Are Alabama football fans expecting too much of Kalen DeBoer too soon?

Alabama Crimson Tide fans have learned much about Kalen DeBoer. Across the board, what has been learned has been encouraging. Recently former Alabama quarterback, Greg McElroy, assessed the potential of eight coaches to win a National Championship. None of the eight have won a National Championship at the FBS level.

McElroy's subjective exercise projected the percentage chance of each of the eight coaches winning a Natty with their current program. Six of the eight were given chances of 40% or less, going down to Billy Napier at Florida, at 2%. The other two were Brian Kelly at 50% and Kalen DeBoer at 75%.

The other five below DeBoer and Kelly were Dan Lanning (40%), Mario Cristobal (25%), Lincoln Riley (20%), and Marcus Freeman and Brent Venables at 10%.

McElroy added to his prediction saying Kalen DeBoer winning a Natty would "not take very long."

Such predictions are nothing more than educated guesses. G-Mac knows football and he knows Alabama. At the least, Crimson Tide fans should take notice.

Are Alabama football fans asking too much too soon?

However, let's not start celebrating yet. Even for Nick Saban, winning a National Championship was a supreme challenge. Riding a wave of enthusiasm about Alabama and DeBoer, are Crimson Tide fans asking for too much too soon?

DeBoer's record against ranked teams is impressive. Neither Dan Lanning nor Steve Sarkisian have been able to beat him. McElroy is bullish on Sark and Texas this season. A guess is had Greg given Sark a prediction it would have been between 85%-90%.

Sarkisian is a less proven head coach than DeBoer. Arguably Sarkisian deserves the distinction of being the sharpest offensive mind in college football. Kalen DeBoer is also known as an offensive wizard. One reason McElroy praised DeBoer is his track record of doing "more with less." At Alabama, that immediately turns into doing 'more with more' in his first of Bama's every-season quests for a National Championship.

Alabama fans can debate whether DeBoer is equal to Sarkisian and Lane Kiffin in offensive acumen. It will take at least two seasons before they can be fairly compared. Until then, and maybe later, it may not matter. Alabama does not need DeBoer to be college football's best offensive mind or the best play-caller. DeBoer becoming the best head coach would be better. He may be better than Lane and Sark already.

Does this post suggest Alabama football fans should temper expectations for the 2024 season? Not in the least. That is just not Alabama.