On Saturday night, the Alabama Crimson Tide met its enemy, and it wasn't the South Florida Bulls. It was Alabama. The Crimson Tide proved an old college football adage holds true: It is hard to beat another team while you are beating yourself. No disrespect for South Florida is intended, but the Bulls' talent level is far less than Alabama's.
For three quarters Saturday night, a Nick Saban celebration came close to being a nightmare. After the game, Kalen DeBoer said, "You need games like this." Most Alabama fans probably disagree. Games like this one will be losses against better teams. A more important statement from DeBoer was " Tip of the cap to USF for fighting, but there's also many things ... that we've gotta clean up."
For Alabama fans needing to step back from the edge of panic, leading USF 14-13 after three quarters was disappointing but not necessarily shocking. Early season growing pains have been expected. Maybe the 'getting better' phase of the 2024 season will take longer than hoped.
Against a not-Power Four team, 13 penalties (seven on the offensive line) for 120 yards is troubling. Added to that were four sacks allowed and three turnovers. Such stat lines often lead to losses. The most worrisome stat when the 4th quarter began was the Crimson Tide had rushed for just 57 (not sack-adjusted) yards; a dismal 1.8-yard average. With Elijah Pritchett not 100% during the practice week, Alabama started four of its top six offensive linemen. One moved to a new position, another was a transfer, backup. Still, that less-than-optimum situation should not have caused so much trouble. It brought shutters to Crimson Tide fans who flashed back to similar trauma in recent seasons.
Kalen DeBoer also said the USF game "isn't a wakeup call or anything like that." Maybe it wasn't for his staff and the players, but it certainly woke up Alabama fans.
Check out everything Kalen DeBoer said below.
What to make of the Alabama Crimson Tide after two games
Kalen DeBoer said he does not question his team's "want-to" and his belief that if a team "keeps fighting, good things happen." Crimson Tide fans can be concerned because the team that plays on Sept. 28th cannot be the team that played on Saturday night. There are plenty of reasons to believe with a healthy offensive line, the Crimson Tide will be much better in two weeks. And perhaps dramatically better later in the season.