Alabama fans are tired of the coaching carousel song and dance. After enduring weeks and weeks of rumors connecting Kalen DeBoer to Penn State until DeBoer strongly denied any interest in the opening in Happy Valley, the clock has reset, and a new wave of rumors has begun.
Michigan shockingly fired head coach Sherrone Moore for cause on Wednesday. In the immediate aftermath, every outlet was connecting the Alabama head coach to the opening, calling him an "obvious" candidate.
Why, exactly? Because he was a coordinator at Eastern Michigan for three years over a decade ago? Or the one year of Big Ten experience he had as the OC at Indiana?
Pundits continue to question DeBoer's "fit" at Alabama, but DeBoer just led the Crimson Tide to the College Football Playoff in year two and put the finishing touches on a second consecutive top-five recruiting class.
Rival fans and the national media just spent the last few days shouting from the rooftops how bad Alabama was and how undeserving of a playoff spot they were, but now that there's a high-profile job opening, the Tide's coach is the best candidate for the job? Funny how that works, right?
Alabama can't afford any distractions with the College Football Playoff on deck. In eight days, Alabama will take on Oklahoma in Norman as it looks to earn a win that will send it to the quarterfinals at the Rose Bowl against Indiana on New Year's Day.
DeBoer and AD Greg Byrne would be wise to get ahead of the rumors and release a statement denying any interest, though that wouldn't be the Jimmy Sexton way.
Alabama may have to pony up to keep Kalen DeBoer
DeBoer is a good coach, but I'd probably stop short of saying he's earned a contract extension and raise after two seasons. Alabama took a step forward this year, and the future still looks strong. But he's yet to win anything of note, so Byrne might be putting the cart before the horse by offering him a contract extension this early.
He may also have no choice.
If DeBoer becomes the top target for Michigan, the Wolverines will offer a package that will be tough for him to ignore. It may force Alabama to have no choice but to pony up a hefty raise and contract extension to retain their head coach.
It's still Jimmy Sexton season, and he'll use any leverage he can to command more money for one of his clients. He's gotten coaches a lot of extra cash this offseason with a chaotic carousel, and the Michigan job will get even more coaches paid.
DeBoer could be one of them. Though he may not yet have earned a raise, the Crimson Tide cannot afford to lose him, especially this late in the coaching carousel. Options would be limited, and the Transfer Portal opening in early January could do major damage to Alabama's ability to field a roster next season that could compete in the SEC.
It may not be a popular move, but Byrne's gotta do whatever it takes to keep DeBoer in Tuscaloosa.