For the first time in almost two decades, when the Alabama football coach stepped to the lectern to speak, it wasn’t Nick Saban.
Instead, Kalen DeBoer moved toward the microphone after he was introduced by Alabama athletics director Greg Byrne as the Crimson Tide’s next coach on Saturday inside Bryant-Denny Stadium. DeBoer’s predecessor wasn’t far away, though.
Saban sat in the front row in the spot directly in front of the lectern for DeBoer’s introductory press conference. That was his assigned spot, with his wife, Terry Saban, seated next to him.
Before DeBoer was named his successor, Saban told ESPN he wasn’t going to be disappearing from Tuscaloosa. He would have an office at Bryant-Denny Stadium instead and would still be around. That was evident during the press conference, considering his attendance and the prominent spot in which he sat. Then, as DeBoer spoke, the new Alabama football coach made clear he didn’t want Saban’s presence around him and the program to end anytime soon.
MORE: Relive Nick Saban’s epic Alabama football coaching career with our special book!
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“He’s the best in the business to ever do it,” DeBoer said. “I’m just going to make sure it’s all known that that’s how I feel, with 100% access to everything. I would be a fool if that wasn’t the case. I’m going to ask him that he shows up and makes sure to give me at least one thing every day. I’m sure he’s got 10. But I’m going to be good with that. At least one thing that he sees that we can get better at.”
The welcoming of any and all input from Saban was only one part of DeBoer’s prominent embrace of Alabama football and all that goes with it.
DeBoer is not from the South, and he’s never had a coaching job here….
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/kalen-deboer-shows-respect-nick-222632607.html
Author : The Tuscaloosa News
Publish date : 2024-01-13 22:26:32
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