Pressure is all a relative construct. For a program like the Alabama Crimson Tide, it is kind of always there. For a head coach like Kalen DeBoer, it is starting to mount with each passing season on the job in Tuscaloosa. Thankfully, his predecessor, the iconic Nick Saban, put this all into perspective, one where it may not be the worst thing in the world for the Crimson Tide to be so unheralded coming in.
Saban touched on why being the SEC's top banana was not always the best for his Alabama teams.
"The one thing about Alabama this year is they’re flying under the radar a bit -- a little bit unknown," Saban said. "I actually kind of liked that as a coach because when we were picked high, I always worried about how is this going to affect our offseason, our preparation, the culture you’re trying to develop as a team. Maybe Coach DeBoer really likes the fact that they’re flying under the radar a little.”
Flying under the radar is one thing, but never being detected by it is a much bigger issue altogether.
Nick Saban to SEC Network: "The one thing about Alabama this year is they’re flying under the radar a bit -- a little bit unknown. I actually kind of liked that as a coach because when we were picked high, I always worried about how is this going to affect our offseason, our…
— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) July 22, 2026
Even if Alabama is not anybody's first, second, or even third choice to come out of the SEC this season, DeBoer still needs to prove his worth as the Crimson Tide's head coach. He came to Alabama for a reason: To win national titles. DeBoer could have stayed in Seattle and taken the Washington Huskies to unforeseen heights, but Alabama beckoned. He signed up for all this, for better or worse.
Saban may be helping create a soft landing for DeBoer should he fail this year, but that will not cut it.
Kalen DeBoer has to take advantage of Alabama being overlooked this fall
Not only does Alabama have an easy start and a soft finish to its schedule, but few outside of the Yellowhammer State are reasonably expecting a national championship out of this team this season. So much has to go right for them. However, the expectations from the national media are not as big as what is emanating from within the Crimson Tide fan base. Let's meet up somewhere in the middle.
These are the type of seasons where good coaches become great ones. DeBoer can totally play the "nobody believes in us" card, while simultaneously flying under the radar. Unfortunately, he has to be more than a blip on the radar this season. That is what the Alabama standard he walked into requires out of him. There were a lot of middling coaches between Saban and Paul "Bear" Bryant at Alabama.
So how does DeBoer take advantage of this? By leaning on his great staff and entrusting his players to make a difference. While he did lose two top assistants to bigger opportunities, DeBoer still employs Kane Wommack and Maurice Linguist on defense. Both of them were Group of Five head coaches prior to coming over to Alabama. Ryan Grubb used to call plays for the Seattle Seahawks.
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The single-most important thing DeBoer needs to do this year is have his kind of guys playing with confidence. Alabama will not face a ranked team before it hosts Georgia on Oct. 10. The talent is there on the roster, but DeBoer needs to actualize it. Furthermore, he must make sure quarterback play is up to par, the running game gets going, and a revamped offensive line is not a wet paper bag.
Alabama may be flying under the radar a little bit under DeBoer, but this will not be the case for long.
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