On Alabama Football Greatness, Nick Saban and Kalen DeBoer

As some Alabama football fans know, Nick Saban is a big fan of the Rolling Stones. When news broke of University of Washington Head Coach, Kalen DeBoer to the Crimson Tide, a Stones song came to mind. To mostly paraphrase the song's lyrics,

"you can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need."

- The Rolling Stones

No Alabama football fan wanted Nick Saban to retire. Alabama football fans know the GOAT is irreplaceable. Some bold man had to take the leap of following Nick Saban in Tuscaloosa. Alabama Crimson Tide fans should be glad that man is Kalen DeBoer.

DeBoer does not match the expectations of some Alabama fans. They need to prepare to be wrong. A 104-12 record as a head coach speaks loudly. In those 104 wins is a 12-2 record against Top 25 teams. Then, there is how DeBoer has done against two head coaches, Crimson Tide fans preferred. DeBoer is 3-0 against Dan Lanning and 2-0 against Steve Sarkisian.

Greg Bryne should be praised for acting quickly, so DeBoer and his soon-to-be Alabama staff can stymie the flow of Crimson Tide transfer exits.

It is not known how many assistants will follow DeBoer from Seattle to Tuscaloosa. He has some good ones. If Ryan Grubb is not hired to replace DeBoer, he would be a great OC for the Crimson Tide. Nick Saban tried to hire Grubb before he hired Tommy Rees.

Alabama Football was far from great for many years before Nick Saban. But historically, it was great in the 1960s and 1970s under Paul Bryant - six National Championships great. The Alabama Football program was also great before and after Bryant, under Wallace Wade, Frank Thomas, and Gene Stallings.

There were some bleak years shortly before Bryant was brought back to Tuscaloosa. There was also a truly dreadful period that came after coaching in Tuscaloosa was made untenable for Gene Stallings.

The next phase of Alabama Football will not be another of those down cycles. For Kalen DeBoer, following Nick Saban will be a challenge, but Alabama Football was great before Nick Saban, and it will be great after him.