It took 21 games to arrive at this point, but it's time to make the official declaration: Kalen DeBoer is the right fit at Alabama for the now and for the long term. Any lingering doubts should have been erased by the Crimson Tide's comeback win over South Carolina on the road.
While on the surface it may seem ridiculous to draw such a conclusion from a victory over a now 3-5 Gamecocks team, it was the final hurdle that DeBoer had to clear to officially be welcomed into the open arms and good graces of Alabama fans.
The last lingering doubt in the minds of Alabama fans was DeBoer's ability to go on the road and beat an unranked opponent. Silly, yes. Factual, though. Alabama lost to unranked Vanderbilt and Oklahoma on the road last season, and if one of those results is flipped the other way, then the Crimson Tide makes the College Football Playoff.
Alabama got that flipped result against South Carolina on Saturday at Williams-Brice. Alabama used an early mulligan in the season opener, falling to unranked Florida State. The come-from-behind win over South Carolina may be looked back upon in hindsight as the result that pushed the Crimson Tide into this year's 12-team playoff field.
DeBoer has answered all the questions. There were plenty after the loss in Tallahassee in late August. Many assumed the clock was ticking, and it was only a matter of time before Alabama moved on from its second-year head coach.
Instead, Alabama just completed one of the most difficult stretches in SEC history. The Crimson Tide has won seven consecutive games, the last five of which were against conference opponents, including four consecutive games against ranked teams.
It was a brutal stretch that perhaps no other team in the country could have navigated without a single blemish. Now, Alabama heads into a much-needed bye week before a pair of pivotal home games against LSU and Oklahoma. Win both, and Alabama's playoff berth is secured regardless of what happens in the Jordan-Hare house of horrors.
Alabama's culture is strong thanks to Kalen DeBoer
Last year, it was fair to question whether the locker room was bought into DeBoer and the new coaching staff. It was fair to question that eight weeks ago in Tallahassee, too. But something changed in the aftermath of that debacle. DeBoer morphed into a new coach, and Alabama morphed into a new team as a result.
The locker room is as tight-knit as has been seen in Tuscaloosa in years. The team is playing for one another and consistently answering the bell during the most critical moments of each game. Alabama's win over South Carolina was a perfect example of a "culture" win.
It's a game a lot of teams would have lost. Alabama certainly would have lost the game a year ago. It's the latest sign of tangible progress under DeBoer. It's further proof that he's the right guy for this job for now and for the long haul.
Alabama might not win the National Championship this season. They also might. But the eventual National Championship under DeBoer now feels inevitable. It's a question of when, not if.