Despite some rumors over the last week of a potential "Blackout" by Georgia for Saturday night's matchup with Alabama, it seems unlikely that Kirby Smart would want to try and recreate that against Alabama. In 2008, Smart was on the other sideline as Alabama's defensive coordinator when Georgia did a "Blackout" of Sanford Stadium. In the black jerseys, the Bulldogs were demolished by the Crimson Tide.
There still may be a blackout on Saturday night in Athens; it just sounds like it's going to be on the other sideline.
Kalen DeBoer mentioned on his "Hey Coach" radio show on Wednesday night that he would "more than likely" be wearing his black hoodie against the Bulldogs.
Caller to Hey Coach asks Kalen DeBoer about his record with a black hoodie. DeBoer said players and his daughter have mentioned it to him. He says "more than likely" he'll wear it against Georgia.
— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) September 25, 2025
The black hoodie has become DeBoer's calling card. If he can lead Alabama to success, it might become synonymous with him like houndstooth with Coach Bryant and Nick Saban's straw hat in practice.
Superstitious Alabama fans will point to DeBoer's record with and without the black hoodie as a sign that his wardrobe matters. DeBoer has now coached 16 games at Alabama and produced an 11-5 record. He's 10-2 when he wears the black hoodie and 1-3 without it. After not wearing it in Tallahassee, DeBoer was back in it the last two games for Alabama victories over UL Monroe and Wisconsin.
DeBoer's wardrobe has been a topic of conversation since he wore an Alabama t-shirt during the Crimson Tide's loss at Vanderbilt last season. Had Alabama won that game, folks would have been less likely to care. But they didn't, and they do.
Everything is scrutinized when you aren't winning at the level fans believe you should be.
Nobody's wardrobe will make a difference when Alabama and Georgia kickoff
Georgia in black uniforms or DeBoer in a black hoodie - or both at the same time - will not matter when toe meets leather and the Crimson Tide and Bulldogs clash between the lines. It'll be the least of the concerns for the coaches or the players.
Contrary to what some believe, DeBoer's black hoodie doesn't symbiotically take him over like Venom and Spider-Man. It's also not infallible, either.
DeBoer wore the black hoodie in losses to Oklahoma and Michigan last season. It couldn't save him in Norman nor Tampa, and it alone won't be enough to save him or Alabama in Athens, either.
But his gameplan can. DeBoer pieced together a masterpiece to open the game against Georgia last season as the Crimson Tide built a stunning 28-0 lead early in the second quarter. The Bulldogs adjusted better than the Crimson Tide from there, outscoring Alabama 34-13 the rest of the game, but Alabama's dominant start - and an otherworldly Ryan Williams TD in the fourth quarter - proved to be enough.
Alabama will need both a fast start and quality adjustments this weekend to walk out of Athens with a win, regardless of DeBoer's wardrobe choice.