Saban's retirement. It was a massive cultural shift, too, and Alabama took a step forward from year one to year two under DeBoer.
Making it to the SEC Championship Game and earning a bid to the College Football Playoff has made this a successful season. Insinuating that his job might be on the line in a playoff game is foolish; it's a try-hard take by Harris as he looks to continue making a name for himself as a media figure.
Hot takes get clicks. Even at the expense of the program you poured everything into, and that poured everything back into you.
Harris is certainly entitled to his own opinion, no matter how wrong it is. He gave a lot to the University we all love. It's just disappointing to see him step all over it to advance his own career.