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As if operating in Nick Saban’s shadow wasn’t enough, Kalen DeBoer has two more coaches he must live up to: Mike Norvell and Lane Kiffin.ESPN reported Wednesday that Alabama did not seriously consider Kiffin as a candidate to be Saban’s heir. It did consider Florida State’s Norvell.
No surprise on either front. The Tuscaloosa News, in January, confirmed Norvell’s candidacy. And mere hours after Saban retired, I cast doubt on Kiffin’s candidacy. The Lane Train experience and Alabama’s brass don’t mix.
Still, this resurfacing of the news raises two questions: Would Alabama be better off with Kiffin? Or, should Alabama AD Greg Byrne have sealed the deal with Norvell rather than DeBoer?
My current opinion on those topics: No, and no.Shortly after Saban retired, I wrote that Alabama should make DeBoer its top target. I also liked Norvell as a candidate. He’s suited to this era of NIL and transfer free agency. I liked DeBoer’s credentials better. The guy just doesn’t lose. I respect Kiffin’s success at Ole Miss, but I never expected Alabama’s administration would embrace him.
Texas’ Steve Sarkisian was the only other potential candidate I liked for this job as much as DeBoer. But, I never thought Sarkisian would leave the momentum he’s built at Texas, a well-resourced program where he can win a national championship as soon as next season.
That left DeBoer, owner of a 104-12 career record, atop the A-list.
Byrne saw it similarly.
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I’ve written it before, but once more for posterity: I like this hire.
But, what I think, what Byrne thinks and what Alabama fans think now won’t matter if DeBoer stumbles out of the gates, especially if that occurs while Kiffin and Norvell thrive.
Opinions change. Honeymoons don’t last long in the SEC. And DeBoer’s…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/why-alabamas-kalen-deboer-outcoach-102429922.html
Author : The Tuscaloosa News
Publish date : 2024-03-07 10:24:29
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