When you look up the word "insanity" in the dictionary, it tells you it's the definition of doing the same things over and over again and still expecting different results. This same phrase applies in the minds of many Alabama fans after seeing Kalen DeBoer showing no signs of cutting ties with Crimson Tide offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic in the early stages of the 2026 offseason.
This strict request became the top expectation in Tuscaloosa for months after Tide fans, alongside the college football world, clowned Alabama all season for having their worst statistical rushing attack in terms of average yards per game since statistics first began being tracked in 1946. That embarrassment doubled when Alabama got bullied upfront by Indiana in their biggest loss in a bowl game in program history, getting smoked by 35 points in their 38-3 College Football Playoff exit. Many believed that after hearing DeBoer's eyebrow-raising season-ending comments to reporters in Pasadena last Thursday, this could be Kapilovic's last straw, when the second-year head coach hinted at possible changes coming to the program.
"You’ve got to go back to starting over from scratch with putting the people around you, the right people, committing to something, a common goal together, and the actions following it," DeBoer said
At first, those words sounded like soothing music to the ears of Crimson Tide fans after seeing five members of Alabama's putrid 2025 offensive line hit the transfer portal on January 2nd & 3rd. This bubble was burst when many saw Kapilovic at dinner with Mississippi State transfer offensive lineman Jimothy Lewis on Sunday evening.
Nothing Like A Sushi Roll! ! ROLLTIDE pic.twitter.com/TEmg1HPC5p
— JuJuSports (@JuJuSports1) January 5, 2026
Chris Kapilovic actively recruiting for Alabama has fans ready to crash out
Lewis is a 6-foot-6, 320-pound redshirt freshman from Ridgeland, Mississippi, who appeared in just seven games this season, logging 4 starts for the Bulldogs after first signing in Starkville as a 4-star prospect from IMG Academy in the 2023 recruiting cycle. Seeing Lewis be courted by Kapilovic and company means that, for now at least, DeBoer is more than likely to retain, rather than part ways with the third-year Tide positional coach.
With the Tide already losing one of their most criticized offensive lineman in Wilkin Formby to the Transfer Portal, many are still wondering why Kapilovic is still in the picture and why DeBoer still hasn't completely cleaned house yet?
I think most of the frustration should come from Kapilovic's unsuccessful and unorthodox approach to rotating nine players upfront instead of developing a formidable front five to depend on throughout their 15-game season.
This strategy grounded Alabama's run game and stalled its passing game, which backfired more times than not in 2025. His position group was also arguably the weakest link of the team in my opinion. I say this because the Crimson Tide's offensive line underachieved drastically after coming into the season with the No. 1-ranked unit in the preseason.
Their shortcomings showed all season when Alabama was exposed time and time again for their inconsistencies in the trenches - especially in games turned physical. So, after all of that, why is Kapilovic so hard to let go of for DeBoer? Could it be because of DeBoer's loyalty and friendship with the two, along with others on Alabama's coaching staff, that's preventing him from making tough decisions? If so, then that's a problem that can't coexist if DeBoer wants to truly seriously improve the makeup of his football team moving forward and change its perception around the country since becoming Nick Saban's successor. Saban never was afraid to plug the plug on any player or coach during his historical 17 year run in Tuscaloosa.
The other end of the argument is this: maybe Alabama fans are just being too impatient. With the season-ending just one day before the opening of the Transfer Portal, there likely hasn't been time for DeBoer to seriously evaluate everything and make changes. It might even be foolish to try during this two-week window of the portal, which closes on January 16th.
The most likely reality is that any and all staff changes that take place will happen when the window closes. Until then, Alabama fans may have to confront the word they are most afraid of: patience.