Did Year One Under DeBoer Live up to the Alabama Standard?

The last year and a half has been a whirlwind for Alabama. From the retirement of Nick Saban to hiring Kalen DeBoer, to losing numerous players in the transfer portal, defeating Georgia at home, falling three times on the road, and now, we're preparing for the second year of the Kalen DeBoer era in Tuscaloosa.

Get our free mobile app

Year one had its ups and downs, with Alabama toppling the Bulldogs at home before falling to Vanderbilt as a multi-touchdown favorite. A close-call win over South Carolina before falling in Knoxville for the second time in three years. Thrashing LSU to control your own destiny to Atlanta before getting molly-whopped by Oklahoma. It ended in a disappointing bowl loss to the Michigan Wolverines, with Alabama failing to reach 10 wins for the first time since 2007.

9-4 was the record for Kalen DeBoer in year one at Alabama, tying Frank Thomas for the top spot.

Did 9-4, but missing the playoffs, live up to the Alabama standard in Kalen DeBoer's eyes?

"Yeah, I mean, if you internally ask us, no. We fell short of making the Playoffs," DeBoer said.  "It's as simple as that, right? Giving yourself a chance to go compete for a championship. I think there's a lot of things that I'm super proud of that have happened within the program that are part of the progression. Yeah, we want it right now, too.

"Yeah, we fell short. Our guys, again, I'm proud of them and the way they've responded to us, not realizing the goals that we set out to have, getting back to work, focusing on the main thing. I feel that's always been the case. Sometimes there's ups and downs that you have to go through, unfortunately, that we had to experience. But in the end, we're going to take advantage of the failures we've had and be better because of it."

Pearl River Resort sponsors our coverage of SEC Media Days, live from Atlanta, Georgia. Check out Pearl River Resort at pearlriverresort.com.

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.