Noted pot-stirrer Paul Finebaum is at it again, taking aim at new Alabama head football coach Kalen DeBoer and planting the seeds of hot seat talk in an apperance on Andy Staples and Ari Wasserman's podcast Thursday morning.
Paul Finebaum on Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer:
— On3 (@On3sports) October 31, 2024
"He hasn't commanded the stage very well... His demeanor on the sidelines bugs people, his lack of discipline, some of the things that he says and does...
It's really going to come down to next week." pic.twitter.com/O2zZGKSbSG
Finebaum became a household name thanks to the program dissention in Tuscaloosa prior to Nick Saban's arrival. He was extremely critical of the University of Alabama, and then had to spent the last 17 years mostly on the sideline, waiting and watching for the day to come when he could take aim at Alabama again.
DeBoer has left that door open with two regular season losses in the first eight games of the season, allowing Finebaum to start sewing the seeds of dissention once again.
Finebaum isn't any different than guys like Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless. He doesn't believe half of what he says, but he knows how to drum up interest and viewership, and nothing can do that like a struggling Crimson Tide team and a potential coaching search.
But let's get something straight: DeBoer has the full support of the administration. He is in no way, shape, or form on the hot seat. He has a $70 million buyout. Alabama is football crazy, and there's some big money boosters who have a lot of influence on the program, but they aren't paying a $70 million buyout. Full stop.
Also, this season has been far from a disaster. Nobody is happy that the Crimson Tide is 6-2; not the fans, not DeBoer, not Greg Byrne.
But as we've pointed out, Alabama had a lot working against it this season with as much as they lost in the portal and via the NFL Draft. It still controls its own playoff destiny and has one of the best wins of the college football season over Georgia at the end of September.
Making the playoff is a baseline expectation in Tuscaloosa. And if Alabama loses to LSU next week, or drops to either Oklahoma or Auburn, they won't be going to the playoff. That will be a disappointing season, and you will surely hear plenty of people voice that opinion.
But DeBoer will be the head coach for Alabama in 2025. He'll be the head coach for Alabama in 2026, too. After that, well, it remains to be seen. But he'll have at least three years before any hot seat talk is serious. That kind of talk will seem ridiculous soon enough because he is the right guy for the job and is going to win at Alabama.
Much to the chagrin of Tennessee graduate Finebaum, who is desperately hoping for the Crimson Tide to wander the wilderness.