There’s always that buzz of excitement ahead of any important event. The “butterflies” as Alabama HC Kalen DeBoer puts it. But as long as there’s preparedness and confidence, there’s no reason to feel anxious or get the jitters. Again, that’s said by DeBoer who will see his first action with the Crimson Tide this season.

Alabama is scheduled to meet Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in their season opener on September 1 at Bryant-Denny Stadium. In the week leading up to the game, Kalen DeBoer addressed the media to give them an understanding of where Alabama’s spirit is at. It looks like spirits and confidence are soaring as he revealed during his press conference speech on Monday. But where is the wisdom coming from?

On August 27, The Next Round posted a particular excerpt of Kalen DeBoer’s speech where he talked about if he gets pre-game jitters. The 3x NAIA Coach of the Year admitted that the feelings that creep up before a game depends on the team’s preparation, be it excitement or anxiety. He said, “When you’re prepared well, you’re gonna be confident. That’s the whole key.”

Kalen DeBoer didn’t mince words when he talked about his team’s preparedness, saying, “I’m really excited about the way we prepared.” As his words imply, he and Alabama didn’t leave any stone unturned. He said, “I’m prepared with all the schedule leading up to kickoff, whether it’s just making sure all the staff is online with our communication… Our guys understand all the little details… with mock games, mock Saturdays…” This shows the level of preparedness Alabama has as they get ready to meet WKU in less than a week. The culture of preparedness that Nick Saban always had in Alabama, wisdom that followed DeBoer as he stepped into the former GOAT coach’s shoes. 

Kalen DeBoer is a mirror of composed Nick Saban

Kalen DeBoer is a mastermind himself, leading his former team, Washington, to the National Championship run and finishing second. Still, replacing one of the greatest and most insightful CFB HCs of all time comes with its pressures. But his candid response, as seen above, is a testament that Nick Saban’s calm demeanor, which he learned to master over the years, has become an influence. 

Saban, like any other HC, once had a fiery “Attila the Hun” attitude, but he managed to tone it down. How? Because the HC, who won six National Championships for Alabama, is very conscious of the way people thought of him as a person. It’s this attitude that made him strive to be the best version of himself on and off the field, a reason why he was able to transform lots of lives for the better. DeBoer is only starting his role in Saban’s shoes, but the way he’s handling things with a composed and prepared attitude only shows he’s the perfect Saban replacement.