Generating buzz is the mainstay of big-time sports media personalities. Often the buzz is warranted. Other times the sizzle lacks substance. The latter situation is what Stephen A. Smith bombasted into recently when he criticized Alabama football coach Kalen DeBoer.
At SEC Media Days, Kalen DeBoer was asked if championships would define his Alabama career. When an Alabama coach is asked about championships, the question is not about the SEC Championship Game. It is always about a National Championship.
DeBoer clumsily answered, "I certainly know that it's an important part of what's happened in the program, so wouldn't doubt that that's the case. I'm not focused on that."
DeBoer had barely left the podium before college football's big media wolves went on the attack. Paul Finebaum called it a "terrible answer" and added that DeBoer should have said, "We're going to win a national championship."
DeBoer added that his focus us on "helping our program be the best and trying to bring out the best and raise the level of everyone around me, from coaching staff to our players, trying to maximize what we are capable of every day."
Stephen A. Smith was quickly on DeBoer's trail as well. Smith said, "I disliked it totally ... Let me tell you something, you’re talking about Nick Saban. You’re talking about a seven-time champion... The greatest coach in the history of college football. You're succeeding him, and you're saying ‘I just want people to be the best they could possibly be.’ Nobody wants to hear that. Not at Alabama.”
Pertinent Alabama Football History
Plenty people, including Alabama fans appear to agree with Finebaum and Stephen A. The two pundits and those agreeing with them are forgetting some important Alabama Crimson Tide history.
When Nick Saban came to Alabama in 2007, the GOAT-to-be said he was "not going to talk about what we are going to accomplish; we're going to talk about how we are going to do it." It was his first 'Process' explanation for Crimson Tide fans. What Saban said is similar to what DeBoer said that caused the Media Days uproar. Both coaches were talking about being process-focused, rather than results-focused.
Nick Saban uses words more skillfully than Kalen DeBoer. In 2007, Saban already had national championship cred from LSU. DeBoer hasn't reached that realm yet. Perhaps DeBoer never will, which would mean being a failure in Tuscaloosa. But now, what DeBoer doesn't deserve is being demeaned because he is not boldly claiming he will win one at Alabama.
As Nick Saban knew, no coach, player, or team ever 'talked' its way to a national championship. Kalen DeBoer knows that as well, and so should Paul Finebaum and Stephen A. Smith.
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