If you would’ve told someone five years ago that #1 Alabama would lose to unranked Vanderbilt, they would’ve probably had you locked in an insane asylum. But 2024 is a crazy year for college football and it doesn’t look to be over.
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Alabama’s Dynasty is Dying
Many thought that Kalen DeBoer was the long term answer for the Tide after defeating Georgia, quite convincingly. He had already led Washington to the National Championship game, and with more talent at his disposal at Alabama, it seemed that anything was possible.
If Bama’s loss to Vandy and a close game at home to South Carolina was anything, it was a wake up call. But it wasn’t a wake up call for the players to start realizing that they can’t just coast to the CFP. No, it was a wake up call for the Alabama faithful that DeBoer is not Nick Saban.
He’s not even close.
Texas A&M is the perfect example as to why college football always comes down to coaching. The Aggies have signed some of the best recruiting classes in history, only to not even make a Bowl Game in the following years.
Although Bama isn’t quite on the trajectory of A&M, it should be noted that Kalen DeBoer was expected to compete for a National Championship this season, not for a 10-win season.
It’s one thing to have a drop off from one coach to the next. But to lose to the worst program in the conference based off of recent history? Unacceptable. The Crimson Tide faithful will only tolerate so much. You’re either at the level of Bear Bryant and Nick Saban or you’re not. It’s that simple.
What Alabama Must Do
Alabama must make the decisions necessary to preserve it’s dynasty. That may mean sacking Kalen DeBoer less than one season in.
Alabama isn’t your typical program. They don’t compete for championships, they win them. They don’t sign 5-Stars, they sign Day-1 Draft picks. Bama is the standard for everyone else in CFB. The administration will not wait 3-4 years for DeBoer to build his foundation. The Tide have talent and therefore want immediate results.
You have the best Quarterback in the SEC, the best freshman WR in the country, and a team that has a veteran at every level. Not winning with a team that was one play from winning a National Championship the previous season isn’t a culture or recruiting problem. It’s a coaching problem.
Another loss will not be tolerated in Tuscaloosa.