Opinions of the job Kalen DeBoer has done at Alabama are extremely mixed, both nationally and within the Crimson Tide's own fanbase.
Some understand the massive undertaking he took on in following Nick Saban and all the immediate roster turnover that happened from a one-sided Transfer Portal window.
Others believe Alabama is trending in the wrong direction under DeBoer despite last season ending with two additional wins than his first and a berth in the College Football Playoff.
So obviously, there's been plenty of debate on the merits of DeBoer's recent contract extension that added $2 million in annual salary and two additional years to his contract.
Count Michael Bratton, aka SEC Mike, firmly in the camp that Alabama made a mistake in extending DeBoer.
SEC Mike slams Alabama's contract extension for Kalen DeBoer
Speaking with Pat Smith on WJOX recently, SEC Mike slammed DeBoer as a bad fit at Alabama and questioned why the Crimson Tide would have given him an extension:
"They had to delay the announcement of a contract extension for four months. Who does that if everyone's on good graces?" Bratton asked. ..."I'm not saying he's some awful coach, but I think he's an awful fit. I don't think his style of finesse football ...when it's third and short or fourth and short, and we have to run reverses and end-arounds, and we've got to throw it to the left tackle, and we're just doing crazy nonsense like this.
"We just gave him this massive extension because I guess Michigan was interested? I would have let him go to Michigan. I think you could have found a better fit."
Some of what SEC Mike says has merit. The timing of the contract extension was certainly curious, and likely delayed to avoid the meltdown by the fanbase if it happened directly in the aftermath of a five-touchdown loss to Indiana in the Rose Bowl.
But the questions of the finesse style and some of the trick plays he had to run on third and fourth and shorts are something he's worked hard to try and answer this offseason.
DeBoer had no choice with the struggles of the offensive line last year. There's a reason the room was completely flipped this offseason with 11 new bodies up front and a brand new offensive line coach. Also, how quickly everyone forgets that DeBoer was the head coach at Washington in 2023 when that offensive line won the Joe Moore Award as the top line in the country.
Also, people have loved to say Alabama could find a better fit or a better coach, but nobody names who that would be. There aren't a ton of big names out there right now. There's a reason Michigan ultimately landed on 66-year-old Kyle Whittingham as a bridge head coach. Options in this cycle were limited, and that's not likely to change in the next couple of years.
Year three is a big year for DeBoer as Alabama's head coach. Not because he's on the hot seat - the extension took care of that. But in terms of perception, both nationally and within his own Crimson Tide fanbase.
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